claud'S MOCK DRAFT
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claud'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON OCT 18, 2025

bengals 26 draft 1

  • claud DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Caleb Downs Head Shot
PICK: 7 RND: 1 (CIN)
Caleb Downs
S Ohio State
Connor Lew Head Shot
PICK: 51 RND: 2 (CIN)
Connor Lew
C Auburn
Michael Taaffe Head Shot
PICK: 73 RND: 3 (CIN)
Michael Taaffe
S Texas
Max Klare Head Shot
PICK: 108 RND: 4 (CIN)
Max Klare
TE Ohio State
Lee Hunter Head Shot
PICK: 190 RND: 6 (CIN)
Lee Hunter
DT Texas Tech
Evan Stewart Head Shot
PICK: 204 RND: 6 (CIN)
Evan Stewart
WR Oregon
Daevin Hobbs Head Shot
PICK: 226 RND: 7 (CIN)
Daevin Hobbs
DL Tennessee
Draft Picks Received
Connor Lew Head Shot
PICK: 51 RND: 2 (DEN)
Connor Lew
C Auburn
Draft Picks Traded
Carnell Tate Head Shot
PICK: 42 RND: 2 (DEN)
Carnell Tate
WR Ohio State
Players Gained
Head Shot
Mike McGlinchey
OT
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall B+
ValueB+ NeedB- TradesA+ FutureB-
The Bengals robbed the room for Klare. Final grade: B+.

When a board-topper like Max Klare slides to the 108th overall pick, you do not overthink it, and the Bengals did not.

Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck. Spending an early pick on safety with cornerback, linebacker and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. The cornerback spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.

The cost of the Hobbs reach is exactly the players who went right after him.

A tidy weekend of work that should hold up just fine.

Pick Analysis
Pick7 Rnd1 Caleb Downs
A reasonable price with a little left over, Caleb Downs in pick No. 7. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Pick51 Rnd2 Connor Lew
Nothing to complain about; Connor Lew went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick73 Rnd3 Michael Taaffe
They bypassed pressing needs at cornerback, linebacker and other spots to take Michael Taaffe, a safety that was not the priority.
Pick108 Rnd4 Max Klare
Max Klare at slot 108 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick190 Rnd6 Lee Hunter
Lee Hunter at Round 6, Pick 10 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick204 Rnd6 Evan Stewart
Evan Stewart at the 204th pick is money in the bank, a wide receiver taken below his worth. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick226 Rnd7 Daevin Hobbs
They went early on Daevin Hobbs in the 226th overall pick, and the value did not follow. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.