The big move for Cincinnati came before the 2026 NFL Draft by acquiring Dexter Lawrence II, and they also added another potential impact defender in Round 2. Overall, it’s tough to criticize the upgrades made, but below is how the class would have differed using the Wolf Sports big board.

 

Actual selections

2.41: EDGE Cashius Howell

3.72: CB Tacario Davis

4.128: C Connor Lew

4.140: WR Colbie Young

6.189: OT Brian Parker II

7.221: TE Jack Endries

7.226: DL Landon Robinson

 

Wolf Sports selections

2.41: CB D’Angelo Ponds

3.72: WR Chris Brazzell II

4.128: G DJ Campbell

4.140: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

6.189: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

7.221: WR Deion Burks

7.226: QB Jalon Daniels

 

Thoughts

At first glance, the Bengals trading away the No. 10 overall pick might seem like a steep price to pay for Lawrence—but they anticipated most of their options being off the board there. Also, interior defensive linemen can play at a high level deep into their 30s, so Lawrence (who turns 29 in November) could remain an elite defender for years to come.

 

Making the trade look even better for Cincinnati, top pass rusher Cashius Howell was still on the board in Round 2, which was a screaming value as our No. 14 overall prospect. However, we would have taken D’Angelo Ponds (No. 4 prospect) as another sticky cornerback to pair with DJ Turner II and Dax Hill; those three would have been a nightmare to throw the ball against, but the Bengals getting better up front could be just as scary.

 

The Bengals did end up taking a cornerback on Day 2 with Tacario Davis, and early indications are that he will be a backup in Year 1—as long as everyone is healthy—with Hill expressing a desire to stay on the outside. At wide receiver, the thinking was probably similar between the Bengals (taking Colbie Young in Round 4) and Wolf Sports (taking Chris Brazzell II in Round 3) by taking the best receiver available despite both being primary perimeter targets. Ja’Marr Chase obviously has the skillset to play more in the slot, and both Young and Brazzell double as insurance for Tee Higgins as well.

 

On the offensive line, the Bengals added Connor Lew at center and Brian Parker II at offensive tackle with the ability to kick inside, and our lone selection would have been DJ Campbell—who is a mainstay on most of our rosters and could have pushed Dalton Risner at right guard or taken over for him in 2027.

 

Wolf Sports would have also added Harold Perkins Jr. to factor in with the second-year duo of Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter at linebacker, and rounding out the class would have been an athletic tight end in John Michael Gyllenborg, a dynamic weapon at wide receiver in Deion Burks, and a dual-threat passer in Jalon Daniels to develop behind Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco as the No. 3 quarterback.