The Cincinnati Bengals' 2024 NFL Draft class was always going to be under the microscope. With Joe Burrow in his prime and the window for contention wide open, Cincinnati needed to hit on a few key picks to keep pace in a loaded AFC. Two seasons later, it’s time to look back-and let’s just say, the results are a mixed bag at best.
Let’s start with the good, because there isn’t much of it.
Round 1, Pick 18: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia - B
Mims was drafted as a potential long-term answer at right tackle, and after being thrust into action due to injuries, he showed flashes of why the Bengals spent a first-round pick on him. There were growing pains-no question-but the physical tools are undeniable.
He’s looking like a solid starter and could be in line for a second contract. Still, it’s fair to wonder: was this the best use of a premium pick, especially with other pressing needs on the roster?
The Bengals had just signed Trent Brown before the draft. Had Brown stayed healthy, maybe Cincinnati goes in a different direction.
But injuries opened the door, and Mims stepped in and held his own. You can’t knock that.
Round 2, Pick 49: Kris Jenkins Jr., DT, Michigan - D+
Round 3, Pick 97: McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M - D
The Bengals doubled down on defensive tackles on Day 2, but neither Jenkins nor Jackson has made much of an impact. Jenkins has at least been active on game days, but he hasn’t moved the needle.
Jackson spent more time on the inactive list than the field. For a team that needed to shore up the interior defensive line, this was a swing and a miss-twice.
Round 3, Pick 80: Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama - F
This one hurts. Burton was supposed to be the WR3 behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, a dynamic complement with big-play potential.
Instead, he never got off the ground. Off-field concerns that followed him into the draft resurfaced, and the Bengals waived him in early December of his second year.
He didn’t suit up for a single game in 2025. That’s a miss with capital letters.
Round 4, Pick 110: Erick All Jr., TE, Iowa - C-
All was a medical risk coming out of Iowa, and unfortunately, those concerns proved valid. After tearing his ACL as a rookie, complications in recovery cost him the entire 2025 season.
There’s still hope he can contribute in 2026, but two lost years is a tough way to start a career. The talent is there-if he can stay on the field.
Round 5, Pick 149: Josh Newton, CB, TCU - C
Newton is a depth piece in the secondary. He’s got some swagger and isn’t afraid to compete, but he’s more of a rotational guy than a future starter. For a fifth-rounder, that’s not the worst outcome, but it doesn’t move the needle much either.
Round 6, Pick 194: Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona - F
Two years in and McLachlan hasn’t made an impact. He’s barely a footnote in the Bengals’ tight end room. It’s hard to find any meaningful contribution here.
Round 6, Pick 214: Cedric Johnson, DE, Ole Miss - C+
Johnson might be the sleeper of this class. He’s not a game-changer, but he’s shown enough to be considered solid depth on the edge.
With Cincinnati facing decisions on veterans like Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai, and Cam Sample, Johnson gives them some flexibility. Not bad value late in the sixth round.
Round 7, Pick 224: Daijahn Anthony, CB/S, Ole Miss - D
Round 7, Pick 237: Matt Lee, C, Miami (FL) - C
Seventh-round picks are always a dart throw, and the Bengals didn’t hit the bullseye here. Anthony hasn’t carved out a role, and while Lee has shown flashes in limited action, he’s still a developmental piece. Cincinnati’s track record in the seventh round isn’t exactly stellar, and this year didn’t change that narrative.
The Bigger Picture
When you zoom out and look at the class as a whole, Mims is the only player who’s shown starter-level upside. Johnson and Newton might stick as depth, and there’s a sliver of hope for Erick All if he can stay healthy.
But the rest? Either non-factors or outright misses.
What really stings is who the Bengals passed on. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean both ended up in Philadelphia and were key contributors in the Eagles' Super Bowl run.
Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey finished top 10 in receiving yards across the entire NFL as rookies. Jared Verse is wrecking games off the edge for the Rams, who are one win from a Super Bowl return.
It’s not just about who you take-it’s who you leave behind.
For a team built around an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow, this draft class didn’t do nearly enough to support him. The Bengals needed impact players, and outside of Mims, they didn’t find them. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise trying to maximize its championship window.
Final Grade: D
There’s still time for a few of these players to develop, but right now, this draft class looks like a missed opportunity. The Bengals can’t afford another one in 2026.