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The Skinny Podcast

The Skinny Podcast

By: Local 12
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  • Why there's a lot to love (and still question) with Bengals' draft picks

    Why there's a lot to love (and still question) with Bengals' draft picks
    Apr 26 2026
    The Bengals’ 2026 NFL Draft reflected a clear strategy: build depth, target high-upside players and continue reshaping the roster around a strengthened defensive front. Cincinnati entered the draft without a first-round pick after trading for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, then used seven selections over the final two days. Local 12 digital sports columnist and editor Richard Skinner said the approach showed a focus on long-term development and roster balance. “I thought they did it. I thought it was really good,” Skinner said. “There was sound reasoning behind probably every pick.” The Bengals’ top selections came on Day 2, when they drafted edge rusher Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M and cornerback Tacario Davis from Washington. Both are viewed as potential contributors, though Howell may begin as part of a deep rotation on the defensive line. “I like the player. I’m not so sure I love the pick,” Skinner said of Howell. “He’s technically your fourth edge rusher at the moment.” The defensive line overhaul has been a central theme this offseason, with Cincinnati adding Lawrence, Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen to create a deeper, more disruptive unit. "I think (the Bengals) got their value in Dexter Lawrence," said Mike Petraglia from CLNS Media. "I think that they addressed other things in this draft, in terms of their depth and the ability to have some added playmakers on defense. Looking back on it eight days later, I like the Dexter Lawrence move." The Bengals also addressed offensive line depth, selecting center Connor Lew in the fourth round and versatile lineman Brian Parker II in the sixth. “I think the value of this pick is just off the charts,” Skinner said of Lew, noting the 20-year-old’s experience and upside. At wide receiver, Cincinnati added Colbie Young, a physically gifted prospect with limited college production. Skinner called the pick a traits-based gamble. “The traits are off the charts,” he said. “I just can’t overlook the lack of production.” Day 3 selections focused on depth and developmental players, including tight end Jack Endries and Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson. Skinner said Endries’ competitive mindset stood out, recalling that the draftee said he would make every team that didn’t draft him pay. Overall, Skinner graded the Bengals’ draft an A-minus, citing a mix of immediate contributors and long-term prospects. "There is a high ceiling for all these guys. That's, I think the exciting part is these guys have a chance to, to take things to a whole different level," he said. "Literally every one of them, all the way down to, to Landon Robinson, the last pick they made at defensive tackle, there's a high ceiling for all these guys." "Here's another reason you get aggressive in free agency going into the draft," said Petraglia. "It allows you, I think, to take more chances on guys with higher ceilings, because if they don't work out, you do have, you address something else via free agency that presumably, uh, similar or the exact same position -- and I think the Bengals did that. I think they were more aggressive in free agency. They took a chance on higher end or guys with higher ceilings. Let's say that, put it that way. And I like that. I like that approach for a team that is trying to get more aggressive in that window with Joe Burrow." The Bengals may still look to add a veteran linebacker after the draft, as the position remains a question mark heading into the 2026 season.
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    45 mins
  • Did the Bengals nail the draft? Full breakdown & grades include one big miss

