National media grades Bengals' 2023 NFL Draft
There's no shortage of talent when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals, especially offensively. However, there's no room for complacency in the NFL, and the Bengals aimed at making their roster better in last week's draft. Cincinnati lost safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell as well as right end Hayden Hurst in free agency. So, […]
There's no shortage of talent when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals, especially offensively. However, there's no room for complacency in the NFL, and the Bengals aimed at making their roster better in last week's draft.
Cincinnati lost safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell as well as right end Hayden Hurst in free agency. So, significant holes need to be filled by the Bengals. They didn't quite hit them all in the NFL Draft, but Cincinnati came away with a good haul of talent.
On Thursday, Eric Edholm of NFL.com put together a grade and some analysis about what the Bengals did in the draft, and his overall takeaway was pretty positive.
Grade: B-
The pass rush was an area that needed a little bolstering, so grabbing Myles Murphy near the end of Round 1 felt like a solid play. Murphy can spell Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard and also join them on a third-down package that floods quarterbacks with three or four pass rushers on the field together. Bottom line: No one's expecting Murphy to be a Day 1 starter here, but his length, mass and athleticism will be used right away. There might be somewhat-similar expectations for Cincinnati's next four picks, to varying degrees. DJ Turner II should be expected to contribute right away, but likely won't crack the top three CB spots. Turner's speed (combine-best 4.26 40-yard dash) and short-area quickness make him a natural slot option, perhaps as Mike Hilton's eventual replacement. The Jordan Battle pick was a bit of a surprise, given Cincy's depth at safety, but I'm not betting against him pushing Nick Scott for a job eventually. Charlie Jones might be the team's starting punt and kick returner, could beat out Trenton Irwin for WR4 duties and might eventually replace Tyler Boyd, who is in the final year of his deal. As of now, Joe Mixon is on the roster and the presumed starter — until he isn't. But Chase Brown absolutely cannot be counted out of this year's RB rotation, not with Samaje Perine gone and Mixon's status unclear amid his off-field legal issues. Brown was a workhorse for the Illini, but in the NFL, he might be best in a change-of-pace or third-down role. Andrei Iosivas has more deep speed than Jones but is less polished all around and might need a redshirt year. A sixth-round pick at punter, Brad Robbins figures to have a better chance to win the job than incumbent Drue Chrisman because of his hangtime, bad-weather experience and FG-holding ability. Seventh-rounder D.J. Ivey was a height-weight gamble late who finally developed in his last year at Miami.
The Bengals, if anything, got players that give them excellent depth for the 2023 season, and several could have significant roles soon.
