The NFL Draft cycle is about to speed up as the scouting community will descend next week in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2026 Scouting Combine.
The Combine represents a chance for over 300 prospects to showcase their skills and speed in front of all 32 teams and also allow the the teams to get an updated medical evaluation of the players.
Before we get to the Combine, let’s run through a four-round mock draft for the Cincinnati Bengals. This time, we’re using the simulator from Stick to the Model.
No. 10: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
With Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr. all off the board, the Bengals take the best available edge-rusher on the board and that is Bailey. The Bengals would get a very good athlete and one who was very productive in college, leading the FBS with 15 sacks last season in his lone season at Texas Tech after transferring from Stanford. He may not have the best size for the position (listed at 250 pounds), but he makes up for it with his speed and array of pass-rush moves.
The Bengals have Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai both as free agents. Even if at least one comes back, the Bengals can use extra help behind him and Shemar Stewart. Bailey fits the bill.
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No. 41: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
Between his time at Oregon and Purdue, Thieneman has been exposed to multiple schemes and has shown he has the versatility to play in multiple defenses. He is very rangy in the pass game and can come downhill in the run game. He may not be very powerful in tackling, but he has good instincts to get the ballcarrier and help bring him down.
He has average size at six-feet, 205 pounds. But he moves around the field well. The Bengals have been looking for solid safety help for some time. Getting a player like Thieneman outside the top 40 isn’t a bad deal to help sure up a secondary that has been up and down for a few years.
No. 72: Darrell Jackson, DT, Florida State
The Bengals can also stand to add another big body in the middle of the defensive line and Darrell Jackson certainly brings that. He measured six-foot-five and 328 pounds at the Shrine Bowl, both around the 90th percentile. Jackson can help eat up double-teams and allow the linebackers to have a cleaner read. He could also help give B.J. Hill more one-on-one opportunities.
No. 110: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
Ted Karras will be a 33-year-old free agent month. Will the Bengals re-sign him? Or do they look to get younger at the position? If so, Hecht would be a good option here in the fourth round. He’s one of the more athletic centers in this class and can play both guard and center. The Bengals do also have a question mark at right guard with Dalton Risner also a free agent. Hecht was also praised for his performance at the Senior Bowl.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals 4-round NFL mock draft ahead of scouting combine
