The Bengals Drafting Ashton Jeanty Isn’t As Crazy As You Think
Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images
I consider myself firmly Anti-Sexy Draft Pick. In the great Chase/Sewell debate of 2021, I put on my armor and rode into the arena of battle, begging for the Cincinnati Bengals to draft Penei Sewell over Ja’Marr Chase. I hated the idea of drafting Brock Bowers in the first round in 2024 for the same reason: because the offensive line was deeply in shambles. When the Bengals drafted Amarius Mims in the first round of this past draft, it was like Christmas. Football games are won in the trenches, and having guys who can allow the skill players to function is essential for any team.
That said, the Bengals have struggled in 2024 and can put themselves in a position to upgrade at several positions. They desperately need players on defense and will almost assuredly acquire those players in the offseason. However, the clear-cut best running back in college may be too difficult for the Bengals to pass up.
Ashton Jeanty would be a lot of fun on this Bengals offense pic.twitter.com/jgPwRu3kGH
— Bengals Graphics (@BengalsGraphic5) November 18, 2024
Yes, the Bengals are a pass-first offense that will likely no longer have the services of Tee Higgins in 2024 and will need to replace him. Yes, the Bengals have a porous defense with aging players (*cough* Sam Hubbard *cough*) which require immediate upgrades.
However, a player like Ashton Jeanty is rare.
Ashton Jeanty goes OFF for 31 CAR, 149 YDS, 2 TDS 😤🔥
Jeanty now has 20 total TDS in EIGHT games 😳 pic.twitter.com/sDGz4ceTyC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 2, 2024
Jeanty has been the one player in college football who could take the Heisman Trophy away from Travis Hunter this month. He has the fifth-most rushing yards in a season in NCAA history (2,288), and the ninth-most touchdowns (28), all while still having one game left to play. Despite the likelihood of Deion Sanders (erm, I’m sorry, #CoachPrime) screaming at me about how Hunter is the second coming of Tim Tebow, Jeanty has at least 127 rushing yards in every game this season. He has been an integral part of Boise State’s 11-1 season. He’s every bit as deserving of the Heisman.
Since Joe Burrow first lined up under center to revitalize the Bengals’ offense, the NFL has seen a revival of the running back, especially in 2024. Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry have arrived on new teams and turned their rushing offenses into unstoppable forces. Both players are also poised to sail far past the 1,500-yard mark and they’ll do it just one year after Christian McCaffrey was the only player to top 1,200 rushing yards.
Elsewhere, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson eighth overall in 2023, despite Tyler Allgeier being a 1,000-yard rusher the previous season. Four picks later, the Lions drafted Jahmyr Gibbs, and he and David Montgomery have been inarguably the best running back tandem in the league on an offense that was already loaded in the passing game.
And Robinson is a great name to bring up, as he is brought up by ESPN’s Field Yates as an NFL comparable for Jeanty. Robinson made a splash as a rookie, with nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 1,500 yards from scrimmage. He’s looking to blow both totals away in Year 2. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler compares him to LaDainian Tomlinson, which is insane… except that Jeanty’s got the numbers to back it up.
Ashton Jeanty is just INSANE 🤯@BroncoSportsFB pic.twitter.com/j4JrbytNUa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2024
Now, to play Devil’s Advocate against myself, drafting Jeanty could be putting the cart before the horse. The interior of the offensive line, particularly at guard, has been supremely subpar in 2024, and the defense has been even worse. Those portions of the team must be addressed in the offseason, or risk wasting the last year of Burrow’s 20s altogether.
However, free agency and the rest of the draft are more than allowed to coexist. In March, the Bengals are likely to lose Higgins to a team willing to pony up $30 million a year for his services. Other players like Hubbard and Alex Cappa are potential cap casualties and may not be a part of the team in 2025. Those moves would free up a significant amount of money for the Bengals to get younger and better in positions of need, especially on defense and the interior of the offensive line.
Still, the Bengals’ running back situation in 2024 has been largely below average. Chase Brown has been just fine in the starting role, but he’s far from the three-down back that other elite teams are employing. Cincinnati acquired Zack Moss in last year’s league-wide running back shopping spree, and he has largely disappointed and is now out for the season. They tried addressing the position with the acquisition of Khalil Herbert after Moss’ injury, he is also set to hit free agency after this season, and the Bengals have hardly used him since he was acquired from Chicago.
And we’ve gone this far without mentioning it, but we have to eventually point out that Joe Mixon has been a major upgrade for the Texans. He currently has more all-purpose touchdowns (12) than every Bengals running back combined (11).
After a free-for-all last offseason, we’re looking at a running back class that will feature significantly less talent in 2025. Aaron Jones and Najee Harris are the two players of note set to hit the open market in March. It’s a significantly thinner market than it was a season ago, which is rough for a Bengals team that could benefit from an upgrade at a position on the rise in the NFL.
A player like Jeanty would transform a Bengals offense that has been excellent, but largely one-dimensional. With the Bengals currently slated to pick ninth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jeanty could fall right into the Bengals’ lap. Yes, Cincinnati would need to address their poor run blocking and defense. However, a player like Jeanty would give the Bengals a much-needed boost to the run game, and the numerous resources the Bengals will have after cutting cap casualties will allow them to upgrade elsewhere. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but the choice is clear: Cincinnati should splurge on the sexy player and figure the rest out later.
Up Next