Papagaff'S MOCK DRAFT
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Grant us the ‘Bardi

  • Papagaff DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Kenneth Grant Head Shot
PICK: 23 RND: 1 (CIN)
Kenneth Grant
DT Michigan
Mykel Williams Head Shot
PICK: 49 RND: 2 (CIN)
Mykel Williams
DE-EDGE Georgia
Xavier Watts Head Shot
PICK: 54 RND: 2 (CIN)
Xavier Watts
S Notre Dame
Tate Ratledge Head Shot
PICK: 81 RND: 3 (CIN)
Tate Ratledge
OG Georgia
Luke Kandra Head Shot
PICK: 118 RND: 4 (CIN)
Luke Kandra
OG Cincinnati
Jeffrey Bassa Head Shot
PICK: 154 RND: 5 (CIN)
Jeffrey Bassa
LB Oregon
Ja'Quinden Jackson Head Shot
PICK: 195 RND: 6 (CIN)
Ja'Quinden Jackson
RB Arkansas
Cody Simon Head Shot
PICK: 200 RND: 6 (CIN)
Cody Simon
LB Ohio State
Draft Picks Received
Kenneth Grant Head Shot
PICK: 23 RND: 1 (GB)
Kenneth Grant
DT Michigan
Xavier Watts Head Shot
PICK: 54 RND: 2 (GB)
Xavier Watts
S Notre Dame
Cody Simon Head Shot
PICK: 200 RND: 6 (GB)
Cody Simon
LB Ohio State
No Pick Head Shot
PICK: RND: 7 (GB)
NEXT YEAR (2026)
 
Draft Picks Traded
Shavon Revel Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (GB)
Shavon Revel Jr.
CB East Carolina
Players Gained
Head Shot
T.J. Slaton
DT
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall B+
ValueB+ NeedB TradesA+ FutureB-
The Bengals let Simon fall into their laps, and walked away with a B+.

Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Cody Simon got past him. The Bengals do not have to explain a thing at the Round 6 slot.

The dealing alone would carry a lesser class. They will regret leaving cornerback for another day if the season turns on it.

Building through the lines is a philosophy, and they stuck to it. Trading back for volume was the quiet throughline of their weekend.

Solid rather than spectacular, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Pick Analysis
Pick23 Rnd1 Kenneth Grant
In No. 23 they get a wrecking ball inside. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Pick49 Rnd2 Mykel Williams
A edge rusher of that caliber at Round 2, Pick 17 is the definition of value, full stop. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick54 Rnd2 Xavier Watts
Xavier Watts at the 54th pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Pick81 Rnd3 Tate Ratledge
A reasonable price with a little left over, Tate Ratledge in the 81st overall pick. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick118 Rnd4 Luke Kandra
Luke Kandra at pick 118 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick154 Rnd5 Jeffrey Bassa
They will replay Jeffrey Bassa at slot 154 for years; that is how good the value is. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick195 Rnd6 Ja'Quinden Jackson
Taking Ja'Quinden Jackson in pick No. 195 is close to grand larceny; a running back that good had no business lasting this long. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick200 Rnd6 Cody Simon
Steal is underselling it; Cody Simon at the Round 6 slot is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.