It’s been a great two-year run for the Cincinnati Bengals, with a 22-9 record and trips to the Super Bowl and AFC Championship round during that span.
And the Bengals figure to dominate local Ohio sportsbooks action this fall, the first full NFL season with legal wagering in the state.
The Bengals have reached their current heights, thanks in large part to the performance of draft picks like quarterback Joe Burrow, who was taken No. 1 overall out of LSU in 2020, along with fellow first round picks wideout Ja’Marr Chase (2021), guard Jonah Williams (2019) and center Billy Price (2018).
In 2022, the Bengals drafted six players spread across the seven-round draft, led by first round defensive back Daxton Hill and second round cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt.
The class was thought to be in the middle of the pack on draft night, and that’s how things turned out after the season based on Pro Football Reference’s Weighted Career Approximate Value (wAV).
According to PFR, fourth-round tackle Cordell Volson out of North Dakota State provided the most production for the Bengals a year ago.
The Bengals Super Bowl odds are currently No. 5 in the league for 2023. So who might be the star from this year’s draft class?
Bengals 2023 NFL Draft Class
- 1st round (28th pick): Myles Murphy (DE)
- 2nd round (60th pick): DJ Turner (DB)
- 3rd round (95th pick): Jordan Battle (DB)
- 4th round (131st pick): Charlie Jones (WR)
- 5th round (163rd pick): Chase Brown (RB)
- 6th round (206th pick): Andrei Iosivas (WR)
- 6th round (217th pick): Brad Robbins (P)
- 7th round (246th pick): DJ Ivey (CB)
How 2023 Might Compare to 2022
With two more selections and a greater spread of positions overall, it seems safe to assume the 2023 Bengals draft class should produce more value compared to last year’s class. You can assume the partner of the Bengals, Betfred Sportsbook Ohio, will be offering some exclusive promotions for the team.
Last year’s crop of Bengals draft picks lacked an offensive skill position player and featured three defensive backs.
Of the six players, Volson notched the highest wAV value for the season at nine, followed by third-round pick defensive end Zachary Carter (5 wAV). First-round pick Daxton Hill provided the Bengals less value in his first season than the team’s next three picks.
Re-Ranking 2022 NFL Draft Class
Other Contenders Had Big Rookie Seasons
Seattle had the top performing draft class in 2022, getting 40 wAV from their nine-man group. That was thanks in large part to fifth-round cornerback Tariq Woolen.
Woolen’s six interceptions fueled the Seahawks rookie production. But two other Seahawks picks (linemen Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas at 9 wAV apiece) had as much production as Cincinnati’s most productive pick. And Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III had 8 wAV, more than all but one of the Bengals’ draft class.
Despite the performance of its draftees, Cincinnati still came a play away from reaching the Super Bowl. For fans who think the Bengals might make another run, BetOhio.com has your Ohio sportsbook promos.
