The Cincinnati Bengals 2023 campaign was essentially lost to a Joe Burrow injury, but if there's a silver lining to that it comes in the form of the 18th pick in the 2024 draft.

After playing the role of a Super Bowl contender the previous two seasons, the Bengals are picking much higher than they did in 2023 (No. 28) or 2022 (No. 31).

While the Bengals faithful would much rather be picking No. 32 after winning a Super Bowl, they have the opportunity to add a difference-maker in the middle of the draft.

There's a wide range of directions they could go with the pick too. Both sides of the ball have specific needs that could take them to the next level. There are also prospects who would make sense with the 18th pick that address those needs.

Here, we'll take a look at the top three targets based on their roster and who might be available with their first-round selection.

TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Here's the dream scenario.

Brock Bowers is undeniably talented. He's ranked second overall on the big board put together by the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

The only thing that makes it a realistic scenario that he could drop to the Bengals range is that he's a tight end. The recent history of tight ends as top 10 picks is not encouraging.

It's hard for the position bring back great return on investment to begin with, but Kyle Pitts has struggled to live up to the hype after a successful rookie season. The Detroit Lions traded T.J. Hockenson before he became one of the best tight ends in the league and Eric Ebron never really fulfilled his potential.

Those are the last three tight ends to go in the top 10.

Bowers is exceptional, but NFL teams understand the risk and the importance of positional value in router building.

If Bowers falls to the middle of the round then the risk dissipates. The Bengals would be getting a huge upgrade at the tight end position and Bowers is a good enough receiver that they would have more flexibility with Tee Higgins contract situation moving forward.

Giving Joe Burrow mismatch weapon in the middle of the field could help the Bengals return in 2024 as one of the best offenses in the league.

WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

Drafting LSU players has been kind to the Bengals in the past. They could go back to the Bayou to find their next star if Brian Thomas Jr. is available with the 18th pick.

The Bengals didn't bring back Tyler Boyd and things are trending toward Tee Higgins playing the 2024 season on the franchise tag. Both developments could point to the Bengals targeting a receiver early.

Thomas might be in a tier below the top three receivers in this class, but he still has the ceiling to be a top No. 2 option in the league or a low-end No. 1 option. In the Bengals offense, he would make sense as an heir apparent to Higgins.

At 6'3", 209 pounds, Thomas has the size and length to become a contested-catch maestro with 4.33 speed to test defenses deep.

B/R scout Derrik Klassen noted in his scouting report that Thomas is far from a finished product. That's ok for the Bengals. In Year 1, he could be a YAC weapon and shot play specialist while he works on rounding out his route tree and becoming the new Higgins next offseason.

DT Byron Murphy II, Texas

Offensive line could be a consideration too. Trent Brown is a short-term fix at right tackle and Cordell Volson is not above added competition for the left guard spot.

However, it's the defensive interior that could use a new playmaker more.

The Bengals lost D.J. Reader and B.J. Hill is on the final year of his contract at 29 years old. Even if they don't use their first pick, it would be surprising if the team didn't use at least one pick on a defensive tackle.

Byron Murphy II is the top-rated one on our board and the top-rated pass-rusher. Murphy is undersized at just 6'0", 297 pounds, but his athletic testing backs up the idea that he can make up for it with his quickness. He earned a 9.2 relative athletic score which included a 4.87 40-yard dash and 7.5 three-cone time.

B/R scout Matt Holder noted that Murphy was able to play all over the defensive line at Texas before getting into his greatest strengths:

"Murphy's get-off and overall quickness are what pops off the tape at first, especially for his size. The 308-pounder either gets into offensive linemen shortly after the snap or uses his impressive agility and quickness to beat guards across their faces when slanting. He also has good pad level and tree trunks for legs that make him hard to move," Holder wrote.

As the Bengals get ready to try and compete in the loaded AFC, it isn't a bad idea to add another player who can get after the quarterback and improve their run defense. Murphy checks all of those boxes.

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.