INTO THE WEEKEND WHEN I RETURN. ALL RIGHT, KEVIN, THANKS SO MUCH. WELL, THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER HERE. JOE BURROW AND THE BENGALS WATCHING CLOSELY. TONIGHT IS THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NFL DRAFT ARRIVES IN KANSAS CITY IN CINCINNATI, THE TIME IS NOW TO BRING IN SOME MORE TALENT AND WE ARE LEADING THE WAY AS OUR DRAFT TEAM COVERAGE CONTINUES TONIGHT. WE BEGIN WITH TWO NEWS SPORTS REPORTER, OLIVIA RAY. SHE’S ALIVE AT PACKER STADIUM TONIGHT. OLIVIA, HOW IS ZAC TAYLOR FEELING ABOUT TONIGHT? MIKE SURE. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO SHAKE OUT WITH THIS LATE ROUND PICK HERE TONIGHT AT PACKER STADIUM. BUT ONE THING I CAN PROMISE YOU IS THAT I’M PROBABLY GOING TO HEAR ONE OF THE BEST NFL DRAFT DAY CLICHES. AND IT’S I CAN’T BELIEVE HE WAS STILL ON THE BOARD AT NUMBER 28. NOW, EARLIER THIS WEEK, HEAD COACH ZAC TAYLOR DESCRIBED PRECISE THAT FEELING OF SITTING AND WAITING AND WATCHING A STEEL FALL IN THE BENGALS LAP. THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS T AND LOGAN. YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THOSE GUYS. BUT BUT AGAIN, THAT’S HOW YOU GRADED THEM. SO IT DOESN’T MEAN EVERYBODY GRADES IN THAT WAY. WE THINK HIGHLY OF THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGH GRADES ON THEM. MAYBE NOBODY ELSE DID. OBVIOUSLY IT’S PAID OFF FOR US, SO WE CAN PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK. YEAH, LOGAN IS A GUY I CAN REMEMBER WATCHING 30 PICKS TICK OFF THE CLOCK WITH YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. AGAIN. HEAD COACH ZAC TAYLOR DESCRIBING THAT 2020 DRAFT CLASS WHICH PANNED OUT NICELY, OF COURSE, FOR THE BENGALS. THEY ARE ON THE CLOCK AT NUMBER 28 TONIGHT. A LOT OF SITTING AND WAITING. HOWEVER, AT THE TOP OF THIS DRAFT CLASS, THERE COULD BE CHAOS IN THOSE TOP FIVE PICKS. OUR VERY OWN CHARLIE CLIFFORD IS HERE TO DISCUSS THE BUZZ AROUND NUMBER ONE THROUGH NUMBER FIVE. CHARLIE. OLIVIA THAT’S RIGHT. WE GOT TO GET THERE FIRST. SOME TEAM EXECUTIVES ACROSS THE LEAGUE ARE CALLING THIS ONE OF THE MORE UNPREDICTABLE FIRST ROUNDS IN RECENT MEMORY. I SPOKE WITH THE MEMBER OF THE BENGALS ORGANIZATION TONIGHT. HE DOESN’T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. THE MOST DRAMATIC HEADLINE OUT THERE. IT IS THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND OHIO STATE STAR QUARTERBACK C.J. STROUD. THE PANTHERS ARE EXPECTED TO GO WITH ALABAMA’S BRYCE YOUNG, WITH THE FIRST OVERALL PICK. WILL STROUD GO NUMBER TWO? YOU’RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. IT COULD SET OFF A CHAIN REACTION WHEN GUYS HAVE JUST CHAOS INSIDE THI
NFL Draft: Keeping track of Bengals, Bearcats and local picks
Updated: 12:24 PM EDT Apr 30, 2023
This weekend, hundreds of dreams will be realized as 259 athletes from across the country will hear their names called during the 2023 NFL draft.WLWT will have coverage throughout the three-day event, keeping track of who the Cincinnati Bengals select, which Cincinnati Bearcats hear their name called and where some former local stars are heading.Keep this story handy all week long as we continue to update it with the latest news coming out of Kansas City.Draft basicsThe 2023 NFL draft will take place April 27-29 in Kansas City.Thursday's first round will begin at 8 p.m. ET.Tracking the BengalsThe Bengals hold seven picks in the 2023 NFL draft, beginning with their first-round selection at No. 28 overall Thursday night.Cincinnati finished the regular season last year at 12-4, advancing to the AFC Championship Game, where they fell on the road to the Kansas City Chiefs. Led by star quarterback Joe Burrow and a plethora of offensive weapons including wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals ranked seventh in the league with 26.1 points scored per game. Meanwhile, their defense ranked sixth in the NFL with only 20.1 points allowed per contest. First Round (No. 28): Myles Murphy, EDGE, ClemsonSecond Round (No. 60): DJ Turner, CB, MichiganThird Round (No. 95): Jordan Battle, S, AlabamaFourth Round (No. 131): Charlie Jones, WR, PurdueFifth Round (No. 163): Chase Brown, RB, IllinoisSixth Round (No. 206): Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton Sixth Round (No. 217): Brad Robbins, P, MichiganSeventh Round (No. 246): DJ Ivey, CB, Miami (FL)The Bengals selected safety Dax Hill out of Michigan with their first-round pick in 2022. Bearcat watchThe University of Cincinnati Bearcats made history with their 2022 NFL draft class, with five players selected in the first 100 picks and a school-record nine total across the three-day event.While the 2023 Bearcats class doesn't possess the same standout stars at the top, such as NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, UC has numerous players that could hear their names called this week in Kansas City. Leading the group of available players is linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. A former standout at Colerain High School, Pace totaled 136 tackles to accompany his 20.