Bengals waste no time taking care of important business, but two large items remain uncompleted
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed most of their 2026 NFL Draft class, but second-round pick Cashius Howell and third-round pick Tacario Davis remain unsigned as rookie minicamp begins.
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed five of their seven picks from their 2026 NFL Draft class.
Center Connor Lew, wide receiver Colbie Young, offensive tackle Brian Parker II, tight end Jack Endries, and defensive tackle Landon Robinson are now locked in for the next four years.
Bengals sign five draft picks
Lew (pick No. 128) and Young (pick No. 140) were each selected in the fourth round. Lew comes from Auburn and was one of the top center prospects in this year’s class despite recovering from a torn ACL. Young played at both Miami (FL) and Georgia, totalling 116 career receptions for 1,437 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Parker was selected No. 189 in the sixth round out of Duke. He started 33 games at both left and right tackle. He also played center for nearby St. Xavier High School as he moved to Cincinnati when he was in third grade.
Endries (pick No. 221) and Robinson (pick No. 226) were each selected in the seventh round. Endries played at both Cal and Texas, starting 39 games and catching 124 passes for 1,376 yards and seven TDs. Robinson comes from the U.S. Naval Academy and is fresh off earning AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the Midshipmen. He also grew up a Bengals fan in Akron, OH.
Two picks remain unsigned
Cincinnati’s second-round pick, EDGE Cashius Howell, and third-round pick, cornerback Tacario Davis, are unsigned at the beginning of rookie minicamp.
Top-64 picks in the draft are guaranteed money beyond their signing bonuses. With Howell, it’s entirely possible he pushes for a fully guaranteed deal. Picks No. 33-40 from last year’s draft received fully guaranteed contracts for the first time in NFL history. As pick No. 41, it would be no surprise if Howell and his agent try to extend the precedent to him.
Howell is taking part in rookie minicamp, so we may be spared an offseason holdout situation ala Shemar Stewart last year.
Davis will not receive any guarantees after this season. His deal will be much easier for the Bengals to hammer home in the near future.
