C-
Cincinnati Bengals
Some hits, some head-scratchers, and a C- for the Bengals.
by Reheheheheh ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 6 steals
· 2 reaches
The Kaytron Allen pick is the one that will follow the Bengals into the fall. They took him 136 spots ahead of his grade, and the board is not shy about saying so. For now it grades a C-, with the swing picks left to settle the rest.
That is a safety worth more than the slot they spent on him, plainly. They punted on cornerback, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with interior defensive lineman chief among the fixes. The skill positions did well by the weekend.
So much rides on Kaytron Allen that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a centerpiece for the ground game, though the board says they badly overpaid. A real need, handled.
They liked Gennings Dunker enough to skip the value, taking him in the 41st pick. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
The board fumbled Chris Brazzell II all the way to Round 3, Pick 8, and they scooped it up. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Circle this one: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at slot 110 is a fall that decides a draft. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Nice patience on Febechi Nwaiwu, who had no business lasting to the 189th overall pick. The roster fit checks out.
DJ Campbell in pick 199 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They let Bobby Jamison-Travis come to them and pounced at the 221st overall pick. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A quiet steal in pick 226: Tyren Montgomery for less than the market said. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.