The 2026 draft is now behind us. The Bengals ended up making seven selections in rounds two through seven. They spent their first round pick on the trade to acquire Dexter Lawrence. Let's take a look at the first four picks the Bengals made this past weekend and their potential to help the team this season or in seasons to come!
Round 1 Pick 10 - Dexter Lawrence
Lawrence was acquired via trade with the Giants the Saturday before the draft. The only pick spent on him was the tenth overall pick. When pick ten was on the clock both Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr were sitting on the board. Does that sting a little, sure. But do I think Lawrence helps the team more this season than either of those guys, yes I do. Downs is going to be a star in Dallas. Bain is going to terrorize the NFC South for the foreseeable future. There were never doubts about those guys. The Bengals added Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe as insurance against neither Downs or Bain being there at ten. I do have my suspicions that Dallas would have traded to nine to jump the Bengals and take Downs if the Bengals did hold pick ten. Who knows how the first round would have gone if the Bengals were still picking at ten, but since they weren't we will never know. At the end of the day spending pick ten on Lawrence is a win now move and one that should excite fans heading into this season.
Round 2 Pick 41 - Cashius Howell - EDGE (Texas A&M)
Another Aggie edge rusher taken with the Bengals first pick. He was a fifth year senior at A&M that tallied 11.5 sacks in 13 games. That is the type of production the Bengals need out of their top pick in the draft. Pairing him up with Mafe and having Lawrence and Allen in the middle of the line makes for one of the best D-Lines in the division. There were a few other players I wouldn't have minded the Bengals snagging, guys like Jacob Rodriguez or D'Angelo Ponds. At the end of the day I don't hate this pick, especially if his production transfers to the pro level.
Round 3 Pick 72 - Tacario Davis - Corner (Washington)
It is no secret that the Bengals have a glaring hole at the corner position. That is why I would have liked to seen that addressed with their first pick, but taking Davis in the third starts to patch that hole. His senior season was broken up as a result of injury to his rib and his hamstring. His combine performance tells me those will not be an issue. He was the fifth fastest corner at the combine logging a 4.41 forty. With the way offenses are shifting in the NFL, having a corner that can keep up with the best of the best will be big for the Bengals. Also getting to train against two legit number one wide outs, Chase and Higgins, should help develop him into the lock down corner the Bengals are hunting.
Round 4 Pick 128 - Connor Lew - Center (Auburn)
Connor Lew is coming off an ACL injury which is a cause for concern. The good thing, he is only 20 years old. He also was not drafted to start this season with Ted Karras being under contract through this season. That gives Lew all season to recover from his injury and learn under a vet with experience. Depending on how he progresses during the season, he could be the center for the 2027 season. Interior O-Line will need addressed again in free agency next off season or in the draft, but if Lew can develop well this season he could be on3 to take a spot next year.
Round 4 Pick 140 - Colbie Young - Wide Receiver (Georgia)
This is an interesting pick to me. Receiver is by no means a need for the team as it is currently built. I felt this pick could have been better spent on the defensive side of the ball. The Bengals thought otherwise. I would be shocked if he sees the field much this season, especially with Iosivas coming to life last season. He will be battling for the fourth receiver on the depth charts. With Burrow as the QB anyone can be a star. If he gets some game reps this season let's hope he takes full advantage and makes this pick look amazing.
The Bengals addressed the biggest weakness with their first two picks, three counting trade, which was the defense. The D-Line got beefed up, the secondary gets a potential star added to it. I am very eager to see how this defense ranks stats wise at the mid season mark. I have so much confidence in the ability to contain the run, get to the passer, and cover tight ends after free agency and the draft. Time will tell if the additions prove to be the solution. I am very excited for the season to begin.
As always, Who Dey & Go Redlegs!
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