The Bengals NFL Draft wrapped up their eight-pick draft class on Sunday and they addressed a load of depth concerns and got cheaper, younger, and faster on defense. The expectation by many was that Cincinnati would pick up at least an offensive lineman and tight end. Alas, the night ended and no names with those positions attached were called.
Overall, the Bengals roster is incredibly solid despite losing important pieces like Jessie Bates III and Samaje Perine. With the draft in the rearview, Vegas and other betting platforms such as in2bet.com.cy have found some winners and a few losers on this team as the dust settles.
Winners and Losers in the Bengals 2023 Draft
Winner: BJ Hill and Zach Carter
Realistically, D.J. Reader was as solid as can be on the defensive line and the Bengals are likely looking to extend him when the time comes. Aside from him, there were some questions. There was a feeling that the Bengals would attempt to fortify the interior defensive line with early picks. As it turns out, they did not.
B.J. Hill earned his payday prior to the 2022 season and has developed into a solid pass-rushing defensive tackle and Zach Carter, the Bengals third-round pick last year, started to come into his own last year. The lack of picks in this unit was a shot of confidence in these two.
First-rounder Myles Murphy has some positional versatiblity, but he is likely going to be more of an edge rusher to start. He could kick inside on certain packages, but Hill and Carter are going to be the guys who get to play with Reader.
Loser: Bottom of the WR depth
Embed from Getty Imagescor
As much fun as it is to have guys like Trent Taylor and Trenton Irwin made to look good thanks to Joe Burrow, the Bengals wide receiver depth has been a need for a while. Assuming Cincinnati locks down Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the coming years, they need to get younger and cheaper at the position behind them.
The Bengals used a fourth and sixth round selection on a pair of wide receivers. First, there is Charlie Jones. Jones, at least in 2023, will probably start off as WR4 and a guy to give Tyler Boyd a rest. He projects to be Boyd’s replacement when the two go their separate ways. Then, in the sixth, Adnrei Iosivas comes to Cincinnati by way of Princeton. Iosivas is an under-the-radar stud guy with all of the tools that you can’t teach.
With these two additions, Irwin’s and Taylor’s clock may be ticking. Additionally, can Stanley Morgan’s special teams prowess keep him safe? If Jones and Iosivas are half as good as they seem, it’s unlikely.
Quite possibly the death knell, Jones has punt return experience.
Winner: Cordell Volson
Embed from Getty Images
In what has been the 50th year in a row, many expected the Bengals to pick offensive line talent with their first pick. As it stands, Cincinnati didn’t add a single trenchman with their selections. Quite possibly the weakest link of this Bengals offensive line, Cordell Volson should breathe a sigh of relief.
Saying Volson is a weak link is not saying much, honestly. Orlando Brown, Jr. is a very solid left tackle, Jonah Williams is better than his sack stats suggest and he should anchor the right tackle position (assuming he’s still in Cincinnati). Ted Karras and Alex Cappa were well worth the hype and money, that’s for sure. The only question was whether or not Volson had already hit his developmental ceiling, so to speak.
All offseason, there was talk of the Bengals getting a right tackle and moving one of Williams or La’el Collins inside to left guard. Nothing of the sort will transpire and Volson will be the Bengals starting left guard in 2023.
Loser: Eli Apple
Embed from Getty Images
Public enemy number one within the NFL – in terms of non-criminals, of course – is the embattled Eli Apple. While he may not be as terrible as other fans may believe, he’s not nearly as good as he himself believes. Apple talks as if he has the play of a top five corner when in reality, he is slightly above average on his best day.
Before the Bengals draft, the team already added Syndey Jones. With Chidobe Awuzie healing from his injury, there was still room on the roster. After the Bengals picked D.J. Turner and D.J. Ivey, that room may have just dissipated.
Awuzie is CB1 and Cam Taylor-Britt is CB2. Mike Hilton is that hard-hitting slot corner. Apple could have fit in as a depth piece, but Turner will take that spot from the jump. Turner has ridiculous speed and is an incredibly fluid defender who will overmatch whoever he matches up against. With Ivey, the Bengals could have used their final pick on a tight end or another pass rusher but elected to go with the Miami (FL) product.
It would be surprising if Apple is suiting up for the Bengals in 2023.
Winner: Irv Smith, Jr
Embed from Getty Images
In addition to offensive line, there was a perceived need at tight end by Bengals fans and national casuals alike. Considering to this point, the Bengals tight end depth is Irv Smith, Jr., Drew Sample, and a few guys they picked up off the street, the position could have been upgraded. It was a strong tight end class, so it only makes sense.
As the dust settled, none of the Bengals eight picks were use on the position. The new toy, Smith, signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati in an attempt to replicate Hayden Hurst’s fate of a career of underachieving, signing with the Bengals, playing well for a year, and getting paid. Hurst earned himself a three-year, $21.75 Million deal with the Carolina Panthers.
Smith came into the NFL as a talented prospect out of Alabama, albeit a not very athletic one. He was expected to be a solid receiving threat tight end in the Minnesota Vikings system but never truly caught one. Sure, shared time with Kyle Rudolph for the longest time, but he also battled injuries. His rookie year was his only fully-healthy one.
Smith comes into Cincinnati having played in 56% of possible games which includes missing the entire 2021 season with a torn meniscus. Then, in 2022, he was knocked out from Week 9 until the Wild Card round with a high ankle sprain.
The lack of tight end selections further cemented the Bengals commitment to Smith as their tight end in 2023. He’s got his opportunity to show that he can stay healthy and make an impact.
Loser: Joe Mixon (possibly)
Embed from Getty Images
The most popular cap casualty candidate all offseason has been Joe Mixon. He’s still a very solid running back, but at his cost, the Bengals could afford to get younger and cheaper. While the idea that running backs do not matter at all may be factually correct, it’s a bit oversimplified. However, in this instance, they’re right.
Mixon’s impact last year was up and down. He wasn’t able to replicate his success from 2021. In 14 games in 2022, Mixon managed 814 yards and seven touchdowns. Take away his one otherwordly game against the Panthers, those numbers look pathetic, really (661 yards, four touchdowns, 3.5 YPC).
He did eclipse 100 yards once more in the playoffs against Buffalo, but that was also thanks to the fact that the offense and the Burrow-led passing attack could do anything and everthing they wanted. Pretty easy to “take over” a game when literally everyone else was playing well as well.
Cincinnati used its fourth-round selection on Chase Brown out of Illinois. If there is a running back who can shoulder the load, it’s Brown. He was an uber-productive back in college and is more of a Mixon replacement than a Perine one.
There is still a possibility that Cincinnati signs someone like Ezekiel Elliott to take over the role vacated by Perine as that third-down back and possible receiving threat.
Even though it seems like Mixon is still in the plans, one simple signing that does not factor into compensatory picks could completely upend the Mixon era in Cincinnati.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
