Tight end Brian Thomas Jr. of LSU and Texas selected by the Bengals In the most recent 2024 mock draft from ESPN, Ja’Tavion Sanders
On Monday, Matt Miller of ESPN released his most recent mock draft, which focused on the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. With Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders at pick 49 and LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 18, Cincinnati remained on the offensive end of the field.
Thomas is the third-best wide receiver in the class behind Rome Odunze and Marvin Harrision Jr., and is generally regarded as the 20th best player in the class.
“The Bengals enter an offseason in which both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are free agents at wide receiver,” Miller stated. “Thomas would be a perfect substitute for Higgins if he were to charge too much to be in Cincinnati. He led the country in this area in 2023 with 17 touchdowns, displaying outstanding length and ball-tracking abilities. Although Thomas lacks experience as a route runner, playing alongside former LSU standout Ja’Marr Chase would help him adjust to the professional level.”
Sanders is the second-best tight end in the class and is often ranked 56th.
“The first-round addition of Thomas would help the potential WR hole in Cincinnati, but don’t sleep on the fact that not one tight end is under contract for next season,” Miller stated. Sanders is more of a Y tight end than an in-line guy; at Texas, he was paid to blast open seams. The 6-foot-4, 243-pound junior enters the NFL as a ready-made flex tight end option after catching 99 passes for seven touchdowns over the previous two seasons.”