Playing out the season may have cost the Cincinatt Bengals premium draft picks.
The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 18 of the 2025 season riding the momentum of two consecutive wins, defeating the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals to improve to 6-10. Those wins came after the Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention, marking a third straight season outside January football. Rather than cashing in on late losses to improve draft position, Cincinnati chose to play out the final games with starters intact.
However, that posture appears to come at a cost: lost draft leverage in a 2026 class that boasts impact defenders and linemen who could have addressed Cincinnati’s systemic roster problems.
Defensive Draft Prospects the Bengals Could Miss by Competing Down the Stretch
With two consecutive wins, the Bengals slid down to 10th in the 2026 draft board entering Sunday, reducing their odds of landing one of the draft’s premium defenders or offensive line anchors. According to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s updated 2026 Big Board, several top prospects, especially on defense, are available near the top of the Big Board this cycle. These players represent the type of impact talent Cincinnati lacked in 2025.
One of the defenders projected to be among the best in the class is Caleb Downs, safety from Ohio State. Downs posted 70 combined tackles, one sack, two interceptions and solid coverage metrics in 2025, grading out as a top-tier defensive back capable of changing run defense, coverage, and turnover creation.
Peter Woods, defensive tackle from Clemson, declared for the draft and earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2025 before entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Woods is ranked as a top interior defender by multiple scouts and could have helped the Bengals’ defensive front, which struggled to generate pressure and stop the run throughout the season.
Edge rusher prospects such as Arvell Reese (Ohio State), David Bailey (Texas Tech) and T.J. Parker (Clemson) also sit high on many 2026 boards, offering varied pass-rush profiles teams covet in the first round. Bailey was one of 2025’s most productive sack artists with 14.5 sacks and elite pressure metrics; and Parker combines power with consistent production over multiple seasons.
In addition to defenders, top offensive tackle prospects such as Francis Mauigoa (Miami), with elite size and pass-protection grades, could address Cincinnati’s ongoing run- and pass-blocking issues.
A higher pick might have made one or more of these players easily attainable, allowing Cincinnati to fill pressing roster holes rather than waiting until the mid-to-late first round or beyond. Instead, the decision to chase meaningless wins potentially diluted the payoff the Bengals could have received from a deeper rebuild.
Cincinnati’s 2025 struggles were concentrated on defense and along the offensive line; two areas where this draft class has multiple first-round-caliber players. Allowing the team to slip a few extra spots in the draft could have given the Bengals a realistic shot at elite talent capable of contributing immediately.