Bengals rookie stock report as training camp enters its next phase

Cincinnati Bengals training camp is off and running, with many eyes gravitating toward their seven-member rookie class from the 2026 NFL Draft. Since the Bengals wisely spent their 10th overall pick on the Dexter Lawrence trade — which is already paying off — the first man on the radar is hybrid edge defender Cashius Howell.

Unlike his former Texas A&M and current Cincinnati teammate Shemar Stewart, Howell produced as a pass rusher at the college level, securing SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025. If not for his short arm length, he likely would've gone in the first round.

The Bengals aren't apologizing for Howell falling into their laps. By all accounts, he and the other Cincinnati draftees are holding up their end of the bargain to be a core part of this Super Bowl-caliber roster.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie updates at 2026 training camp

Cashius Howell, EDGE/LB

You'll notice that Cashius Howell has a bit of a hybrid defensive role designation there. That's because he's taken reps as a Viper in Al Golden's scheme. That's an edge defender who can occasionally drop in coverage as an off-ball linebacker. Boye Mafe is taking reps at that spot, too.

It says a lot about Howell that the Bengals are trusting him in a multifaceted role this soon. Stewart's injury has only given Howell more runway to grow in training camp, too.

The most notable update on Howell comes from this quote by veteran Cincinnati offensive lineman Cody Ford, via Bengals beat writer Charlie Goldsmith's story:

“He’s going to be really good...He’s fast. There aren’t many guys who are that fast with that much power that matches with it. I like going up against him because he doesn’t come in like a rookie. He has some veteran moves to him. The other day, he reminded me of a Von Miller ghost dip move. You don’t see that from rookies.”

A Von Miller comp? Yeah. Stock up.

Verdict: Stock up

Tacario Davis, CB

Didn't hear much about Tacario Davis in the early going of training camp. However, that changed when he made an excellent pass breakup in coverage against Colbie Young, and more importantly, displayed the exact attitude about it you'd want to see from a young player afterwards:

Davis has his work cut out to see the field with DJ Turner and Dax Hill firmly entrenched as boundary cornerback starters. That said, his 6'4" frame is imposing and could get him in on certain subpackages, or in certain man coverage looks where Turner is shadowing the other team's No. 1 wideout and has to kick into the slot.

Verdict: Stock up

Connor Lew, C

Connor Lew tore his ACL at Auburn in late October. He's already fully cleared to participate in Bengals camp. Lew is only turning 21 years old later this month, which makes me feel ancient...and also makes me realize how far medical science has come in my lifetime.

The sky is the limit for this young man's future. At this point, Ted Karras is on a year-by-year basis as the Bengals' starting center. Lew is a far superior athlete and a shoo-in successor. An ACL injury isn't near the career-threatening situation it was back in the Carson Palmer-Kimo von Oelhoffen days of my youth.

Just having Lew back on the field so soon is a major win that bodes well for the rest of his NFL career and boosts his training camp stock by default.

Verdict: Stock up

Colbie Young, WR

Relative to how little I cared for the Bengals drafting him in the first place, Colbie Young has been a pleasant training camp surprise thus far. The fourth-rounder out of Georgia is putting the bad vibes of Jermaine Burton in the rearview mirror in short order.

Young has established himself as a contested catch stalwart and appealing red zone target at 6'5", hauling in two receptions in those situations from the rocket arm of Joe Flacco on the No. 2 offense.

Can Young unseat Andrei Iosivas as the team's WR3? It's a long shot, yet it's at least a conversation, which I wasn't expecting.

Verdict: Stock way up

Brian Parker II, OL

Due to Lew's clean bill of health, Brian Parker II takes a bit of a stock hit in his bid for the backup center role. Then again, the plan was always (you'd assume) to have Lew as the high-end starter to replace Karras, and for Parker to be more of a utility player along the interior.

Parker functions as an emergency center, possibly an emergency swing tackle since he played there in college, and definitely as a functional backup guard. In fact, Parker could replace Dalton Risner at right guard if the latter doesn't re-sign in free agency next offseason.

Not much buzz on Parker as of yet either way, but he has to be an upgrade over Jalen Rivers if one of the guards go down, right?

Verdict: Stock neutral

Jack Endries, TE

Haven't heard much on Jack Endries thus far. It's too bad because he has quite the pedigree from college, catching passes from the likes of Fernando Mendoza and Arch Manning. Not exactly small-time quarterbacks.

The hope is that Endries can, at some point, haul in tight spirals from Mr. Burrow in Cincinnati. Between the high volume of targets to Chase and Higgins, the coaching staff's undying loyalty to Drew Sample, and Erick All Jr. being poised for a big bounce-back year, we'll have to wait a while on Endries, or so it seems.

Verdict: Stock down

Landon Robinson, DT

If you're a seventh-round pick from the Naval Academy and have already worked your way into second-team reps, you're probably doing something right. Such is the case with Landon Robinson, whose upside I'm a massive fan of.

How can you not root for this guy, or buy into his clear parallels to Bengals legend Geno Atkins in terms of size and explosive athleticism? Won't surprise me if Robinson out-snaps 2024 second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. by season's end.

Verdict: Stock up

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