Best available players for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft

Offensive Tackle

The Bengals need a swing tackle, and we all know they have a type. 6’9” 325 Memphis tiger Travis Burke would fit in nicely, as would the ironically named Diego Pounds, who is 6’6” 325. Or the Bengals could go back to their favorite school and snag Texas A&M’s 6’7” 319 Dametrious Crownover. All three are massive human beings, but still waiting to get picked on Saturday for a reason. Leave that up to offensive line coach Scott Peters.

Center

The Bengals do not currently have a backup center, and Ted Karras isn’t getting any younger. Kansas State’s Sam Hecht was seen by some as the top center in this draft. He’s smart and plays with a good anchor. HE also did not get called for a single penalty all season. Duke’s Brian Parker II might be the fit, however. A Cincinnati native, Parker brings great strength and excellent feet.

Potential Round 6 and 7 targets

**Wide Receivers:** Cincinnati’s massive and athletic Jeff Caldwell gets a lot of hype. Running a 4.31 40 and having a 42” vertical at 6’5” will do that. Caldwell needs a lot of work, but could be a deep threat, as they wanted in Jermaine Burton. Or the Bengals could look for a bigger-bodied slot who can help in the run game, like Baylor’s Josh Cameron. Cameron tips the scales at 220 and squats over 500 pounds. He is a physical presence with the ball in his hand as well, picking up dirty yards after the catch. Cameron was also a skilled punt returner at Baylor. **Tight Ends:** Both Wyoming’s John Michael Gyllenborg and BYU’s Carsen Ryan are true Y tight ends. Each is a skilled blocker with potential upside if they develop as pass catchers. **Offensive Line:** Oregon’s Isaiah World needs a lot of work, but at 6’5”, 323, he had a lot of buzz going into the season. A late ACL injury has seriously impacted his draft prospects and could push him deep into Day 3. The Bengals have an excellent offensive line coach in Scott Peters, who could be the perfect fit to develop World behind the scenes. Peters also loves wrestlers, and Penn State’s Nolan Rucci is said to be one of the best in the class. He needs a lot of work, but at 6’8”, 314, he’ll fit in nicely with the rest of the group. At center, there is everyone’s favorite late mock draft selection, Pat Coogan, coming off his national championship run at Indiana. There is also all-name team captain Jager Barton, who brings guard versatility with him from Kentucky. Of course, the entire Brown family went to Dartmouth, so the pick very well could be Delby Lemieux. He played tackle in college, and with an Ivy League education, he should be able to handle the transition. **Defensive Line:** The Bengals have been pretty busy adding talent to their defensive front, but there are a couple of athletic defensive tackles whom they could look to add late in the draft. Penn State’s Zane Durant is undersized at 6’1”, 290, but he tested off the charts for explosiveness and speed. Louisville’s Rene Konga also shined at the combine for his explosiveness and agility. **Linebackers:** Louisiana’s Jaden Dugger is in the mold of Sonny Styles. A former safety at Georgetown of all places, Duggar moves to linebacker and impressed with his 35-inch arms and athleticism. Arkansas’s Xavian Sorey Jr. is a bit inconsistent, but he is an excellent athlete who could add special teams value.