Cincinnati Bengals: Comprehensive Analysis of First-Round Selection in Important 2024 NFL Draft

The Entire Cincinnati Draft Strategy Dissected

The NFL Draft will be the next significant event of the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2024 offseason, even if there are still a few weeks to go. The signings of defensive end Sheldon Rankins and offensive lineman Trent Brown have left the roster clear of any major openings that will need to be filled by emergency personnel in April. As a result, it appears uncertain who this club will choose because they will be making their decision in the midst of the first round.

Cincinnati can now search for any superstars who fall into the middle of the first round depending on the needs of other teams, as there is a suitable starter at every position. That is, after all, exceedingly typical: Jalen Carter, a defensive tackle last season, was regarded by many as the most skilled athlete, yet he was selected ninth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles because of other positional needs. At the very least, it ought to be the front office’s objective in Queen City going into the draft.

In the NFL Draft of 2024, who will the Cincinnati Bengals select?

Quarterback: Unlikely

The positions that Cincinnati will not choose in the first round will be the focus of our following stage. With great quarterback Joe Burrow, it’s a given that this team won’t be picking a quarterback in the first round of the draft—unless, perhaps, they want to take a backup. After that, considering the pool of players available, it is unlikely that this team will choose a pass rusher in the first round.

End of defense: Unlikely

Since they must play on the line of scrimmage in a 3-point stance, defensive ends in a 4-3 scheme usually need to weigh heavier (Cincinnati’s current ends are arguably underweight at 265 and 270). Both of these players don’t fit into the defensive strategy because of their lesser weight, and Cincinnati would have to go a little further to acquire the next real defensive end (Darius Robinson, ranked 25th).

Back on defense: Unlikely

Additionally, it is regarded as extremely unlikely that the team will choose a defensive back in this draft. In addition to four starting secondary players picked in the top three rounds during the previous two offseasons, the team added two free agents of starting caliber, Vonn Bell and Geno Stone. Although it is conceivable that the team would have high expectations for a cornerback that early on, there aren’t many strong defensive backs at the top of the class, with just two players (Tieron Arnold at number sixteen and Quinyon Mitchell at number twelve) ranked in the top 20. Without a positional necessity, it is unlikely that the team will settle for such picks.

Offensive Tackle: The Safest Option Available

Cincinnati’s greatest chance in the 2018 NFL Draft is to select one of the seven offensive tackles who are considered first-round prospects. Right tackle is probably the team’s most pressing need, even with Trent Brown’s cheap addition last week. Despite my repeated boasts over the previous several months that this club should take JC Latham (ranked 17th overall) with the 18th overall pick because of his stature, Tyler Guyton (ranked 29th overall) and Cincinnati left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. apparently have a relationship.

One could argue that Cincinnati ought to choose any one of the seven offensive tackles who are expected to be chosen in the first round. Whichever position you like, Cincinnati really couldn’t go wrong with this one at number eighteen.

Tight End: The Probability Is Exaggerated by Rumors

Rumors have circulated throughout the summer suggesting that Cincinnati will choose Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (ranked 10th) with the 18th overall pick. Tight ends are taken in the first round with an even lower success rate than most other positions, thus despite Bowers’ potential, there is some skepticism about this. Furthermore, it’s evident that Cincinnati doesn’t place much emphasis on the position after signing three straight role-player tight ends on relatively team-friendly contracts, the most recent being Mike Gesicki.

If chosen, Bowers might replace wide receiver Tee Higgins, who may be leaving this team. Bowers is perhaps regarded as one of the more gifted offensive players available. Nevertheless, selecting a tight end with a first-round choice seems unlikely for a franchise that obviously doesn’t value the position highly.

Protective Hit: Potential but Unlikely

After the hole is addressed at the right tackle position, it is pretty apparent that the next biggest hole on this roster is at the defensive tackle position.  Now you might be wondering how this team that is paying two defensive tackles north of $10 million apiece per season could possibly have a gap at that position but the reality is that even though there are two tackles available, there is a dichotomy present at defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense.

Both Sheldon Rankins and incumbent starter B.J. Hill fit the prototypical mold of the 3-technique defensive tackle at 305 and 311 pounds respectively.  That means that this team is missing the 1-technique defensive tackle or what is more commonly called the nose tackle.  D.J. Reader was an excellent nose tackle but left this offseason for the Detroit Lions.  That means that while the team (notably finishing last season close to the bottom defensively against the run) has two starting quality defensive tackles, they don’t have a big-bodied player who can stuff the inside run.

Even though this is arguably the biggest positional need left on the roster, the dichotomy of 1-technique to 3-technique tackles puts a serious limit on availability.  There are two defensive tackles projected as late first-round selections (Jer’Zhan Newton at 23rd and Byron Murphy at 24th) and they weigh in at 304 and 297 pounds respectively.  That means neither of these players would actually fill the need for Cincinnati and are unlikely to be drafted.

Frankly, the only nose tackle that should even be selected in the first two days of the entire draft would be Texas Longhorn T’Vondre Sweat who weighs in at 366 pounds.  Sweat is a monster of a man and is ranked by ESPN at 42nd overall.  That means that while Cincinnati will likely be keying in on bringing Sweat in to solve the positional hole on the defense, it is far more likely that the team will trade up ten spots in the second round to land the tackle.

Wide Receiver: If, Maybe and But…

The wide receiver position will be this set’s true wild card. In the unlikely event that Cincinnati trades Higgins before the NFL Draft—something they have stated repeatedly they won’t do—the 18th overall pick would be a great spot to select his successor. Three players—Rome Odunze (ranked ninth), Adonai Mitchell (ranked twentieth), and Brian Thomas Jr. (ranked twenty-first)—have a good chance of being selected by Cincinnati with the 18th choice.

Odunze has a slim chance of going through the first seventeen choices without being taken, but he would be a great substitute if Cincinnati took him. Although Thomas and Mitchell would both be good choices, it is unlikely that either player would significantly outperform other potential free agents who are still available at the position. Wide receiver is undoubtedly in the mix, but before it becomes a realistic possibility, Higgins must be dealt.

In summary
The chances are still much higher that Cincinnati will select an offensive or defensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft, even though having a full roster will allow them to select from a wide range of options in the draft.