njjj'S MOCK DRAFT
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njjj'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAY 16, 2026

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  • njjj DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Jayden Maiava Head Shot
PICK: 10 RND: 1 (CIN)
Jayden Maiava
QB USC
Brice Pollock Head Shot
PICK: 41 RND: 2 (CIN)
Brice Pollock
CB Texas Tech
D'Antre Robinson Head Shot
PICK: 72 RND: 3 (CIN)
D'Antre Robinson
DT North Carolina
Justice Haynes Head Shot
PICK: 110 RND: 4 (CIN)
Justice Haynes
RB Michigan
Drayk Bowen Head Shot
PICK: 187 RND: 6 (CIN)
Drayk Bowen
LB Notre Dame
Malik Hartford Head Shot
PICK: 197 RND: 6 (CIN)
Malik Hartford
S Ohio State
Shamar Porter Head Shot
PICK: 226 RND: 7 (CIN)
Shamar Porter
WR UConn
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall C+
ValueD+ NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
The Bengals drew a line under the quarterback search with Maiava: C+.

The search is over. The Bengals handed the keys to Jayden Maiava, and the whole operation now runs on his development. It nets out a thoroughly average C+.

The cost of the Maiava reach is exactly the players who went right after him. The tight end hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Cornerback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.

The offense got the lion's share of the attention.

Bottom line, the swing picks will decide whether this ages well.

Pick Analysis
Pick10 Rnd1 Jayden Maiava
In the 10th pick they get a long-term answer under center, though the board says they badly overpaid. A real need, handled.
Pick41 Rnd2 Brice Pollock
Brice Pollock in the Round 2 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick72 Rnd3 D'Antre Robinson
They took D'Antre Robinson at par in pick 72, which is nothing to complain about. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick110 Rnd4 Justice Haynes
Justice Haynes in pick No. 110 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick187 Rnd6 Drayk Bowen
No drama and no debate, Drayk Bowen went about where he belonged in Round 6, Pick 8. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick197 Rnd6 Malik Hartford
A straight-up fair deal on Malik Hartford at the 197th overall pick, value and slot in agreement. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Pick226 Rnd7 Shamar Porter
Shamar Porter at slot 226 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.