2026 NFL Draft Grades: Cincinnati Bengals

One week ago, the Bengals shocked everyone by trading their No. 10 pick for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. It was my top need for Cincinnati, even after the team signed Jonathan Allen in free agency. The only team that allowed more rushing yards per attempt last season than the Bengals (5.2) was ... the Giants, Lawrence's old team. Like just many, I was surprised to see the Bengals give up a top 10 pick for a 28-year-old veteran who needed a new contract, but these are draft grades, not trade grades.

Draft grades haven't been kind to the Bengals, either, though. They earned a "C" from me last year, tied with Atlanta for the lowest mark I handed out. I called it a "ho-hum draft" overall, and its centerpiece -- the risky Shemar Stewart first-round pick -- hasn't looked good after one year (one sack in eight games).

This year, Cincinnati came on the clock at No. 41 and took Cashius Howell, an extremely productive edge rusher. Howell had 11.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season, getting blockers off balance and beating them with superfast inside moves. He ran a 4.59 at 253 pounds -- that's quick. But will his 30¼-inch arms be a factor?

Mansoor Delane was a popular match for Cincinnati at No. 10 before the Lawrence trade, and while Tacario Davis in the third round isn't that level of premier cover CB1, he should be a solid option opposite DJ Turner II. The Bengals have to find a way to keep Joe Burrow happy and capitalize on the potent offense he leads. That means fielding a better defense; it's hard to win football games when the team is giving up a league-high 6.2 yards per play. Did the Bengals do enough? I'm not so sure.

On offense, Connor Lew might have been the top center if not for an ACL injury last season, and Brian Parker II in the sixth round represented a double up at the position, since he's likely kicking inside in the pros. Ted Karras is 33, though, so the same logic I had on the Bears center selection applies here. Give Burrow a young center with a lot of upside. Lew has 25 starts of experience.

We should know in a year or two if they chose the right course of action, shipping out the 10th pick for Lawrence, who definitively further upgrades a defense that has undermined this organization, QB Joe Burrow and Co. specifically, for years. But a win-now choice has to mean the Bengals literally win now and in 2027, especially since S Caleb Downs or pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. could have been had for far less money than Lawrence and, likely, for several more years than the three-time Pro Bowler will ultimately provide. Undersized second-round DE Cashius Howell is a speedball who could help replace some of former DE Trey Hendrickson's production off the edge in sub packages.

Best Pick: Second-rounder Cashius Howell plays with violence, and he's one of the twitchiest edge players in this draft. He will give them a nice player to add to their front.

Worst Pick: I didn't love Washington corner Tacario Davis in the third. There were better options. He's a good cover player but not a great tackler.

The Skinny: They addressed defense with their first two picks, which they had to do. The defense will be much better, and Howell will be part of that improvement. Fourth-round center Connor Lew will be a starter in a year.

The Bengals invested the No. 10 overall selection in one of the most powerful defensive tackles in the NFL in veteran Dexter Lawrence and complemented this by adding a pass rushing ace in Cashius Howell at No. 41 overall. The duo should help unlock the potential of previous first-round picks along Cincinnati's defensive front.

The Bengals nabbed one of the most underrated cornerbacks of this class in Washington's long and speedy Tacario Davis at No. 72. Had he not struggled with injury in 2026, he might have been selected a round earlier. Similarly, the Bengals grabbed their future starting center in Connor Lew in the fourth round and made sure that the pivot is secure with Brian Parker II two rounds later. The double-dip at center will be panned by some but not me — protecting Joe Burrow is priority No. 1, and both players are quality prospects.

The Bengals have a lot of players in their edge group, but I don't think any of them have the pure pass rush ability that Cashius Howell does. He's a length outlier, but he constantly challenges tackles on an island to get to the quarterback.

I like Tacario Davis as a jumbo-sized corner that has played plenty of man and zone (going back to his days at Arizona), but the Bengals did take him pretty earlier than expected.

Connor Lew is the real value of this draft. He was my top center, especially for a team needing one that can handle power in a phone booth. He comes at a discount because he tore his ACL mid-season, but I still thought he should've been a late second round or early third round pick.

Jack Endries does a really good job attacking zone coverage and gives the Bengals a true depth pass catcher in their tight end room. I wouldn't be shocked to see him climb that depth chart over time.

Here's why: This seems like a low-impact draft class considering what the Bengals needed to get out of this year's crop of players. Cashius Howell technically fills a need at defensive end, but he has a long way to go in terms of developing strength before he can be counted on as an every-down defensive end. Given the Bengals' recent history of developing defensive linemen, this might not be the best landing spot for Howell to take advantage of his speed long term. Tacario Davis and Colbie Young were risky picks as well. It just doesn't feel like they took any high-floor bets in this class.

Most interesting pick: Connor Lew, OL, Auburn

Lew was seen as one of the top picks in this year's draft prior to suffering a season-ending torn ACL last October. He has the tools to be a quality starter in the NFL and there's a chance that, if he can get back to pre-injury form, he can be a long-term starter along the Bengals' offensive line.

The Bengals can include star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in their draft-day haul after trading the 10th overall pick for the former Giant. With Lawrence secured, Cincy had to wait until the second day to start drafting but didn't waste time in adding early contributors. Cashius Howell is an explosive, high-intensity rusher who will bring some much-needed heat from the edge. He figures to play a role in the pass rush rotation from day one. Tacario Davis is a long, athletic corner who can bring some depth to the secondary. The Bengals got a potential steal in Connor Lew in the fourth round. Lew fell in part because of an ACL injury he suffered last season, but he brings upside as a starter in the middle of the Cincy line. I also liked the team's selection of seventh-round tight end Jack Endries. The former Longhorns standout has excellent body control and soft hands, giving Joe Burrow another potential weapon on short and intermediate targets over the middle. With Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki, and Tanner Hudson all over 30, Endries has a path to the field over the next couple of years. Overall, I liked what Cincinnati did in the draft, especially when you add Lawrence into the equation.

Analysis: After trading their first-round pick for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, the Bengals still focused on defense with their early choices. Howell was very productive for the Aggies, with 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons, and should play plenty with free-agent signing Boye Mafe on the other side. Meanwhile, Davis could start opposite DJ Turner II after Cam Taylor-Britt left in free agency. Cincinnati desperately needed an infusion of defensive talent, and it appears to have gotten it.