04-06-2024, 09:38 PM
RD. 1 - 18th Overall:
Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo - 6'0" 195
The Bengals are dangerously thin at corner and this selection gives them arguably the best corner in the draft and an instant impact player for the Anarumo defense. Mitchell checks the boxes for size, length, and physicality and to go with them he add elite speed and outstanding instincts. Some will argue that he played in the MAC but that sure did not seem to bother him at the Senior Bowl, where he was clearly the best corner in Mobile. Mitchell needs to continue to hone his technique but he plays a brand of football that should translate to the NFL. With this selection I would imagine the two starting boundary corners with be Mitchell and CTB which would slide Turner to heir apparent of the nickel position of Hilton.
This is a great value selection for the Bengals which gives them a dominant presence at corner which is extremely important in the NFL game.
RD. 2 - 49th Overall:
T'Vondre Sweat - DT - Texas - 6'4.5" 366
I would rank NT as the single biggest position of need for the Bengals and CB as second. However, there is not a NT carrying a first round grade in this draft but in the second they get the best pure NT in this draft. Sweat is the reigning Outland Trophy winner and while his running mate Murphy is considered the best DT in the draft I would say that Sweat carries the title of best NT in this draft. In the NFL and especially the AFC North, stopping the run is paramount to a successful defense. Sweat is a space filling, block eating, run stuffing machine that fills the void left by the loss of Reader. Sweat should step in day1 as the starter and not look back.
Another excellent BPA/Need ratio selection for the Bengals.
RD. 3 - 80th Overall:
Malachi Corley - WR - W. Kentucky - 5'11" 215
He has been compared to Deebo Samuel and like Samuel I believe that Corley is a very gifted talent that can do many different things for an offense. While he may not be an elite field stretching WR he brings a skillset that defenses will have to scheme for with the many things he is able to do. Corley could be better version of Tyler Boyd in the many different ways that he could move the chains for an offense. This just adds even more depth to the ways that the Bengals offense will be able to attack a defense and he should compliment the ability of Chase, Higgins, and Iosivas to stretch a defense.
RD. 3 - 97th Overall:
Blake Fisher - OT - Notre Dame - 6'6" 310
The signing of Trent Brown made the focus on RT in the first not a priority. However, the Bengals are fortunate enough to land a starting caliber RT at the end of the 3rd round. Fisher will benefit from having a full season to hone his technique and to acclimate to the NFL while learning from two very good OTs in the Brown bookends. Fisher comes with immense natural talent and abilities with the size and length that you are looking for in a NFL OT. He plays a rather complete brand of football but does need to work to polish some aspects of his technique. While he may not make an immediate impact if Trent Brown does not return in '25 then this will be an extremely important selection for the Bengals.
RD. 4 - 115th Overall:
Cade Stover - TE - The Ohio State - 6'4" 247
The Bengals miss on Baby Gronk in the 1st but they land Farmer Gronk in the 4th. Stover is a high end receiving talent at the TE position and adds the best receiving weapon that the Bengals have had at the position since Joe Burrow was drafted. Stover is a polished route runner that can create separation with his ability to snap in and out of his breaks. He has the speed to test the defense at all levels and can produce yards after the ball is in his hands and punish tacklers that take him on. He is a capable blocker but nothing near what makes Bowers the best TE in this class but he has the attitude and aptitude to improve his blocking abilities.
RD. 5 - 149th Overall:
Zak Zinter - OL - Michigan - 6'6" 309
The Bengals need to starting building depth on their interior line with both Volson and Cappa being free agents after the '25 season. Zinter is a player that is capable of lining up at all 3 interior positions. While he has not played center in a game he has taken extensive practice snaps at center in his tenure with the Wolverines. Zinter is a very technically savvy lineman that plays with the nasty disposition that you want in a lineman. Zinter was a team captain on a line that the Joe Moore award winner as well as him being a finalist for the Academic Heisman, The William V. Campbell Trophy. Could take a flyer on the '24 season as he is recovering from a broken leg in November.
