Tag: Kris Jenkins

Bengals NFL Draft grades: Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan 49th overall

Bengals NFL Draft grade for selecting Michigan DL Kris Jenkins in the second round

The Cincinnati Bengals add some more beef to their line once again but this time on the defensive side of the ball with the selection of another legacy prospect in Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins 49th overall.

Jenkins projects as a potential Day One starter opposite of Sheldon Rankins along an already talented Cincinnati defensive line. Though potentially in a camp battle with veteran B.J. Hill, Jenkins has enough talent to win out or, at the very least, produce as a rotational piece.

Big, strong, refined, and productive, Jenkins has all the tools you could ask for as a starter at the next level along with his NFL bloodlines. Expect for Jenkins to be productive early on and eventually take over as the starter.

Grade: B+

How Kris Jenkins fits with the Cincinnati Bengals

Perfect fit for “the Mutant!” #GoBlue

With the 49th pick in the NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. Jenkins had 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and one interception in 2023. He is the second Michigan player to be selected, and the first in the second round.

This is a great fit for Jenkins. Cincinnati lost its best defensive tackle, D.J. Reader, to the Detroit Lions in free agency and needed another body in the middle to stuff the run. That is something Jenkins excels at.

Jenkins isn’t the most intimidating player (6 feet, 3 inches and 299 pounds), but he has much more power than one expects. He will take over duties as a three-technique defensive tackle and work to close run lanes and keep quarterbacks from scrambling up the middle.

The Bengals have a strong pass-rush duo on the roster (potential trade pending): Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard come off the edge. This means Jenkins will probably frequently face single blockers in pass protection, which could help him make a bigger impact early in his career.

My evaluation pins Jenkins as a solid player who instantly improves the floor of Cincinnati’s defense. There isn’t an expectation for Jenkins to become a star, but he should factor in right away and provide a steady, physical presence in the middle of the defense. He will not put up gaudy sack numbers, but that’s fine for a player who was drafted for his consistency and floor.

The biggest knock on Jenkins was his lack of production in college, but that can largely be chalked up to the fact that Michigan’s defensive line rotated so much that he only really played half the season. His impact was felt beyond the stats at Michigan and it should be the same way in the NFL.

Oh, and one more thing. Jenkins knows how to win in Ohio.

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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Kris Jenkins is Ohio-bound after being selected in 2024 NFL draft

Congratulations, Kris! #GoBlue

The son of an NFL star from Ypsilanti who played with Eastern Michigan, Kris Jenkins Jr. cut his teeth seven miles down the road in Ann Arbor. And despite being a three-star prospect, Jenkins proved he was worth much more.

The physical freak quickly established he was going to outplay his recruiting ranking, and once he made his way into the starting lineup, Jenkins outshined even his defensive tackle partner Mazi Smith, who ended up being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Jenkins came back for his senior year and was named a team captain, but nagging injuries kept him from reaching his full potential. The depth at the position helped the Wolverines to thrive despite Jenkins not being as explosive as he was in previous years, but he leaves Ann Arbor as a fan favorite and a national champion who never lost to rival Ohio State in his tenure with Michigan football.

And on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft, Jenkins followed in his father’s footsteps by going into the professional ranks. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 49th pick. He joins Dax Hill, Brad Robbins, DJ Turner II and Chris Evans with the Ohio-based franchise south of Columbus.

In 2023, Jenkins had 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. He had more tackles in 2022 (54), but added two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Jenkins was listed as No. 6 on Bruce Feldman’s annual “freaks list,” which highlighted the athletic prowess and ability that he had that other college football players don’t have.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 18, Michigan DL Kris Jenkins

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers need to shore up their run defense. The Packers finished last season with the 29th-ranked run defense and gave up 4.4 yards per attempt.

A player who could help fix Green Bay’s run defense is Kris Jenkins. The Michigan defensive lineman and nephew of Cullen Jenkins checks in at No. 18 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit out of Maryland, Jenkins enjoyed a breakout season of sorts in 2022. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. 

This past season Jenkins helped the Wolverines win the National Championship and finished the season with 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception.

