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
"Arguably the star of this year's combine given the freakish traits (4.46 40-yard dash, 43½-inch vertical leap) he put on display, the 6-foot-5, 244-pound converted safety is too good to pass up for a defense in transition"
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
"The Bengals can take the best defensive player available here. Downs has versatility, and his Big Ten pedigree will be well received by Cincinnati's decision-makers."
"Arguably the best player in the draft, Downs is falling down the order in mocks due to positional value. If he manages to get to No. 10, the Bengals should sprint the card in for a player who earned an 85.0-plus PFF overall grade in three straight seasons."
"They take the best player available as they continue to fill out their secondary."
"His ability to play in the slot or deep would give Al Golden more flexibility with his coverages."
"He's excellent at noticing formation tendencies, has a sixth sense for locating the ball, and attacks with good angles/leverage. His experience wearing multiple hats under three different coordinators in college (one at Alabama, two at Ohio State) will benefit him in a "multiple" league starved for defensive chess pieces."
EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
"My favorite part about Bain's game isn't when he's able to get pressure in advantageous situations. Rather, it's his motor. He goes eight million mph on every single snap. I don't care about his arm length — just watch him play."
CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
"Delane can make plays on the ball (11 pass breakups, two interceptions last season) in either man or zone coverage."
"The Bengals grab Delane for his top-10-worthy coverage skills."
"Delane has strong man-coverage technique and ball skills to go along with good size at 6 feet, 187 pounds. He finished up his college career with a season at LSU after three years at Virginia Tech. Delane's season in Baton Rouge solidified his first-round status, as opposing QBs completed only 27.7% of their passes when he was the targeted defender (the third-lowest rate in the FBS)."
"The talented technician is a plug-and-play starter with the instincts, awareness and movement skills to take on the premier WR1s in the NFL."
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
"He did not play last season, but he's still looked at as a high-end cornerback prospect because of what he put on film before his injury in January 2025."
"He missed last season with a torn ACL, but the word is he's made a nice recovery and he's the best cover player in this class when healthy."
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
