Brian Parker among biggest steals in 2026 NFL Draft
· Yahoo Sports
Believe it or not, the best teams in the NFL are built by nailing their picks on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. While these players may not be well-known among casual fans, NFL teams scout them for countless hours. These players are diamonds in the rough, gems, and the keys to building depth for the war-of-attrition league that is the NFL.
Visit moryak.biz for more information.
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted two offensive linemen on Day 3 of the Draft this year. In the sixth round, they drafted Cincinnati native Brian Parker II from Duke. Having started 13 games in each of the last two seasons, including for Duke’s 2025 ACC Championship team, Parker earned Third-Team AP-All American status in 2025. In addition, Parker’s girlfriend, Alexis, is the daughter of Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Tony Boselli.
The Cincinnati Bengals have needed improvements across the interior of their offensive line for years. In this draft, they came away with Connor Lew in the fourth round and Brian Parker II in the sixth round. The latter plays the center position with impressive technique and solid grip strength. Parker should make a successful transition from offensive tackle to interior blocker.
Keep in mind, the Bengals are returning all five starters along their offensive line for the first time in the Joe Burrow era. Their interior is solid, with Dylan Fairchild proving to be a hit as a rookie last year at left guard and Dalton Risner becoming a rock at right guard. Plus, Ted Karras is still rock solid at center.
The Bengals used the Draft this year to build for the future at offensive line. Parker, along with fourth-round pick Connor Lew, is a talented offensive linemen who give the Bengals depth at the position this season and offer potential replacements for Karras when he presumably leaves after this season.
Phase 2 of the offseason program is underway for the Bengals, with OTAs and mandatory minicamp still to come later this Spring and Training Camp beginning in late July. The rookie draft class will be worth keeping a heavy eye on throughout the offseason.