Bengals' roster move another bad mark for horrendous 2024 draft class

When the Cincinnati Bengals waived Matt Lee early this week, it was yet another proverbial nail in the coffin of the team’s 2024 draft class.

Horrid drafting hit rates over the last handful of years from Duke Tobin’s department have put the Bengals in a hole they’re still attempting to escape.

Lee was only a seventh-round pick, of course, but another look at the 2024 class in its entirety is almost repulsive:

• 1.18. OT Amarius Mims
• 2.49. DL Kris Jenkins
• 3.80 WR Jermaine Burton
• 3.97 DL McKinnley Jackson
• 4.115 TE Erick All
• 5.149 CB Josh Newton
• 6.194 TE Tanner McLachlan
• 6.214 DE Cedric Johnson
• 7.224 S Daijahn Anthony
• 7.237 C Matt Lee

A disaster.

Amarius Mims has a chance to be a nice piece for a long time. He just needs to stay healthy.

But the problems start after that. Kris Jenkins has never emerged. Defensive tackle is a massive need and top 10 candidate this month.

In the third round, Jermaine Burton got cut and McKinnley Jackson just asked for a trade last season because he can’t see the field.

Erick All can’t stay healthy, so that red flag has come true so far. And Josh Newton never developed into the starting slot corner. It’s one of the biggest needs on the roster and a top 10 candidate this month.

Sixth-rounders Tanner McLachlan and Cedric Johnson are backups at best, but not promised the final 53. Matt Lee is already gone, and coaches didn’t trust Daijahn Anthony last year at a miserable position.

It’s a lot like the 2022 class, where Dax Hill was the first-rounder and everything else after it has turned out horrendously (Cam Taylor-Britt, Zach Carter, etc).

And until these consistently bad draft classes stop, the Bengals are going to find it nearly impossible to give Joe Burrow the support he deserves.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' roster move another bad mark for horrendous 2024 draft class