Bengals go BPA in way too early 2024 mock draft
Here at A to Z Sports, we held a way too early 2024 NFL mock draft based on the order prior to the start of Week 10. And with the 24th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select…Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois Newton is precisely what the Bengals have needed at the defensive tackle position […]
Here at A to Z Sports, we held a way too early 2024 NFL mock draft based on the order prior to the start of Week 10.
And with the 24th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select…
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Newton is precisely what the Bengals have needed at the defensive tackle position since the departure of Geno Atkins, and he's roughly built the same as well. He's a proficient block-shedder with plenty of production to back up some of his tape.
A four-year player for Illinois, Newton has amassed 15 sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 73 solo tackles in his collegiate career with a few games left to play. Pro Football Focus has him at 34 pressures with a pass rush win rate of 17.5% this season, the top figures for all Power 5 interior defenders.
Newton is on track to being one of the top pass rushers in this upcoming draft classes, but how does he make sense for the Bengals? It comes down to a combination of immediate and long-term need at his position.
Cincinnati has minimal depth at the defensive tackle position as is. DJ Reader and B.J. Hill are a dynamite starting duo, but Reader is scheduled to be a free agent in March, and Hill will be entering the last year of his contract at that time. Behind them are Zach Carter, Jay Tufele, and Josh Tupou, none of which can hold a candle to the player Newton projects to be.
The Bengals could absolutely use a new starting guard to supplant Cordell Volson, a receiver to take over for Tee Higgins in case he leaves in free agency, or a right tackle to do the same with Jonah Williams. The way the board fell in this scenario made all of those plans look inferior to taking arguably the best player on the board.
Check out how the entire first round fell in our way too early 2024 mock draft.
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.
