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Instant analysis of Bengals picking McKinnley Jackson in the third round

Instant analysis after the Bengals make a second pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals used the 97th pick in the 2024 NFL draft — their second selection in the third round — on McKinnley Jackson, a defensive tackle out of Texas A&M.

It’s not hard to see where the Bengals’ minds were at with this one. Jackson is a squatty, space-eating tackle who can play a run-stuffing role, which means he’s effectively a way to ease the loss of DJ Reader.

What’s interesting is that Jackson’s pre-draft evaluations (on the media side of things) were all over the place.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, for example, projected him as a sixth-round pick while writing the following:

Squatty interior defender who felt somewhat miscast as a 0-technique nose over the center. Jackson is explosive off the snap with the ability to get into blockers quickly or to attack their edges as a penetrator. He tends to ride on blocks once they land squarely and needs to develop his hands for better counters as both a run defender and a rusher. Jackson plays with good strength, but he’s more gradual than twitchy in his battles. He might be more consistently effective at a lighter weight and as a rotational nose in a one-gapping even front.

Obviously, the Bengals feel a little differently. As a rookie, Jackson’s probably going to occupy that role previously held by Josh Tupou as a run-stuffing nose, leaving more of the snaps for guys like B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins.

That’s not unusual for a late-third-round pick, though. What projects nicely is Jackson’s long-term upside on the same line as second-round pick Kris Jenkins.

Bengals fans will hear a lot about grades and projections that were all over the place on Jackson. But if he can realize some of the potential in a proper role and become a valuable part of the rotation, it will look quite good in hindsight.

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Bengals select Texas A&M DT McKinnley Jackson in third round, 97th overall

The Bengals have made their second pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals used their second of two third-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft on Texas A&M defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson at No. 97 overall.

Jackson, a 6’1″ and 326-pound run-stopper who can come in and play key roles in the rotation alongside the likes of Sheldon Rankins.

It also makes Jackson the second defensive lineman picked by the Bengals in the draft already as they seek to recover from the departure of DJ Reader.

Earlier in the third round, the Bengals selected Alabama wideout Jermaine Burton after using the first two picks on the offensive and defensive lines.

This was the compensatory pick from the departure of safety Jessie Bates in free agency that the league initially got wrong and had to re-issue.

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WATCH: Highlights of Bengals’ Jermaine Burton in college

Some highlights of the newest Bengals weapon.

The Cincinnati Bengals thrilled fans in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft with the selection of Alabama wideout Jermaine Burton.

One look at Burton’s stats or highlights makes it easy to see why.

Burton was a staple of SEC ball last year with splash plays as he averaged better than 20 yards per catch. And now, fans get to watch those highlights wondering just how well he’ll fit in a Joe Burrow-directed offense alongside fellow wideouts Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

Here’s a look at some of Burton’s best highlights and film right after the team made him the 80th overall pick:

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Instant analysis of Bengals picking Jermaine Burton in the third round

Instant analysis after the Bengals make a pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals, as expected, addressed the wide receiver position rather early in the 2024 NFL draft.

Cincinnati did this with the first of its two third-round picks at No. 80 overall, grabbing Alabama wideout Jermaine Burton.

Burton perhaps wasn’t the first name on the lists of fans, but his 6’0″, 196-pound frame with 4.45-second speed and production were surely alluring to Bengals scouts.

So, too, was Burton’s eight touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide in receiving last year, averaging better than 20 yards per catch.

While NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein did compare Burton to Kenny Stills, he assigned him a Round 5 draft projection:

While the catch totals and yardage weren’t necessarily prolific, Burton’s tape is very appealing. He has pretty good size and plays bigger than he measures. He can fight through press, get physical at the break point and carve out space on 50/50 balls. Burton wasn’t asked to run an extended route tree, but he has the traits and ball skills to work all three levels against NFL cornerbacks. He caught a touchdown pass every 5.7 grabs during his college career, but he would have scored even more if not for some mistimed throws when he had opened the window wide. Burton’s athletic profile and ball skills create confidence that he can become a solid WR2/3 in the league.

Burton very much aligns with the team’s desire to get faster now. That explains the lack of a re-up with Tyler Boyd in free agency, as Burton is a guy they can use on the field alongside Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase to help keep defenses honest deep down the field.

Given his limited route tree in college and need for development, Burton is also a nice fit because he wouldn’t have to take over as a possible No. 2 wideout in 2025 — assuming Tee Higgins even leaves.

While it’s notable that the team drafted Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones last year, too, Burton feels like he could break into the base offense more quickly. And even if he doesn’t, reliable depth at the position has been an issue.

If nothing else, while Burton won’t get praised across the board as a good value, he goes a long way toward fixing that problem of non-Chase wideouts being unable to get open reliably.

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Bengals select Alabama WR Jermaine Burton in third round, 80th overall

The Bengals have made their pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Alabama wideout Jermaine Burton in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The 80th overall pick, Burton averaged 20.5 yards per catch last season with eight touchdowns and ran a 4.45-second time in the 40-yard dash.

Despite drafting two wideouts last year, the Bengals hit on the area again with Burton after losing Tyler Boyd to free agency and the question mark around the future of Tee Higgins with the team after this upcoming season.

