One week remains until the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Cincinnati Bengals are well-positioned to advance from their AFC North fourth-place finish. The Bengals have a ton of options at 18 overall.
Cincinnati radio host Lance McAlister of 700WLW said that five players would likely be selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round. Due to the unpredictable nature of the NFL Draft paired with the fact that there will be a handful of high-end players available at 18, your guess is as good as ESPN’s computers. These five players, while being the most likely, combine for just 46.92%. So if “the field” is an option, take the field at 53.08%.
ESPN Analytics Best Odds for the Cincinnati Bengals First-Round Pick
Troy Fautanu, Tackle from Washington (13%)
When this was shared, Fautanu was easily the most disliked. Of all of the potential Tackle options, Fautanu looks to be the most likely but least desired among Bengals fans.
Protecting Joe Burrow is the name of the game. Of the five projected starters on the offensive line, Cincinnati only drafted Cordell Volson. Oddly enough, Volson is the weakest link and this pick likely would be expected to compete with him for the left guard job. Considering they would use a premium pick, Fauntau had better compete and win that job.
Fautanu’s strengths include positional and scheme versatility, he’s a mauler in the run game, and has good hand technique in pass protection. He can become the Bengals Week 1 starter at either guard spot or tackle (if needed).
The new right tackle, Trent Brown, is on a one-year deal. Fautanu could suit up at left tackle for 2024 and then kick out to right tackle in 2025 while the Bengals use a later pick for another guard. The Bengals need depth on the offensive line, so don’t be surprised if two or three picks are offensive line.
Fautanu would be a fine pick at 18. It wouldn’t move the needle and likely wouldn’t be as hype as, say, a Brock Bowers or elite defensive tackle pick. However, it would get the job done and the Bengals would absolutely be better off for it.
Byron Murphy, Defensive Tackle from Texas (9.84%)
Of this group of five potential Cincinnati picks, Murphy is this author’s favorite. Cincinnati has a gaping hole at interior defensive line. Even when DJ Reader was a Bengal, the pass rush (and, eventually, run defense) was severely lacking. Going into the draft, BJ Hill – who is a solid defensive tackle in his own right – and newly-acquired Sheldon Rankins are the top two.
The concern with Murphy generally lies with his size. He’s smaller than an NFL defensive tackle usually is and his arm length isn’t great. However, he makes up for it with an explosive first step and a plethora of pass-rushing moves.
It would not be surprising if the odds for Murphy are too high in reality because the team could look to fill the vacancy with Murphy’s former teammate, T’Vondre Sweat, later in the draft.
JC Latham, Tackle from Alabama (9.72%)
Helmet scouts will not love this pick. In the Nick Saban era at Alabama, Cincinnati has drafted two of his offensive linemen in the first round: Andre Smith (Sixth overall in 2009) and Jonah Williams (11th overall in 2019). Neither truly panned out as you’d expect as a first-round player.
Since 2000, the Bengals have used seven picks on first-round offensive linemen. Only Kevin Zeitler ended up as worth the capital…and the Bengals let him walk.
Latham has often been linked to the Bengals throughout the process. If the Bengals want to get big, Latham is their guy. He’s massive. Plus, he moves well for his size.
The red flag for many within the Cincinnati Bengals fandom is the fact that Latham did not test. The Bengals have not had good luck drafting offensive linemen who didn’t test (Cedric Ogbuehi, Billy Price, Jackson Carman, etc).
Brian Thomas, Jr., Wide Receiver from LSU (7.64%)
Perhaps the spiciest pick would be a wide receiver. On the surface, it sure looks like the Bengals don’t need receiver help. However, Tee Higgins is on the Franchise Tag and despite reaffirming he wants to be in Cincinnati, it doesn’t look like he’s going to be a Bengal beyond this year without a second tag.
Enter Brian Thomas. Jr., another LSU product.
Of course, Thomas was not a member of arguably the greatest College Football team of all time as Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase were. However, he was the number-two to likely top-10 pick, Malik Nabers.
Picking Thomas would be quite the decision. He’s a very solid receiver and even led the nation in touchdowns with 17 to go along with 1,177 yards.
This pick would certainly take the Bengals’ offense to a new level. For 2024, they would replace Tyler Boyd with a first-round talent. The best part of this would be the fact that it allows the Bengals to play around with formations a bit more.
Imagine both Higgins and Chase in the slots with Thomas and, who knows, Mike Gesicki out wide. Matchup nightmares.
Terrion Arnold, Cornerback from Alabama (6.72%)
Finally, the epitome of drafting Best Player Available. On paper, one would think the Bengals don’t need another corner.
Arnold is one of the best in the class. While he isn’t Quinyon Mitchell, he’s well worth the first-round pick and would be able to step in and be a serious one-two punch with Cam Taylor-Britt.
He’s a fluid defender who is more than willing to come downhill and defend the run. In a division with the Ravens and Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals must improve their run defense.
Arnold has a high football IQ and solid ball skills in coverage. He would certainly step in as a day-one starter.
