The Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver room starts with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but it certainly doesn't end after those two. Not if Andrei Iosivas has anything to say about it.
Iosivas emerged as WR3 last year in just his second season in the NFL. The 206th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft ran with the opportunity to start alongside Chase and Higgins and effectively share the slot with Chase and tight end Mike Gesicki.
What's next for Iosivas? Elevating himself in the same role with a different kind of body.
Iosivas has upped his weight to 220 pounds from 205, and the former Ivy League track and field champion believes he's already noticed the positive effects.
"I think it's helping me," Iosivas told Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson. "I'm stronger out of my breaks. Quicker. I can put more power into the ground so I can push off faster. People's bodies are built differently. When I put on the weight, it was beneficial to me. Not detrimental. I'm still fast. If I'm the same speed, but heavier, who cares? Run through some tackles."
Running through tackles could lead to more yards after the catch for Iosivas in his most prominent alignment. Out of 72 receivers who saw at least 20 targets from the slot, Iosivas ranked T-63rd in yards after catch per reception at 2.9 and forced zero missed tackles.
Speed and explosion has never been an issue for Iosivas at 205. Maintaining that speed to keep defensive backs honest while also running stronger with and without the ball makes him more dangerous as an option.
Chase and Higgins are going to be Chase and Higgins. Tweaks and refinements to their games can and will happen, but they're well established in their roles and bodies. Iosivas is the variable that can make even more strides, and if he does, he'll be able to take further advantage of coverages that prioritize stopping the two elite receivers alongside him.
The real results will start to show when the pads come on in training camp and preseason action, but Iosivas keeps putting himself in positions to succeed. Cincinnati has certainly taken notice.
