It was business as usual for the Cincinnati Bengals to start the 2025 NFL season. They started off with a win in Week 1, and got the win in Week 2, but that is where everything went downhill. Joe Burrow would suffer a turf toe injury with torn ligaments, which would keep him sidelined until Thanksgiving.
The Bengals would go on to finish the season with a 6-11 record. This record landed them a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick that will end up being crucial in helping the team get back on track.
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Cincinnati Bengals 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
The Bengals’ first pick in the NFL Draft is at 10th overall. With the immense talent within the top 10, the Bengals need to make sure they make the right pick. With seven picks in total for the 2026 NFL Draft, it sets up the Bengals well to address multiple needs.
In this installment of the 2026 NFL 7-Round Mock Draft series, TWSN analysts Marissa Myers and Steve Bradshaw go through what a successful draft would look like for the Bengals.
Mock Draft Done Using the PFF Mock Draft Simulator
Peter Woods, DL, Clemson: First-Round Pick, 10th Overall
Peter Woods has been a common pick for Cincinnati at this point, but there’s a reason for that. Despite a down year for Clemson and Woods, he still had a 8.1% pass rush win rate and 10.1% run-stop rate (per PFF) in 2025.
On a Bengals defense that needs some help, Woods looks like an impact player from day one.
Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon: Second-Round Pick, 41st Overall
The Bengals desperately need safety help. While Jordan Battle has shown flashes of potential, he needs a more consistent presence next to him. Geno Stone clearly isn’t the answer for Cincinnati, and they need a stable playmaker instead.
By drafting Thieneman, the Bengals would instantly start to solve this issue.
Thieneman plays with great coverage ability, and his speed allows him to cover from sideline to sideline. He is a textbook tackler, and also isn’t afraid to come downhill and take on running backs. Thieneman has all the skills to be the next star safety for the Bengals, something they have been missing since the departure of Jessie Bates.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State: Third-Round Pick, 72nd Overall
After a poor rookie season from Shemar Stewart, it’s not ridiculous to look at potential placement options already. Even if Stewart does turn things around, Dani Dennis-Sutton can make an impact as a rotational pass rusher.
There’s a lot to like about Sutton, including his past few years of production at Penn State. Despite only having a 5.8% run-stop rate, he had an 80.1 PFF grade and a 15.8% pass rush win rate in 2025.
In terms of the stats, Dennis-Sutton had 8.5 sacks in both 2024 and 2025.
Brian Parker II, OL, Duke: Fourth-Round, 110th Overall
When it comes to the Bengals, one thing is always for sure, and that is they can never have enough offensive line depth. At tackle, Orlando Brown Jr showed some inconsistencies last season, so getting more competition at the tackle spot is necessary. They also don’t have a long-term plan at the center spot after Ted Karras, something else they must fix.
By drafting Parker II, they can help start solving both issues. Parker II played all of his snaps at tackle while at Duke, but his blocking ability, strength, and frame also lead to him projecting well at center.
The athleticism and quickness Parker II plays with is something that should make the Bengals consider him in the draft.
Rayshaun Benny, DL, Michigan: Sixth-Round Pick, 188th Overall
In the sixth round, taking a flyer on defense makes a lot of sense. Even after drafting Woods, Benny makes sense due to his run defense metrics.
Although this is Benny’s fifth year in college, he had an 84.5 PFF run defensive grade and 7.5% run stop rate this past year. One major concern is that Benny has never had over two sacks in a season, but in this range, he’s still worth taking.
Jadon Canady, DB, Oregon: Sixth-Round Pick, 198th Overall
If there is one thing the 2025 season showed, having secondary depth all around is a need for the Bengals. While the lack of production from the defensive line put more pressure on the secondary, they still need more playmakers at the cornerback spot beyond just DJ Turner and Dax Hill. Especially with Cam Taylor-Britt hitting free agency.
Jadon Canady is a high-energy player who plays technically sound. His versatility also stands out as he is able to play on the boundary, at the nickel spot, or even at safety.
His IQ lets him recognize plays quickly, and he is fluid in his transitions to make a play on the ball. Overall, Canady has the upside to turn into a star defender for Cincinnati.
Joshua Braun, Guard, Kentucky: Seventh-Round Pick, 226th Overall
At 6’6” and 342 lbs, Joshua Braun would be a great pick to potentially add some depth to this Bengals offensive line. Braun had a significantly better pass block grade at 77.4 than his run block grade of 57.4 this past year.
That came out to a 62.5 overall grade. However, in 2024 at Arkansas, Braun allowed just five hurries, two hits, and one sack on 478 pass block snaps. That came out to an overall grade of 73.3.
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