Nicknamed The Mutant, Jenkins was No. 6 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list prior to the season. From Feldman:

“He’s the mutant of all mutants,” Harbaugh tells The Athletic. “He just keeps going and going. He’s No. 1 in our KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). He’s over 300. He’s the poster child for enthusiasm unknown to mankind. Watch him become a top-10 pick.”

Jenkins has good initial quickness to break into gaps. The former three-star recruit has the lateral quickness and the motor to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. He’s stout and able to eat up blocks. He plays with outstanding leverage and controls his gap. Jenkins has strong hands. Once he gets his hands on a ball carrier they aren’t getting out of his grip. 

“You know what you’re going to get in Michigan defenders. Tough, high athletic profiles and the ability to stop the run,” Ryan Fowler, an NFL Draft analyst for Bleacher Report and The Draft Network, said. “Although a bit undersized, Jenkins’ twitch off the snap allows him to consistently get into the frame of opposing linemen, winning the leverage battle before he ever uses his hands. He has a strong anchor to take on double teams and will not miss tackles if ball carriers try to attack his gap.”

With his first-step quickness, power-packed frame and motor, Jenkins has a ton of upside as a pass rusher. With his strength, he’s able to drive offensive linemen backward into the lap of the quarterback.  Once Jenkins develops more of a pass-rush plan, he could develop into a dominant force on the interior.

“Motor and an improving pass-rush repertoire,” Fowler said. “Not the most flexible or refined 1 or 3-tech in the class, but showcases the ability to consistently win with his hands. Guards and centers with heavy feet, weak anchors, or slow-to-react hands, will often find themselves on the back foot and three yards back against Jenkins. He’s more of a finesse pass rusher than winning with pure power, but the flashes of both make him an intriguing prospect.”

Fit with the Packers

With Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden on the roster, the Packers don’t have a pressing need to add another defensive tackle.

Jenkins has the talent to challenge for reps and one could argue that he’d be the most talented member of that group not named Kenny Clark. He’s a stout run defender with the power and twitch to be a quality interior pass rusher. 

“Interior push is a need, not a want, in today’s game,” Fowler said. “While his NFL lineage has been a talking point for years, he’s created his own spotlight as a powerful yet fluid and technical interior presence that has the chance to evolve into a starter. Not only is Jenkins a heck of a ballplayer, he’ll be a leader in a locker room from Day 1 who should make an impact quickly on Sundays. While consistent pressure and sack numbers may come down the line, his ability to clog gaps on early downs while winning isolated matchups presents an intriguing high floor-high ceiling combination as he gets his feet wet at the pro level.”

The Packers own the 41st and 58th overall picks in the upcoming draft. That’s the range where Jenkins could go off the board. If they think he could help shore up their run defense, while offering some pass rush upside, Jenkins could be the pick at 41. 

 

NFL.com names Seahawks biggest needs going into the draft

Chad Reuter at NFL.com has named defensive tackle first, followed by linebacker, interior offensive line, edge and tight end.

The Seahawks have some holes yet to fill on their roster as they prepare for the 2024 NFL draft. It seems just about every analyst agrees on their positions of need going in, if not necessarily the order of them. When we picked out the team’s five biggest needs we chose guard first and second.

However, Chad Reuter at NFL.com has named defensive tackle first, followed by linebacker, interior offensive line, edge and tight end. Here’s what he had to share about Seattle’s needs for the draft.

“Geno Smith’s contract and the trade for Sam Howell means Seattle probably won’t look at quarterbacks until Saturday. The Seahawks re-signed Leonard Williams, but another explosive tackle could be selected, along with an edge and an athletic linebacker to push free-agent pick-ups Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson for time in the scheme of new head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde. A potential starting left guard and tight end depth are the team’s top need areas on offense.”

While the Seahawks may seem already loaded on their interior, you can make a case for iDL being the top priority for any team that doesn’t need a quarterback these days. Their proximity to the ball gives the more relative value than any other defensive position, according to the analytics.

In our most-recent seven-round mock this morning we picked one in Round 3, taking Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins at No. 81 overall. If Seattle does decide this is a need, the team will likely have eto pick one early, as this 2024 crop is considered pretty thin at this position.

