Bengals score franchise pillar on defense in draft expert's first 2026 mock

Ohio State v Purdue | Justin Casterline/GettyImagesThe Cincinnati Bengals rolled the dice a lot with their latest draft class. When it felt like they could've gone with "safer" picks, they instead chose unproductive pass rusher Shemar Stewart in the first round, followed by two off-ball linebackers within their next three picks.

Despite the recent improvement of Cincinnati's defense and green dot linebacker Barrett Carter possibly turning the corner, the defensive unit is still the main reason why the Bengals sit at 4-8 today.

OK maybe Joe Burrow's turf toe injury had a lot to do with it. Except the Bengals should've easily beaten the Jets and Bears, only to lose those games by scores of…