The Bengals took some swings across their 2024 NFL Draft haul. NFL executives around the league touched on that and more with The Athletic's Mike Sando.
The second-round pick of Kris Jenkins stood out to them, but the class hinges heavily on Amarius Mims.
“I do think there is a heightened risk aspect to their picks,” an exec said to Sando. “Jenkins offsets the risk some. He is going to be really solid. Amarius Mims is talented, and when he plays, he’s good, but eight career starts?”
A redshirt Mims season to start looks like the best option for Cincinnati's current roster construction.
“It’s a calculated risk because he is talented,” another exec said. “You have to bank on the talent to shine. And while we want the first-round picks to play right away, if Orlando Brown and Trent Brown play to their standard, they will not need Mims to be ready right now. He can redshirt to a degree, but be ready as needed and take over next year.”
Third-round pick Jermaine Burton also stood out to the decision makers.
“Burton is going to be a sneaky good player,” an exec said to Sando. “He’s fast, he’s strong after the catch, he has a little dog to him. They do a good job getting those types of players established.”
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