Wide receiver Charlie Jones Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Did Bengals find gem in fourth round of NFL Draft?

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 5/2/23

It took the Bengals a lot longer than some believed to add to QB Joe Burrow's arsenal in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, they may have struck gold in the fourth round anyway.

With pick No. 131 , Cincinnati selected Purdue WR Charlie Jones. "Jones is a ready-made slot receiver who can start tomorrow," Pro Football Focus writes.

Jones may rank as PFF's No. 159 overall prospect and 21st-best wide receiver but he certainly has the upside to turn into one of the better receivers in this year's draft class.

In 2022, he posted 110 catches for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns along with this impressive catch over the Bengals' second-round pick, CB D.J. Turner.

Charlie Jones committing Bengal-on-Bengal crime against DJ Turner pic.twitter.com/Ma14pBWNmo
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) May 1, 2023

Jones should battle right away to see playing time on special teams and on offense. It won't be easy with an already talented receiver room including Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, but his 4.43 40-yard dash speed should help.

He will be the eventual replacement for Boyd, who is 28, and as long as he has Burrow as his quarterback, his ceiling is limitless.

Cincinnati had one of the quieter drafts, but it may turn out to be one of the better ones among the league, and Jones may just find his way to becoming a household name.

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