C+
Cincinnati Bengals
Flashes of a plan, unevenly executed. Bengals: C+.
by ORRZ04 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The rest of the league had time to spare on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren; the Bengals did not wait, grabbing him 32 spots ahead at the 19th overall pick.
They banked enough surplus on Moore to cover a lot of smaller sins. They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it.
So much rides on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick-by-Pick
They talked themselves into Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at the 19th pick, and the board did not agree. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A straight-up fair deal on Lee Hunter at No. 41, value and slot in agreement. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
A tidy bit of business in slot 77, where Derrick Moore graded well above the range. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
They did well to land Daylen Everette in pick 86, just ahead of his grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
The board had Dae'Quan Wright higher than pick No. 189, and the tight end fell to them anyway. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They paid a round early for Harrison Wallace III in the Round 6 slot, more than the board wanted. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
No drama and no debate, Le'Veon Moss went about where he belonged in pick 199. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They read the board right and Kobe Baynes was the payoff at Round 6, Pick 19. It fills a real need, too.
Jadon Canady in slot 207 is fair value, right on his grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A real head-scratcher, Isaiah Jatta in No. 221 is miles ahead of his ranking. The roster fit checks out.
Owen Heinecke at the 226th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.