Bengals land an ideal replacement for former starter they’re likely to let walk in 2-round NFL mock draft
It’s going to be all about the defense for the Bengals this offseason.
Dread it, run from it, mock drafts arrive all the same for teams like the Cincinnati Bengals when the regular season ends.
Cincinnati was eliminated from playoff contention a week before they got a dominant win over the Miami Dolphins. Whether they like it or not, the Bengals are looking ahead at the offseason.
Let’s examine the latest A to Z Sports 2-round 2026 mock draft to see which players Cincinnati needs to be tracking with the offseason right around the corner.
Bengals stay on the defensive in 2-round mock draft
Peter Woods continues to be a popular first-round pick for Cincinnati
You can go back to before the 2025 season began and find Woods labeled as a potential top-10 pick. His third and final season at Clemson looked a bit underwhelming from a box score perspective, but his tape remains strong enough to warrant a premium pick.
“Cincinnati’s defense has been extremely porous all season long. The team is in desperate need of some anchors along that side of the ball — and Woods makes plenty of sense in a division known for it’s physicality and toughness. Woods has three-down ceiling as an interior defender.” — A to Z Sports’ Kyle Crabbs
Woods opted out of Clemson’s upcoming bowl game against Penn State, so his collegiate career is officially over. He posted 84 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks in 35 career games.
Chris Johnson can replace Cam Taylor-Britt in the second round
Fans should get used to the concept of the Bengals going defense-defense in the first two rounds of the 2026 draft. The unit still needs much work as it has for the past three years.
Cornerback is an interesting position of need with Dax Hill and DJ Turner II both coming back next year as starters, but a third spot should be open for competition. Cam Taylor-Britt is an impending free agent and is unlikely to re-sign with Cincinnati after a underwhelming over the last two seasons as a starter. He also suffered a season-ending foot injury.
Johnson looks like an ideal replacement because of what he can do at the catch point, and after the catch point. He logged four interceptions in 2025 and returned two of them for touchdowns. His two pick-sixes led the FBS this season, and helped him earn Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Taylor-Britt has his faults, but he was the only CB on the Bengals’ roster with a pick-six in his career. He had two of them from 2023-24.
Finding a difference-maker up front and in the defensive backfield can go a long way in turning Cincinnati’s defense around in the right direction.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Bengals’ biggest Pro Bowl snub is inexcusable and reminiscent of another injustice from several years ago
Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II had a legitimate Pro Bowl year, whether voters knew it or not.