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks last season. Pace, shockingly, went undrafted, but signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.In addition to Pace, a trio of pass catchers are likely to hear their names called this weekend, led by wide receiver Tyler Scott, who caught 54 passes for 899 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Scott was named to the 2022 All-AAC Second Team. He was taken by the Chicago Bears with the 133rd pick.Tight end Josh Whyle is another available playmaker, coming off a season when he joined Pace on the All-American Athletic Conference First Team. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Whyle had 32 catches for 326 yards last season. Whyle is another local product, graduating from La Salle. He'll stay close to home to start his NFL career, after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the 147th overall pick.Wide receiver Tre Tucker had 52 catches for 672 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. Tucker joined Pace and Whyle as participants in the 2023 Senior Bowl in February. Tucker was the first Bearcat chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 100th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.Cornerback Arquon Bush played five seasons with the Bearcats, starting 13 games in each of the last two campaigns. Bush totaled nine interceptions in his college career.Hometown starsSeveral athletes from across the tri-state are hoping to hear their names called as they continue the next steps in their football careers.Two players from the area could very well be first-round picks Thursday: Paris Johnson Jr. and Michael Mayer.One of the best offensive linemen in the nation while at Ohio State, Johnson played for three years at St. Xavier and one year at Princeton. Dating back to 2021, Johnson started 26 straight games for the Buckeyes, including all 13 games last year at left tackle for the College Football Playoff semifinalists. He was taken sixth overall by the Arizona Cardinals.Arguably the top tight end prospect of this year's class, former Covington Catholic standout Michael Mayer could also hear his name get called Thursday evening. Not only one of the best players in Northern Kentucky during his time at Covington Catholic, Mayer finished his Notre Dame career third all-time in receptions (180) and tied for 10th all-time in receiving touchdowns (18). He was taken within the first handful of picks in the second round, going to the Las Vegas Raiders at pick 35.While Johnson and Mayer are the two headliners, there's no shortage of local talent who could be drafted this weekend. Some of those names include: QB Sean Clifford (St. Xavier, Penn State) - Pick 149, Green Bay PackersQB Tanner Morgan (Ryle, Minnesota) - signed with Pittsburgh Steelers as undrafted free agentRB Jake Chisholm (Ryle, Dayton)WR Dante Hendrix (Randall K. Cooper, Indiana State)TE Dakota Allen (Lebanon, Eastern Kentucky)OG Jacob Gall (Moeller, Baylor)OT Kendrick Sartor (Princeton, Marshall)DE Lonnie Phelps (Mt. Healthy, Kansas) - signed with Cleveland Browns as undrafted free agentCB Kevin Hyde (Colerain, Slippery Rock ) CB Tyler Richardson (LaSalle, Tiffin ) - signed with Indianapolis Colts as undrafted free agentLB Jamal Hines (Princeton, Toledo) DT Jerron Cage (Winton Woods, Ohio State) - signed with New Orleans Saints as undrafted free agentThroughout the weekend, keep this story handy as we'll update it with local products who hear their name called. If you see a local athlete who is omitted from this story, send us an email at web@wlwt.com.
This weekend, hundreds of dreams will be realized as 259 athletes from across the country will hear their names called during the 2023 NFL draft.
WLWT will have coverage throughout the three-day event, keeping track of who the Cincinnati Bengals select, which Cincinnati Bearcats hear their name called and where some former local stars are heading.
Keep this story handy all week long as we continue to update it with the latest news coming out of Kansas City.
