Bengals address a huge potential need in early 2024 mock draft
When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around in about five months time, the Cincinnati Bengals will either be set, or in dire need of a wide receiver to replace Tee Higgins. The 24-year old wideout is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career. In the event that both sides can't […]
When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around in about five months time, the Cincinnati Bengals will either be set, or in dire need of a wide receiver to replace Tee Higgins. The 24-year old wideout is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career.
In the event that both sides can't agree on a new long-term contract and the Bengals do not place the franchise tag on Higgins, they simply cannot replace what he brings on the open market. A high draft pick will almost surely be used to compensate for his departure.
Why not replace Higgins with a guy who plays just like him, but faster? Enter Washington's Rome Odunze.
The 21-year old big-bodied receiver has been instrumental in Washington's rise to the No. 3 spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. He's posted 1,326 yards and 13 touchdowns through 12 games this year. He's gone over 100 yards in 14 games going back to 2022!
Odunze has produced like a clear first-round pick by the time April comes around. In his first mock draft of the 2024 draft cycle, The Athletic's Dane Brugler slotted Odunze to Cincinnati at the 15th pick.
"Bengals fans will be understandably dejected if Tee Higgins departs this offseason, but drafting Odunze as a replacement might be the best-case scenario among the realistic options. At 6-3, 217 with 4.4 speed, the Washington pass catcher can create his own spacing mid-route and is also one of the best contested-catch receivers in college football." – The Athletic's Dane Brugler
The 4.4 speed will have to be confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine, but Brugler is absolutely right about the contested-catch ability. He's hauled in 15 of 22 contested grabs this season according to Pro Football Focus.
Being an asset in tight coverage at the college level is one thing, but the ability to separate from NFL cornerbacks is demonstrably more valuable. If Odunze does have the speed and quickness to create space against the cornerbacks Higgins goes up against now, he'd be an ideal replacement.
Plenty of mock drafts in the coming months will have Cincinnati targeting a receiver with Higgins' future up in the air. We won't know if it's a route they'd take until that mystery is solved in March.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Early projections have offense flying off the board
The A to Z Sports team unveils their way-too-early 2024 NFL mock draft projections for the first round.
