The Cincinnati Bengals started last year’s NFL Draft addressing defensive end, selecting DE Shemar Stewart No. 17 in the first round. It would not surprise anyone if they went back to targeting that position again in the 2026 draft.

That’s where A to Z Sports’ Joe DeLeone went in our latest 3-round NFL Mock Draft. Cincinnati scooped up Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 10 pick following his impressive showing during the College Football Playoff National Championship.

What the Bengals did following that pick, however, really speaks to the club trying to make up for their mistakes made last draft.

Bengals select defensive positions they ignored last year in latest mock draft

On top of Bain, DeLeone and Ryan Roberts selected Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange in the second round, and Arizona safety Genesis Smith in the third round.

Orange, ranked 46th in the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database, only had one sack in his four-year stint at ISU, but the 6-4, 325-pound player is a run-stuffer as a nose tackle. He produced 42 defensive stops for the Cyclones over the last three seasons when he was a significant contributor along the defensive line.

Smith, ranked 109th in the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database, was a true free safety for most of his time at Arizona. He racked up five interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 37 games played over the course of three seasons.

Two very different players at completely different positions, but Cincinnati could use both of them simply because those positions weren’t addressed in last year’s draft.

The Bengals were close to drafting former Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen in the first round, but the Arizona Cardinals swiped him at pick No. 16. There was also massive speculation regarding former Notre Dame S Xavier Watts and his connection with defensive coordinator Al Golden, but Watts was passed on by Cincy three times in the draft before the Atlanta Falcons picked him No. 96. in the third round.

Other players at either position were also overlooked by the Bengals as they drafted two linebackers, two offensive linemen, and a running back outside of Round 1. Guard Dylan Fairchild looks to be the best player of the bunch by far, and Cincinnati enters another offseason needing talent up the spine of its defense.

Orange and Smith can be part of the solution should the Bengals zig instead of zagging this time around.

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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Jan 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.