From Arizona to Washington to Cincinnati: How Tacario Davis Became the Bengals' Day 2 Gamble

The Cincinnati Bengals needed help on defense, and they found it in a Husky cornerback with a complicated road to the NFL. Tacario Davis, the 6-foot-4, 194-pound corner from Washington, went to the Bengals with the No. 72 overall pick in the third round on Friday, becoming the second Husky selected in the 2026 NFL draft. He's the first UW cornerback drafted since 2022, and Cincinnati's ninth pick from the University of Washington since 2019.

A Winding Path From Long Beach to the Pac-12

Davis didn't start his college career in Seattle. The Long Beach native originally committed to Arizona under coach Jedd Fisch and cornerbacks coach DeWayne Walker, sticking with the Wildcats even when they went 1-11 in 2021. As a true freshman in 2022, Davis played in five games and made seven tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery.

His 2023 season was the breakthrough. Playing across from fellow sophomore Ephesians Prysock and mentored by cornerbacks coach John Richardson, Davis made 11 starts in 13 games. He racked up 25 tackles, an interception, and 16 passes deflected, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors. That year, Arizona won 10 games for the first time since 2014 and beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

When Fisch and Richardson left for Washington after 2023, Davis initially entered the transfer portal but chose to stay with new coach Brent Brennan. In 2024, he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors with 44 tackles, two for a loss, and six pass deflections in 12 games. Arizona stumbled to four wins that season, though, and Davis ultimately made the jump to Washington to reunite with Fisch, Richardson, and Prysock for 2025.

Injuries Derailed His Husky Year

Davis' lone season at UW was plagued by bad timing. A rib injury against FCS UC Davis on Sept. 6 sidelined him for three games, including the Apple Cup and the matchup with top-ranked Ohio State. He returned against Rutgers on Oct. 10 but then suffered a hamstring injury that ended his season. He finished with 19 tackles, one tackle for a loss, two interceptions, and three pass breakups in just seven games, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention status.

In Cincinnati, Davis joins a defense that desperately needs the upgrade. The Bengals allowed 28.9 points per game last year, the third-worst in the league. They gave up 4,175 passing yards, surrendered 33 receiving touchdowns, and allowed 60 plays of 20 yards or more. Coach Zac Taylor kept defensive coordinator Al Golden for 2026, and Fisch has ties to both men from his time on the Rams staff in 2018.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.