Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire gives the Bengals a “B” grade while really spotlighting positives beyond the first round:

Kris Jenkins was a gap-plugging tackle in college who has more disruptive potential than he was allowed to show at Michigan. Jermaine Burton is a ready-made downfield target who could replace Tee Higgins if that contractual situation continues to be a problem.

USA Today’s Nate Davis also goes with a “B” grade, pointing out how the draft helped to ease concerns about certain contract situations:

Felt like your typically solid, if often unspectacular, Cincy draft – first-round OT Amarius Mims (Georgia), second-round DT Kris Jenkins (Michigan) and third-round WR Jermaine Burton (Alabama) all virtually certain to be starters … no later than 2025. No panic here at all despite those trade demands by DE Trey Hendrickson and WR Tee Higgins.

Yet another “B”, this one from Mel Kiper Jr. at ESPN, while spotlighting a few of the value issues he found with the draft class:

Defensive tackles Kris Jenkins (49) and McKinnley Jackson (97) are better run-defenders than interior pass-rushers, but they’ll immediately help a defense that ranked 32nd in yards per play allowed (6.0) a year ago. I graded Jackson as more of a fifth-rounder, though. Cincinnati reached for wideout Jermaine Burton (80) over guys I had graded higher including Jalen McMillan, Roman Wilson and Troy Franklin, and Burton also has some off-field concerns. He’s a talented player and deep threat for Joe Burrow, but he’s no guarantee to be a future Tee Higgins replacement.

Over at NFL.com, Chad Reuter gives the Bengals a “B-” while being one of many to really like the Jermaine Burton pick:

Mims is a boom-or-bust pick at tackle. He certainly has the size to win at the next level, but his limited experience (eight starts at Georgia) is a concern. The team doubled up on defensive tackles on Day 2 as it looks to replace D.J. Reader. Burton presented excellent value. He could become a key contributor on offense, especially if the Bengals and Tee Higgins don’t work out a long-term agreement.

At the Washington Post, Mark Maske also assigned a “B-” while mentioning the Trey Hendrickson situation:

The Bengals did not accommodate a trade request by three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and had a pretty good draft as they attempt to return to Super Bowl contender status. Joe Burrow should be pleased as the Bengals helped their franchise QB by adding an offensive tackle, first-rounder Amarius Mims, and a wide receiver, third-rounder Jermaine Burton. Second-round DT Kris Jenkins also should be a factor.

Chris Trapasso at CBS Sports gives the Bengals that elusive “A-” and points out sixth-rounder Cedric Johnson as someone to watch:

Burton is not your classic Round 3 receiver — he has borderline first-round talent as one of the truly premier vertical threat. All and McLachlan are two reasonable talented pass-catching tight ends, and keep an eye on Johnson as an ascending rusher who can climb the depth chart because of his explosiveness and glimpses of hand work.

Trevor Sikkema at PFF has the Bengals at a “B+” and summed up every pick, so here’s the praise for seventh-rounder Matt Lee:

Lee — Lee was exceptional in 2023 with the Hurricanes, ranking 10th among FBS centers in PFF grade (79.1). He didn’t allow a single sack on 414 pass-blocking snaps, and his 89.1 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked third among FBS centers. Lee is well worth a swing here for the Bengals, a team that continues to find value late in the draft.

Danny Kelly at The Ringer awards an “A” grade, spotlighting his favorite picks of the 10:

I liked the Mims pick in particular; he’s a boom-or-bust prospect because of his extreme lack of experience (just eight college starts), but he brings truly elite potential thanks to his immense size and rare movement skills. The Jermaine Burton pick in the third round could also look like a massive steal in a few years: Burton fell in part because of some character concerns (he struck a female fan in the head following a loss to Tennessee), but he’s a three-level pass-catcher with stick’em hands and very good speed and profiles as a long-term replacement for Tee Higgins if the team can’t come to a contract extension with their star receiver. I also loved the fourth-round selection of tight end Erick All, who brings intriguing athleticism and tackle-breaking ability but fell in the draft because of multiple injuries sustained in college. All has starter-upside as a pass-catcher in the Bengals offense if he can stay healthy.

At the AP, Rob Maaddi is the first to really mention Tanner McLachlan while giving out a “B” grade:

OT Amarius Mims (18) has major upside but isn’t as much of a slam dunk as other linemen who went in the first round. Had a strong second day, getting DT Kris Jenkins, WR Jermaine Burton and DL McKinnley Jackson. TE Tanner McLachlan in the sixth has plenty of potential.