Josh Newton to Bengals in NFL draft: Instant grade, analysis, stats for 149th pick
The Cincinnati Bengals needed to draft at least one defensive back in the 2024 NFL draft and that happened when they selected Josh Newton out of TCU in the fifth round.
Newton was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and Second-Team in 2023. Newton is 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds and ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
TCU DB Josh Newton to Bengals NFL draft grade: Instant reaction
Grade: C
Why: The Bengals went with a defensive back, which is a positional need, exactly where he was projected. Newton had a fourth or fifth round grade and the Bengals got him in the fifth. Cincinnati went with upside in the picks of Amarius Mims, Jermaine Burton and Erick All. Newton makes sense as a versatile defensive back because his skillset fits defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's scheme. This is the classic position of need at the right spot.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Grading Bengals pick of Josh Newton at No. 149: NFL draft 2024
