The Bengals have been trying to find both a backup wide receiver and returner and on Saturday they grabbed one candidate in the fourth round with Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones.
After two seasons at Buffalo and three at Iowa, the 5-11, 186-pound Jones had a break-out year for the Boilermakers when he led the country with 110 catches while clocking a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.
The draftnicks say he has sticky hands and a skill set built for the slot. After catching just 39 balls in the previous four seasons, he caught 12 touchdowns while racking up 1,361 yards last year. He also returned 18 punts for a 6.3-yard average and five kick returns for 15.6. But when he was at Iowa in 2021 he was the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Year
Jones' selection ends a massive run of defensive players. He's the first skill player the Bengals have drafted since running back Chris Evans in the 2021 sixth round.
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See the best photos of WR Charlie Jones, the Bengals fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) returns a punt with teammate Matt Hankins (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Purdue won 24-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones (15) runs in for a touchdown after a catch against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones runs on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Syracuse won 32-29. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones makes a catch against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones runs up field during an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones (15) runs in for a touchdown against Nebraska during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa's Charlie Jones returns a punt during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 28-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) returns a punt during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Purdue won 24-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) celebrates touchdown with Iowa defensive lineman Logan Lee (85) and Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Iowa's Charlie Jones catches a touchdown pass as Iowa State's Datrone Young tries to defend in the second half during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth)
