The Cincinnati Bengals traded back in the fourth round with the New York Jets to land Auburn center Connor Lew and Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young . Cincinnati sent its original fourth-round pick, and the No. 199 overall pick to New York in the trade.
The Cincinnati Bengals started Saturday with only one more pick before the sixth round. They changed that by trading back 18 picks in the fourth round.
Cincinnati traded the No. 110 pick in the fourth round and the No. 199 pick in the sixth round to the New York Jets for the No. 128 pick and No. 140 picks in the fourth round.
The No. 128 pick became Auburn center Connor Lew, and the No. 140 pick became Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young.
Trading for Dexter Lawrence eliminated the Bengals’ first-round pick. They entered the draft with only three picks in the first five rounds.
Securing another swing right before the fifth round was a wise move.
Cincinnati will still have two seventh-round selections following its lone sixth-rounder, and even though the Rich Hill trade value chart gives New York the edge by one point, picking up an extra fourth at the cost of the extra sixth is worth it.
Grade: B+
The center prospect with the most upside in this entire class just might be Lew. At 6-4 and 310 pounds, he’s still just 20 years old (will turn 21 in August) and already has three years of starting experience against SEC competition. The Kennesaw, GA native was named both Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman in 2023 despite only starting six games, and started all 12 games in 2024. He did not test at the NFL Scouting Combine because he was still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last October.
Had Lew tested, he would’ve showed why he is one of the more athletic interior offensive linemen in this year’s draft. Here’s what our own Kyle Crabbs wrote in his scouting report for Lew :
Lew projects as a starting center at the NFL level. His rehabilitation from a fall 2025 ACL tear could negatively impact his readiness to contribute as a rookie this season but teams who are willing to lean further into the three-year plan, it's easy to see the payoff. Lew is a savvy presence in the middle with a wide field of vision as a pass protector, his instincts and feel for adding support to the front against games. Add in a high baseline of skills with quick hands, good posture, a sufficient anchor, and good functional athleticism in short spaces allow him to hold steady as an interior pass protector.
Kyle Crabbs
A to Z Sports
If Lew been fully healthy, he may not have lasted this long. The A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database had him as the No. 58 player in terms of expected draft positioning.
Lew may need some time before getting back to 100% health, but the Bengals are set at center for 2026 with Ted Karras. The need for a backup became apparent when Matt Lee was waived earlier this month . Karras’ contract also expires at the end of the season, and as the team captain entering his mid-30s, life after the man behind “The Cincy Hat” should be on the Bengals’ minds.
Cincinnati’s first pick in the trade back gives them a quality backup option this year (pending full health), and a potential 22-year old starter in 2027 with ample athleticism.
Grade: A-
Cincinnati drafting a Day 3 wide receiver was expected, and with the extra fourth-rounder, Young is the club’s newest project at the position.
Young is a massive athlete at 6-5, 218 pounds who ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at that size at the combine. He’s well-versed in vertical routes and the frame and deep speed help with that immensely. Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had to say of Young in his scouting report for “ The Beast .”
Overall, Young is a big-framed athlete with fluid, long strides and the strong hands needed to consistently come down with the rock. He is an attractive option for an NFL team seeking a player who's stylistically
similar to Courtland Sutton .
Dane Brugler
The Athletic
Young is also turning 24 before the season begins and had a long journey to the NFL. He was a zero-star recruit who played at Lackawanna College as a freshman before transferring to Miami (FL) as a sophomore. He then transferred to Georgia in 2024, but missed nine games after he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of battery and assault and suspended from the team. The initial charges were dropped and he received 12 months of probation.
Despite his arrest and absence away from the team, and NFL scout told Brugler Young “Likes to be coached and is a student of the game … reserved but polite. … He'll fit in any locker room."
The Bengals are taking a risk on a player who may not have been drafted until late in Day 3. There will naturally be Jermaine Burton
comparisons due to his off-field past, but if Young is more committed to his craft and staying locked in, this pick won’t be nearly as risky.
Grade: C
