Right after the season ends, it’s almost impossible to nail down what the Cincinnati Bengals will do in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
But we can narrow down the possibilities, highlighting roster problems like the defensive secondary, pass-rush and offensive line.
In a notable early mock draft from ESPN’s Jordan Reid, the Bengals stick at No. 18 and address the line with Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims:
With Jonah Williams entering free agency, right tackle becomes an immediate hole for the Bengals — especially because quarterback Joe Burrow is coming off a season-ending right wrist injury. Yes, Mims comes with questions; he has made nine starts in his career and missed six games in 2023 after undergoing TightRope ankle surgery. But at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, he is a nimble mover with great balance in pass protection and strength in the run game. Also watch for a receiver here if Tee Higgins ends up signing elsewhere.
It’s not impossible that the Bengals work something out with Jonah Williams to keep him at right tackle after his solid season there, but the market will decide if he gets to go back to left tackle and make appropriate money there.
One note is the Bengals would not be likely to gamble on a prospect like Mims, given the injury history, despite the huge upside.
Either way, Mims is still a name to watch and what the Bengals do with Williams will very much influence the rest of the offseason, perhaps more than anything else considering keeping Joe Burrow healthy is clearly the No. 1 need.
