03-16-2024, 09:05 PM
RD. 1 - 18th Selection:
Byron Murphy - DT - Texas - 6'0.5" 297
Murphy is hands down the best DT in the draft and what I saw watching as much Texas tape I could find is that when him and Sweat were on the field together that he drew as many if not more double teams than Sweat did and that he handled those double teams as well if not better. Murphy is just grown man strong and his first step for an interior player is excellent. I think often we get caught up with size as a determiner for the NT position, I can admit that I have, and do not give credence to smaller players for the NT role.
Murphy lined up as a true NT for Texas when they went to an odd front. In 4 man fronts, as I have stated, he regularly caught double teams and when doubled he would keep his head up and determine which direction the play was going and then on a consistent basis would be able to disengage himself from the double to pursue the play. On passing downs Murphy serious threat to get to the QB and much of that has to do with the wicked first step. Murphy could probably add 8-10 pounds to his frame and not lose an ounce of quickness.
In a draft deep with RT prospects the Bengals stay put and take the best DT in the draft!
RD. 2 - 49th Selection:
Ricky Pearsall - WR - Florida - 6'1" 189
With Boyd moving on and the days seemingly numbered for Higgins (a trade for a selection on draft day?) the Bengals need to add to the WR room and they do that with a good one here. It does not take much film watching to really like this kid and to see that he is going to leave it all on the field each time he steps out there. Pearsall is a worker who has good speed, absolutely outstanding hands, and does the little things that a receiver needs to do to separate and get himself open. Fearless over the middle and will flat lay out to make a catch.
Pearsall is a QBs dream when it comes to making the catch and making himself available. As well Pearsall showed real values as a WR that can be used in sweeps and screens and he is a good blocker downfield. The staff should love having this kid in their WR room.
RD. 3 - 80th Selection:
Blake Fisher - OT - Notre Dame - 6'6" 310
And AFC personnel executive stated that of the two ND tackles that Fisher is the more naturally talented and that Alt is just more technically sound. I have watched all the tape I have been able to find on Fisher and I see a kid that walks out there and starts on day 1 if necessary. Yes, there are small technical issues he will need to clean up but they absolutely should be coachable fixes. I believe the biggest issue you will find with Fisher is occasional poor hand placement and now and then slow off of the snap but has the athleticism to recover from it.
Fisher has the athleticism to mirror speed rushers and the natural strength and power to sit down and anchor against power rushers. Fisher provides the athleticism and power combination that he could play either side and excel.
RD. 3 - 97th Selection:
Zak Zinter - OL - Michigan - 6'6" 309
Karras is a FA after '24 and the Bengals need to be considering the future at C for this team. ZInter is by far the best player on the Michigan offensive line and while he did not play center during the season he took extensive practice snaps at the position. Zinter is talented enough to play any interior line position. He brings physicality, technique, and football IQ to the interior of the line. He is recovering from a broken leg so taking a flyer on the '24 season could be in the cards or he could be a value depth piece should he prove 100% healthy.
Zinter just does not get dominated on the line and he is a great piece to begin building for the future with. As mentioned Karras is a FA after '24 and Volson and Cappa both after '25.
RD. 4 - 115th Selection:
Ben Sinnott - TE - Kansas State - 6'4" 250
Bringing in Gesicki for a season is a good move by the Bengals, I would have liked to have seen at least 2 years. Hudson has re-signed for the '24 season as well and again I would like to have seen at least 2 years. While the Bengals look pretty good for the '24 season they again need to look to the future. Sinnott looks to be a very solid piece for the future but I see him pressing for snaps in '24 as well.
Sinnott is strong as receiving TE and has ran a pretty diverse route tree for K State and was utilized at all three levels of the defense. Sinnott has really good hands, gets in and out of his breaks well, and has displayed the ability to gain yards after the catch. He is a chain mover that could help the Bengals in moving on from Boyd as their third down target. While not be a dominating blocker Sinnott is also not a pushover as an inline blocker. Overall, he should be a really good addition to the Bengals offense and is solid all the way around.
