Grading the Bengals' 2024 Draft: Cincinnati takes several home run swings on offense

Not singles, doubles, or triples. No, the Cincinnati Bengals only want home runs. Their 2024 NFL Draft class is proof of that.

Outside of a few "safe" selections early on, the Bengals are betting on tape and fit with most of their premium picks in this year's draft. That makes projecting the future a bit harder, but hey, it's exciting nonetheless.

Here are the initials grade of all 10 Bengals draft picks, as well as the overall class grade.

First round, 18th overall: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Breaking down the pick: One of the more likely first round targets for Cincinnati is also the most athletic offensive linemen the Bengals have drafted in a long time. Mims is everything the Bengals have needed to protect the edge of Joe Burrow's pockets. He just needs to stay healthy and get reps. His path towards being one of the best pass protectors in the game is clear. Many view this as a pick for the future, but there's a decent chance he plays significant snaps as a rookie. 

Grade: A-

Second round, 49th overall: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

Breaking down the pick: The Bengals were in the running to take a defensive tackle in the first round before Byron Murphy II went off the board in front of them. Jenkins became a clear target for the team as they watched five other defensive tackles go in front of him. He fits a clear need as a productive run-stuffer who can play multiple techniques, specifically 3-technique and 5-technique. He represents a notable upgrade over Zach Carter as the third DT in the rotation, and if he reaches his floor, he'll be a solid contributor for years to come. 

Grade: B

Third round, 80th overall: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama

Breaking down the pick: The first true surprise of Cincinnati's draft was Burton, a highly-talented vertical threat with plenty of baggage. The Bengals set out to become more explosive this offseason, which makes Burton a perfect fit as one of the most explosive weapons in this entire draft. His maturity needs to grow, but by all accounts, he's all about ball and works hard. Those character risks make me cautious with this pick, but there's a good chance this grade looks low in a year or two. 

Grade: B-

Third round, 97th overall: McKinnley Jackson, NT, Texas A&M

Breaking down the pick: Nose tackle was arguably the Bengals' biggest immediate need and they addressed it a little earlier than expected. Jackson fills a clear need, but is a bit of a reach here. You'd like a more valuable position to be picked in the top 100, but Jackson is a solid player with the chance to be a long-term starter. 

Grade: C

Fourth round, 115th overall: Erick All, TE, Iowa

Breaking down the pick: Much like Burton, All has the potential to become a great value pick for the Bengals. He's a legitimate downfield receiver with the strength and proven effort to win as an inline blocker. His resume could start and stop with "Iowa tight end" and it'd be enough. It's the injury history and lack of recent playing time that prevent this from being in the "A" territory. If he stays healthy, watch out.

Grade: B

Fifth round, 149th overall: Josh Newton, CB, TCU

Breaking down the pick: The Bengals' last big need in the draft was cornerback, and Newton comes in with a decent floor as a spot starter. He isn't the biggest or fastest at the position, but he does know how to find the ball in the air. Experience, production, and inside-outside versatility are on his side to become a solid reserve at the position. He'll mainly be used on special teams barring injury ahead of him. If he had a higher ceiling as a starer for a fifth round pick, this would look a bit better. 

Grade: C+

Sixth round, 194th overall: Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona

Breaking down the pick: The Bengals double-dipped at two positions with McLachlan joining All in the tight end room. Speed matters more than any athleticism trait at the position, and McLachlan has that at decent size. For that reason, he's a good bet to make this late in the draft despite his age (already 25 years old). See if he can beat out Tanner Hudson and they may've found something.

Grade: B

Sixth round, 214th overall: Cedric Johnson, ED, Ole Miss

Breaking down the pick: Young athletes are decent bets to take outside the top 200 picks, and that's who Johnson is. He's not yet 22 years old and boasts tremendous speed and explosion for his size. He's also built like the typical Bengals edge defender. There's not much of a path for Johnson to make the team, but he can make some noise in training camp.

Grade: C+

Seventh round, 224th overall: Daijahn Anthony, S, Ole Miss

Breaking down the pick: The Bengals went back-to-back Ole Miss defensive players with Anthony, someone they spent a top 30 visit on. After transferring twice, he ended up playing all over the Ole Miss secondary and produced at a pretty high level. Anthony would have to likely beat out Tycen Anderson or a cornerback to make the team, but that's the life of a seventh round pick. 

Grade: B-

Seventh round, 237th overall: Matt Lee, C, Miami

Breaking down the pick: Finding a possible future starter in the seventh round is rare, but Lee has the potential to be just that at center. Ted Karras has one year remaining on his contract, and Lee would be an ideal replacement to develop behind one of the team's best veterans. It's dangerous to get too excited about picks this late, but Lee is about as good as they could've picked in this juncture, and he's got a clear path to make the team as there's no clear backup center already on the team. 

Grade: A

Final Grade: B-

The Bengals went big, and with that comes risk. The final grade is a reflection of the value the Bengals got with Mims, Burton, and All mixed with the red flags in each of their profiles. Jenkins and Jackson should be solid players, and their Day 3 haul is solid.

This has the makings of a slightly above average class with equal chance of looking much better or worse down the road.