B
Cincinnati Bengals
Lew should have been long gone. The Bengals pounced, and earned a B.
by Itsonlyagame1 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 4 steals
· 1 reaches
The Bengals ran the phones like sharks, prying loose value on deal after deal until the ledger was lopsided. The bottom line is a respectable B.
That interior defensive lineman hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. The Lew value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. The Whittington pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over.
Solid rather than spectacular, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 10th overall pick they get a coverage-and-run second-level piece. A real need, handled.
Fair-plus on Chris Johnson, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Value with a capital V on Dillon Thieneman in No. 41, a genuine coup. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A offensive lineman of that caliber at pick 110 is the definition of value, full stop. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Domani Jackson in slot 189. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
The board had Dallen Bentley higher than the Round 7 slot, and the tight end fell to them anyway. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Noah Whittington in the 226th overall pick is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.