CINCINNATI — Day 3 of the NFL draft for the Bengals was all about building depth on the offense, particularly on the offensive line.
The Bengals also decided to take a flyer on a player that has been through the legal system but has the potential to bring immediate production to the passing game.
The Bengals also added a tight end with a massive chip on his shoulder who they hope can make teams pay that passed on him and a defensive tackle that might be short in size but long on drive and strength.
Following a defensive-heavy start to the offseason, the Bengals Saturday selected center Connor Lew (Auburn), receiver Colbie Young (Georgia), and guard/center Brian Parker II (Duke), clearly prioritizing physical prototypes and high-level college production to bolster their protection for Joe Burrow and provide new dimensions to their receiving corps.
The idea on Day 3 is to build depth and add players who could develop quickly into pieces that could help manage the back end of the roster for the next couple of seasons. The Bengals accomplished that with their five picks added to Friday’s two-player haul.
After years of investing in the starting five, Cincinnati used this draft to address the critical “swing” and interior depth positions.
Connor Lew (C, Auburn): Drafted at No. 128 overall, Lew was widely considered the top center prospect in the 2026 class before a torn ACL in October 2025 caused his slide into the fourth round. He is a 20-year-old team captain with 25 career SEC starts. At 6’3″ and 310 pounds, Lew is a technical standout with a wrestling background that shows in his leverage and anchor against powerful bull rushes. He provides a high-IQ communicator behind veteran Ted Karras, capable of identifying stunts and blitzes immediately.
Brian Parker II (OL, Duke): Selected in the sixth round (No. 189), Parker is a Cincinnati native (St. Xavier HS) who brings massive experience with 33 career starts and 2,400+ snaps. While he played mostly right tackle at Duke, his 6’5″, 309-pound frame and “tackle-to-center” versatility make him the ideal developmental swing lineman. He posted the highest pass-blocking grade in the ACC in 2024 (85.5) and allows the Bengals to double down on interior protection depth.
A New Red-Zone Threat: Colbie Young
In the fourth round (No. 140), the Bengals addressed their need for a big-bodied boundary receiver by taking Georgia’s Colbie Young. Young stands 6’5″ and weighs 218 pounds, offering an “ideal” red-zone target. He provides a stylistic counterpart to the Bengals’ current speed-based receivers, winning 50-50 balls and using his 8-year veteran comparison to Courtland Sutton to dominate one-on-one matchups on the outside. Despite limited production due to a leg fracture in 2025, his 4.49-second 40-yard dash at that size suggests explosive potential once fully healthy.
Connor Lew 4th Steal: Prior to his ACL injury, he was projected as an early second-round pick. Getting the “best center in the class” at 128 is high-value if he recovers. He is the insurance behind Ted Karras that they didn’t have before. He’s confident he’ll be ready for training camp. Zac Taylor indicated Saturday evening they’re not going to rush him. But if he passes all his medicals this summer, he could be a critical part of their depth plans this seasons.
Colbie Young 4th High Upside: He missed significant time at Georgia due to a broken leg and off-field suspension. If he can regain his 2023 Miami form, his frame makes him a matchup nightmare.
Brian Parker II 6th Insurance: As a 6th-rounder, the risk is minimal. His “sawed-off” frame for a tackle may limit his ceiling, but his technical floor makes him a high-quality backup. Again, if Lew is not ready to go medically or if they want to take it cautious with Lew, Parker could be an option as insurance behind Karras. The Bengals were thin on the interior line depth heading into the draft. Lew and Parker offer some young, talented options.
These selections are classic recent Bengals picks – targeting elite size and high-character team captains (Lew and Parker) while taking a calculated risk on a physically dominant receiver (Young) whose draft stock was depressed by injury. Additionally, Young also must demonstrate that he is past an off-the-field domestic incident involving his ex-girlfriend, where charges were dropped.
The Bengals’ 2026 draft class concluded with a focus on “high-floor” developmental prospects, specifically targeting California tight end Jack Endries and Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson. While these late-round additions rarely dominate headlines, they represent the Bengals’ strategic effort to find specialized role players who can contribute on special teams while grooming into reliable backups.
Jack Endries 7th Insurance: The Reliable Safety Valve
Selected in the seventh round (No. 222), Standing 6’4” and 240 pounds, Endries was a consistent producer for the Cal Golden Bears in 2023 and ’24 before a transfer to the Texas Longhorns in 2025. He was known more for his reliable hands and high football IQ than raw athletic explosiveness. For the Bengals, Endries serves as depth in the tight end room. His greatest strength is his versatility; he is comfortable lining up as an inline blocker or moving into the slot to provide Joe Burrow with a big-bodied target on third downs. During his time at Cal, he developed a reputation for “finding the soft spot” in zone coverage, a trait that translates well to the Bengals’ offensive scheme which prioritizes processing over pure speed. While he won’t beat NFL safeties in a footrace, his catch radius and willingness to do the “dirty work” in the run game make him a strong candidate for the 53-man roster as a TE3 or TE4, with Mike Gesicki, Erick All Jr., Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson all in the mix.
Landon Robinson 7th Development: The “Service-Academy” Anchor
With their final pick at No. 254, the Bengals selected Landon Robinson, a standout interior defender from the Naval Academy. Robinson is a significant departure from the Bengals’ typical defensive tackle profile, standing just 6’0” but weighing a stout 295 pounds. What he lacks in height, he compensates for with leverage and brute strength. Robinson was a force in the AAC, earning First-Team All-Conference honors and winning the Bulldog Award for the most physical player on the Navy roster. His low center of gravity makes him incredibly difficult to move in the run game, a “plugger” mentality that the Bengals value as a developmental project behind Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen. Robinson’s path to the roster is clear: he is a nose tackle specialist designed to eat double teams and allow linebackers to flow freely to the ball. Furthermore, his service-academy background brings a level of discipline and leadership that Bengals’ scouts reportedly “fell in love with” during the pre-draft process.
Neither Endries nor Robinson is expected to start in 2026, but their selections highlight the Bengals’ commitment to physicality and intelligence at the bottom of the roster. By drafting Endries, they secure a cerebral pass-catcher who can protect the middle of the field. By drafting Robinson, they add a relentless, high-motor interior defender who bolsters the team’s newly fortified defensive front.
