The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 with 10 picks over the three-day draft.
Saturday began with the Bengals adding to the offensive with Iowa tight end Erick All. The Fairfield High School product comes from a program that’s produced top tight ends in recent years including George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson and Sam LaPorta. The big question with All will be whether he can get and stay healthy.
Friday’s Day 2 saw the Bengals address some needs. They took Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins with pick No. 49 and the national champion Wolverine could fill the void left by D.J. Reader’s exit in free agency. In the third round, they selected Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton with the No. 80 pick. The speedster should offer a vertical threat for a team in need of explosive plays. They swung back to defense at pick No. 97 to take Texas A&M defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson. That was much earlier than Jackson’s draft projections but Cincinnati wanted to double down after failing to address the position enough in free agency.
GO DEEPER
Why Bengals took a surprising shift out of character for Jermaine Burton
On Thursday, the Bengals made Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims their first pick with the No. 18 selection. At 6-7, 340 pounds, Mims fits the mold of giant offensive tackle the Bengals have preferred. He’s raw with limited starts at Georgia, but won’t necessarily have to make an immediate impact with Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle and newly signed veteran Trent Brown on the right side. Cincinnati hopes Mims can protect quarterback Joe Burrow for years to come.
GO DEEPER
For Bengals, only thing larger than Amarius Mims is the risk-reward
The Bengals came into the draft with priorities at defensive tackle, offensive tackle and wide receiver, as well as depth pieces at interior offensive line and a wild card of cornerback always on the table.
After back-to-back middling draft classes, bills coming due at quarterback and receiver, plus 10 picks with the potential to add more, this becomes a foundational draft to determine the team’s long-term sustainability. Protecting Burrow is always a priority and Mims will be expected to fill that need.
NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, picks and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Round 1 | Rounds 2-3
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
The Bengals have Super Bowl hopes and this season with Higgins seems like an all-in effort to achieve that goal. This draft has the potential to fill some needs and add depth to bolster their chances.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Bengals pick.
GO DEEPER
NFL Draft 2024 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports and player rankings
Round 1
No. 18: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
How he fits
Mims might be the freakiest athlete in the entire draft. The 6-foot-7, 340-pounder has 36 ⅛-inch arms and a near 87-inch wingspan (and 11 ¼-inch hands). A massive human, Mims also runs like a tight end and can deliver a punch that will de-cleat anybody. His ceiling is more or less out of this world. His floor, however? That’s another conversation. Mims only started eight games during his three years at Georgia, missing six last year with an ankle injury. A right tackle only in college, Mims still makes a ton of youthful mistakes with his eyes and feet and will fall off blocks far too easily. However, with time in an NFL system and the right offensive line coach, he could develop into a true star in front of Joe Burrow. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler analysis
Mims isn’t as far along fundamentally (especially in the run game) as other tackles in the class, but he is a natural in pass protection with above-average length, footwork and body twitch to handle different types of edge rushers. Though there is projection involved with his draft grade, his best football is ahead of him, and he has the talent to become a long-term starter at left or right tackle.
Paul Dehner Jr.’s analysis
Bengals draft Amarius Mims: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: B+
NFL Draft 2024 grades for all 32 picks in Round 1: Williams an A, Penix earns a C
Round 2
No. 49: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
How he fits
The Bengals were in desperate need of help stopping the run. DJ Reader left for Detroit. Sheldon Rankins is more of a pass-rushing acquisition. The fact Jenkins was available at 49 was an ideal fit for the fabric of this team and coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense. The two-time captain brings elite character/leadership, NFL bloodlines as the son and nephew of former pros and among the freakiest athletic traits in the draft. He ranked in the 99th percentile for run stop percentage, via PFF. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Dane Brugler analysis
Jenkins might never be a high-production interior player, but he is light on his feet and heavy with his hands with the “do my job” mentality that NFL defensive coordinators appreciate. He projects as an NFL starter as a one-gapping tackle on the interior or two-gapping strongside defensive end.
