Bengals Draft Colbie Young in Fourth Round Despite Past Concerns, Coach Zac Taylor Expresses Confidence

The Cincinnati Bengals made Colbie Young the final pick of the fourth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting the Georgia wide receiver despite past off-field concerns.

"I think Colbie is just an outstanding complement [to the receivers the Bengals have]," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said during a livestream from the team. "Fortunate to get him in the fourth round. We obviously had a higher value on him than where we actually got him. I just think he's a great target for Joe [Burrow], great catch radius. Can use him in a lot of different ways."

Colbie Young’s College Career and Draft Journey

Young’s draft stock was impacted by a nine-game suspension in late 2024 after his arrest on misdemeanor charges of battery and assault on an unborn child. However, the charges were dropped in January 2025 after his accuser recanted her statement. Young pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and served 12 months’ probation, paid a $500 fine, and completed a family violence intervention program.

Prior to his suspension, Young fractured his left fibula and tore a ligament, requiring surgery and sidelining him for six games in the 2024 season. Despite the setbacks, he finished his final college season with 26 receptions for 358 yards and one touchdown.

Bengals’ Due Diligence and Confidence in Young

Taylor emphasized that the Bengals conducted thorough background checks before selecting Young. "Just talking to all the humans we talked to that really stood on the table for him, and Georgia returned him to play," Taylor said. "So Georgia went through the whole process, returned him to play. So just felt really comfortable with the person we're adding to our locker room, the person we're adding to our community. Just all of us getting to know the kid. Just feel really, really comfortable with bringing Colbie in here."