This is the second of four Cincinnati Bengals mock drafts we'll be doing leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. This edition will have five rounds, and each ensuing edition will have one more round added.

The second phase of NFL Draft season is in the books with the NFL Scouting Combine completed. We also have more information as to which positions and players the Bengals have expressed interest.

Now that we've confirmed athleticism testing and the full draft order, we're rolling out our second Bengals mock draft of the 2024 cycle. We've also got reference from A to Z Sports mock draft trends compiled by Travis May, and our Bengals prospect meeting tracker.

Spoiler: nearly every player listed below has met with the Bengals.

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Round 1 (18): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

A to Z Sports mock draft trends ADP: 18

The Bengals drafted edge defender Myles Murphy in the first round last year, and they further fortify their defensive line with another pass-rusher with the same last name here.

Murphy didn't light up the box score for the Longhorns last season, but his incredibly high pressure rate — a Power 5 defensive tackle leading 19.6% — combined with his confirmed elite athleticism paints a very bright picture for him at just 21 years of age. Murphy running 40 yards in 4.87 seconds and jumping 33" on the vertical with 111" on the broad jump at 6-1 and 297 pounds makes him one of the best 3-technique athletes in recent memory.

While an offensive tackle is surely in play here, I'm expecting the Bengals to have more success in finding a stop-gap option in free agency than they are to find an impact interior pass rusher like Murphy.  

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Round 2 (49): Patrick Paul, OT, Houston 

A to Z Sports mock draft trends ADP: 51 

An offensive tackle has to be picked early (you'd hope), and the Bengals showed immense interest in Paul at the Combine. He certainly fits the physical mold of what they seem to value at tackle nowadays: incredibly huge. Paul measured in at 6-7 and 331 pounds with over 36" arms in Indianapolis, and moved very well at that size with a 5.13 40-yard dash. 

There's definite questions with Paul's game. His pass blocking production is impressive (nine pressures allowed in 496 pass blocking snaps), but his punch needs work and he's never played right tackle before. He's also already 23 years old.

The best case is he sits a year to learn right tackle and correct his technical issues, if they can ironed out late in his development cycle.

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Round 3 (80): Brenden Rice, WR, USC

A to Z Sports mock draft trends ADP: 89 

Cincinnati has taken a wide receiver on day two of the last four leap year NFL Drafts going all the way back to second-round pick Jerome Simpson in 2008. Rice has a bit more of a pedigree than Simpson ever had.

The son of Jerry Rice was Caleb Williams' main source for touchdowns in 2023 and averaged nearly 18 yards per reception. He did that at 21 years old, which matters for the team that drafted Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd at the same age.

Rice is about a week away from age 22, but he is great long-term option to replace Tee Higgins, and may even to play some slot this year. He measured in at 6-2 and 208 pounds with 33" arms before running a 4.5 40-yard dash. His route running makes up for that lack of deep speed.

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Round 4 (114): Jahiem Bell, TE, Florida State  

A to Z Sports mock draft trends ADP: outside the top 120

The Bengals are likely to sign a new tight end in free agency as well as retain a couple of their own. Bell can give them traits they can't already find on the open market. He's a bit on the smaller side at 6-2 and 241 pounds, but he's plenty fast and explosive at that size with 33" arms to boot. His production is also not far off from the likes of Ben Sinnott and Ja'Tavion Sanders when factoring in age, strength of schedule, and strength of competition.   

Bell looks like a potential steal outside of the first three rounds, and the Bengals need to hit on a tight end eventually. Selecting him in the fourth round would be the sweet spot.

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Round 5 (148): Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

A to Z Sports mock draft trends ADP: outside the top 120

I can't see the Bengals taking a running back much higher than this, but I can see them liking Davis plenty. His long college career ended in Kentucky, where he dominated the Wildcats' backfield with 1,452 scrimmage yards. The next closest skill player amassed 686. He also posted quality speed and explosion numbers at the Combine with a dense build at 5-7 and 211 pounds.

Last year, Cincinnati drafted an older running back with plenty of athleticism and production in Chase Brown. Adding Davis, who turns 25 this year, to the backfield would help complete the frugal transformation they're on track to making.

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