RD. 5 - 149th Selection:
Elijah Jones - CB - Boston College - 6'1.5" 185
Ball skills! This kid knows how to take the ball away. He is a CB that brings good size, speed, and length to the position and he consistently turns to find the football when in man coverage. He is experienced in man as well as off coverage and he has shown to be an outstanding zone corner who makes outstanding breaks on the ball when it enters into his part of the field. Overall, Jones is a pretty solid corner that should be just what the Bengals are looking for to add quality depth to the room with departure of Awuzie and the uncertainty of Ivey after his injury.
RD. 6 - 194th Selection:
Brandon Colemen - OL - TCU - 6'4.5" 313
Coleman played both LT and LG for the Horned Frogs but his best tape was on the interior. As a guard he brings elite length to the position to go along with really good power. Displayed the ability to make the initial block and then climb to the second level and make effective blocks at the second level as well. While he offers tackle versatility he certainly brings more value to the guard position and while he has some technique issues to clean up he could be a key cog in the future of the Bengals interior line while adding quality depth for the instant future.
RD. 6 - 214th Selection:
Keith Randolph Jr. - DT - Illinois - 6'3.5" 296
When the Bengals has Reader they had the issue of having difficulty stopping the run when he needed a break. Randolph brings many similarities to Murphy in that he is an outstanding run stopper while being undersized by most standards. Again, like Murphy he is a kid that could appear to easily put on 8-10 pounds without slowing him down. He is extremely strong inside and consistently filled the stat sheets with tackles while at Illinois. He is a kid that could make coaches breath easier when the need to pull Murphy to give him a breather. Team captain and by all accounts a great locker room presence.
RD. 7 - 224th Selection:
Dwight McGlothern - CB - Arkansas - 6'2" 185
McGlothern is another kid that brings good size, speed, and length to the corner position as well as having good ball skills like Jones earlier. He needs to continue to work to become stronger as a run supporter but he has some true skills to work with and should be a really solid depth piece for the corner back room.
RD. 7 - 237th Selection:
Jordan Whittington - WR - Texas - 6'1" 205
Whittington is a very solidly built receiver who is much like a RB once the ball is in his hands. What he did for Texas was the little dirty work that role players do such as moving the chains and blocking down field. He is an extremely tough player with outstanding intangibles. He could be a kid that excels as a special teams player and works himself onto the bottom of the roster while adding real value.
Byron Murphy - DT - Texas - 6'0.5" 297
Murphy is hands down the best DT in the draft and what I saw watching as much Texas tape I could find is that when him and Sweat were on the field together that he drew as many if not more double teams than Sweat did and that he handled those double teams as well if not better. Murphy is just grown man strong and his first step for an interior player is excellent. I think often we get caught up with size as a determiner for the NT position, I can admit that I have, and do not give credence to smaller players for the NT role.
Murphy lined up as a true NT for Texas when they went to an odd front. In 4 man fronts, as I have stated, he regularly caught double teams and when doubled he would keep his head up and determine which direction the play was going and then on a consistent basis would be able to disengage himself from the double to pursue the play. On passing downs Murphy serious threat to get to the QB and much of that has to do with the wicked first step. Murphy could probably add 8-10 pounds to his frame and not lose an ounce of quickness.
In a draft deep with RT prospects the Bengals stay put and take the best DT in the draft!
RD. 2 - 49th Selection:
Ricky Pearsall - WR - Florida - 6'1" 189
With Boyd moving on and the days seemingly numbered for Higgins (a trade for a selection on draft day?) the Bengals need to add to the WR room and they do that with a good one here. It does not take much film watching to really like this kid and to see that he is going to leave it all on the field each time he steps out there. Pearsall is a worker who has good speed, absolutely outstanding hands, and does the little things that a receiver needs to do to separate and get himself open. Fearless over the middle and will flat lay out to make a catch.
Pearsall is a QBs dream when it comes to making the catch and making himself available. As well Pearsall showed real values as a WR that can be used in sweeps and screens and he is a good blocker downfield. The staff should love having this kid in their WR room.
RD. 3 - 80th Selection:
Blake Fisher - OT - Notre Dame - 6'6" 310
And AFC personnel executive stated that of the two ND tackles that Fisher is the more naturally talented and that Alt is just more technically sound. I have watched all the tape I have been able to find on Fisher and I see a kid that walks out there and starts on day 1 if necessary. Yes, there are small technical issues he will need to clean up but they absolutely should be coachable fixes. I believe the biggest issue you will find with Fisher is occasional poor hand placement and now and then slow off of the snap but has the athleticism to recover from it.
