Breaking down the Bengals’ selection of Kris Jenkins in Round 2

Another Wolverine turned Bengal.

With the 49th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals took Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

The Bengals love drafting players who have been part of a championship culture and those with a deep family connection to the game. Jenkins checks both of those boxes and fills a need on the defensive line.

What are the Bengals getting in Jenkins?

Jenkins is an excellent defensive tackle who can play as a three-technique in the Bengal’s even fronts or a five-technique in their odd fronts. He is first to the punch, getting his hands into the blocker.

Here’s a look at where Jenkins lined up while at Michigan via Pro Football Focus.

PFF also had Jenkins earning an 82.3 grade vs. the run to go with a 70.5 pass-rushing mark, so he can be very effective in both regards.

Although he has the quickness to run loops and stunts, he is largely a power pass-rusher who showed more potential than production getting to the quarterback. In the run game, he is able to push blockers back and disrupt the play before disengaging to make the tackle.

At Michigan, Jenkins won a national championship and played well against his best competition, including Alabama and Washington, both of whom saw offensive linemen go high in this year’s draft. Jenkins knows what it takes to be successful in the NFL, having been raised by his four-time Pro Bowl namesake.

What will Jenkins do for the Bengals?

Without a true nose tackle on the roster, Jenkins is in a position to be the third defensive tackle, who will roster in with BJ Hill and Sheldon Rankins. If he is able to secure this role, his snap counts will likely increase over the course of the season.

With Hill potentially becoming a free agent after the season, Jenkins could be the starter in 2025. At a minimum, Jenkins will be a solid rotational piece who can help this interior defensive line stay fresh after it relied far too heavily on Reader and Hill last season.

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