Week 16 Bengals Mock Draft: Let’s Have Some Fun

Trade! Bengals receive picks 26, 57, 92, 2027 2nd (via Las Vegas), and 2027 3rd (via Kansas City); Los Angeles Chargers receive picks 9 and 109

Trade! Bengals receive picks 29 and 93; Los Angeles Rams receive pick 26

Originally, at pick nine, the board fell in a way that trading back made the most sense. Then, the Rams came in and threw in a third-round pick to just move back three spots with plenty of defensive talent on the board. So, welcome to Cincinnati, Kayden McDonald!

McDonald has been a breakout talent for Ohio State this year. In his first season as a starter, McDonald was a unanimous first-team All-American. As a nose tackle, that’s saying something. He’s been a massive reason for Ohio State’s elite defensive rebuild on the interior.

The Bengals have failed to replace DJ Reader over the last two seasons. Picking McDonald here would do wonders in fortifying the interior defensive line. He projects to be a multi-year starter at the next level. Even then, if there are doubts, the Bengals could bring Reader back to mentor the young Buckeye.

Round 2, Pick 40: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

“Oh no, another EDGE from Texas A&M, didn’t we learn our lesson?”

The best thing about helmet scouts is just how lazy they are. Cashius Howell isn’t Shemar Stewart (who, it seems, has been playing this year with a torn PCL…the more you know). Yes, both Stewart and Howell wore the aTm helmet and played in College Station. While Stewart tested as a freak athlete, he lacked productivity. Productivity is the least of Howell’s concerns.

Howell started his career at Bowling Green and was a star. After amassing 56 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery with the Falcons, he transferred to Texas A&M. He posted a modest stat line in 2024, but fully broke out this year. The unanimous All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year is entering the CFP with 14 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, six pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

The question will be his age, of course. But the Bengals need an instant-impact EDGE with Trey Hendrickson and (likely) Joseph Ossai hitting the road.

Round 3, Pick 65: Skyler Bell, WR, UCONN

Trade! Bengals receive picks 65 and 103; Tennessee Titans receive picks 57 and 185

The Bengals pull off another pick-swap, this time with the Titans, to move back a few picks but jump 82 picks later. This time, it’s the second-leading receiver in all of college football, Skyler Bell.

Do the Bengals need another receiver with a premium pick? Probably not. However, Jermaine Burton is gone, Andrei Iosivas has certainly outplayed his draft capital, but he’s not a WR3, and Charlie Jones is a punt returner. We’ve seen what happens when Tee Higgins and/or Ja’Marr Chase is unavailable. If the Bengals are going to invest that much into two players, they are going to need to provide cheap support.

Bell started out at Wisconsin and could not get anywhere, mostly due to the offensive scheme. Then, he left for UCONN and led the Huskies in receiving in back-to-back seasons. This year, the Biletnikoff Award finalist finished with 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns on 101 receptions.

The Bengals need another legitimate threat. Bell can do anything, freeing up Chase to do even more.

Round 3, Pick 71: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas

Okay, back to the defensive side. There are all kinds of question marks in the secondary heading into 2026. As of now, the Bengals have four corners under contract for 2026. Fast forward to 2027, and that number drops to one. While this Bengals mock draft only selects one corner, don’t be surprised if the team double-dips here.

Julian Neal could be a steal at 71st overall. He’s a late bloomer (all four career interceptions came over the last two seasons), but he’s developed into a quality corner for the Razorbacks. This year, he hauled in a pair of interceptions and broke up 10 passes.

He’s great in man coverage and can hang with any receiver. The most impressive part of his game is what the Bengals need; he’s only missed one tackle.

Round 3, Pick 92: Iapani Laloulu, IOL, Oregon

You can’t have too many good offensive linemen. Iapani Laloulu was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as one of the top centers in college football. Could he remain as a center in the NFL? Ted Karras is getting older, and Seth McLaughlin (the 2024 Rimington Trophy winner) and Matt Lee have not earned opportunities just yet.

Laloulu is not the greatest athlete and likely won’t light up the Scouting Combine. However, he will come into the NFL technically refined, and he possesses the leadership and physicality the Bengals need. Plus, he could kick to guard to provide depth.

Round 3, Pick 93: Keon Sabb, SAF, Alabama

Another prospect on the older side, Keon Sabb, could give the Bengals an all-Alabama safety tandem. Starting off at Michigan, Sabb left with the flood of players and coaches after the 2023 season. He landed at Alabama and has been a solid player on the backend.

You could think of him as a better Vonn Bell. He’s a solid run defender and will come downhill to destroy screens. He’s also adept at zone coverage. There are questions about his motor and reliability, but it’s the Bengals; we’d be confused if they didn’t draft at least one.

Round 4, Pick 103: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

The Bengals need a jolt in the running back room. Chase Brown is great, but Samaje Perine is older and, obviously, the coaching staff doesn’t quite trust Tahj Brooks just yet. Michigan’s Justice Haynes was on the board here, and while he’d be a welcome addition, let’s roll with a player not coming off a significant injury.

Kaytron Allen has been part of a lethal one-two punch at Penn State for four years now. In those four seasons, he’s run the ball 769 times for 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns. He was tied atop the Big Ten this year with 15 touchdowns, but he also scored 10 as a true freshman.

He’s as explosive as any and has great patience and vision in the backfield. If the Bengals can get him to be a reliable RB2, the offense could be even more lethal.

Side note: If the Bengals can get out of this draft with seven of the first 103 picks, it’ll do wonders for rebuilding the roster.

Round 6, Pick 196: Mikail Kamara, EDGE, Indiana

Let’s bolster the defensive end room a bit more. Mikail Kamara has been an uber-productive player over the last three seasons. This year, his stats took a dip because opponents finally figured out that they had to block him, oddly enough. Even then, he enters the CFP with 140 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, and 22.5 sacks in his career.

He has a fantastic first step and can win from multiple alignments on the defensive line. If the Bengals had a third-down “rushmen” package (ie., to borrow a term from Ohio State, four edge rushers and no tackles) with Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart, Cashius Howell, and Mikail Kamara, the pass rush would hypothetically be significantly better.

Round 7, Pick 215: Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin

The Bengals would do well to improve the depth on the offensive line (and, for the love of all that is good, stop relying on Cody Ford as the swing tackle). They could do worse than Riley Mahlman.

At Wisconsin, Mahlman was the best player on that offensive line. He has that prototypical size you want in an NFL offensive lineman, though he will need some technical refinement from Scott Peters. He’s strong and anchors well in pass protection, but he will need to improve a bit. Allowing 11 sacks and 57 pressures in 1,454 pass-blocking is not ideal.

Round 7, Pick 223: Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo

The seventh round is for depth pieces and dart throws. Considering the Bengals employ the two worst linebackers by PFF grading, perhaps they need a dart throw. Enter Khalil “Red” Murdoch. Buffalo has quietly had elite production from its linebackers over the last few seasons, and Murdoch is no exception. Over the last two seasons, Murdoch has amassed 298 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, seven sacks, a pick-six, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and 13 (yes, THIRTEEN) forced fumbles.

He owns the career record for forced fumbles in college football history with 17, all of which have come over the last three seasons. He broke another former Buffalo Bull’s record. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Does Khalil Mack ring a bell?

Currently, he’s projected as a UDFA. Either way, the Bengals could use a physical run defender and depth at the position.

All in all, in this Bengals mock draft, the team selects 10 players (six on defense, four on offense), AND added a second and third to their 2027 plans. Considering the second-round pick is from Las Vegas, that could be a high selection. This would be an all-around win for the franchise.