When the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft wrapped up on April 25, 2026, the Cincinnati Bengals had already selected seven new players. But the front office was far from finished. With one pick remaining in the seventh round and a busy undrafted free agency period ahead, the Bengals used Day 3 to add two notable names with distinct paths to the league: a local product with a decorated college career and a former Georgia wide receiver with untapped potential.
Fairlawn's Own: Landon Robinson Returns Home
For Landon Robinson, the 2026 NFL Draft was more than a professional milestone. It was a homecoming.
The Bengals selected the Fairlawn, Ohio native with their final pick of the seventh round (No. 226 overall), bringing the Navy All-American defensive tackle back to his home state. Robinson, who grew up about four hours northeast of Cincinnati, became the first Navy player drafted since 2021 and the highest-selected Midshipmen defensive lineman in recent memory.
Robinson's journey to the NFL was anything but conventional. After a standout career at Fairlawn High School, he chose to attend the United States Naval Academy, where he developed into a disruptive force on the interior defensive line. As a senior, he earned All-American honors after recording 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and a blocked field goal. Beyond the stat sheet, Robinson was a team captain, a leader in the locker room, and a player who earned the respect of coaches and teammates for his relentless motor.
"He plays with an edge," Bengals General Manager Duke Tobin said after the selection. "He's got quick hands, good leverage, and he's relentless in pursuit. He's exactly the kind of player you want in the middle of your defense."
That edge will be welcome in Cincinnati's defensive tackle room. The Bengals have invested heavily in the position in recent years but have also suffered injury attrition. Robinson isn't a finished product; at 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds, he's a bit undersized for a traditional nose tackle. But what he lacks in prototypical measurables, he makes up for with technique and toughness.
What's more, Robinson's service commitment to the Navy was already resolved. He received a waiver to defer his active-duty service, allowing him to pursue an NFL career immediately. That cleared the way for the Bengals to invest a draft pick in him without concern about his availability.
"I've been preparing for this my whole life," Robinson told WKYC after the selection. "To come back to Ohio and play for a team I watched growing up--it's surreal. I'm ready to work."
Robinson will likely compete for a rotational role on the interior early in his career. Defensive Coordinator Al Golden is known for incorporating multiple fronts, and Robinson's ability to play both the 1-technique and 3-technique gives him flexibility. If he can develop consistent pass-rush moves, he could carve out a niche as a sub-package disruptor.
Noah Thomas: A UDFA with SEC Pedigree
If Robinson's story is about a local kid coming home, Noah Thomas's is about talent finally finding a landing spot.
Thomas, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver from Georgia, was widely projected as a Day 3 pick heading into the draft. Instead, he went undrafted. But it didn't take long for the Bengals to swoop in. Thomas agreed to terms with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent, adding valuable size and depth to a receiver room that already features Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and second-year speedster Charlie Jones.
Thomas's college career was a study in consistency and untapped upside. At Georgia, he caught 68 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns over three seasons. His career was punctuated by a breakout junior year in which he posted 38 receptions for 521 yards and five scores. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he's a boundary receiver with the length to win contested catches and the frame to box out defensive backs in the red zone.
So why did he go undrafted? The answer lies in the nuance of the modern draft. Thomas ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at his pro day--good, but not elite for a receiver of his size. Scouts also noted occasional concentration drops and a need to refine his route running against press coverage. In a deep receiver class, those concerns pushed him out of the final rounds.
But the Bengals see a player who fits their system. With Higgins in a contract year and the offense built around vertical passing concepts, Thomas's skill set--catch radius, body control, and jump-ball ability--makes him an intriguing developmental piece.
"He's a big, physical target," Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher said. "He's got strong hands and he knows how to use his body to shield defenders. We think he has a real chance to compete for a spot."
Thomas will face an uphill battle. The Bengals typically carry five or six receivers on the active roster. Behind the top three, the competition includes Jones, Trenton Irwin, and Andrei Iosivas. But Thomas offers something none of those players do: elite size on the outside. If he can prove reliable on special teams and show growth in the passing game during OTAs and training camp, he could push for a practice squad spot or even the 53-man roster.
A Day 3 Strategy in Focus
The Bengals' approach on the final day of the draft was clear: find value, add competition, and build depth across the roster. Robinson and Thomas represent two ends of that spectrum--a high-character local product with a defined role and a talented project with physical traits worth developing.
Duke Tobin has preached the importance of Day 3 selections throughout his tenure in Cincinnati. While first- and second-round picks grab headlines, the seventh round and undrafted free agency have produced contributors like tight end Drew Sample and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. The hope is that Robinson and Thomas follow a similar path.
For Robinson, the path home is now complete, but the work is just beginning. For Thomas, the road is just starting. Both players will report to Cincinnati's rookie minicamp next week, where they'll get their first taste of NFL life.
"We're excited about both of these guys," Tobin said. "They come from different backgrounds, different programs, but they share the same thing: a hunger to prove themselves. That's exactly what we want."
What Comes Next
With the draft in the rearview mirror, the Bengals turn their attention to rookie minicamp, organized team activities, and the start of the regular season. Robinson and Thomas will have every opportunity to show they belong.
For Robinson, the roster path is clearer. The Bengals rotated three defensive tackles heavily last season, and injuries forced unproven players into the lineup. If Robinson can demonstrate he's a reliable run stopper and a disciplined gap player, he could see the field early.
For Thomas, patience is key. The Bengals' offense is loaded at receiver, but injuries and roster moves happen. If he can absorb the playbook and earn the trust of the coaching staff, a mid-season call-up is not out of the question.
In the meantime, Bengals fans--especially those in Fairlawn--have a new name to track. Landon Robinson is coming home, and he's not alone. Noah Thomas is coming with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove.
Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft may not have produced the biggest headlines, but for these two players, it changed everything. The Bengals are betting that change will pay off.