39 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

Yeah, that's the concern, that all the potential impact defensive players are gone.

You know the QB is gone, you expect at least one of the DEs, at least one LB. Then things become interesting,

In normal drafts you can expect a T to be taken, but this one I keep reading how the T class are guys that would make top tier guards but are not likely to be good Tackles. Does a guy get taken anyway?

Love is a top end RB, but RB is devalued, I dont think he gets out of the top 10, but do the defensive guys go before him? Here is an attempt at what I think could be possible

Raiders - Mendoza

Jets - Reese or Bailey

Cardinals - the top T or Love (LeFleure is an offensive guy, they dont have a QB now. I also think they are a prime candidate to trade down.

Titans - (Salah is the HC, they are going defense) it's Reese or Bailey whoever the Jets dont take

Giants - Bit of a wildcard, I do think they go D with Harbaugh, but they also might get Dart a weapon. So I'm going Styles, Downs, or Tate

Browns - They dont have a good WR, lost their top TE, have a bad Oline, and a good D, it would be smart for them to focus on O. Tate, or one of the T.

Commanders - They have a good young QB, a Oline that got him hurt, and a bad defense. I would be shocked if they go WR, but T or Styles or Downs is likely imo

Saints - They suck at almost every position, nothing is off the board here. This draft is the best on D at the top 10. It's Styles, Downs, or Bain for me here.

Cheifs - Their Oline isnt good, but they also lost two starters in their 2ndary. I think they are going either Downs or Delane here.

So were left with Mendoza gone, Bailey and Reese gone

Styles, likely gone, Downs could be gone, good chance a T is gone, Love could be gone. Tate maybe gone.

I think we might end up with Bain or be in a situation where all the guys we want are gone.

Trading up with the Cardinals would be awesome but I dont think we would do that as Duke loves his picks.

If everyone is gone do we get on the phone with the Raiders for Crosby?

I really think Bain will go very early. I get the measurable stuff, but the tape is the key piece and he’s got that.

He has that “it” factor, he is versatile, plays with violence, is a tone setter, and he’s been very productive against top competition. I’d be pretty (and very

pleasantly) shocked if he’s there at 10.

2 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

Yeah, that's the concern, that all the potential impact defensive players are gone.

You know the QB is gone, you expect at least one of the DEs, at least one LB. Then things become interesting,

In normal drafts you can expect a T to be taken, but this one I keep reading how the T class are guys that would make top tier guards but are not likely to be good Tackles. Does a guy get taken anyway?

Love is a top end RB, but RB is devalued, I dont think he gets out of the top 10, but do the defensive guys go before him? Here is an attempt at what I think could be possible

Raiders - Mendoza

Jets - Reese or Bailey

Cardinals - the top T or Love (LeFleure is an offensive guy, they dont have a QB now. I also think they are a prime candidate to trade down.

Titans - (Salah is the HC, they are going defense) it's Reese or Bailey whoever the Jets dont take

Giants - Bit of a wildcard, I do think they go D with Harbaugh, but they also might get Dart a weapon. So I'm going Styles, Downs, or Tate

Browns - They dont have a good WR, lost their top TE, have a bad Oline, and a good D, it would be smart for them to focus on O. Tate, or one of the T.

Commanders - They have a good young QB, a Oline that got him hurt, and a bad defense. I would be shocked if they go WR, but T or Styles or Downs is likely imo

Saints - They suck at almost every position, nothing is off the board here. This draft is the best on D at the top 10. It's Styles, Downs, or Bain for me here.

Cheifs - Their Oline isnt good, but they also lost two starters in their 2ndary. I think they are going either Downs or Delane here.

So were left with Mendoza gone, Bailey and Reese gone

Styles, likely gone, Downs could be gone, good chance a T is gone, Love could be gone. Tate maybe gone.

I think we might end up with Bain or be in a situation where all the guys we want are gone.

Trading up with the Cardinals would be awesome but I dont think we would do that as Duke loves his picks.

If everyone is gone do we get on the phone with the Raiders for Crosby?

Yes the Chiefs oline has deteriorated.

You mentioned Downs or Delane to Chiefs.

Whichever is left I want.

Both have star qualities

1 hour ago, texbengal said:

I really think Bain will go very early. I get the measurable stuff, but the tape is the key piece and he’s got that.

He has that “it” factor, he is versatile, plays with violence, is a tone setter, and he’s been very productive against top competition. I’d be pretty (and very

pleasantly) shocked if he’s there at 10.

