The Bengals drafted Washington CB Tacario Davis with their third round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here is a brief overview of the selection:

Pick: Round Three, 72nd Overall

Name: Tacario Davis

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Height: 6'3 7/8"

Weight: 194 lbs

Arm: 33 3/8"

Hand: 9 1/4"

College career stats (from College Football Reference:) 37 career games played at Arizona and Washington (29 starts), 95 tackles, three interceptions, 25 passes defensed. Had 15 passes defensed in 2023 alone.

College Highlights: Davis spent three seasons at Arizona before transferring to Washington for his senior year. He was honorable mention All-Pac 12 in 2023 and second-team All-Big 12 Conference in 2024 with Arizona, leading the Wildcats with six pass breakups that season. He tallied 19 tackles and two interceptions in 2025 with the Huskies.

Bengals Reaction: "If you're playing a (DK) Metcalf, or you're playing some of the more athletic tight ends in the league, he can matchup inside on third down. We did it with Tre Flowers the last time I was here for some of the more athletic tight ends. He just gives us great versatility. An excellent press, jam player. Lateral quickness and the long speed to match." - DC Al Golden

"We love cover guys. Tacario Davis in the third round is an outstanding pick for us. He's a guy that we targeted through the draft process. When you look at big, long, athletic corners that can absolutely fly, he checks the box. We felt good about going through the process with him about having a guy on the outside who has high upside as a press corner. That play man-to-man with elite receivers in this league. We feel like we got an outstanding prospect and we are definitely excited to get him off the board there." - Assistant GM Trey Brown

Player Reaction: "You don't really find many 6'3-6'4 corners who are able to run like I can run with fluid hips. And not just out there covering but being able to play the run. Whatever you want me to do."

Draftnick Takes: "Davis is more disruptive than productive with size, length and strength to reroute releases from press. He slams catch windows closed when he's in the neighborhood...His long arms help him defend throws from deep zone and make tackles in the open field. An NFL staff should be able to coax more consistent run support from him. He'll be tagged as a zone corner, but his eyes and range could earn him free safety consideration." - NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

How Does He Fit?: Davis should come in and compete right away for the CB3 job behind CBs Dax Hill and DJ Turner II. Defensive coordinator Al Golden noted his ability to play inside on third downs and contribute immediately on special teams, while Assistant GM Trey Brown said he has the potential to be a starting outside corner. Cornerbacks coach Charles Burks said he's a starting cornerback in the NFL. The name Tre Flowers has been invoked, the 6-4 former Bengals cornerback who was their tight end killer in the two playoff runs and was best known for erasing the Chiefs' Travis Kelce in multiple games. Davis is a 4.4 burner in the 40 and is a problem for wide receivers, but he is also long enough to inherit Flowers' role.

Did You Know?: Davis played receiver and corner at Millikan High School. He caught 25 passes for 453 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. He also was a sprinter on the Millikan track team. Davis' nickname is "Bobo" because of a bowl cut hair cut he had as a kid.

The Bengals didn't bring Davis in for a top-30 visit because Burks flew out to Seattle and spent time with him at his pro day. When Burks got lost in the facility, Davis walked him back to his rental car and got to spend more time with him, and they talked about how Davis followed head coach Jeff Fisch from Arizona to Washington.

"When you know you know, and I knew then was a guy we would want," Burks said.