    Did the Bengals nail the draft? Full breakdown & grades include one big miss
    Apr 26 2026
    While the Bengals did not address linebacker this offseason, they filled most other needs through trades, free agency and the NFL Draft. After trading for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and signing free agent defensive end Boye Mafe and free agent defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, they selected defensive end Cashius Howell in the second round and added Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson in the seventh round. They drafted 6-foot-4 cornerback Tacario Davis in the third round to add depth at outside cornerback, potentially allowing Dax Hill to shift back inside while providing some future insurance if the team can't extend Hill or cornerback DJ Turner. They desperately needed to add offensive line depth and did so by taking center Connor Lew in the fourth round, who dropped to that round only because he is coming off knee surgery, although he is expected to be cleared well in advance of the start of training camp. Then in the sixth round the Bengals selected St. Xavier High School grad Brian Parker II, who can potentially play all five offensive line positions. They were hoping to add a wide receiver in the draft who could compete with Andrei Iosivas for snaps at No. 3 wide receiver and took 6-foot-5, 218-pound Colbie Young with a second fourth-round pick they added when they dealt the No. 110 overall pick and No. 199 overall pick to the New York Jets for the No. 128 pick (Lew) and No. 140 pick, which they used on Young. Young's traits are more impressive than his college production, but he has a high ceiling. That seemed to be the case with almost each of their seven draft picks. "They all have a lot of upside," said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. "That’s the cleanest way I can say it. They are all really talented players. We brought them in here because we see a high upside with all those guys. Excited about the whole group." That includes tight end Jack Endries, who was taken with the first of two seventh-round picks. He was projected as a fourth-round pick, but fell for unknown reasons and told reporters he would make teams that passed on him, "(blanking) pay." It has been clear this offseason that the Bengals were trying to make the defensive line a major team strength and it is really deep. The potential starters at ends are Mafe and 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy, with 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart and Howell competing for snaps and playing at worst in a rotational role. Lawrence filled a huge need at nose tackle and will probably make TJ Slaton a salary cap cut, while the tackles opposite Lawrence are veteran BJ Hill and Allen with 2024 second-round pick Kris Jenkins also in the mix. The Bengals also this offseason signed veteran safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger and cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor to compete with Jalen Davis at slot corner. "From a talent standpoint, we're in a really good place," said Taylor. "From a leadership standpoint, we're in a really good place. Now, you have to actually go do the work. It's fun to talk about this stuff in the offseason. This is where we are up to this point. There's no work we could have really done on the field or anything like that, or from a chemistry standpoint. Now, it's up to the players and coaches to put it all together. That's going to require a lot of work on the field, in the locker room, off the field, but I'm excited about the group that we're going to go do it with." The one thing the Bengals haven't done this offseason is address linebacker and for now seem ready to move forward with second-year players Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter, who both started as rookies and struggled. Behind them is veteran Oren Burks, who has primarily been a backup and special teams player in his career and very little proven talent. Taylor said it's possible the team still might sign a veteran free agent with starting experience. "We'll have those conversations now that the draft is over," Taylor said. "It's one of those situations where there is value at other positions that we didn't want to pass up. Linebackers before you got a chance to get the next guy that you would have wanted. That's the way the draft always goes. That's how free agency goes sometimes. We do have lot of belief in the room that we have so those guys will continue to compete and if we do something after the draft that remains to be seen." Bengals Overall Grade: A-minus The Skinny: While not addressing linebacker seems egregious they did get a lot of value from most of their picks and even the ones they didn't - like Davis and Young - have measurables and high ceilings. The Bengals filled some key needs and added some possible starting caliber players for years to come, so it was hard not to be impressed with what they did.
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    20 mins
  • 'All-in season': How the Bengals' big trade changed everything, including NFL Draft plans

    'All-in season': How the Bengals' big trade changed everything, including NFL Draft plans
    Apr 22 2026
    The Bengals’ trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence reshaped both their roster and their draft plans, according to a discussion between Local 12 Digital Sports Columnist and Editor Richard Skinner and Mike Petraglia from CLNS Media. The Bengals sent the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft to the New York Giants for Lawrence and then signed him to a one-year extension through 2028. Petraglia and Skinner said the move reflects both urgency and a correction to recent draft misses along the defensive line. Skinner said the deal should help take pressure off the rest of the defense. “He provides pressure in the pocket,” Skinner said. “He’s going to create one-on-ones for Boye Mafe.” Petraglia and Skinner said Lawrence’s presence should also help linebackers and edge rushers by drawing double teams inside. “That frees those guys up to see clearly and just to make more plays,” Petraglia said. They said the Bengals now appear likely to target cornerback, linebacker and interior offensive line depth on the draft’s second day. With no fifth-round pick, they said the team may need to find a developmental center who can also play guard, noting Ted Karras is 33 and the backup options are thin. Skinner said the Bengals also may need to revisit Joe Burrow’s contract to create more cap space after the Lawrence trade and earlier free-agent additions. Petraglia said the team’s recent moves show a new level of urgency. “To their credit, they’ve pushed their way into doing that,” he said. “This is an all-in season.”
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    36 mins
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