Bengals’ 2026 NFL Mock Draft roundup with pre-draft cycle ending

We are just under a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft. Around this time, teams are starting to finalize their plans for the draft. For the Cincinnati Bengals, the draft is another chance to rebuild their roster and fix the many glaring issues that they have. Cincinnati’s draft history over the last few years has been shaky, especially when they pick defensive players.

Despite making some intriguing moves in free agency, the Bengals are still expected to take a defensive player in the 2026 NFL Draft. There were a lot of mixed feelings on who Cincinnati needs to target in the draft. However, as the offseason progressed and the NFL rosters started to be finalized, most draft analysts have locked in on two particular players with the 10th pick.

There are a lot of ways that the Bengals can play this draft. Let’s look at which players draft experts expect Cincinnati to draft.

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Tim Crean, ClutchPoints; Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com; Todd McShay, The Ringer; Charles Davis, NFL.com; Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

Three years after losing veteran safety Jessie Bates III to free agency, the Bengals have found their new lead safety to protect their secondary. Cincinnati managed to sign former Kansas City Chiefs safety and Ohio native Bryan Cook to a deal this offseason. Considered as the best safety in the 2026 free agent class, Cook is coming off one of his best years in the NFL. The hometown hero is expected to play a big role for the team in the coming season.

That being said… the Bengals’ safety room still isn’t quite up to par. The Bengals’ recent picks at safety have not fared well. 2024 FA signing Geno Stone has left the team after a disastrous year. 2022 first-round pick Daxton Hill is being converted into a cornerback. 2025 second-rounder Jordan Battle has his moments, but he’s still raw overall and needs work.

It’s no surprise, then, that most draft analysts are looking at the Bengals to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 10th pick. Downs was a standout prospect this past season, anchoring the Buckeyes’ defense with his smart play. He’s a difference-maker who can do almost everything on the field. On a defense that needed a ton of work last season, Downs can work a lot of magic for the Bengals.

CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report; Field Yates, ESPN; Bucky Brooks, NFL.com; Mel Kiper, ESPN

From one part of the secondary to another, the Bengals’ cornerback room could also use a boost. DJ Turner broke out last season as an underrated yet highly effective cornerback. Turner was able to shut down most opposing wide receivers, allowing just a 47.9% completion rate when he was targeted. However, the Bengals were 19th in completion rate allowed last season with 65.2%. The Bengals’ other cornerbacks were simply not up to par yet.

The Bengals’ only move at cornerback this offseason was signing ex-Chargers player Ja’Sir Taylor, who will likely be a depth piece. Unless the Bengals have full faith in their current cornerback room, they need to find a cornerback alongside Turner to help shut down the many high-flying offenses in the league.

Mansoor Delane is an elite selection for the Bengals at 10 if he’s available. A physical cornerback who’s excellent in man coverage, Delane feels like the perfect partner to Turner in the secondary. The LSU cornerback has fantastic ball instincts (11 pass breakups, two interceptions) and is adept at shutting down big receivers, a trait that should translate well in the NFL. He should be an immediate upgrade at the CB2 position for the Bengals.

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr, Miami

Nicholas Rome, Saturday Blitz

The Bengals aren’t just limited to picking with the 10th pick in the first round, though. Nicholas Rome of FanSided’s Saturday Blitz projects a trade up to the fifth pick in the 2026 draft. They will give up their 2026 1st and second rounder, as well as a 2027 second-rounder, to the New York Giants for the rights to draft Rueben Bain Jr.

Setting aside what the Bengals send out for the fifth pick, the rationale behind drafting Bain Jr in this scenario is rock-solid. The Bengals’ last two first-round picks have been edge rushers, and neither has panned out. Both Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart were developmental picks who were brimming with potential, but have not quite reached that level yet.

Bain, on the other hand, is a proven talent with the production to back up the hype around him. Bain was part of a dominant Miami defense that made it all the way to the CFP Finals. He finished his junior year with 9.5 sacks, terrorizing opposing offensive linemen. Cincinnati should probably consider a trade up if they like Bain Jr’s production, but they also have some solid options should they stand pat at pick #10.

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