B-
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals let Hunter fall and pounced. Final grade: B-.
by Christeca ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 0 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Bengals watched Lee Hunter slide 23 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. No fireworks, but a solid B-.
They will regret leaving linebacker for another day if the season turns on it. Cornerback is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 10 they get a plug-and-play piece up front at fair value.
Romello Height at pick No. 41 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
They will replay Lee Hunter at No. 72 for years; that is how good the value is. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
No edge and no loss on Deion Burks in the Round 4 slot; it is a wash and a sensible one. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They let Domani Jackson come to them and pounced at pick 189. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
By-the-book stuff, Dalton Johnson at the 199th overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Miles Kitselman in the 221st pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Tyren Montgomery in Round 7, Pick 10. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.