Cincy Jungle
Here’s a look at where things stand, if there season were to start today.
The NFL Draft will begin Thursday night and extend through the majority of the weekend. Once the Arizona Cardinals announce their first-round pick, the Cincinnati Bengals will go on the clock with the No. 17 pick.
Before we get too excited, though, here’s a look at the roster and projected depth chart pre-draft. An asterisk denotes a starter (for now), and anyone under the — is on the bubble or at risk of being cut/added to the practice squad.
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Brown is going to be the offense’s primary running back, and I expect Perine to return as a third-down/passing-down back while Moss will give breathers here and there. This is a deep running back class. I don’t think the Bengals will use their first-round pick on the position, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they grabbed someone to add to this mix on Day 2 or Day 3.
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Notes:
The Bengals have the best wide receiver duo, Chase and Higgins, in the NFL locked up for the foreseeable future. Behind them, though, it’s a little bit of a guessing game. Iosivas has a leg up on everyone as he’s had the most on-field success, but he hasn’t quite solidified himself as the team’s WR3. Jones has had injury issues, and Burton has had off-field issues. Don’t be surprised if the Bengals add a WR in Day 3.
Notes:
Gesicki is technically TE1, but he functions more like WR3. He’s not on the team because he can block. He’s on the team because he’s the best receiving tight end Burrow has worked with so far, and when Higgins or Chase is out, he’s the second most reliable receiver on the field. Sample is more of a blocker than a pass catcher (though a Sample TD is a sight to behold), and Hudson has had success as well.
McLachlan is an unknown, as is Grandy. All is, unfortunately, likely to miss the entire season due to complications from a knee injury that cost him most of the ‘24 season. The Bengals could add a tight end in the draft, if one they like falls to them, but don’t expect for them to reach for one if one doesn’t.