RD. 6 - 194th Overall:
Hunter Nourzad - C - Penn State - 6'3" 317
Karras is a free agent after the '24 season and the Bengals may very well have landed his replacement in Nourzad. Hunter has played in a very physical conference and has done it at an extremely high level. There are those that feel that he is capable of being an early starter in the NFL. Hunter will have a season to learn from one of the best how to play center at the NFL level and how to be an outstanding human being. He is experienced at guard as well so could be valuable depth off of the bench in '24.
RD. 6 - 214th Overall:
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - RB - Purdue - 5'11" 209
The Bengals add a RB who many feel is on the rise. Tracy has only had a single season as a full time starter as a RB. Tracy was a transfer from Iowa where he played WR. That single season as a starting RB showed a player that is naturally talented and very capable at the position. He makes for a difficult matchup for linebackers trying to cover him and after making the catch is capable of producing solid yards. Tracy also offers real value as a returner and on kick coverage.
RD. 7 - 224th Overall:
Kamal Hadden - CB - Tennessee - 6'1" 196
Hadden had his season cut short with a shoulder injury but prior to that he was consistently facing some of the most talented receivers in college football on a rather regular basis and doing it rather successfully. Hadden brings outstanding size and length to the corner position but will need to prove that he can handle the long speed at the NFL level. Hadden could prove extremely valuable as a specialty corner covering TEs that the Bengals have notoriously struggled to cover. A very experienced corner that adds real depth to the secondary room.
RD. 7 - 237th Overall:
Trent Taylor - S - Air Force - 6'0" 209
The Bengals are sitting pretty good with Stone, Battle, and Bell but it seems they may be considering Hill more at the CB position and Andersen just cannot stay healthy. Taylor is an absolute ballhawk that plays a brand of football that translates well to the NFL. Beyond what they are getting in a football player they are getting an outstanding human being and after listening to even a single interview with this young man it becomes extremely apparent the great person that he is and the influence that he could have on a locker room. Taylor is not subject to military deferment so immediately can report to an NFL team.
Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo - 6'0" 195
The Bengals are dangerously thin at corner and this selection gives them arguably the best corner in the draft and an instant impact player for the Anarumo defense. Mitchell checks the boxes for size, length, and physicality and to go with them he add elite speed and outstanding instincts. Some will argue that he played in the MAC but that sure did not seem to bother him at the Senior Bowl, where he was clearly the best corner in Mobile. Mitchell needs to continue to hone his technique but he plays a brand of football that should translate to the NFL. With this selection I would imagine the two starting boundary corners with be Mitchell and CTB which would slide Turner to heir apparent of the nickel position of Hilton.
This is a great value selection for the Bengals which gives them a dominant presence at corner which is extremely important in the NFL game.
RD. 2 - 49th Overall:
T'Vondre Sweat - DT - Texas - 6'4.5" 366
I would rank NT as the single biggest position of need for the Bengals and CB as second. However, there is not a NT carrying a first round grade in this draft but in the second they get the best pure NT in this draft. Sweat is the reigning Outland Trophy winner and while his running mate Murphy is considered the best DT in the draft I would say that Sweat carries the title of best NT in this draft. In the NFL and especially the AFC North, stopping the run is paramount to a successful defense. Sweat is a space filling, block eating, run stuffing machine that fills the void left by the loss of Reader. Sweat should step in day1 as the starter and not look back.
Another excellent BPA/Need ratio selection for the Bengals.
RD. 3 - 80th Overall:
Malachi Corley - WR - W. Kentucky - 5'11" 215
He has been compared to Deebo Samuel and like Samuel I believe that Corley is a very gifted talent that can do many different things for an offense. While he may not be an elite field stretching WR he brings a skillset that defenses will have to scheme for with the many things he is able to do. Corley could be better version of Tyler Boyd in the many different ways that he could move the chains for an offense. This just adds even more depth to the ways that the Bengals offense will be able to attack a defense and he should compliment the ability of Chase, Higgins, and Iosivas to stretch a defense.
