After the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Sunday, several media outlets throughout the league assessed the draft classes of various NFL teams. The Cincinnati Bengals selected 8 new players via the draft. Now, let us take a look at the grades received by the Bengals' 2023 draft class.
- Murphy looked like a future top-five pick after a freshman season that saw him produce an 85.2 PFF grade.
- Turner can flat-out fly, clocking a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in Indianapolis.
- Jordan Battle could be a long-term replacement for Vonn Bell.
- Charlie Jones 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.
- Murphy brings power and flashes of quickness off the edge.
- Turner's speed and aggressiveness were worthy of a late second-round pick and Battle's a solid all-around safety.
- A quick, reliable slot receiver and kick returner, Jones turned his transfer from Iowa to Purdue into a fourth-round draft slot.
- Brown's toughness inside and vision to bust through a crease met the team's need for running back depth.
- Iosivas has the potential to be a deep threat.
- Murphy is going to make an impact. Mel Kiper Jr. likes Murphy's chances to be a starter in 2024 and beyond.
- Cincinnati filled needs on Day 2. You're going to hear about the speed of Michigan cornerback DJ Turner (60) -- he ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the combine -- but he had good tape last season too.
- Safety Jordan Battle (95) is extremely versatile; he started three years for Nick Saban's defense, so you know he has been well-coached.
- Wide receiver Charlie Jones (131) and running back Chase Brown (163) were nice values on my board.
- Andrei Iosivas (206) is a raw wideout from the Ivy League with a sprinter's speed in a 6-foot-3 frame.
- The second-round corner D.J. Turner from Michigan is fast and can fit into Lou Anarumo's scheme.
- The Bengals are getting younger and cheaper in the secondary, which they had to do. That works.
- The Bengals added a pass rusher in Myles Murphy, a fast corner in Turner and a smart safety in Jordan Battle.
- 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.
- The Bengals had a quietly solid draft after focusing heavily on defense in the early rounds.
- They nabbed a long, super-athletic edge rusher in the first round in Clemson's Myles Murphy, who should factor into the team's pass-rush rotation.
- Cincy bolstered their secondary by grabbing a feisty and versatile cover corner in Michigan's DJ Turner, and later picked a tone-setting safety in Alabama's Jordan Battle.
- I think a couple of Cincinnati's day-three picks could play roles early on, with Purdue receiver Charlie Jones bringing slot receiver skills and Illinois running back Chase Brown bringing a physical style on the ground.
2023 Draft Dey Center
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