The Cincinnati Bengals are officially picking 10th overall this year. Let’s take a look at 10 prospects that could be near the top of their big board for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Caleb Downs
Downs officially declared for the draft on Wednesday afternoon. The Ohio State safety has been a starter during all three seasons of his collegiate career. He spent his first season at Alabama, followed by his final two with the Buckeyes. The All-American could be the rare safety that gets selected inside the top 10. Downs is considered a coach on the field, a ferocious run defender, and had an 89.6 coverage grade during the 2025 season.
Rueben Bain Jr.
Bain has been on an absolute tear during the college football playoffs this year for Miami. In just two games, the Hurricanes edge rusher has 16 total pressures and 4 sacks. While he doesn’t have the longest arms, he is a stout run defender, a powerful pass rusher, and he won’t even turn 21 years old until September of 2026. Bain has the added versatility at 277 pounds to kick inside at times in obvious passing situations.
Peter Woods
Woods is another player that is still just 20 years old. The Clemson defensive tackle didn’t have the statistical season that many expected. Even so, he still had a 16.8% win rate on true pass sets in 2025. Combine that with his 10.1% stop rate, this is an impactful 3-tech prospect. Woods spent time playing at edge for Clemson in 2024, even though he weighs around 315 pounds. That is a testament to the quickness of his feet, and ability to marry that with proper usage of his hands.
David Bailey
Bailey had a monster season for Texas Tech in 2025, after transferring from Stanford. He recorded 14.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles this year. He is an absolute terror for opposing offensive tackles. His quickness off the snap, bend around the edge, and advanced pass rush arsenal are all reasons that Bailey should end up being selected in the top 10 this year.
Arvell Reese
Arvell Reese got off to a hot start the first half of the season for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He ended up with 6.5 sacks on the season, but none of them came in his final six games of the year. Reese is a hybrid linebacker/edge prospect. I could see Al Golden envisioning him as the perfect prospect for his Vyper role. Reese has great athleticism, and should test really well this year. If he ends up dropping down to the 10th pick, I am not ruling out the Bengals making him the selection.
Sonny Styles
Arvell Reese’s running mate at linebacker for the Buckeyes was Sonny Styles. Styles is a converted safety prospect that has continued improving at linebacker over the last two seasons. Styles ended the season with just a 2.2% missed tackle rate, not having any of them until the final game against Miami. Styles is a 6’5” 240 pound do it all player at linebacker. He is very solid in coverage, as evidenced by his 88.5 coverage grade for the 2025 season. A top 10 selection might be a bit rich for either of the Buckeyes linebackers, but they would drastically improve that unit for the Bengals.
Mansoor Delane
While cornerback may not top the list of needs for the Bengals, it shouldn’t be ruled out. With Dax Hill and DJ Turner returning next year at outside corner, things are set for the two starters. However, you can never have enough depth at the position. Both of those players will also need to receive new contracts in the near future. If the Bengals choose to only sign one of them long term, they could look toward the draft for the future replacement, while also getting creative for who they use at slot cornerback in 2026.
Delane had a terrific season after transferring to LSU from Virginia Tech. He had an incredible 91.1 coverage grade, allowing just a 37.1% completion rate against him in 2025. Delane is physical in run support, has played over 2,400 career snaps, and has eight career interceptions.
Jermod McCoy
Jermod McCoy is the other corner that could be in consideration during the first round for the Bengals. McCoy missed all of the 2025 after tearing his ACL in January of last year. During the 2024 season he was the best cornerback in college football. McCoy had an 89.6 coverage grade that season. He was also extremely reliable as a tackler, having just a 7.0% missed tackle rate during the year. McCoy is a physical corner that is one of the best man-to-man cover guys that will be in this draft class.
Keldric Faulk
Faulk is the prototype for what the Bengals have valued recently at defensive end. Faulk is an edge setting player with great power and size. Faulk is 6’6” and 280 pounds. While he did record 7 sacks during the 2024 season, he had just 2 of them in 2025. He is not a player that gets a consistent pass rush. He had just a 12.7% win rate on true pass sets during the 2024 season. It was a little better in 2025, but still much lower than any of the other top pass rushers in this class, at 16.3% for the season.
Kadyn Proctor
I am aware this addition to the list isn’t going to make people very happy. Unless the Bengals have plans to move Amarius Mims, they are not going to be looking at Spencer Fano or Francis Mauigoa. That leaves Kadyn Proctor as the likely highest rated left tackle prospect for the Bengals. With Orlando Brown Jr. entering the final year of his contract, they could look to take a future replacement at the position this year.
Proctor gives me major concerns with his size and lack of lateral foot speed. Proctor is a massive human at 6’7” and 360 pounds. He is a mauler in the running game, has started all three seasons at Alabama, and he ended up with an 83.5 pass blocking grade at the end of the 2025 season. There are concerns for Proctor, but also traits the Bengals will be intrigued by. Don’t shoot the messenger on this one, but I can see Proctor being higher on their board than people will think.
See More:
