Bengals Flip Between Offense And Defense in Latest Three-Round 2026 Mock Draft

Two picks on defense and one offensive playmaker.

Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia wideout Zachariah Branch (WO09) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NFL Draft team at ESPN banded together this week for a three-round mock draft with Field Yates, Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, and Jordan Reid alternating their selections.

Cincinnati made two defensive picks and one on offense in an exercise that had a slight tweak from most mock drafts.

"We added a twist to this mock draft," the article stated. "This isn't a straight prediction of how things will play out. Our analysts leaned more heavily on what they would personally do at each slot, playing more of a general manager role for all 32 teams, rather than projecting what they think will ultimately happen. They used their personal rankings to guide them, along with the latest buzz in the scouting industry. (No potential trades were made in this exercise, and each analyst made 25 selections.)"

The Selections

Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) scrambles against LSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Cincinnati started things with LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at Pick 10.

He is ranked 10th on the Mock Draft Database's consensus big board and first among cornerbacks.

"DJ Turner II and Dax Hill are talented, but Delane would be an upgrade on the outside, where he can win at the line of scrimmage with great quickness and instincts," Miller wrote in the piece.

Next, Cincinnati took Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch at Pick 41.

He is ranked 68th on the consensus big board and 11th among wide receivers.

"Branch is 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, but he's lightning quick (4.35-second 40-yard dash) and does damage after the catch. He'd be yet another playmaker for Joe Burrow alongside Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins," Kiper wrote.

The draft exercise wrapped with Cincinnati taking Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange at Pick 72. Orange is ranked 74th on the consensus big board and sixth among defensive tackles.

"Cincinnati must address its defensive tackle depth. 'Big Citrus' is a powerful, explosive nose tackle to aid in that area," Yates noted.

The Bengals make some big board reaches throughout these three picks. Check out the full mock draft from the ESPN draft team here.

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