The second-best draft class of 2020 got a franchise quarterback, a good receiver, and a starting linebacker. I also love this class as the Bengals had seven picks, one in each round, no compensatory picks, all their original picks, no trades, and all are the first of each round. Quite satisfying.
Joe Burrow was the consensus No. 1 overall pick coming off a national championship along with a Heisman Trophy. He was the Week 1 starter, and started the first 10 games before a season-ending knee injury. He would earn comeback player of the year in 2021 as he led the Bengals to a 10-6 record en route to Super Bowl loss. He then led the team to a 12-4 record in 2022 and to the AFC Championship where they’d lose to the Super Bowl winning Chiefs. In 2023, he signed a massive five-year extension, but had a rough year. After starting 5-5, he suffered a wrist injury in Week 11 and missed the rest of the year. When Burrow is healthy the Bengals make the playoffs, but he’s only been healthy for two of his four seasons, and that’s a concern. Regardless, Burrow is a top five QB in this league.
Tee Higgins at the top of the second round has been a very good player. He had 908 yards as a rookie, and over 1,000 the next two years. He would be a WR1 on most teams, but with Ja’Marr Chase on your team, you’ll settle with being the best WR2. He received the franchise tag and Cincy would like to keep him long term, but they’re going to have Chase’s contract to think about soon, so they got some decisions to make.
Logan Wilson has been a stud at linebacker since being named a starter his second season. He’s led the team in tackles all three years, has 11 career interceptions (led all LBs in 2021 and 2023 with four) and signed a four-year extension before last season.
A couple more linebackers were drafted in the fourth and seventh rounds in Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey. Davis-Gaither has more defensive experience playing around 20-30% of snaps early on, but was mainly a special teamer last year. Bailey only has a handful of defensive snaps and also has primarily played special teams.
Khalid Kareem spent three years with the team, but has landed on the injured list each season before being released in the middle of 2022. He then joined the Colts and spent last year with the Bears.
Hakeem Adeniji spent three seasons on the Bengals as a backup with 14 career starts at both tackle spots, and was the fourth-string right guard in 2021 where he started the final nine games. He was released at the 2023 cutdown and spent the year with the Vikings.
Football Nerds 