A lot will happen between now and the 2026 NFL Draft. Regardless, let’s try to help out the Bengals a bit. There are obvious needs, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Hopefully, the Bengals address those issues in free agency and can pick BPA at every pick.<\/p>\n
One Last Bengals Mock Draft Before the New Year<\/h2>\nRound 1, Pick 10: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech<\/h3>\n
Trey Hendrickson is more than likely going to hit the road, so the Bengals need a game-changing edge rusher. Despite using first-round picks on the EDGE in two of the last three seasons, neither has developed into that game-changer. Myles Murphy is looking more like Sam Hubbard, and it took Shemar Stewart until Week 17 to earn a sack.<\/p>\n
David Bailey<\/a> has been an uber-productive member of the Texas Tech defense after transferring in from Stanford. Heading into the CFP, Bailey leads the Big 12 with 17.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his only season with the Red Raiders. He converts pressures into sacks at an alarming rate and is quick off the snap. The Bengals need a dawg rushing the passer. If Arvell Reese doesn’t inexplicably fall down the board, Bailey would be a great choice.<\/p>\n The Bengals need safety help. If the team can’t get Caleb Downs with a first-round pick, there is a crop of second-round talents more than worth the pick. This time, let’s pick Emmanuel McNeil-Warren<\/a> from Toledo. Sure, picking a player from the MAC this early isn’t ideal, but McNeil-Warren is just the latest high-end secondary piece from Toledo, just like Quinyon Mitchell.<\/p>\n With the Rockets, McNeil-Warren has been part of the secondary for three years now. The hard-hitting safety heads to the NFL with 214 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, a sack, five interceptions (one pick-six), 13 pass breakups, nine (!) forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. The Bengals need a hard-hitting, sure tackler who can also drop back and cover in space as a safety. Think of a better Vonn Bell. He’s not a center-field, one-high kind of safety, but he can do everything else.<\/p>\n Obviously, therein lies the level of competition caveat. He did not face too many NFL-bound players in the MAC. He looks like he could be a bit of a project, but could play right away. If the Bengals do the predictable and retain Geno Stone for some reason, McNeil-Warren could be the Jessie Bates to Stone’s George Iloka.<\/p>\n The Bengals need a little help on the interior defensive line, as well. While TJ Slaton hasn’t been bad, the line hasn’t been able to replace DJ Reader. Darrell Jackson Jr.<\/a>\u00a0could be that guy.<\/p>\n You want a big-bodied, run-stopping, dude of a nose tackle? Jackson is your guy. In five seasons, Jackson was a big part of the rotation for four. He’s a massive tackle at six-foot-five and over 330 pounds. Jackson’s play strength and ability to game games over from inside have to be intriguing for NFL scouts. The only game in which he recorded two sacks saw Jackson toss aside interior offensive linemen with ease.<\/p>\n Read More: We Had A Bit Of Fun In A Different Mock Draft<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n At this point in the draft, it’s time to just add talent.<\/p>\n The Bengals need a jolt in the running back room. Chase Brown is great, but Samaje Perine is older and, obviously, the coaching staff doesn\u2019t quite trust Tahj Brooks just yet.<\/p>\n Kaytron Allen<\/a>\u00a0has been part of a lethal one-two punch at\u00a0Penn State<\/a>\u00a0for four years now. In those four seasons, he\u2019s run the ball 769 times for 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns. He was tied atop the Big Ten this year with 15 touchdowns, but he also scored 10 as a true freshman.<\/p>\n He\u2019s as explosive as any and has great patience and vision in the backfield. If the Bengals can get him to be a reliable RB2, the offense could be even more lethal.<\/p>\n The Bengals like Senior Bowl players, and Josh Cameron<\/a> could be the next. After starting his career as a walk-on, Cameron put together a solid career at Baylor. Over his last two seasons, Cameron amassed 1,626 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the team both years.<\/p>\n The Bengals could use a player with YAC ability as well as a potential upgrade in the return game. Cameron provides both.<\/p>\n If Al Golden gets out of this draft without picking one of his old Notre Dame players, it would be a bit of a surprise. The Bengals’ cornerback room is actually pretty solid heading into 2026, with Dax Hill playing well outside and DJ Turner playing at a Pro Bowl level. Even then, you can’t have too many corners.<\/p>\n Christian Gray<\/a> could return to Notre Dame in 2026, but if he doesn’t, he could be a solid addition. He started off as a freshman at Notre Dame and has had just as many highlights as lowlights. Even then, in those highlights, he hauled in six interceptions in three years and has broken up 20 passes over the last two. He has been picked on in his career and publicly challenged by his coach. He responded by being an integral part of the defense.<\/p>\n After using two picks on linebackers a year ago, the Bengals still need help in the room. If anything, picking Arion Carter<\/a> here could raise the floor, which has been quite low in 2025. Carter led the Tennessee defense with 76 tackles and added six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.<\/p>\nRound 2, Pick 41: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo<\/h3>\n
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Round 3, Pick 72: Darrell Jackson Jr., NT, Florida State<\/h3>\n
Round 4, Pick 110: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State<\/h3>\n
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Round 6, Pick 186: Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor<\/h3>\n
Round 6, Pick 196: Christian Gray, CB, Notre Dame<\/h3>\n
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Round 7, Pick 218: Arion Carter, LB, Tennessee<\/h3>\n
Round 7, Pick 224: Bryce Foster, C, Kansas<\/h3>\n