The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April, and the Bengals will have the 10th pick in the first round. We've rounded up the latest projections from media outlets across the league to give you a look at who could be joining the Bengals this year.
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
"Styles is an explosive athlete with elite traits and three-down talent to impact the game as a rusher, run defender and cover man."
"Sonny Styles is one of those guys — you know, on any other team, he would have been the best player. But at Ohio State, he's the third or fourth-best player. [He's] 6–5, 245, runs a 4.5."
EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
"Depending on the day, Reese and Bain could both be off the board inside the top five, or somehow still be available between picks 6-10. This has very little to do with the players and almost everything to do with how teams ultimately stack their boards. Whatever the explanation, the Bengals would be ecstatic to see Bain staring them in the face at No. 10."
"Bain bulled his way to 9½ sacks and 15½ TFLs last season and was a menace during the College Football Playoff."
"Bain is a tenacious and powerful player who overcomes his lack of length with brute force at the point of attack. He had 9.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and 71 pressures in 2025."
"Rueben Bain Jr. cleared 20.5 sacks during his college football career, including 9.5 this past season. The star EDGE rusher finished 2025 ranked No. 1 among EDGE rushers with 54 hurries and second with 67 pressures as well. He helped anchor the Miami defensive line all the way to the national championship game in 2025. He's expected to continue this production in the NFL."
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
"Downs' position is the only reason he's available here as safeties tend to slide down the board relative to their consensus rankings."
"Downs is a defensive floor raiser and allows Cincinnati's young corners to keep getting better, with a player on the backend who knows exactly how to support everyone on defense."
"Downs didn't test at the combine, choosing to stand on an extremely impressive collection of game tape over the past three seasons."
"His intelligence, intangibles and on-field impact immediately will make the other 10 defenders on the field that much better."
"Downs makes few mistakes in coverage and is an excellent tackler, as well."
"Downs can line up in coverage anywhere: at strong safety, nickel or even in sub-packages as a linebacker."
CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
"Delane is my top-rated corner and would be the best defensive player available in this spot... Delane is a sticky cover corner who can play man-to-man with ease, but he is equally savvy in zone coverage. With his easy movement, excellent hip mobility and ball skills, he has the potential to be a true No. 1 corner in the NFL."
"Delane is arguably the top-ranked defensive player left on the board and a player who could make an instant impact."
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
"McCoy, who eschewed workouts at the Combine but should go all the way on his pro day, would make sense with his shutdown upside."
DT Peter Woods, Clemson
"Peter Woods is already an excellent run defender, but what makes him especially intriguing is his upside as a pass rusher. His athleticism, power, and relentless motor give him the tools to develop into a legitimate interior disruptor on passing downs."
EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
"A third-team All-SEC honoree, Faulk registered nine sacks and 16 tackles for loss over the last two seasons."
Take a look at Daniel Jeremiah's latest top 50 NFL Draft Prospects ahead of 2026 NFL Free Agency.
No. 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
No. 2 - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
No. 3 - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
No. 4 - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
No. 5 - Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
No. 6 - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
No. 7 - Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
No. 8 - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
No. 9 - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No. 10 - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
No. 11 - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
No. 12 - Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
No. 13 - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No. 14 - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
No. 15 - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 16 - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
No. 17 - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
No. 18 - Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
No. 19 - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
No. 20 - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
No. 21 - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
No. 22 - Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
No. 23 - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No. 24 - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
No. 25 - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 26 - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 27 - T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
No. 28 - Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
No. 29 - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 30 - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
No. 31 - Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
No. 32 - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
No. 33 - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
No. 34 - Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
No. 35 - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
No. 36 - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
No. 37 - Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 38 - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
No. 39 - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No. 40 - Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
No. 41 - Zion Young, EDGE, Mizzou
No. 42 - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
No. 43 - Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
No. 44 - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
No. 45 - Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
No. 46 - R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
No. 47 - Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
No. 48 - Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
No. 49 - Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
No. 50 - Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
