NFL executives plead Bengals to draft elite athlete to help Joe Burrow, but predict another outcome for Cincinnati
Trench help is expected to arrive for the Bengals.
Bringing back Dalton Risner to start at right guard completes the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive line for the 2026 season, but not everyone is convinced their work is done.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando called on four high-level NFL executives to project the first 10 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. Two of them had the Bengals going with Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano. Joe Burrow’s latest injury from last year was still on the mind of at least one of the executives.
“They have to go O-line — please, for all of us,” one exec told Sando.
Fano, who tested like a 96.1 percentile athlete at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine according to A to Z Sports’ combine athleticism database, was not available to be picked in the exercise. Another exec went with Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., but he was also off the board. This left the third option at another defensive line position.
Bengals land Clemson DT Peter Woods in executive top-10 mock draft
Peter Woods did not test at the combine like Fano, but he is still considered one of the best interior defensive linemen in this year’s draft. Cincinnati could use someone with that descriptor on its roster, as the defensive tackles currently in the room do not possess very much pass-rushing ability.
The Bengals met with Woods in Indianapolis, indicating their interest in the 21-year old along with several other DTs. There’s belief the interest is real.
“Woods is a really good player. I would say the Bengals are taking someone like him or Sonny Styles, the inside ‘backer. I think there is some upside there.” — Anonymous NFL exec to Mike Sando
Styles may be a pipe dream for Cincy at this point after he blew up the combine with his testing results. Woods’ chances of being a top-10 pick may lie solely in the Bengals’ hands.
With free agency yet to play out, it’s a possibility worth remembering when the draft does roll around if those in league circles are predicting it to unfold.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Bengals 3-Round NFL Mock Draft: Cincinnati hammers down on defense after extending Dalton Risner’s contract
The Cincinnati Bengals turn their attention to the defense after solidifying their offensive line.
