Draft Grades (if you're into that)/Analysis

[WRAPradio]

PFF:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

R1 (28): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
R2 (60): CB DJ Turner, Michigan
R3 (95): S Jordan Battle, Alabama
R4 (131): WR Charlie Jones, Purdue
R5 (163): RB Chase Brown, Illinois
R6 (206): WR Andrei Iosivas, Princeton
R6 (217): P Brad Robbins, Michigan
R7 (246): CB DJ Ivey, Miami (FL)

Day 1: Murphy looked like a future top-five pick after a freshman season that saw him produce an 85.2 PFF grade, but we never really saw him progress beyond that. However, he has produced a PFF grade of at least 79.0 in each of the past three seasons and racked up 76 pressures over the past two years.

Day 2: Turner can flat-out fly, clocking a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. He did get picked on a little at Michigan, and there’s still a fair amount of development needed, but he allowed just 46.5% of the passes thrown into his coverage to be caught in 2022 and forced 14 incompletions in the process.

The Bengals lost both starting safeties in free agency, so Battle could be a long-term replacement for Vonn Bell. He was one of the most consistent defensive backs in college football, earning 80.0-plus PFF grades in each of the past three seasons while playing more than 800 snaps in each.

Day 3: If the Bengals are looking to find a long-term replacement for Tyler Boyd in the slot, Jones could be just what they are looking for. He dropped just 2.7% of the catchable passes thrown his way in 2022 and averaged 2.70 yards per route run over the season.

Brown was a workhorse at Illinois with big-play speed, as his 83 forced missed tackles are second in the class behind Bijan Robinson. He’s not a great receiver and, at times, has fumbling issues. Brown profiles as a useful RB2, which is exactly what the Bengals will be looking for after losing Samaje Perine in free agency.

Ivey carried a career-high 76.2 coverage grade across from Tyrique Stevenson at Miami, but only had six combined interceptions and pass breakups all year.

DRAFT GRADE: A

[WRAPradio]

The Sporting News:

 

7. Cincinnati Bengals

• Grade: A

Draft picks: EDGE Myles Murphy, CB D.J. Turner, S Jordan Battle, WR Charlie Jones, RB Chase Brown, WR Andre Iosivas, P Brad Robbins, WR D.J. Ivey

Analysis: The Bengals "let the draft come to them" for Duke Tobin and his scouting staff. It was only a mild surprise they want defense-first to help Lou Anarumo, but Murphy was a great first-round value to further their pass rush. Turner and Battle also can have key coverage roles right away, given some free-agent departures. Jones, a possession-based slot, as well as Iosivas, is thinking ahead to losing Tyler Boyd in 2024, while Brown gives them a nice option to pivot away from Joe Mixon soon.

[WRAPradio]

New York Times;

 

25. Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: C-

Key Picks: Myles Murphy (Edge, Clemson), D.J. Turner (CB, Michigan), Jordan Battle (S, Alabama), Charlie Jones (WR, Purdue)

Analysis: The secondary needed attention after losing Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell and Eli Apple. Enter two rookies who can compete to start, including the fastest player at the NFL Scouting Combine (Turner). The flashes-only Murphy instead of a tight end was a curious call.

[WRAPradio]

[WRAPradio]

Kiper:

 

[MichaelWeston]

My grades

 

A+ Draft Grade

R1 (28): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson-He is a stud and adds much needed pass rush to the rotation
R2 (60): CB DJ Turner, Michigan-Fastest player in the draft, starter for 2024
R3 (95): S Jordan Battle, Alabama-Leader who will could be in the mix to start at safety where we don't have anything settled
R4 (131): WR Charlie Jones, Purdue-Led the NCAA in receptions in 2022 and is a dynamic returner. Will start at Slot in 2024
R5 (163): RB Chase Brown, Illinois-Explosive with future starter traits
R6 (206): WR Andrei Iosivas, Princeton-Rare athlete with upside at the position. Could develop just in time for when roster spots open more with Boyd moving on in 2024
R6 (217): P Brad Robbins, Michigan-Very good hang time will limit returns
R7 (246): CB DJ Ivey, Miami (FL)-Very good athlete with a versatile skill set who at the very least could be in play for a roster spot in 2024

 

F- Draft Grade

R1 (28): EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson-We had much bigger needs and already a capable 5 man rotation at DE
R2 (60): CB DJ Turner, Michigan-The draft was full of corners and taking one this early didn't make logical sense. We could have gotten someone just like him a round later and got a potential starter at RB
R3 (95): S Jordan Battle, Alabama-Much bigger needs at TE and RB. At best he displaces a guy we just signed for 3 years. 
R4 (131): WR Charlie Jones, Purdue-He's 25. At best we get one good contract on him. Only had one good year in college
R5 (163): RB Chase Brown, Illinois-A bad blocker who will never be good enough to be the primary back
R6 (206): WR Andrei Iosivas, Princeton-Does he even make the team? There were RBs available who likely would have. Are you going to cut Trenton Irwin for him? Stanley Morgan? Would you go down to 2 rookies for depth?
R6 (217): P Brad Robbins, Michigan-Doesn't have a powerful leg
R7 (246): CB DJ Ivey, Miami (FL)-Probably doesn't make the team with 6 positions pretty much settled and there were guys available at RB who likely would.