They treat their first-round picks like they’re made out of diamonds—they’ve always treated them as their most important asset. So, to trade one away for Dexter Lawrence is so against the way they typically do things, it’s almost hard to believe it actually happened.View LinkSo with that said, here’s the third and final 53-man roster prediction before the draft begins on Thursday night.For version 1.0 go here, and for 2.0 go here.Quarterback (2)Joe BurrowJoe FlaccoNotes: No change here, and there won’t be. Flacco will hold the clipboard, and hopefully, the only snaps he takes in 2026 are because the Bengals are up by so much they pull Burrow.Running Back (3)Chase BrownSamaje PerineTahj BrooksNotes: Again, no changes here.

Unless the Bengals address the position in the draft, which is possible, I figure these three will be the guys behind/next to Burrow in the backfield. I would assume Brooks would cut into Perine’s snaps, but that’s another article for another time.Wide Receiver (6)Ja’Marr ChaseTee HigginsAndrei IosivasCharlie JonesMitchell TinsleyKendrick PryorNotes: No change here. The Bengals have the best one-two punch at wide receiver with Chase and Higgins.

WR3 could use an upgrade, but there’s a lot of talent here. Tight End (4)Mike GesickiDrew SampleTanner HudsonErick All Jr.Notes: No changes here either. Gesicki is kinda like a slot receiver more than a tight end, and All’s health and ability to stay healthy are in question.

I’d like an upgrade between Gesicki and Sample/Hudson. The Bengals could look to the draft, maybe even on Day 2. Of all the offensive position groups, this one could use an upgrade.Offensive Line (10)Orlando Brown Jr.Dylan FairchildTed KarrasDalton RisnerAmarius MimsCody FordJalen RiversJacob BayerAndrew CokerJavon FosterNotes: The only change here comes due to the team moving on from center Matt Lee.

This starting offensive line is probably the best Burrow has had heading into a season. They could use upgrades at depth. Right now, their swing tackle is Ford, who’s also a backup guard.

Hopefully, all their starting linemen stay healthy, but they need to plan for an injury.Defensive Line (10)Boye MafeDexter Lawrence IIBJ HillJonathan AllenShemar StewartMyles MurphyKris Jenkins Jr.T.J. Slaton Jr.Jordan JeffersonCedric JohnsonNotes: It’s pretty crazy how one name can change the whole defensive outlook. By trading for Lawrence, the Bengals have a deep rotation of defensive tackles that includes Sexy Dexy himself, Hill, Allen, Slaton, and Jenkins.

Again, if everyone stays healthy, that rotation will keep those guys fresh late in the season. This is the best defensive tackle rotation since the days of Geno Atkins and Domata Peko.His addition as a talented interior pass rusher also frees things up for the edge rushers and the guys behind him.Especially the…….Linebackers (5)Demetrius Knight Jr.Barrett CarterOren BurksJoe Giles-HarrisShaka HeywardNotes: If the Bengals were going to hang on to that top-10 pick, there would have been a real possibility they would use it to grab a linebacker. It has been frustrating to see the team ignore the position in free agency, considering Knight and Carter were two of the worst-graded linebackers throughout the 2025 season by PFF.There aren’t many nose tackles that soak up more double teams than Lawrence.

Do you remember how well Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt played when a healthy DJ Reader was soaking up blockers in front of them? Was it a coincidence that their struggles at the position began after Reader left?No, it’s not. I’m not saying the Bengals were right to ignore the position in free agency, and I still think they could take a guy like Jacob Rodriguez in the second round if he falls to them, but my outlook on the position is brighter now than it was.Cornerback (6)DJ Turner IIDax HillJalen DavisJosh NewtonDJ IveyJa’Sir TaylorNotes: If the Bengals weren’t going to address the linebacker position at No. 10, then I’d say they could take a corner.

This group could use a little depth, but with Lawrence stopping quarterbacks from stepping up into the pocket, everything will get easier for everyone behind him. Staying healthy is the key here.Safety (4)Bryan CookJordan BattleKyle DuggerPJ JulesNotes: No change here. Cook is a starter, and I im