The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their 2026 NFL Draft weekend with the selection of Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson at No. 226 overall. The pick wraps up the class of seven newest players.
Robinson was outstanding for the Midshipmen. As a pass-rushing interior defensive lineman, Robinson racked up 14.5 career sacks (6.5 last season) and 18.5 tackles for loss (8.5 last season).
What made the pick even more special was that it was this year’s Pat Tillman Scholar selection, as Margo Darragh, the Tillman Scholar in 2022, made the announcement of Robinson being drafted by the Bengals.
Tillman was selected No. 226 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft.
It was quite a fitting moment with Robinson being a fellow Armed Forces product himself.
And, his teammate, Eli Heidenreich, was selected just a few picks later by the Steelers to much fanfare. Mel Kiper Jr. wondered on the ESPN telecast about two Navy Midshipmen being drafted within four picks of each other in his 40-plus years of covering the NFL Draft.
Cincinnati met with Robinson in the pre-draft process, showing interest early. Some felt that Robinson may have gone much earlier, but his size (5’11”, 294 pounds) and “small school” status caused concerns.
What Landon Robinson brings to the Bengals
Elite Athletism: Aside from being a high-character player that Zac Taylor has emphasized in his Cincinnati tenure, Robinson has an excellent athletic profile. Despite lacking the ideal size for the 3-tech position, Robinson had a great RAS score that could help him overcome his smaller frame in the pros.
Another Potential Day 3 DL Gem: The chips are stacked a bit against Robinson in terms of him being a truly impactful player at the NFL level, but he has a lot of tools that could make him sneakily effective as a pro. Cincinnati has traditionally found defensive tackle gems in the mid and late rounds (Domata Peko, Pat Sims, Geno Atkins, etc.), and they may have one here.
More Pass-Rush Juice: Speaking of Atkins, there are similar RAS profiles between Robinson and a potential Hall of Fame interior lineman. We’re not saying, but we’re just saying.
The comparison to Bengals great Atkins is appropriate, as that’s the kind of player Robinson will look to become in the NFL. Even if he’s the fourth defensive tackle, he has the potential to get a handful of pressures each game on just 10-15ish snaps, primarily on obvious passing downs, while keeping guys like Dexter Lawrence and B.J. Hill fresh.
Why the Bengals selected Landon Robinson
Great Value in Round 7: Many draftniks had Robinson being someone who should have been drafted as high as the fifth round, so Cincinnati received immense perceived value. The Bengals have a similar player in Howard Cross III under contract, and he played at Notre Dame under Al Golden, but Robinson could be a guy who pushes him for the limited role he played for Cincinnati last season. This selection capped off what was one of the best value drafts for the Bengals in a long time.
Potential Special Teams Depth: With 316 career special-teams snaps, 160 coming on punt coverage to go with 100 on the field-goal-block team, Robinson could provide a major boost to Darrin Simmons’ unit. The Bengals’ draft class was lacking obvious special-teams contributors until Robinson was selected, so don’t be surprised if he’s able to carve out a role as a backup defensive tackle who plays extensively on special teams.
‘Veteran’ Leadership: One other reason why Robinson may have fallen to the final round is his age. Robinson is 23 years old, which is “old” for a draftee, per se. Regardless, Robinson was consistent in his collegiate career, with a standout final season, and with his military background, he’ll command far more respect in the Bengals locker room than your standard rookie. He should be a nice boost to the Bengals’ leadership.
In an exclusive interview with Cincy Jungle’s Dale Altman of the Bengals and Brews podcast, Robinson noted that his father is a Bengals fan. Robinson grew up in Akron, Ohio.
Robinson has an uphill climb for playing time, but the team has been interested in him since January. If he shows effectiveness in the summer, he’ll have a niche with the team on their final roster.
