Bengals OT Amarius MimsJeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images- Round 1 (No. 18): OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
- Round 2 (No. 49): DL Kris Jenkins, Michigan
- Round 3 (No. 80): WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama
- Round 3 (No. 97): DL McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
- Round 4 (No. 115): TE Erick All, Iowa
- Round 5 (No. 149): CB Josh Newton, TCU
- Round 6 (No. 194): TE Tanner McLachlan, Arizona
- Round 6 (No. 214): Edge Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
- Round 7 (No. 224): S Daijahn Anthony, Ole Miss
- Round 7 (No. 237): IOL Matt Lee, Miami
The Cincinnati Bengals have needed to improve their offensive line ever since they took Joe Burrow first overall in the 2020 draft. Since then, Burrow has been sacked 148 times in just 52 regular-season games.
Taking Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims in the middle of Round 1 was a logical move for the Bengals. They added Trent Brown to play right tackle in free agency, but Brown doesn't figure to be a long-term answer.
Mims, while inexperienced, has the size (6'8", 340 lbs) and upside needed to eventually lock down one side of Cincinnati's line. Mims was the 24th-ranked prospect on the B/R board, so this wasn't much of a reach, and it was the perfect meeting of prospect and need.
Just don't expect Mims to make a massive impact in 2024.
Second-round pick Kris Jenkins is much more likely to be an immediate difference-maker. The value wasn't great, as Jenkins was the 63rd-ranked prospect on the B/R board, but he'll boost a defensive line rotation that lost D.J. Reader in free agency.
Third-round pick McKinnley Jackson will add another valuable piece to Cincinnati's interior defensive rotation.
Early in Round 3, Cincinnati grabbed a potential replacement for wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is set to play on the franchise tag this season. Alabama's Jermaine Burton may not be a complete receiver right now, but he can help the Bengals attack downfield.
"The offense should not run through him, but his ability to win vertically, find the ball in the air and run a full route tree will make him a valuable piece," Klassen wrote.
Getting Erick All in Round 4 was a particularly smart move for the Bengals, who have struggled to find consistency at the position. All carries injury concerns, but he's been a quality blocker and receiver when healthy. The same can be said for Tanner McLachlan, who was well worth a late flier.
As is often the case for the Bengals, Cincinnati largely approached the draft with the future in mind. That plan has helped the Bengals to maintain competitiveness over the past few years, but it's hard to believe it will make them more legitimate contenders in 2024.
If this class pays off for Cincinnati, it's likely to happen a year or two down the road.
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