The Cincinnati Bengals Rookies Have Their New Numbers

The Bengals rookies kick-off as their first-rounder hits the ground running with a number synonymous with greatness in Cincinnati. Mims was drafted with the 18th overall pick out of Georgia and is expected to back up the tackle combo of Trent Brown and Orlando Brown. He is considered an incredibly raw prospect given the fact that his athletic testing was off the charts but he only started eight games in college. However, in those eight games, he flashed. Perhaps his best game was in the CFP semi-final against Ohio State.

The number 71 has been worn by 13 Bengals throughout history with the most recent being La’el Collins. Naturally, recency bias is going to rule as Collins was not nearly as reliable as he was expected to be. Easily the greatest Bengal to wear 71 is one of the best right tackles football has seen: Willie Anderson. It is a travesty that Anderson has not been inducted to the Hall of Fame but they’ll get it right eventually.

Kris Jenkins: 90

The 90 jersey is not one with a long history as 71 is. Perhaps Kris Jenkins will be the best in time. Jenkins comes to Cincinnati by way of Michigan and was a dominant force on the interior defensive line. With the loss of D.J. Reader, Jenkins will likely have to step up early and often.

The most recent player to wear 90 was Tim Bell. The most recent player to actually appear in a game for the Bengals wearing 90 was Khalid Kareem. Michael Johnson was an exciting player for the Bengals in the late 2010s but the best player to sport the number in stripes was Justin Smith. Smith was a great player in Cincinnati but gained his notoriety after signing with the San Francisco 49ers and making five straight Pro Bowls, a First-Team All-Pro, two Second-Team All-Pros, and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2011.

Jermaine Burton: 81

In what feels like a massive missed chance, Jermain Burton, the Bengals’ third-round selection out of Alabama is set to don 81. There was a hope in Cincinnati that a third receiver – whether it was Tyler Boyd last year or Burton this year – would wear the number they wore in college: 3. That way, with Ja’Marr Chase (1) and Tee Higgins (5), the top three receivers would be in 513, the Cincinnati area code.

Alas, it was not to be as Burton will be wearing 81. Most recently, Irv Smith and his disappointing one-year stint wore the number. By far the most famous 81 in Cincinnati was Terrell Owens and his enigmatic 2010 season. Carl Pickens wore 81 after three years in 80 and even made a pair of Pro Bowls and Second-Team All-Pros. In terms of career wearing the number, Eddie Brown has the best. He wore 81 in his entire seven-year career with Cincinnati and was the leading receiver on that 1988 squad.

McKinnley Jackson: 68

Another potential shake-up to the defensive line, McKinnley Jackson has a number that most Bengals fans would like to forget. While at Texas A&M, Jackson was a force on the interior defensive line and could be considered a steal where the Bengals got him. He could very well work his way into the rotation as a rookie.

68 is an interesting number in Bengals lore. As the Tweet states, Josh Tupou wore it most recently. The biggest name to wear the number was Kevin Zeitler from 2012 to 2016 before walking in free agency. The reason it would like to be forgotten is because the man, the myth, the walking turnstile himself, Bobby Hart also sported the number.

Needless to say, the bar is the ground when it comes to ending up one of the best to wear the number.

Erick All: 83

This one stings. Erick All is set to wear 83. There was a glimmer of hope that he could be 22 because the film nerds love the All-22 when breaking things down. Alas, he has a more traditional number. All is going to be an interesting pick to watch. Some call him the next George Kittle. Others worry about his injury history.

Regardless, wearing 83 in Cincinnati is going to cause plenty to have feelings. Tyler Boyd most recently and most famously wore 83. While the fanbase may have spoiled on him as of late, Boyd is one of the best receivers to play for the Bengals.

Josh Newton: 28

Speaking of having massive shoes to fill, Josh Newton is not shying away. As a corner, he could have a wide variety of numbers but he took one that is legendary in Cincinnati. Newton was absolutely a steal and actually had first-round hype heading into the 2023 season. He’s going to be one to watch. He likely won’t break through the top four corners as Dax Hill, D.J. Turner, Cam Taylor-Britt, and Mike Hilton have that covered.

28 in Cincinnati carries weight. Most recently, Joe Mixon wore it and he ended up with the third-most rushing yards and second-most rushing touchdowns in franchise history. Oddly enough, the player that tops that yardage chart also wore 28: Corey Dillon. In all reality, there is a chance both players end up in the Ring of Honor, starting with Dillon in 2024 (hopefully).

Tanner McLachlan: 84

As with All, Tanner McLachlan gets a storied number as a tight end. McLachlan was a surprise of a pick late as he became the fifth tight end on the roster with All, Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, and Tanner Hudson in town. Regardless, he is a fun project with a decently high upside. Why not take a risk on Day 3?

84 has been worn by a few Bengals legends. Most notably, Bob Trumpy, the greatest tight end in franchise history, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Robin to Chad Johnson’s Batman. There hasn’t been a notable Bengal to wear 84 (sorry Mitchell Wilcox) since first-round pick, Jermaine Gresham.

Cedric Johnson: 52

The edge rusher from Ole Miss is the latest in a very long line of 52s in Bengals history. To date, he’s the 26th player to don the number and the Bengals rookie doesn’t have much to live up to. Per pro-football-reference, the player with the most Approximate Value accrued while wearing the number was Tom Dinkle from 1978 to 1983. Of late, there really hasn’t been anyone to make an impact while 52. Preston Brown, maybe?

Daijahn Anthony: 33

33 was the target of plenty of Bengals fans’ ire so hopefully seeing Daijahn Anthony wear it will ease tensions. Most recently, Nick Scott wore 33 and to say his short stint in Cincinnati was disappointing would be an understatement. Ashley Ambrose (1996-1998) and Kenny Watson (2003-2008) had good stints while wearing 33 but no player has even come close to David Fulcher and his seven years with the number.

Matt Lee: 62

Finally, the sneaky-good pick of the draft, Matt Lee out of Miami (FL). Could he be the center of the future with fan-favorite Ted Karras set to hit free agency after this season? In all reality, 62 has not been worn by more than one great: Dave Lapham. Lapham is incredibly well-known in Cincinnati not just for his 10-year tenure on the Bengals’ offensive line from 1974 to 1983, but he’s the color commentator for the voice of the Bengals on 700 WLW.

He’s endeared himself to Bengals fans with his enthusiastic calls. He doesn’t hide that he’s still a fan of this team and, frankly, it’s what makes him great.