Draft basics
The 2023 NFL draft will take place April 27-29 in Kansas City.
Thursday's first round will begin at 8 p.m. ET.
Tracking the Bengals
The Bengals hold seven picks in the 2023 NFL draft, beginning with their first-round selection at No. 28 overall Thursday night.
Cincinnati finished the regular season last year at 12-4, advancing to the AFC Championship Game, where they fell on the road to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Led by star quarterback Joe Burrow and a plethora of offensive weapons including wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals ranked seventh in the league with 26.1 points scored per game. Meanwhile, their defense ranked sixth in the NFL with only 20.1 points allowed per contest.
First Round (No. 28): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Second Round (No. 60): DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
Third Round (No. 95): Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
Fourth Round (No. 131): Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Fifth Round (No. 163): Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Sixth Round (No. 206): Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
Sixth Round (No. 217): Brad Robbins, P, Michigan
Seventh Round (No. 246): DJ Ivey, CB, Miami (FL)
The Bengals selected safety Dax Hill out of Michigan with their first-round pick in 2022.
Bearcat watch
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats made history with their 2022 NFL draft class, with five players selected in the first 100 picks and a school-record nine total across the three-day event.
While the 2023 Bearcats class doesn't possess the same standout stars at the top, such as NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, UC has numerous players that could hear their names called this week in Kansas City.
Leading the group of available players is linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. A former standout at Colerain High School, Pace totaled 136 tackles to accompany his 20.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks last season. Pace, shockingly, went undrafted, but signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.
In addition to Pace, a trio of pass catchers are likely to hear their names called this weekend, led by wide receiver Tyler Scott, who caught 54 passes for 899 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Scott was named to the 2022 All-AAC Second Team. He was taken by the Chicago Bears with the 133rd pick.
Tight end Josh Whyle is another available playmaker, coming off a season when he joined Pace on the All-American Athletic Conference First Team. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Whyle had 32 catches for 326 yards last season. Whyle is another local product, graduating from La Salle. He'll stay close to home to start his NFL career, after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the 147th overall pick.
Wide receiver Tre Tucker had 52 catches for 672 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. Tucker joined Pace and Whyle as participants in the 2023 Senior Bowl in February. Tucker was the first Bearcat chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 100th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cornerback Arquon Bush played five seasons with the Bearcats, starting 13 games in each of the last two campaigns. Bush totaled nine interceptions in his college career.
Hometown stars
Several athletes from across the tri-state are hoping to hear their names called as they continue the next steps in their football careers.
Two players from the area could very well be first-round picks Thursday: Paris Johnson Jr. and Michael Mayer.
One of the best offensive linemen in the nation while at Ohio State, Johnson played for three years at St. Xavier and one year at Princeton. Dating back to 2021, Johnson started 26 straight games for the Buckeyes, including all 13 games last year at left tackle for the College Football Playoff semifinalists. He was taken sixth overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
Arguably the top tight end prospect of this year's class, former Covington Catholic standout Michael Mayer could also hear his name get called Thursday evening. Not only one of the best players in Northern Kentucky during his time at Covington Catholic, Mayer finished his Notre Dame career third all-time in receptions (180) and tied for 10th all-time in receiving touchdowns (18). He was taken within the first handful of picks in the second round, going to the Las Vegas Raiders at pick 35.
While Johnson and Mayer are the two headliners, there's no shortage of local talent who could be drafted this weekend. Some of those names include:
- QB Sean Clifford (St. Xavier, Penn State) - Pick 149, Green Bay Packers
- QB Tanner Morgan (Ryle, Minnesota) - signed with Pittsburgh Steelers as undrafted free agent
- RB Jake Chisholm (Ryle, Dayton)
- WR Dante Hendrix (Randall K. Cooper, Indiana State)
- TE Dakota Allen (Lebanon, Eastern Kentucky)
- OG Jacob Gall (Moeller, Baylor)
- OT Kendrick Sartor (Princeton, Marshall)
- DE Lonnie Phelps (Mt. Healthy, Kansas) - signed with Cleveland Browns as undrafted free agent
- CB Kevin Hyde (Colerain, Slippery Rock [D-II])
- CB Tyler Richardson (LaSalle, Tiffin [D-II]) - signed with Indianapolis Colts as undrafted free agent
- LB Jamal Hines (Princeton, Toledo)
- DT Jerron Cage (Winton Woods, Ohio State) - signed with New Orleans Saints as undrafted free agent
Throughout the weekend, keep this story handy as we'll update it with local products who hear their name called. If you see a local athlete who is omitted from this story, send us an email at web@wlwt.com.
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