The Cincinnati Bengals had a surplus of picks for the 2024 NFL Draft and they decided to keep all 10 selections to create fierce competition to make the final 53-man roster. Several players have stood out in this rookie class but a late-round pick is turning heads through training camp and graded very highly from the first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This player is the fifth-round selection and defensive back from TCU Josh Newton. The former Horned Frog has been impressive from the moment he arrived in Queen City, and the coaching staff has been very impressed with his instincts when the ball is thrown his way. Let’s examine the 149th overall pick and see how he can help Lou Anarumo’s defense this season.
This Late-Round Pick is Turning Heads for the Cincinnati Bengals
College Career
Newton was a standout contributor at TCU after spending four years of his collegiate career at the University of Louisiana Monroe. COVID-19 eligibility extensions allowed Newton to play two years as a senior, where he was a team captain in 2023.
He would start every game in his final season and played 27 games overall in his two seasons in Ft. Worth. Newton recorded a team-best nine pass breakups to go with an interception and 33 tackles en route to playing in the 2024 Senior Bowl and was also named a Second-Team All-Big 12 and Associated Press Second-Team All-Big 12 player in 2023.
Ball Hawk
Defensive backs that have natural ball-hawking ability are a luxury in the NFL. This style of play certainly seems to fit the bill for Newton early in his tenure for the orange and black.
Josh ‘Fig’ Newton with the first INT of his Bengals career! #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/RJ8YuYSiCL
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) August 10, 2024
In the play, Newton read it perfectly as he stated, “We were in man-to-man, he gave me a certain stem and I knew he was going to run back outside, so I just ran outside, made sure I turned my head and the ball was just right there. It’s a blessing, man. Dream come true. The first of many, the first of many.”
Newton will continue to see heavy playing time for the remainder of the preseason to further hone his skills so the coaching staff can see if can crack the active roster on game day.
Playing for Keeps
Under Anarumo, the Bengals love to rotate players throughout the game to keep them fresh into the fourth quarter. Newton is in a good place to see playing time this season and be in the coveted defensive rotation. He also has a good mindset to keep pushing forward which will serve him well in the toughest division in football.
In early August when he was playing with the first-team defense, Newton spoke about this when he said, “Your front view is bigger than your rearview mirror for a reason. Cincinnati hopes he continues to be focused on only looking forward. Winning the AFC North may depend on it.
