Bengals can’t afford another Texas A&M mistake in 2026 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals select 10th overall in the upcoming NFL draft. And we all know which name most fans want to hear when the Commissioner Goodell announces their pick. 

But with the team still not addressing some critical areas in free agency, such as linebacker, defensive interior pass rush, and slot corner, beyond the re-signing of Jalen Davis, beggars can’t be choosers. 

No matter the names called throughout the process, fans of the club should hope that the player does not come from this school. 

Bengals should stick to another familiar school in 2026 NFL Draft

Some teams like targeting players from certain schools in the draft. The Bengals have a reputation for going after Ohio State players. 

Some have cynically argued that it is because the team is cheap and the scouting staff is too small to scout outside local areas. 

However, this year would be a great time to return to that particular strategy. The Bengals have only one player from Ohio State, Xavier Johnson. Hopefully, that will change in the draft.

Grabbing two along the defensive line, Kayden McDonald and Caden Curry, would help things turn around for the Bengals’ defensive line. Of course, the dream scenario for many is that safety Caleb Downs is still on the board. 

Bengals’ Texas A&M draft history is problematic

But one school that the Bengals’ staff can’t quit, although they should, especially in the early rounds, is Texas A&M. 

While it is understandable that the Bengals would want to take a chance on players from the program that produced Myles Garrett, they must know that the star defensive end is a one-of-one. 

The two players on the Bengals roster from Texas A&M are McKinnley Jackson and Shemar Stewart. Unlike with Ohio State, some fans hope that the number decreases rather than the alternative.

Many fans were intrigued by Jackson as a prospect ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, but most thought of him as a Day 3 pick, as late as the sixth round. Cincinnati selected him 97th overall in the third round. 

Jackson has not panned out as a top-100 pick, as many fans pine for the return of DJ Reader in free agency while TJ Slaton is on the roster. 

The Bengals returned to Texas A&M, bringing to life some of our biggest fears when they selected Stewart in the first round in 2025. Unfortunately, he has not done much to prove any naysayers incorrect. 

And in a moment of honesty, we do not expect it to happen. But we can only go forward with hope as the plan. 

Aggies prospects haven’t benefited from Bengals picks either

While we view the Bengals selecting former Aggies as a negative for the team, things have not worked out swimmingly for Texas A&M players in stripes. 

The most recent example is Stewart not getting his way after some horrific advice from his agent. Stewart was unhappy with a standard NFL contract clause to the point that some thought he might return to college rather than play for the Bengals. 

Much to his and his agent’s chagrin, they signed the contract, with the clause that they fought so hard against. 

Here is the list of Texas A&M players the Bengals have taken in the NFL Draft:

• Glenn Bujnoch, OL, 2nd round (1976)

• Reggie McNeal, QB, 6th round (2006).

• Sean Porter, LB, 4th round (2013)

• Cedric Oguehi, OL, 1st round (2015)

• Trayveon Williams, RB, 6th round (2019)

• McKinnley Jackson, DT, 3rd round (2024)

• Shemar Stewart, Edge, 1st round (2025)

The best of those players for the Bengals has been running back Trayveon Williams, though Jackson and Stewart have a chance to lay claim to that title, even though we are not convinced either one will.

But again, hope remains a plan we suppose. 

Former first-round pick Cedric Ogbuehi was a very good guard in his first year at Texas A&M. However, he was mediocre at best as a right tackle and almost undraftable in his third year as a left tackle. 

The Bengals’ braintrust took Ogbuehi in the first round as a succession plan for Andrew Whitworth and Willie Anderson. It has taken the club years for their offensive line to recover from that horrific decision.  

Bengals can’t let past Texas A&M misses define 2026 draft class

We can do this with many schools. It is not as if the Bengals have had the best draft success overall, let alone at a specific school, conference, or region.

Furthermore, it is not fair to summarily dismiss A&M players from this year’s draft class because of past and current disappointments. 

With so many players out of A&M in this year’s draft, there will not be a round that goes by when the Bengals won’t feel intrigued by selecting one. 

Nevertheless, it is difficult to envision a scenario in which any Texas A&M player will be the best available when the Bengals are on the clock.

Recency bias should be a thing for Bengals, Texas A&M  

Furthermore, Texas A&M is the most recent example of the team missing out on the draft when they need to be taking advantage of the Joe Burrow window. 

Having two picks selected in the first two rounds of the previous two drafts on defense that have not done anything to improve upon one of the worst doesn’t help. 

Deepening the hole the defense has put itself in is that the team spent premium picks on the defensive linemen in consecutive drafts out of College Station, who have done little to make us believe they can help turn the defense into a capable one.

Bengals should only consider Texas A&M DT on Day 3

Now that we have thoroughly lambasted the Bengals’ track record when drafting A&M prospects, we should leave room for a late-round exception.

If on Day 3 the Bengals have not addressed the defensive tackle position, they should consider drafting Tyler Onyedim. 

Onyedim sits at 244 (PFF), 185 (Mock draft database), 280 (NFL draft Buzz), and 87 (NFL.com) across various scouting sites. 

After watching Onyedim, we believe that he is worth taking a flyer on if he is available for the Bengals on Day 3, considering his pass rush ability as a 3-tech and added versatility as a defensive end. 

Last season, Tyler Onyedim recorded 48 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss as a defensive tackle. His former teammate, Stewart, in his final season at Texas A&M, accumulated 1.5 sacks, 31 tackles, and 5.5 tackles for loss and was the 19th overall pick in the NFL draft. 

There are good Texas A&M players who will hear their names called in April. Some are even underrated. For example, Cashius Howell should go earlier than where many draft services project him to come off the board. But not at ten. 

Other than Onyedim, on Day 3, we beg Duke Tobin and his staff to stay away from Texas A&M players in April. For their well-being and ours.