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The Cincinnati Bengals’ 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years
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- The Cincinnati Bengals’ 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years
Drafting is an inexact science. Even the best of the best miss for any number of reasons—injuries, poor scheme fit, off-the-field issues, lack of development, and so on. With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, things should be quiet on the personnel side until training camps open in July.
With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time to go back over the last 10 drafts to identify picks which didn't pan out for each of the 32 clubs. Before we begin, let's set the ground rules: We're starting with the 2016 draft, so no players from the 2026 draft are eligible.
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Now that we've established the parameters, here are the Cincinnati Bengals' five worst draft picks of the past decade:
Dishonorable Mentions
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LB Jordan Willis (73rd Overall, 2017)
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WR Jermaine Burton (80th Overall, 2024)
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DL McKinnley Jackson (97th Overall, 2024)
5) TE Drew Sample, 52nd Overall (2019)
It's hard to call a seven-year NFL veteran a bust, but when you're selected in the middle of the second round, you're expected to be more than a blocker and special-teams contributor. Sample's shortcomings as a receiver have led to Cincinnati throwing darts in free agency at veterans like Hayden Hurst, Mike Gesicki, and Noah Fant in recent years.
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4) DE Zachary Carter, 95th Overall (2022)
There are tons of examples showing that drafting for need can be bad business, and Carter is yet another one. The Bengals hoped the Florida product would provide quality depth along the defensive line, but he never developed and was cut in 2024. Three of the next five defensive players drafted in 2022 (Kerby Joseph, Nick Cross, and Leo Chenal) remain NFL starters.
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3) C Billy Price, 21st Overall (2018)
Taken one spot after Frank Ragnow, Price was no more than a replacement-level starter for the Bengals, which tried to move him around the line to no avail. He had limited success in stints with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals but was out of the league after five years.
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2) OL Jackson Carman, 46th Overall (2021)
A tackle in college, Carman was drafted to compete for a starting spot at guard in Cincy. He made six starts as a rookie but tumbled down the depth chart after that, making just one more start (for Miami in 2024) in his brief career. Among the offensive linemen taken after Carman in 2021 were Aaron Banks, Samuel Cosmi, and perennial All-Pro Creed Humphrey.
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1) WR John Ross, 9th Overall (2017)
An absolutely legendary whiff. Ross, who famously broke Chris Johnson's combine record in the 40-yard dash, exited camp sixth on the receiver depth chart, and the lone touch of his rookie campaign ended in a lost fumble. He finished his career with 63 receptions. Oh, and the player drafted immediately after him...some guy named Patrick Mahomes .
Related: The Chicago Bears' 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on May 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
