Cincinnati Bengals: The team is in an odd situation. On the one hand, they have some weaknesses on their roster and are coming off of a very poor season. However, the team owns the 18th pick and Joe Burrow continues to play at quarterback.
There is a tiny minority of Bengals fans that think Cincinnati should add another weapon, despite the team’s general consensus that they should sign an offensive lineman regardless of the cost. In either case, the Bengals will acquire a legitimate player regardless of what they decide. In the NFL, rookies consistently have an effect and develop into stars. They might use their fame to their advantage by endorsing products and even creating their own brands or trademarks. They can even create personalised mouthguards instead of just bizarre cleats (maybe with the NFL not fining them).
Due to the inevitable chaos of the NFL Draft and the expectation that three to five quarterbacks will be selected before Cincinnati makes its selection, there’s a good chance that a player the team has rated in the top ten will be available. There are lots of alternatives.
The team still has a remote chance of trading up. Six of the Bengals’ 12 pick-for-pick transactions, though, were trades up. The franchise has never traded up to 60 (Cam Taylor-Britt in 2022), so trading up would be historic.
Options for the Cincinnati Bengals First-Round Pick
Protect Joe Burrow
The offensive line was still a weakness even with its recent improvements. Jonah Williams will probably sign a free agent contract elsewhere after his time in Cincinnati is over. The team may also try to strengthen the left guard position. Even though Cordell Volson has shown wonderful qualities in his time, the Bengals ought to upgrade the position if they can.
At 18, guard is probably not the best option. They wait according to draft money and positional value. Conversely, tackle is more than just in play. Bengals supporters have been drawn to the name Taliese Fuaga. Given that Fuaga is a physical specimen and will soar up boards during testing, it makes sense.
Full Taliese Fuaga Scouting Report
The slightly more plausible choice is Alabama’s JC Latham. Latham is a huge man with a lot of strength in the pass and run game. Fans will focus mostly on his performance during the College Football Playoffs due to his recent history, but he has a strong body of work that makes him a first-round pick for the Bengals.
Full JC Latham Scouting Report
Amarius Mims of Georgia would be a high-upside but somewhat dangerous choice. Despite having very little playing time, Mims proved he was a player worthy of the NFL. Nevertheless, he had a major ankle injury and only started six games. In spite of this, he’s really taking off, and as he tests, he’ll probably keep climbing the draft boards.
Full Amarius Mims Scouting Report
Nuclear Arms Race
You can never have too many toys, and all bets are off if the Bengals make an effort to fill the void at right tackle during the offseason. Although the Bengals decided to assign Tee Higgins the Franchise Tag for the 2024 season (and, absent a highly unusual tag-and-trade for this team, he will be wearing the Bengals uniform), Cincinnati may increase Burrow’s array of weapons.
Brock Bowers of Georgia is a rare breed and quite likely the most interesting prospect who may finish anywhere from fifth to twentieth overall. The thought of a Burrow/Bowers connection has Cincinnati supporters frothing at the mouth since the gifted tight end’s breakout three years ago. He’s the whole deal and has the potential to
Full Brock Bowers Scouting Report
Maintaining the receiving corps’ retooling is an additional choice. The Bengals do like to draft a year ahead of schedule, albeit it’s quite unlikely. They were able to do so with Tee Higgins for A.J. Green and Jessie Bates for Shawn Williams. Brian Thomas, Jr. is a name to keep an eye on in this area. Another product of LSU, Thomas Jr. was the WR2 in an offence that also included Malik Nabers. With 17 touchdown catches and 1,177 yards, Thomas, Jr. topped the country in receiving yards. Once more, while Nabers is sharing the pitch.
Full Brian Thomas, Jr. Scouting Report
What Wins Championships?
Last year, the Bengals defense was disappointing for a number of reasons. Injuries were everywhere but even when healthy, Cincinnati had to rely too much on the defense due to the early-season anemic offense. Going the defensive route would not be surprising, of course. Ever since the team double-dipped with Ja’Marr Chase and Jackson Carmen in 2021, the Bengals have spent six picks over the first three rounds of the last two drafts. Could they do more in 2024? There are a few defenders who could end up in stripes and the franchise could break a 30-year drought in selecting first-round defensive tackles. Jer’Zhan Newton and, quite possibly, Byron Murphy are options.
Newton was a force at Illinois and has positional flexibility. With D.J. Reader’s future uncertain, the Bengals have a serious need at interior defensive line. Newton can do whatever is needed and has an elite get-off. He is also a great athlete despite his size.
Full Jer’Zhan Newton Scouting Report
Murphy has been a player that many expect to rocket up draft boards as he works out for the Combine. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is a bit on the shorter side but has all of the other tools the Bengals would love. He’s also quick off the snap and is often not out-leveraged.
Full Byron Murphy Scouting Report
Stockpile Capital
The Cincinnati Bengals can always hold onto their draft capital and trade back. The Bengals are in a great position to trade back and still acquire a top player at the age of 18. A number of elite players might fall on the board, and Duke Tobin could still acquire more picks by trading back for guys like Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, an interior offensive lineman.
If the Bengals are looking to replace Higgins, there are still a handful of receivers who will be selected in the first round if the offensive line is not the goal. Xavier Worthy of Texas could be a possibility, contingent on the extent of their trade return.
Quinyon Mitchell might be the Bengals’ selection when they trade back into the mid-to late-20s after showing off at the Combine.
No matter what, Cincinnati will select the best player available. The Bengals have a lot of options at their disposal, but they must make sure they choose wisely. Only Joe Burrow, a first-round selection, has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Bengals since Dre Kirkpatrick signed his contract. Many fifth-year options were selected, but none of them were reinstated. Cincinnati needs to make the most out of the Super Bowl window, and starting with the 18th overall pick, they need to nail every single pick.
