Outside of Myles Murphy, the Cincinnati Bengals don’t have a ton of security at pass rusher.
For that reason, Todd McShay has the Bengals selecting Rueben Bain Jr. out of Miami in the first round of his 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
Here is what the Draft analyst wrote:
Bain’s production dipped for a few games in the middle of the year, but watching him over the past month (especially in the first two rounds of the CFP) has reminded NFL teams of how impactful this dude could be at the next level.
Yes, he has short arms. And yes, some scouts have mentioned a 3-technique role as an option in the NFL. But there aren’t many more disruptive and impactful defensive players in the country. His 8.5 sacks this season ranks tied for 23rd in the FBS, so we’re not talking about marginal sack production. Furthermore, he ranks third (minimum 100 pass-rush snaps) among P4 edge rushers with a 23.7 pass-rush win rate.
While Murphy showed a lot of promise this season, there’s no one else the Bengals can confidently rely on as the second starting edge rusher. There’s a chance the team will place the franchise tag on Trey Hendrickson, but that would be just a one-year deal.
Does the team actually believe in Shemar Stewart, Cedric Johnson, and impending free agent Joseph Ossai if he’s brought back?
The real concern, for now, is at safety, where both spots could use a significant upgrade. That’s why it’s a bit surprising to see McShay pass on Ohio State All-American Caleb Downs, who’s been a popular mock draft target for the Bengals when he’s not selected higher.
You can check out the pass rush specialist’s highlights below:
What say you? If the Bengals’ current roster were what they had heading into the draft, would you select Caleb Downs or Rueben Bain Jr.? Sound off in the comments section!
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