Yes he had the production

I'd take Delane or Downs over him but

he'd be a solid pick .

6 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

Yes he had the production

I'd take Delane or Downs over him but

he'd be a solid pick .

I like Delane a lot. Not just a good cover guy, he plays physically too. D needs more tough guys and he is one.

That’d be a hella CB room.

Jeez, these ain't the kickers of old holy shit

On 3/20/2026 at 4:10 PM, BlackJesus said:

The Bengals should seriously consider trading up even a few picks as there are only a few blue chippers worth 10 that we need ...

Once Bain, Downs, and Styles are gone, we might as well trade down, as you can get the same guy at pick 20.

It would require another team to want to move down. There are probably teams willing to do that but this draft isn't very deep so picks this year carry less value than usual. The Athletic quoted a GM to the effect that 25 of the top 100 draft eligible players stayed in school to collect NIL money.

Moving up in the top 10 is expensive. Pick 41 might get us to 7. Pick 72 could probably get us to 9 if the Chiefs decide they don't want the same player we are trying to move up for. I'd be very surprised if Mike and Duke gave up those picks. They expect to get starters from the draft, not just at 10. Starting as many players as possible on rookie contracts is part of their business model.

On 3/20/2026 at 4:13 PM, BlackJesus said:

A dark horse that I think the Bengals might consider if the top defenders all get raided in the first 9 picks ... is Kenyon Sadiq, as I think the coaches still wonder what Burrow could do with an all-pro TE -- as this front office might prefer just scoring every drive rather than fixing the LBs.

In the mock offseason I mentioned in another thread, I took Makai Lemon at 10 as an upgrade not just from Yoshi but from Tyler Boyd. And Sadiq as an upgrade from all the Bengal TEs that Burrow has played with. He's not particularly physical but is massively more interested in blocking than Gesicki so he fits better in a balanced offensive scheme.

On 3/20/2026 at 4:23 PM, Jamie_B said:

I was thinking this too, I don't think it happens though. In fact I think there is a better chance that if none of the guys they wanted are there they trade their 1st for Crosby, and I think there is maybe 1% chance that happens.

There's a 0% chance any team trades for Crosby while they are on the clock. They will want him to pass their physical after the Ravens flunked him. Bengals haven't been reported as one of the 9+ teams who made trade offers for Crosby.

On 3/20/2026 at 8:24 PM, dex said:

With this draft there seems to be a consensus on almost all of the top 10 picks. In some order:

Mendoza

Love

Tate

OT (one or more of Freeling/Mauigoa - Cleveland expected to take a tackle at #6)

Reese

Bailey

Bain

Styles

Downs

So Cincinnati needs both OTs taken ahead of their pick or for a CB needy team to take Delane or McCoy. There seems to be some blowback here about the Bengals possibly taking McCoy at 10, but I hope he kills at his pro day anyway. Very long corner who displayed tremendous ball skills in 2024. He could catapult himself into the top ten if he tests well and shows he's completely recovered from the ACL.

We basically need at least 3 players from the T or WR or CB groups to go in the top 9. No guarantees on that but it's certainly possible. Lots of smoke about Love going to the Titans at 4.

On 3/21/2026 at 10:12 AM, Griever said:

Yeah, it's hard to understand why anyone would rate McCoy ahead of Delane in this draft class. Seems like an anchoring bias from the preseason.

10 hours ago, Griever said:

Jeez, these ain't the kickers of old holy shit

The kickers of old played other positions and kicked as a sideline. Blanda was a QB, Groza an offensive tackle, etc.

12 hours ago, Griever said:

Jeez, these ain't the kickers of old holy shit

Can he tackle? We've already got a pretty good kicker, but...

Pretty surprised Woods has dropped to the 2nd round. If he is there I'm running to the podium for that value. Also if Love is there and the defensive guys are all gone, as was the case in this scenario, the Bengals will pull the trigger on him.

1 hour ago, Jamie_B said:

Pretty surprised Woods has dropped to the 2nd round. If he is there I'm running to the podium for that value. Also if Love is there and the defensive guys are all gone, as was the case in this scenario, the Bengals will pull the trigger on him.

I'd be ecstatic if we drafted Love. I think he'll be long gone, but he'd be a super exciting addition. What a help it'd be for Burrow if teams not only had to respect the run, but down right fear it. Particularly on 3rd and short. Could be the 1st round pick that upgrades our defense the most, by keeping them off the field and rested. Butterfly effect.

