The Cincinnati Bengals selected Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins for the 49th pick. Jenkins addresses a need in the middle of the defensive line after stalwart DJ Reader left in free agency this offseason.
‘The Beast’ breakdown
Jenkins ranked No. 36 on Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
A two-year starter at Michigan, Jenkins lined up primarily over the B-gap in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s front, also sliding outside to more of a five-technique role at times. With just eight of his 112 career tackles coming in the backfield, his stat sheet in college is underwhelming, but his impact on tape and in the locker room is what made him an All-American and team captain for the 2023 national champions.
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The son of a 360-pound NFL Pro Bowler, Jenkins is built differently than his father, but he competes with similar energy and awareness and controls blocks with his hands (his nickname is “The Mutant”). As a pass rusher, he is forceful through gaps, but his pad level, pass-rush plan and move transitions need further development.
Overall, Jenkins might never be a high-production interior player, but he is light on his feet and heavy with his hands with the “do my job” mentality that NFL defensive coordinators appreciate. He projects as an NFL starter as a one-gapping tackle on the interior or two-gapping strongside defensive end.
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A little taste of Kris Jenkins' energy.
(language warning) #Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/eJDyJ3vZCC
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) April 27, 2024
Scott Dochterman’s grade: A
Cincinnati needed a replacement for D.J. Reader and it couldn’t have found a better fill-in than with Kris Jenkins. At Michigan, Jenkins tied up blockers for the national champions. Jenkins (6-2 1⁄2, 299) finished with 36 tackles, including four for loss, and two sacks last fall. Perhaps playing a different role will help him statistically. Jenkins had a quality combine with a 4.91-second 40-yard dash and measuring 34-inch arms.
How he fits
The Bengals were in desperate need of help stopping the run. DJ Reader left for Detroit. Sheldon Rankins is more of a pass-rushing acquisition. The fact Jenkins was available at 49 was an ideal fit for the fabric of this team and coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense. The two-time captain brings elite character/leadership, NFL bloodlines as the son and nephew of former pros and among the freakiest athletic traits in the draft. He ranked in the 99th percentile for run stop percentage, via PFF.
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Rookie impact
He will immediately join a rotation with BJ Hill and Rankins as an early-down run-stopper. Anarumo praised Jenkins for his versatility, a common trait he cherishes up front. Jenkins played up and down the line at Michigan and can do the same in Cincinnati. That makes for an important chess piece in a position group with a gaping hole since free agency went awry there.
Depth-chart impact
Jenkins doesn’t put any current player on the bubble but is more a direct replacement for some of the things Reader did. Anarumo will need to be creative to improve the run defense without the former top nose tackle, but Jenkins helps that in a big way.
They also could have picked …
The Bengals could have traded up as many teams were doing to pick their defensive tackle and wide receivers of choice. Instead, they stood pat while Taylor and Anarumo admitted they were staring at the name Jenkins at the top of their board for what felt like forever. This was a real sweat hoping he fell to this spot. They could have gone for a wide receiver like AD Mitchell, of Texas, or Jenkins’ teammate CB Mike Sainristil.
Fast evaluation
This worked out incredibly well for Cincinnati. There was a ton of pressure to find a player capable of immediate help against the run and Jenkins was one of the few remaining. He was a captain and arguably the best player on one of the best defenses in college football that won a national title. All traits Cincinnati leans into on repeat. He played through injury, noted for his relentless motor, has a love of the game since birth and possesses all the traits they are trying to replenish in the locker room. Not often you find this type of personality, positions and potential fit at this point in the draft.
(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)
