NFL Draft Recap: Cincinnati Bengals: 2023 NFL Draft Outlook

The Cincinnati Bengals unsurprisingly needed to upgrade their defense. Their offense is stacked, especially after adding Orlando Brown Jr. to their offensive line.

That’s why four of their eight selections were on the defensive side of the ball.

However, the Bengals also beefed up their depth chart with their offensive skill positions and made a pick-up for special teams.

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Cincinnati Bengals 2023 NFL Draft class

• Round 1, 28^th overall – Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
• Round 2, 60^th overall – D.J. Turner, CB, Michigan
• Round 3, 95^th overall – Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
• Round 4, 131^st overall – Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
• Round 5, 163^rd overall – Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
• Round 6, 206^th overall – Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
• Round 6, 217^th overall* – Brad Robbins, P, Michigan
• Round 7, 246^th overall – D.J. Ivey, CB, Miami (Florida)

* - compensatory pick

The Bengals are building their pass defense

While Cincinnati finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, they were ranked 23^rd in passing yards allowed per game at 229.1. Hence, it makes sense that they selected one pass rusher and two defensive backs with their first three picks.

Murphy is a 2022 First Team All-ACC member who finished his career at Clemson with 18.5 sacks and 36 tackles for losses. He will help create pressure against elite quarterbacks, especially in the AFC. Meanwhile, Turner is a Second Team All-Big Ten member, while Battle is a two-time First Team All-SEC safety.

They added D.J. Ivey in the seventh round, but he might be assigned to special teams. They also need some help in that department, especially after Kadarius Toney ignited the Kansas City Chiefs’ go-ahead drive in last season’s AFC Championship Game with a 29-yard punt return.

Drafting Murphy, Turner, and Ivey may also help address the departures of Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III.

Cincinnati Adds A Punter

While they already have Drue Chrisman on the roster, they wanted to create competition by drafting Brad Robbins. The former Michigan Wolverine landed half his punts inside the 20-yard line last season. If he wins the job and continues that pace, he will help pin the Bengals’ opponents deep inside their own territory.

Cincinnati Bengals 2023 NFL Draft grade

The Bengals get an A- for their draft class. Except for cornerback and safety, it’s not that they are in desperate need of players. However, they took players that would fit into their system and could take over from their starters. They went for players who could make an immediate impact, given the high expectations for their squad.

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