Cincinnati Bengals Praised for ‘Swinging For The Fences’

During this year’s NFL Draft class, the Bengals have been widely viewed among the biggest winners.

In a division where Cincinnati is suddenly looking up at the Baltimore Ravens, and even the Pittsburgh Steelers improved some of their biggest weaknesses this offseason, this year’s Bengals’ draft class could prove pivotal to the franchise’s future.

How Cincinnati Bengals ‘Won’ The 2024 NFL Draft

Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman put together a list of the biggest picture takeaways for each team across the league from this year’s draft, and has high praise for the Bengals’ haul.

“Three years from now, we could look at the Bengals’ 2024 draft class as one of the league’s best,” Wasserman writes for PFF. “They added several talented players at positions of need, including offensive tackle Amarius Mims and wide receiver Jermaine Burton. Mims is a productive, freakish athlete at 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds. However, he battled injuries at Georgia and played just over 800 snaps across three seasons. He may be the biggest boom-or-bust pick of the entire first round.

“Cincinnati also took a chance on Alabama’s Jermaine Burton, who was rumored to have character concerns and never eclipsed 60 targets during his four college seasons. He could be a solid third option for Joe Burrow. Burton was incredibly efficient when targeted, averaging a fantastic 20.5 yards per reception in 2023. If they succeed, Mims and Burton could catapult the Bengals back into Super Bowl contention.”

While there remains much uncertainty over who will actually comprise Burrow’s supporting cast, especially after Tee Higgins’ trade request, the Bengals went above and beyond to fortify the offensive line in front of their franchise quarterback while adding weapons throughout the draft as well.