The Bengals entered the 2024 offseason frustrated and with a sense of urgency after losing Joe Burrow to injury midway through the 2023 season. Cincinnati made some shrewd moves to shore up both sides of the field. The Bengals applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to Tee Higgins and re-signed Trenton Irwin and Tanner Hudson. They also brought in Zack Moss to replace Joe Mixon and gave one-year contracts to Mike Gesicki and Trent Brown.
Cincinnati entered the 2024 Draft with clear needs at Offensive Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Tight End, and Cornerback. Let’s discuss how they did not only addressing those needs, but also grabbing the right value where they picked.
T Amarius Mims – 1st Round (18th Overall)
Mims is a gigantic human (6-foot-8, 340 pounds) with unquestionable talent. He’s a lengthy blocker with excellent range who can dominate at the point of attack and finishes blocks downfield. I like that he will get a chance to learn from Trent Brown. Concern here is definitely experience – Mims only started 8 games in college at Georgia. The Bengals are betting on his prototypical size and the flashes of greatness he showed in college. Mims likely won’t start year one and I personally felt this was a reach. The Offensive Tackle talent fell off a cliff after Mims, so Cincinnati clearly felt they needed to capitalize even if Mims is a developmental prospect.
Grade: B+
DT Kris Jenkins – 2nd Round (49th Overall)
Absolutely LOVE this pick! Jenkins was a team captain for the 2023 National Championship Michigan team. He was highly productive on a per-snap basis in college and started in 33 games across 4 seasons with a redshirt as a freshman. Jenkins has a bit of a small frame for his position, but he more than makes up for it with incredible juice in pass rush and an unmatched motor. Jenkins’ father was a 4-time Pro Bowler. Ultimately, Jenkins profiles as a legit replacement for D.J. Reader and should see serious play time as a rookie.
Grade: A+
WR Jermaine Burton – 3rd Round (80th Overall)
Joe Burrow smiled. Fantastic value. On talent alone, Burton was a borderline first to second round prospect. The off-field and maturity concerns stemming from an incident after a game against Tennessee played in Cincinnati’s favor to land a physical receiver with strong hands and plus vertical speed. Burton is an excellent tracker with the ability to get down field and locate deep balls efficiently. Look for him to contribute immediately as WR3 in Cincinnati.
Grade: B+
DT McKinley Jackson – 3rd Round (97th Overall)
Major reach here for a 5th round talent. Jackson played NT in college but excelled more as a pass rusher than a run stopper. Jackson is slow even for his position, stalls very often without a secondary move to get back into the play and does not eat up gaps effectively. However, Jackson does have quick hands off the ball and tends to maintain a low center of gravity that keeps him off the ground. Big developmental project here. Look for him to get snaps here and there.
Grade: D+
TE Erick All Jr – 4th Round (115th Overall)
His ACL tear in October and the abysmal offense All played in at Iowa lowered his draft stock. Talent wise, All projects as a second to third rounder with a high floor. When healthy, he has plus speed for his position allowing him to run field-stretching routes, and he has the lateral quickness to break off short-area routes efficiently. All’s tape absolutely bounces off the screen, especially when he gets the ball out wide. Look for All to contribute as an H-Back more than a traditional in-line TE.
Grade: B
CB Josh Newton – 5th Round (149th Overall)
For the true Reds fans reading this – think Ryan Freel. Newton does not possess the natural speed, size, or strength to excel in the NFL. However, he is a natural playmaker that finds a way to get to the ball with his excellent eyes and play recognition. Newton may never be a starter in the secondary for Cincinnati, but he will provide some depth and contribute as a special teamer. Really would have liked to see RB Tyrone Tracy Jr out of Purdue with this pick.
Grade: B-
TE Tanner McLachlan – Sixth Round (194th Overall)
True flyer, but isn’t that what most sixth to seventh round draft picks are? McLachlan’s best trait is his hands and he’s not physically gifted with anything special as an NFL player. As a TE, he’s profiles as a straight pass catcher as he has not really shown any ability to block effectively. Taylor and Tobin must have seen something here. A TE3 that can contribute in the passing game isn’t the worst thing to grab at this pick.
Grade: B-
DE Cedric Johnson – Sixth Round (214th Overall)
Solid pick here. Johnson tends to get ahead of himself and stare in the backfield too early, making it more difficult to shed blocks and make an impact. He actually had decent production that matches players selected well before him but that can be attributed to his extremely inconsistent tape. Look for Johnson to be a rotational piece somewhere down the line – not an early contributor.
Grade: B
S Daijahn Anthony – Seventh Round (224th Overall)
Working from Shepherd College to Liberty to a starter at Ole Miss says something about this guy. He’s got work ethic with an incredibly aggressive playstyle and above average ball skills. Needs to develop the ability to read the QBs eyes if he wants to play FS. More likely a Nickel CB and special teams contributor. Hard to fault picks this late when evaluators are just looking for salvageable attributes to work with but personally I would have rather seen Jaylen Key here.
Grade: C
C Matt Lee – Seventh Round (237th Overall)
Lee moves really well and hits the second level with effectiveness, but that’s because he’s tiny. He has great technique, which is probably why Cincinnati drafted him here, but he does not have the size to keep up with NFL power. Lee will be fighting for his life to make the roster.
Grade: C
Ultimately, this draft has potential to go either way as a whole. Kris Jenkins and Jermaine Burton have some extreme upside. Mims should be very solid, but not right away. All Jr and Cedric Johnson seem like guys that could be real contributors. Newton, Anthony, and Jackson should make the team and contribute on special teams as rookies. McLachlan is a big question mark for me. Don’t count on Lee being on the 53-man roster – maybe the practice squad. In the end, drafting a first rounder that may not start day one hurts.
Overall Grade: B+
