How are we feeling?
The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books for the Cincinnati Bengals.
In the fourth round, the Bengals selected Iowa tight end Erick All.
All has shown flashes of talent but does come with an injury history that could be a cause for concern. As he continues to rehab from a torn ACL, All will enter the Bengals tight end room and hopefully challenge as the third tight end early on.
In the fifth round, the Bengals landed TCU cornerback Josh Newton. Newton is a solid tackler, will help in the run game, and excels in press-man coverage. Knocks on Newton are his lack of top end speed and sometimes playing with too high of a pad level. Newton will likely contribute on special teams and compete to round out the cornerback room with DJ Ivey and Allan George.
With their first pick in the sixth round, Cincinnati landed Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan. McLachlan tore his ACL in the 2021 season, and after he recovered, he tallied 79 receptions for 984 yards and six touchdowns. He will compete in a tight end room with Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, and the newly drafted Erick All.
When their second selection in the sixth came up, the Bengals selected Ole Miss defensive end Cedric Johnson. Johnson is quick off the edge, shows quickness and fast closing speed, and will compete for a rotational role on the Bengals defensive line. Johnson could stand to improve as a run defender, as he struggles to get off of blocks at times.
Duke Tobin and co. also had two picks in the seventh round, the first of those being another Mississippi player in defensive back Daijahan Anthony. Anthony played both safety and cornerback over his collegiate career and excelled defending the run in both spots. Anthony made some of his biggest plays against top competition, logging interceptions against Georgia and Penn State.
With their final pick, the Bengals landed Miami center Matt Lee. Lee, who started for UCF for three seasons, spent 2023 in Miami, where he started 12 games. Lee shows a solid ability to handle double teams and seek out contact with a strong first punch. Lee could be in the plan to eventually replace Ted Karras if he isn’t retained, but doesn’t appear ready to compete at guard in the meantime.
What are your thoughts on the Bengals’ Day 3 selections? Let us know in the comments!