It's dangerous to draft players solely for their impact as rookies. The best teams stack young talent at the most valuable positions and develop them into starters in due time. Relying on the most inexperienced players on your roster is the definition of risky.

The Cincinnati Bengals have selectively abided by this in the Zac Taylor era. They've drafted primarily for the future the last two years when drafting late in the order, but they've become one of the best teams in the NFL because of how quickly some of their top picks have panned out. See Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.

The foundation is very much set. The 2023 NFL Draft became another opportunity to fill future roster holes with players who could feasibly play right now. And some of them will.

Grading individual picks usually reflect a combination of immediate and long-term impact, but these rankings are specifically focusing on the 2023 season. Starting from the most impactful to least, here's how the Bengals' draft class looks from a one-year perspective: 

1. Chase Brown, Running back (fifth-round pick)

This was going to be whichever running back they drafted to complement Joe Mixon. Brown has decent-sized shoes to fill now that Samaje Perine has moved on. He could become the team’s new third-down back, or end up as the bell cow before the season concludes.

2. Myles Murphy, Edge defender (first-round pick)

Murphy will find the field early and often as defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will utilize one of the deeper rotations at edge defender he’s ever had. Murphy’s footprints will be most visible late into the year when Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard look to catch their breath for the playoffs. 

3. Brad Robbins, Punter (sixth-round pick)

He’s a punter, but he was drafted to be the best punter on the team. The AFC Championship was partly decided by Drue Chrisman’s inadequate final boot against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals don’t want to be in the same situation again. Robbins is likely to have an impact every single week, and a positive one at that.

4. Charlie Jones, Wide receiver/return specialist (fourth-round pick)

He may not catch 10 passes all year, but Jones will make the roster and be active on game days because of his returning ability. He fielded kickoffs and punts in college, and was the Big 10 return specialist of the year in 2021. He’s coming for Trent Taylor’s spot, and he’ll likely win it. 

5. DJ Turner II, Cornerback (second-round pick)

Make no mistake about it, Turner will get on the field this year. The Bengals have consistently relied on four corners over the last two years, and Turner is essentially replacing Eli Apple. The best case scenario is that both Chidobe Awuzie and Cam Taylor-Britt stay healthy for the entire year. Turner is a great insurance policy. 

6. Jordan Battle, Safety (third-round pick)

Battle is by far the biggest wild card here and may end up being more impactful than Turner. The coaching staff is already enamored with him, and he was in consideration to be selected with their second-round pick. Does that mean he’ll actually start this year over one of Dax Hill or Nick Scott? Time will tell. For now, he’s the third safety.

7. Andrei Iosivas, Wide receiver (sixth-round pick)

While he’s a fascinating project, Iosivas is exactly that: a project. If he’s on the roster for the entire season, he’ll likely be a healthy scratch for all 17 games. He may be too enticing to keep off the team entirely, and too risky to stash on the practice squad, but the offense will only turn to him in emergencies this year.

8. DJ Ivey, Cornerback (seventh-round pick)

No disrespect to a drafted player, but Ivey isn’t likely to make the final roster. He joins a stacked cornerback room, and will have to battle players like Allan George and Jalen Davis to actually find a spot. It’s hard for seventh-round picks to contribute in general as rookies. He’s a prime practice squad candidate.