I give the Bengals a 'D' for not protecting Burrow in draft | Opinion
Opinion: The Bengals get a D-grade for their 2026 NFL Draft because they didn't choose to protect Joe Burrow well enough.
The NFL Draft has ended, and the grading season has begun. Everyone will debate which teams drafted well and which didn’t. The truth is nobody really knows − and won’t − for years.
Except in Cincinnati. We don’t have that luxury with franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. His timeline isn’t measured in draft cycles.
It’s measured in hits. When your franchise quarterback’s health defines the future of the organization, the timeline collapses. The window is now.
And the numbers make that window painfully clear. A persistent weakness The Bengals ’ offensive line has finished in the bottom five of Pro Football Focus grading in four of Burrow’s five seasons. Last year, they ranked 27th in pass‑blocking efficiency, allowing 220 pressures − including 30 sacks − on 724 passing plays.
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