CINCINNATI -- The Bengals added cornerback Darqueze Dennard of Michigan State with the 24th overall pick in Thursday night's NFL Draft.
Dennard becomes the sixth first round defensive back on the Bengals roster, joining corners Leon Hall, Adam Jones, Terence Newman, Dre Kirkpatrick and safety Reggie Nelson. Kirkpatrick was taken at No. 17 overall two years ago but Hall and Nelson entered the league in 2007, Jones in 2005 and Newman in 2003.
Dennard was the fifth defensive back and third cornerback selected in the first round.
The Bengals had selected offensive players in the first round each of the last five years, plus taking Kirkpatrick with the first of their two first-round choices in 2012. They picked guard Kevin Zeitler with their second choice at No. 27.