Paul Dehner Jr.’s analysis
Bengals draft Kris Jenkins: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Scott Dochterman’s grade: A
NFL Draft Rounds 2 and 3 grades: Patriots reach for Fiske, Eagles earn A for DeJean
Round 3
No. 80: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
How he fits
One of the more improved receivers in this class over the last two seasons, Burton blossomed into a big-time ball-tracker in the air who made a ton of big plays with Jalen Milroe (and Bryce Young). Burton didn’t have the type of college career people expected (transferred from Georgia to Alabama early on), but finished better than he started and has room to grow if he maintains that track. — Nick Baumgardner
Dane Brugler analysis
Burton underperformed in college and still has maturing to do, but he has NFL-level athleticism and ball skills, which make him worth the gamble on draft weekend. He will be a better pro than college player — if he stays football-focused.
Paul Dehner Jr.’s analysis
The Bengals go with a wide receiver with plenty of speed to burn, but questions about his background. His skills are those deserving of being much higher up the board. Burton led the SEC in yards per reception in 2023 and he’s an explosive downfield threat, and the Bengals are a team in need of more explosive plays. The rest of it is the question. Cincinnati has WR coach Troy Walters, one of the best in the business. There’s plenty on him with this pick.
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: B
NFL Draft Rounds 2 and 3 grades: Patriots reach for Fiske, Eagles earn A for DeJean
No. 97 (compensatory): McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
How he fits
The Bengals have made it abundantly clear they plan to bulk up in the trenches in this draft. By adding Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson, Cincinnati has added a defensive tackle who will eat up space and spell the starters for a few years. Jackson (6-1 ½, 326) was projected as a sixth-rounder, so this is a reach. But he might help keep the starters fresh for a series each half. — Scott Dochterman
Dane Brugler analysis
Jackson has a desirable nose tackle body type with his arm length, low center and raw power, but his disjointed hand usage and positional instincts are concerns for his next-level transition. He is a candidate to provide depth as a shade in a 4-3 front.
Paul Dehner Jr.’s analysis
The biggest error — or plan that went awry — for the Bengals during free agency was failing to accomplish what they wanted at DT. They use two of their first four picks to right that wrong. Second-round pick Kris Jenkins is the versatile, rotational piece as a run-stopper in the middle. McKinnley Jackson would be the new Josh Tupou: big body, nose tackle, run stopper.
The Bengals took Jackson earlier than his draft projection because they could not afford to miss at this spot. Doing so for one of the few big bodies who could do the job in their mind is paying the price for free agency.
Scott Dochterman’s grade: C-
NFL Draft Rounds 2 and 3 grades: Patriots reach for Fiske, Eagles earn A for DeJean
Round 4
No. 115: Erick All, TE, Iowa
How he fits
You can rarely go wrong with Iowa tight ends. The big question with All, a local product who attended Fairfield High School, will be health. Underwent “life-changing spinal surgery,” in 2022, according to Dane Brugler. He then tore his ACL last season. But yes, if healthy, he looks the part.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher points out All was a captain at Michigan before his transfer to Iowa and was “having a hell of a season before his unfortunate injury (ACL)” for the Hawkeyes. Pitcher says he’s extremely versatile to be used throughout the offense. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A one-year starter at Iowa, All was a “move” tight end in former offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s pro-style spread scheme (56.2 percent of his snaps in the slot, 41.3 percent inline). After four years in Ann Arbor, he needed a fresh start following his 2022 back injury. He then led Iowa in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2023, despite missing the final seven games (ACL tear).
A promising pass catcher, All shows athletic movements up and down the field with natural tracking skills, although he needs to cut back on focus drops. Though he is more strong than powerful, All is competent as a blocker with his ability to locate and hook defenders from the backfield or wing.
Overall, All needs to continue developing his consistency, but he is solid across the board with his athletic receiving traits and willingness as a blocker. If healthy (a big “if”), he projects as a No. 2 tight end on an NFL depth chart, as an F tight end or H-back.
Round 5
No. 149
Round 6
No. 194
No. 214 (compensatory)
Round 7
No. 224 (from Texans)
No. 237
(Photo of Erick All: Jeffrey Becker / USA Today)
