Bengals announce jersey numbers for 2023 NFL Draft class
The Cincinnati Bengals' 2023 NFL Draft class begins its professional career today by participating in rookie minicamp. The Bengals will have just one practice session with their first-year players before they join the veterans in OTAs later in the Spring. Before they get out onto the field for the first time, they'll need jerseys with […]
The Cincinnati Bengals' 2023 NFL Draft class begins its professional career today by participating in rookie minicamp. The Bengals will have just one practice session with their first-year players before they join the veterans in OTAs later in the Spring.
Before they get out onto the field for the first time, they'll need jerseys with numbers on them. The team officially announced all eight numbers for each of their recent draft picks.
Here are the numbers for the Bengals' draft class
- DE Myles Murphy – 99
- CB DJ Turner II – 20
- S Jordan Battle – 27
- WR Charlies Jones – 15
- RB Chase Brown – 30
- WR Andrei Iosivas – 80
- P Brad Robbins – 10
- CB DJ Ivey – 38
Murphy's No. 99 was revealed soon after he was drafted, and it fits him well. A power rusher who wore the No. 98 jersey in college had to go up one due to his fellow Clemson alum DJ Reader already owning that number.
You need to be fast to wear No. 20, and Turner is already the fastest player on the Bengals' roster. He takes the jersey Eli Apple wore for the past two years, and he will look much quicker in it. His No. 5 jersey from Michigan simply couldn't be taken away from Tee Higgins.
27 is far from the best number for a defensive back, but Battle will be just fine filling it in. The former Alabama playmaker was No. 9 for the past several years. The No. 9 Bengals jersey might be retired after Joe Burrow hangs up the cleats. Plus, 2+7=9.
Jones was No. 15 at Purdue and it was available, so not much to say here. John Ross was originally No. 15 during his first two years in Cincinnati, but it was also Chris Henry's number back in the 2000s. You could say it's hit or miss for a receiver.
Power running feels essential for a running back to make any number in the 30s work, and Brown has that. The Bengals' font makes No. 30 more of a sleek number than it feels like. It's a far cry from No. 20 or No. 21, but Brown is good enough to make it work.
Cincinnati's sixth-round picks have the ideal numbers. Iosivas is a long-stride vertical threat at receiver, perfect for the No. 80. Robbins is the true replacement for Kevin Huber at punter, so he naturally takes the No. 10.
May God have mercy on Ivey's career if he's to try and make the team as a cornerback wearing No. 38. His odds went from 5% to 0.5%.
