The Cincinnati Bengals made a little splash before the 2020 NFL draft, signing former XFL star running back Jacques Patrick.
Patrick, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, had interest from several teams but the Bengals ended up winning out. He’ll join fellow Florida State star Auden Tate in trying to boost a Joe Burrow-led offense. As mentioned in the initial writeup, the fact it was a three-year deal was probably a way for the Bengals to win him over.
Patrick credits the XFL for helping get his play out there, per the Orlando Sentinel’s Chris Hays:
“Being able to go against pro competition, no matter how people view it, it’s still pro competition. A lot of the guys have played in the NFL. I knew it was an opportunity for me to be seen by the NFL and I knew the XFL was a league of opportunities and I’m very thankful. It was a wonderful, first-class experience.”
He also noted he’s thrilled to join Tate and the Bengals.
“That’s where God took us [to Cincinnati],” Patrick said. ‘It still really hasn’t hit me yet. When I woke up this morning, all I wanted to do was work hard.”
The signing generated plenty of hype on social media:
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