Jax728'S MOCK DRAFT

Jax728'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON FEB 4, 2026

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Mock drafts from Jax728

2026 prospects 1.0

  • Jax728 DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Caleb Downs Head Shot
PICK: 10 RND: 1 (CIN)
Caleb Downs
S Ohio State
Zion Young Head Shot
PICK: 41 RND: 2 (CIN)
Zion Young
DE-EDGE Missouri
Darrell Jackson Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 72 RND: 3 (CIN)
Darrell Jackson Jr.
DT Florida State
Blake Miller Head Shot
PICK: 110 RND: 4 (CIN)
Blake Miller
OT Clemson
Trebor Pena Head Shot
PICK: 187 RND: 6 (CIN)
Trebor Pena
WR Penn State
Desmond Reid Head Shot
PICK: 197 RND: 6 (CIN)
Desmond Reid
RB Pittsburgh
Ethan O'Connor Head Shot
PICK: 226 RND: 7 (CIN)
Ethan O'Connor
CB Miami
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall B-
ValueB NeedB- TradesB- FutureB-
More right than wrong for the Bengals, and a B- to prove it.

For all the names on the card, the loudest question went unanswered. The Bengals walked out of the weekend still thin at tight end, a hole that has a way of deciding seasons. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.

They banked enough surplus on Downs to cover a lot of smaller sins. They are betting Jackson Jr. proves the room right and everyone else wrong. They went 5 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.

The back end got a real overhaul.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but tight end.

Pick Analysis
Pick10 Rnd1 Caleb Downs
In pick 10 they get a ballhawk on the back end at a price that makes it sweeter. Need was not the driver here.
Pick41 Rnd2 Zion Young
Zion Young at Round 2, Pick 9 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Pick72 Rnd3 Darrell Jackson Jr.
A premium they did not need to pay, Darrell Jackson Jr. a notch or two before his time. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick110 Rnd4 Blake Miller
They went early on Blake Miller in No. 110, and the value did not follow. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick187 Rnd6 Trebor Pena
By-the-book stuff, Trebor Pena at the 187th overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick197 Rnd6 Desmond Reid
Desmond Reid in the Round 6 slot is fair value, right on his grade. The roster fit checks out.
Pick226 Rnd7 Ethan O'Connor
Ethan O'Connor in slot 226 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.