The Bengals addressed the trenches on both sides of the ball with their first two picks in the draft. In Round 1, they grabbed Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims, then followed that up at 49th overall with Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

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Ravens select OL Roger Rosengarten with 62nd overall pick in 2024 NFL draft

Baltimore took a step to address the offensive line, selecting Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten with the 62nd overall

After adding more depth to the defense, Baltimore took a step to address the offensive line, selecting Washington Huskies offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten with the 62nd overall pick in the second round.

An offensive tackle at Washington, Rosengarten didn’t allow any sacks in his 1,158 pass-blocking snaps for the Huskies.

Baltimore could play the experienced offensive tackle at the right tackle spot, and he’s athletic enough to slide down to offensive guard.

Instant analysis of Bengals picking Kris Jenkins in the second round

Instant analysis after the Bengals make a big pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

After reinforcing the offensive line in the first round, the Cincinnati Bengals went with Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Sitting still at No. 49 as a flurry of trades occurred above them in the order, Duke Tobin and the front office went with yet another Michigan product in the draft.

Jenkins, 6’3″ and 299 pounds with some impressive measurables, production and family ties to the NFL, was easily one of the top targets available at a position of need.

It sure doesn’t hurt to hear how much NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein liked him as a Round 2 prospect:

Possesses rare pedigree with a college football national title under his belt and a father who was a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. Jenkins has a smaller frame for his position, but he plays with good strength in one-on-one power swaps. He can neutralize single blocks but has trouble fighting back to muddy his gap against double-teams. His motor stays engaged. He’s frequently running down ball-carriers and chasing quarterbacks by the end of the play. Jenkins flashes more rush talent than his sack production would indicate, but he still needs to work on developing more go-to moves to pair with his spin counter. Jenkins isn’t a natural two-gapper, but he can play upfield or read-and-react football on the next level as an eventual starter capable of creating disruptions.

And while Jenkins gets hit with some “undersized” analysis, he happened to make Bruce Feldman‘s “Freaks List” at The Athletic last fall:

He’s up to 307 pounds and is more powerful and explosive than ever. He did 32 reps of 225 on the bench and did 760 pounds on the combo twist. Only last year’s top Freak, Mazi Smith, some 30 pounds heavier, did more slinging around 800 pounds.

What’s really appealing about this pick is that the Bengals clearly got a solid value. And while we can list something like wideout as a need, the team drafted two of those last year and still have eight more picks.

Plus, Jenkins just projects as a nice fit in a rotation with the likes of Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill.

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Bengals select Michigan DT Kris Jenkins in second round, 49th overall

The Bengals have made their pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals switched to the defensive trenches in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, selecting Michigan tackle Kris Jenkins at No. 49.

Jenkins, 6’3″ and 299 pounds, has a smaller, powerful frame that will let him work into the rotation alongside the likes of Sheldon Rankins right away.

The Bengals opted not to trade up at the start of Round 2 and watched as a run on interior defensive linemen went off the board in front of them.

Yet for Duke Tobin and Co., another Michigan prospect was perhaps the target the entire way.

The Bengals got their trip to the draft started on Thursday night in Round 1 by selecting Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims, securing some depth and future-minded potential on the right side of the line in front of Joe Burrow.

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Titans’ JC Latham can lift crazy weight and his hands are MASSIVE

Diving into just how big and strong new Titans OT JC Latham is.

The first thing that is typically mentioned in evaluations of new Tennessee Titans offensive tackle JC Latham is how truly massive he is. The Alabama product stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 342 pounds.

But that’s not even the biggest Latham has ever been. During his introductory press conference on Friday, Latham said he played at a whopping 360 pounds last season, although his goal is to be around 340 when he enters the NFL.

There have been stories floating around about how much Latham can lift. One analyst, Cole Cubelic, reported last year that Latham benched 505 pounds and squatted 900 pounds WITH resistance bands.

I get tired just thinking about that.

However, he clarified today that he did not in fact squat 900 pounds.

“It was 1,000,” Latham revealed.

As you’d expect Latham’s hands are massive, especially when you compare them to us mere mortals.

But even when compared to his NFL peers, Latham is a big boy. His hands measured at 11 inches, just .75 inches smaller than the biggest hand measurement in combine history, per Pro Football Network.

Take all of that into consideration and then combine it with the fact that Latham will now be under the tutelage of esteemed offensive line coach Bill Callahan and the sky’s the limit for how good he can be, no matter where he ends up upfront.

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NFL Draft: Eric DeCosta reveals what positions Ravens could target on Day 2, Day 3

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta shared where the team could add in the later rounds of the 2024 NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens have found plenty of diamonds in the rough throughout their franchise history. They’ve brought in many players in the middle rounds of the draft that have made both immediate and long-term impacts, something that needs to happen again in the 2024 NFL draft for the club.

Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta revealed some possible positions the team could target on Day 2 of the draft in rounds two and three. He mentioned that offensive line and wide receiver could be possibilities, along with running back in the fold.

“I think offensive line is pretty stacked across the board in most rounds. I think [wide] receiver is a really deep Draft this year. Those would be two. I mentioned running back; I think that you’ll see a lot of running backs get drafted, probably, starting in the third round through the seventh, [and] you’ll see a lot of guys get picked. Those would be positions that, when I look at [and] assess the Draft, I think are pretty deep positions in the Draft this year.”

Baltimore used its first-round pick on Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins but still has a ways to go to complete its draft class. The Ravens’ next order of business should be the offensive line, and DeCosta’s comments could indicate he will address the need soon.