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Connor Lew was the Cincinnati Bengals’ fourth-round selection, acquired with the 128th overall pick. There was a point in his college career when some thought Lew would be a first-round selection.
After all, Lew earned Freshman All-American honors back in 2023 and was a three-year starter overall at Auburn, spending just three years in college before turning pro early. Lew has the ideal size for the position at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds. He was voted a team captain in 2025 and graduated in just three years.
This is a dependable, intelligent, and advanced technician at the center position. He has played well in the SEC for three seasons and is still just 20 years old.
Lew was widely considered a top-50 prospect for the draft prior to tearing his ACL in October. While the injury may have hurt his draft stock, it sounds like it won’t be something that keeps him out of training camp later this summer. He said that he is ahead of schedule and should be ready to go when camp gets underway.
The Bengals have the luxury of not needing to rush him along, with Ted Karras firmly in place as the starting center for the 2026 season. Lew will have every opportunity to be the heir apparent at the center position, especially if the Bengals do not elect to give Karras another extension after this season.
Lew is an adequate athlete at the position, can climb up and block effectively at the second level, and has the Scott Peters-coveted wrestling background. That wrestling background shows up with the usage of his hands. He had a 71.1 pass block grade during the 2025 season prior to his injury.
During a full season in 2024, he was even better, posting a 79.9 pass blocking grade for the year. He allowed just nine pressures and one sack that entire season.
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