RD. 3 - 97th Overall:
Blake Fisher - OT - Notre Dame - 6'6" 310
The signing of Trent Brown made the focus on RT in the first not a priority. However, the Bengals are fortunate enough to land a starting caliber RT at the end of the 3rd round. Fisher will benefit from having a full season to hone his technique and to acclimate to the NFL while learning from two very good OTs in the Brown bookends. Fisher comes with immense natural talent and abilities with the size and length that you are looking for in a NFL OT. He plays a rather complete brand of football but does need to work to polish some aspects of his technique. While he may not make an immediate impact if Trent Brown does not return in '25 then this will be an extremely important selection for the Bengals.
RD. 4 - 115th Overall:
Cade Stover - TE - The Ohio State - 6'4" 247
The Bengals miss on Baby Gronk in the 1st but they land Farmer Gronk in the 4th. Stover is a high end receiving talent at the TE position and adds the best receiving weapon that the Bengals have had at the position since Joe Burrow was drafted. Stover is a polished route runner that can create separation with his ability to snap in and out of his breaks. He has the speed to test the defense at all levels and can produce yards after the ball is in his hands and punish tacklers that take him on. He is a capable blocker but nothing near what makes Bowers the best TE in this class but he has the attitude and aptitude to improve his blocking abilities.
RD. 5 - 149th Overall:
Zak Zinter - OL - Michigan - 6'6" 309
The Bengals need to starting building depth on their interior line with both Volson and Cappa being free agents after the '25 season. Zinter is a player that is capable of lining up at all 3 interior positions. While he has not played center in a game he has taken extensive practice snaps at center in his tenure with the Wolverines. Zinter is a very technically savvy lineman that plays with the nasty disposition that you want in a lineman. Zinter was a team captain on a line that the Joe Moore award winner as well as him being a finalist for the Academic Heisman, The William V. Campbell Trophy. Could take a flyer on the '24 season as he is recovering from a broken leg in November.
RD. 6 - 194th Overall:
Hunter Nourzad - C - Penn State - 6'3" 317
Karras is a free agent after the '24 season and the Bengals may very well have landed his replacement in Nourzad. Hunter has played in a very physical conference and has done it at an extremely high level. There are those that feel that he is capable of being an early starter in the NFL. Hunter will have a season to learn from one of the best how to play center at the NFL level and how to be an outstanding human being. He is experienced at guard as well so could be valuable depth off of the bench in '24.
RD. 6 - 214th Overall:
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - RB - Purdue - 5'11" 209
The Bengals add a RB who many feel is on the rise. Tracy has only had a single season as a full time starter as a RB. Tracy was a transfer from Iowa where he played WR. That single season as a starting RB showed a player that is naturally talented and very capable at the position. He makes for a difficult matchup for linebackers trying to cover him and after making the catch is capable of producing solid yards. Tracy also offers real value as a returner and on kick coverage.
RD. 7 - 224th Overall:
Kamal Hadden - CB - Tennessee - 6'1" 196
Hadden had his season cut short with a shoulder injury but prior to that he was consistently facing some of the most talented receivers in college football on a rather regular basis and doing it rather successfully. Hadden brings outstanding size and length to the corner position but will need to prove that he can handle the long speed at the NFL level. Hadden could prove extremely valuable as a specialty corner covering TEs that the Bengals have notoriously struggled to cover. A very experienced corner that adds real depth to the secondary room.
RD. 7 - 237th Overall:
Trent Taylor - S - Air Force - 6'0" 209
The Bengals are sitting pretty good with Stone, Battle, and Bell but it seems they may be considering Hill more at the CB position and Andersen just cannot stay healthy. Taylor is an absolute ballhawk that plays a brand of football that translates well to the NFL. Beyond what they are getting in a football player they are getting an outstanding human being and after listening to even a single interview with this young man it becomes extremely apparent the great person that he is and the influence that he could have on a locker room. Taylor is not subject to military deferment so immediately can report to an NFL team.
