The 6-foot-5, 207-pound Vancouver, British Columbia native played for the University of Calgary last fall, catching 65 passes for 1,306 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Ruled academically ineligible for his senior season, Simonise was one of six players eligible for today’s NFL supplemental draft, where any team selecting a player must forfeit a pick in the corresponding round in the following year’s NFL draft.
Thus none of the six were selected, but the Bengals reportedly agreed to terms with Simonise shortly afterward.
Simonise spent the spring playing for the Chicago Eagles of the Champions Indoor Football arena league, where he caught 11 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in five games.
His play in college and the CIF drew enough attention that he held a Pro Day on Monday.
The signing brings the number of wide receivers on the Bengals roster to 13, with only A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell and rookie second-round pick Tyler Boyd appearing to be locks for the final 53-man roster.
The Bengals kept six receivers in 2015 and 2014 and seven in 2013.
The other nine receivers who will be competing with Simonise for those final three or four spots are Brandon Tate, James Wright, Mario Alford, Jake Kumerow, Michael Bennett and rookies Cody Core, Alonzo Russell, Antwane Grant and Alex Erickson.
About the Author