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Second high profile mock draft sends Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

The latest NFL Mock Draft from ESPN’s Jordan Reid sends the Minnesota Vikings 2 Michigan Wolverines in QB J.J. McCarthy and DT Kris Jenkins.

The quarterback position has been a very popular selection for the Minnesota Vikings. In fact, the position has been mocked to the Vikings 62 times across 236 collected mock drafts through Sunday, March 3rd.

On Tuesday morning, we saw two major industry mock drafts released where the Vikings selected Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy: first from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler and this one from ESPN’s Jordan Reid.

We obviously don’t know if free agent Kirk Cousins will return to Minnesota, but McCarthy fits coach Kevin O’Connell’s scheme so well. Yes, the passing sample size is limited — he only hit 25 or more passing attempts in 12 of 28 career starts — and his combine workout was inconsistent, but his efficiency at Michigan is noteworthy (72.3% completion rate). The infrastructure in Minnesota — with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson catching passes — is set up well for a young signal-caller to grow, too.

It didn’t stop there for Reid, as he has the Vikings double dipping with the Maize and Blue in selecting Michigan DT Kris Jenkins at 42nd overall.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has leaned on explosiveness in defensive prospects since taking over as Minnesota’s GM. Jenkins has those traits — he posted a 30-inch vertical at 299 pounds — and the Vikings’ defensive line could be headed for some turnover.

This would be a really impressive two-round haul for the Vikings. Getting the quarterback of the future paired with a high-upside defensive tackle is a great start to keeping this team on the right track.

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PFF lays out ‘best-case scenario’ for Chargers in 2024 NFL draft

How can Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh hit a home run in their first draft together?

Pro Football Focus laid out the best-case scenario for the Chargers in the draft with the goal of finding players who fit Jim Harbaugh’s vision and selecting Georgia tight end Brock Bowers as their first pick. 

The Chargers need to play physical football in all three phases next season. The Bolts want to draft the most talented players, but there is another factor driving those decisions.

One characteristic that Harbaugh is infamous for is his ability to change a program’s culture, and it could be argued that this is also what Los Angeles needs most. 

PFF believes taking Bowers at No. 5 is worth it because Justin Herbert needs a talented tight end to throw to. Additionally, Harbaugh and Greg Roman have coached several elite tight ends throughout the years. 

They also believe that bringing in players Harbaugh is familiar with from coaching at Michigan, and the son of one of his former players when he was the coach of the 49ers, Frank Gore.

Along the way, Harbaugh could look to bring in Michigan graduates, such as running back Blake Corum, wide receiver Roman Wilson and interior defender Kris Jenkins, who all know his habits firsthand. Another name to watch could be Southern Mississippi’s Frank Gore Jr., whose father was coached by Harbaugh when they were both in San Francisco.

I believe that the best-case scenario for Los Angeles involves trading back a few spots to get more draft ammo in the first few rounds while still being able to draft a player like Bowers or a top tackle or cornerback.

Here’s how 5 of the Cowboys DT, LB interviewees did at the combine

Here’s a closer look at how several of the DTs and LBs the Cowboys met with performed in their testing at Thursday’s combine. | From @Larimore_Ben

The NFL Scouting Combine workouts are officially underway for 321 college football invitees at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first wave of prospects, defensive linemen and linebackers, took the field for testing and drills on Thursday giving scouts and front office personnel a good look at who these players are as athletes on an even testing platform.

This however, was not the first opportunity to study these prospects. Teams, including the Dallas Cowboys’ contingent, have been conducting both formal and informal interviews with players of interest since the first wave of players arrived on Monday. Here’s a continuously updated tracker of who the Cowboys are meeting with.

A formal interview, of which teams are limited to 45 across the week-long event, is scheduled and takes place in an official meeting room with personnel staff, while informal interviews can happen at any time, anywhere.

The Cowboys had eight formal interviews prior to Thursday’s workouts. Five of them were defensive tackles, and three were linebackers.

Here’s a closer look at some of Thursday’s best performers the Cowboys have formally met with, and one they probably should after today’s results. Note, two of the three linebackers formally interviewed by the Cowboys did not workout; Michigan LB Junior Colson and Missouri LB Ty’Ron Hopper.