The Cincinnati Bengals are in vacation mode after head coach Zac Taylor gave his players an early break before training camp ramps up next month. Taylor and his staff got a good look at several rookies who they hope will make significant contributions as the men in stripes work to get back to the top of the AFC North. A player who flew under the radar on draft night was third-round selection Tacario Davis. Some in NFL circles thought the Bengals reached for an unfinished product who could’ve been had in later rounds. The organization was steadfast in its belief in Davis and took him at pick 72 overall as the overhaul of the entire defense under Al Golden continues to take shape. Let’s examine the former Washington Husky more closely and how he fits the team this upcoming season.
Cincinnati Bengals Player Profile: Tacario Davis
College Career
Davis spent three seasons at Arizona, played in 37 career games (29 starts), and finished the 2024 season with 11 starts, notching 44 tackles and six pass breakups. He was also named second-team All-Big 12, as well as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Davis would enroll at Washington in April of 2025 via the transfer portal, following head coach Jedd Fisch to the University. While in Seattle, Davis saw his NFL draft stock rise and earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition from the media, recording two interceptions and three pass breakups.
NFL Draft Profile
Davis has elite length and size for a defensive back at 6’4″ and 195 lbs. His combine performance was also impressive with a 4.41 40-Yard Dash, 1.59 10-Yard Split, and 10′ 3″ Broad Jump. Davis wins by disrupting wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, and his strength is impressive for such a long-framed player. He is also a steady run defender who embraces contact and wraps up well as a tackler. On the flip side, solid route-runners will present a problem for Davis early in his career, as he tends to lose balance on layered plays, and the Bengals will likely use him in a zone scheme to support him as a rookie.
2026 Outlook
It’s no secret that the Bengals defense needs to be substantially better in all facets if the team is going to accomplish what it wants in 2026. This is especially true on the backend, where it was putrid at preventing big plays, tackling free runners who would gain huge yards after the catch, and simply getting off the field to let the offense work its magic. Davis will have the opportunity to play early and often, and Cincinnati may use him like a chess piece to pair with veterans DJ Turner II and Dax Hill to maximize their looks depending on the offenses they face every week. The real test and better gauge will be in training camp when the pads come on. If Davis continues to impress here and in the preseason, he will have the ability to move into a starting role and give the Bengals flexibility on a defense that badly needs more playmakers
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