Annual Grade the Draft Thread

[HoosierCat]

It was all gravy after Lawrence, but fwiw I like it. Good start with Howell, wavered a bit with Tacario and Colbie, then got back on track and finished strong from Lew on. I’d say a B for the rooks, bump it to A when you add in Dex.

[volcom69]

I thought it was a fantastic draft the back end of the draft was great with the value they got with these guys. Loved the 2nd round pick really out of the ordinary pick for them and thought it was great. Trading for Lawrence befofe the draft i still feel was a great move and really feel it worked out with how things played out. 
 

Feel this offseason has been really different with the way they are doing things. Trading the first round pick for a proven player, trading back during the draft was great. After the picks getting all the new GM guys talking about the picks. I don’t know things feel different to me. Yes I know LB was not addressed, maybe it will hear later in the offseason or guess they really like these guys they have and who knows maybe they will suprise us. With that said a high B or A sounds about right to me 

[Stripes]

I give it a big fat W for Who the hell knows.

I like Howell.
I mocked Davis to the Bengals multiple times, but never in the third round.
Colbie seems like a moron, and I am sour on morons given recent memory.
I don't know enough about the Day 3 players to feel any particular way. I don't dislike any of the selections. They seem to be taken later than consensus expectations, so sure. Cool beans.

I still think linebacker is a black hole, so that dampens my enthusiasm a bit. Go get a vet.

[COB]

B+
 

They theoretically hit their round 1 pick out of the park.  If they get 3 or 4 years of Dexter Lawrence at something close to what he was in NY, they killed it.  To get that level of player in the draft who contributes that quickly is very unlikely.  
 

only downside is we are paying our round 1 guy 25 million a year instead of rookie scale, but hey it’s not my money.  I want to win games.

[ArmyBengal]

I’m adding Dex as he’s basically our 1st rounder.

DT Lawrence (A+)-  Can’t wait to watch him.
DE Howell (A)- When looking at the drop off after we picked him, you can see the logic. I never thought they would draft a 6’2 DE, but I’m excited about him.
CB Davis- (C) No issue with the kid, just when they took him. I get their explanation but disagree. There were other CB’s I liked more as well.
C Lew- (C) Has he recovered from his ACL yet? The Bengals painted themselves into a corner with this one. Time will tell.
WR Young- (D) Another two cent head who probably won’t push for playing time. Not even close to best player available either.
OT/C Parker- (B+) Would be an A if not for the other players still they wasted the pick on Young. Desperation pick.
DT Robinson- (B) I’m being nice because he’s a military dude. Don’t have many expectations for him but he won’t be a head case or problem child.

I was pissed earlier and I’ve mellowed a bit. Still think they reached and put themselves in a poor position at times but it’s not horrible.

Not that it’s worth shit but I give it an:
B-

[TJJackson]

I guess they will keep drafting DEs high til they hit on one.   I sure do hope they hit on one soon.  I bet a sausage parm sub at Ramundos that Ossai has a career year this year.   

I have stated my want for a tall CB to cover the TE for a long time now.  Hopefully this is that guy.  He's tall, and he's 4.4, can but can he cover?  If this guy can erase just a third of the work TEs do on us since Tra Flowers departed, this pick is an A. If he can erase half of it, he is my favorite pick for 2026.   If If If.  I love that he has long speed but I barring injuries I think most of his patterns will be short to intermediate. 

I really like the OC they took but of course he is another Erik All - good (hopefully) if healthy but can he stay healthy?.  He will be the number 2 OC so he has to be ready to play right away. 

I see they drafted Burdens younger brother.  Blah.  Writing him off from the start, and if he amounts to something, so be it.....its like found money.  I strongly recommend that he beg beg beg (and bring food) the ST Coordinator to teach him PR/KR and Gunner spots, as many as possible.  He has the same chance Burden had, only remains to be seen if he shelves his ego and does whatever he can to contribute. 

The OL is purely a flex OL pick.  Can he back up all the positions except OC?   Hopefully so.  Much depth needed.

Undersized Ex Military dudes take dumps on innocent neighbors' porches.  This is known.   No.  

I'll give'm a D to be generous, but I will make it a C due to the R1 trade

[HoosierCat]

Mel gave them a B.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/48547351/2026-nfl-draft-grades-32-teams-kiper-winners-losers-steals-sleepers-favorite-picks-classes#cin
 

[HoosierCat]

A- from cbs.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2026-team-grades/

[HoosierCat]

Having time to sit with it, this draft feels like it was done by two different teams.

I don’t know who the first team was, but they should be in charge every year from now on. They made very atypical moves in the first two rounds, trading away the top pick for a player and then drafting a player based on production versus traits.

But after that pick, it was as if Duke and Mike and the usual gang of idiots broke into the war room, took the controls, and proceeded to go full Bengals with the next two picks. First they reached by a round for an outside corner they don’t need on the field but who is real handy in negotiations with their two current outside corners, then followed that with another potential knucklehead receiver accused of punching women.

At that point, the original group must have flooded the draft room with sleeping gas, locked the usual gang of idiots up in the weight room, and regained control. That resulted in a strong day 3 (highlighted by a trade that turned a sixth into a late fourth) that both addressed needs while netting fantastic value for their picks.

Looking forward to watching this all play out.