Dan Pitcher has made it clear that Colbie Young's value to the Bengals is about far more than the obvious flash plays. The Cincinnati offensive coordinator said the fourth-round pick brings size, physicality and a willingness to handle the kind of work that helps an offense function even when nobody in the crowd is cheering for it.
At Georgia, Young was known for his six-foot-four, 215-pound frame and the sort of physical presence that makes him an intriguing addition to a receiver room. In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bengals selected him in the fourth round, and Pitcher's comments suggest the team already sees a player who can contribute in ways that do not always show up in the box score.
Pitcher: the crowd notices the catch, not the block
Pitcher pointed to the difference between the highlight-reel moment and the less glamorous assignment. As he put it, people notice the receiver going down the field and high-pointing a 40-yard ball. But they do not always see the work that happens on the other snaps.
"I think you guys see the size and the physicality and the ability to ward off contact down the field and make plays," Pitcher said. "I see a guy who's really willing to do the dirty work and do the thankless jobs."
That matters because a rookie who is willing to block and do the hidden work can earn trust quickly. In Pitcher's view, those details are not cosmetic. They can change the outcome of a play before the ball is even thrown.
Why the small details matter
Pitcher gave a simple example of how those responsibilities can affect the Bengals' offense. A receiver who helps dig out a safety on duo may not get credit for it, but that action can create a lane that is half a yard wider. In his example, that extra space can be enough for Chase Brown to make a defender miss and turn 4 yards into 14.
"The crowd doesn't realize it when you dig out a safety on duo, and it might open a lane that's half a yard wider, that lets Chase Brown make somebody miss and get 14 rather than four. We see that stuff," Pitcher said.
For the Bengals, that is the real appeal of Colbie Young right now. He has the size to threaten defenses in the air, but he may also help in the less visible parts of the game that coaches value when deciding who gets on the field. If Young keeps handling those thankless jobs, he can make it harder for Cincinnati to leave him on the sideline.