Fisher has the athleticism to mirror speed rushers and the natural strength and power to sit down and anchor against power rushers. Fisher provides the athleticism and power combination that he could play either side and excel.
RD. 3 - 97th Selection:
Zak Zinter - OL - Michigan - 6'6" 309
Karras is a FA after '24 and the Bengals need to be considering the future at C for this team. ZInter is by far the best player on the Michigan offensive line and while he did not play center during the season he took extensive practice snaps at the position. Zinter is talented enough to play any interior line position. He brings physicality, technique, and football IQ to the interior of the line. He is recovering from a broken leg so taking a flyer on the '24 season could be in the cards or he could be a value depth piece should he prove 100% healthy.
Zinter just does not get dominated on the line and he is a great piece to begin building for the future with. As mentioned Karras is a FA after '24 and Volson and Cappa both after '25.
RD. 4 - 115th Selection:
Ben Sinnott - TE - Kansas State - 6'4" 250
Bringing in Gesicki for a season is a good move by the Bengals, I would have liked to have seen at least 2 years. Hudson has re-signed for the '24 season as well and again I would like to have seen at least 2 years. While the Bengals look pretty good for the '24 season they again need to look to the future. Sinnott looks to be a very solid piece for the future but I see him pressing for snaps in '24 as well.
Sinnott is strong as receiving TE and has ran a pretty diverse route tree for K State and was utilized at all three levels of the defense. Sinnott has really good hands, gets in and out of his breaks well, and has displayed the ability to gain yards after the catch. He is a chain mover that could help the Bengals in moving on from Boyd as their third down target. While not be a dominating blocker Sinnott is also not a pushover as an inline blocker. Overall, he should be a really good addition to the Bengals offense and is solid all the way around.
RD. 5 - 149th Selection:
Elijah Jones - CB - Boston College - 6'1.5" 185
Ball skills! This kid knows how to take the ball away. He is a CB that brings good size, speed, and length to the position and he consistently turns to find the football when in man coverage. He is experienced in man as well as off coverage and he has shown to be an outstanding zone corner who makes outstanding breaks on the ball when it enters into his part of the field. Overall, Jones is a pretty solid corner that should be just what the Bengals are looking for to add quality depth to the room with departure of Awuzie and the uncertainty of Ivey after his injury.
RD. 6 - 194th Selection:
Brandon Colemen - OL - TCU - 6'4.5" 313
Coleman played both LT and LG for the Horned Frogs but his best tape was on the interior. As a guard he brings elite length to the position to go along with really good power. Displayed the ability to make the initial block and then climb to the second level and make effective blocks at the second level as well. While he offers tackle versatility he certainly brings more value to the guard position and while he has some technique issues to clean up he could be a key cog in the future of the Bengals interior line while adding quality depth for the instant future.
RD. 6 - 214th Selection:
Keith Randolph Jr. - DT - Illinois - 6'3.5" 296
When the Bengals has Reader they had the issue of having difficulty stopping the run when he needed a break. Randolph brings many similarities to Murphy in that he is an outstanding run stopper while being undersized by most standards. Again, like Murphy he is a kid that could appear to easily put on 8-10 pounds without slowing him down. He is extremely strong inside and consistently filled the stat sheets with tackles while at Illinois. He is a kid that could make coaches breath easier when the need to pull Murphy to give him a breather. Team captain and by all accounts a great locker room presence.
RD. 7 - 224th Selection:
Dwight McGlothern - CB - Arkansas - 6'2" 185
McGlothern is another kid that brings good size, speed, and length to the corner position as well as having good ball skills like Jones earlier. He needs to continue to work to become stronger as a run supporter but he has some true skills to work with and should be a really solid depth piece for the corner back room.
RD. 7 - 237th Selection:
Jordan Whittington - WR - Texas - 6'1" 205
Whittington is a very solidly built receiver who is much like a RB once the ball is in his hands. What he did for Texas was the little dirty work that role players do such as moving the chains and blocking down field. He is an extremely tough player with outstanding intangibles. He could be a kid that excels as a special teams player and works himself onto the bottom of the roster while adding real value.
