The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to address their defense in the 2026 NFL Draft. After allowing the third-most points in the NFL last season, Cincinnati has primarily dedicated this offseason to addressing that unit, and with the No. 10 pick in the upcoming draft, the team has a real chance to add an impact player who also fills a team need.
However, the team must also be careful not to reach for a player. As a result, one Bengals analyst has listed a player who has drawn comparisons to Christian Wilkins as a prospect Cincinnati should avoid with their first selection.
Cincinnati Bengals Urged to Avoid Peter Woods
As we move closer to the NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have been linked with a variety of players for their first selection, most of whom have been defensive players. One of those players is Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
Bengals on SI writer Zach Pressnell listed Woods as a player Cincinnati should avoid. Pressnell wrote:
“Woods is a potential game wrecker at defensive tackle with advanced ability to rush the passer.
But it would be a huge reach to take him at pick No. 10. The Bengals need a defensive tackle, but they should be drafting players and not positions. Woods is good, and he would be a good pick late in the first round, but he’s a reach at pick No. 10. If the Bengals want to land Woods, they could trade down from pick No. 10 or trade up using the No. 41 pick. But selecting him at No. 10 would be a mistake.”
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Woods to former Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. Zierlein wrote:
“Woods is a young interior defender with room to add play strength as he fills out his frame. He’s not a pure one- or two-gap fit, but he’s capable in both schemes. He plays with good lower-body explosiveness into initial contact, keeping his hands and feet synced to work around blocks when needed. He’s more of an active brawler than double-team eating tree stump. Shorter arms allow blockers to crowd his frame and force him to fight harder at the point. Yet, his ability to overtake and win as the rep progresses is impressive. He lacks quick-win talent as a solo rusher, but he’s fully functional as part of a pocket-collapsing collective. His 2024 tape might be a better representation of his upside, but Woods clearly has the potential to become a solid starter in an even front.”
Zierlein agreed with Pressnell that Woods is likely a late first or early second-round player.
Bengals Projected First Pick
The player who has been most often mocked to the Cincinnati Bengals has been Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. A recent mock draft by CBS Sports analyst Mike Renner did not change that trend as he predicted the Bengals would draft Downs with the No. 10 pick. Renner wrote:
“Downs is precisely the floor-raiser the Bengals’ secondary needs. His reliability in coverage and as a tackler was missing in Cincinnati last season. Even with the addition of Bryan Cook this offseason, this makes too much sense.”
Unlike Woods, Downs is the eighth-ranked prospect by CBS Sports, which would make him a good value selection at that slot.
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