1 hour ago, Jamie_B said:

Pretty surprised Woods has dropped to the 2nd round. If he is there I'm running to the podium for that value. Also if Love is there and the defensive guys are all gone, as was the case in this scenario, the Bengals will pull the trigger on him.

Woods had a weak 2025 season and a pretty weak pro day so his draft fall makes sense. Some have questioned his dedication to the game which puts him into the Cartman pile - lots of potential but minimal desire.

7 minutes ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Woods had a weak 2025 season and a pretty weak pro day so his draft fall makes sense. Some have questioned his dedication to the game which puts him into the Cartman pile - lots of potential but minimal desire.

Sounds like a Dookie kind of guy, for sure.

14 hours ago, sparky151 said:

The kickers of old played other positions and kicked as a sideline. Blanda was a QB, Groza an offensive tackle, etc.

14 hours ago, sparky151 said:

The kickers of old played other positions and kicked as a sideline. Blanda was a QB, Groza an offensive tackle, etc.

Bengals Pat Mcanally was a punter/WR too.

26 minutes ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Woods had a weak 2025 season and a pretty weak pro day so his draft fall makes sense. Some have questioned his dedication to the game which puts him into the Cartman pile - lots of potential but minimal desire.

That "minimal desire" is very concerning.

Another Kris Jenkins?

Id have to see who's left on the board first .

53 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

That "minimal desire" is very concerning.

Another Kris Jenkins?

Id have to see who's left on the board first .

He has 'traits' which means the Bengals will like him.

17 minutes ago, Griever said:

Believe it was 4.35 .

DJ Turner same size but I see Delane adding a lil weight (182) after combine...

Together they would be dynamic imo.

He may be gone with that speed now though.

2 hours ago, Griever said:

I prefer Hill Jr.or Rodriguez if all there.

Do we already basically know the top 10 picks in the draft, even if we don't know the exact order?

3 hours ago, Griever said:

Mendoza QB

Love RB

Tate WR

OT (one or more of Freeling/Mauigoa - Cleveland expected to take a tackle at #6)

Reese LB-EDGE

Bailey EDGE

Bain EDGE

Styles LB

Downs Safety

Delane CB

Feels like one of these 10 prospects will fall naturally to pick #10, but do the Bengals pass if the falling player doesn't play a so-called premium position?

OK, so who are people's "guys" outside of the ones we all want (Reese, Downs, Styles, Delane, Bain, Bailey)?

Mine:

DE - Akheem Mesidor

LB - Jake Golday / Jackson Kuwatch

S - AJ Haulcy / Michael Taaffe

TE - Oscar Delp

QB - Garrett Nussmeier

Just curious what people are going to be hoping for in a trade-down or post round 1 pick.

Personal note: Kuwatch would be crazy for our household - his GF is one of my daughter's BFFs from high school - they grew up playing soccer since they were like 6 year olds so we've been close with her and her family over the years. We met him, he's a great kid - would be cool to root for him as a Bengal. My luck, he becomes a player for the Browns or Stealers and I have to hate his guts instead.

22 minutes ago, dex said:

Do we already basically know the top 10 picks in the draft, even if we don't know the exact order?

Mendoza QB

Love RB

Tate WR

OT (one or more of Freeling/Mauigoa - Cleveland expected to take a tackle at #6)

Reese LB-EDGE

Bailey EDGE

Bain EDGE

Styles LB

Downs Safety

Delane CB

Feels like one of these 10 prospects will fall naturally to pick #10, but do the Bengals pass if the falling player doesn't play a so-called premium position?

Delane stocked jumped .

Don't see him there now...

I could see Bain or Downs as possibilities.

3 minutes ago, BBR said:

OK, so who are people's "guys" outside of the ones we all want (Reese, Downs, Styles, Delane, Bain, Bailey)?

Mine:

DE - Akheem Mesidor

LB - Jake Golday / Jackson Kuwatch

S - AJ Haulcy / Michael Taaffe

TE - Oscar Delp

QB - Garrett Nussmeier

Just curious what people are going to be hoping for in a trade-down or post round 1 pick.

Personal note: Kuwatch would be crazy for our household - his GF is one of my daughter's BFFs from high school - they grew up playing soccer since they were like 6 year olds so we've been close with her and her family over the years. We met him, he's a great kid - would be cool to root for him as a Bengal. My luck, he becomes a player for the Browns or Stealers and I have to hate his guts instead.

Spoken like a true Bengal Fan..

Props.