The Cincinnati Bengals will officially be selecting 10th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at my current top 100 prospects for the draft this year.
1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship this year. The California transfer won the Heisman Trophy for his play during the regular season. Some of his best attributes include his accuracy, underrated mobility, and ball placement. Mendoza has a ridiculous 41 touchdowns to just 6 interception ratio on the season.
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs was an All-American at safety for the Buckeyes. He is considered a coach on the field. He is a tape grinder, which allows him to always be in the right spot, at the right time. He is a reliable tackler on the back end of a defense. He can line up in the box, in single high, or in the slot. He isn’t going to be an elite tester, but the tape speaks for itself. Safeties are not typically selected in the top ten due to perceived positional value; Downs should be an exception this year.
3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love put up over 1100 yards rushing and over 200 yards receiving during the 2024 season. He surpassed those numbers in 2025. He rushed for over 1,300 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns. He added another 280 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns on the season. He is elusive with the ball in his hands, rarely fumbles, and is a legit weapon in the receiving game. His burst through the line and top-end speed allow him to be a threat to take it to the house on any given play.
4. Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
Bain has been putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks at a high rate all season long. He had a 30.4% win-rate on true pass sets in 2025. He is a sawed-off powerhouse at 6’3”, 275 pounds. He possesses knock-back power in his hands, is stout against the run, and had over 80 pressures during the 2025 season.
5. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Fano played left tackle at Utah as a true freshman. The past two seasons, he has kicked over and played at a high level on the right side. This guy moves like a tight end. He was arguably the best run blocker in all of college football. He has a finishing mindset and plays through the whistle. He needs to be more consistent in pass protection, but he has the athleticism to continue improving in that area.
6. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The sack numbers are not overly impressive, with only two this season. The advanced numbers tell a better story of the type of talent he is. He has a 16% win-rate on true pass sets. Combine that with a stop rate over 10% as a run defender. Those numbers have directly correlated with guys that end up being the best defensive tackles in football over the years. Woods is far and away the best defensive tackle in this class.
7. David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
Bailey transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford ahead of the 2025 season. He was one of the premier pass rushers in all of college football. He had 81 pressures and 14.5 sacks on the season. He has shown some improvement as a run defender, but that will never be his biggest strength. His explosiveness, flexibility, and bend getting after the quarterback are his calling card. That ability to be a havoc creator off the edge is what should make him a top 10 draft pick in April.
8. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate runs sharp routes, has an elite contested catch rate, and averaged a fantastic 3.03 yards per route ran on the season. Even after missing a couple of games, Tate had 875 receiving yards with 9 touchdown receptions on the season. Ohio State continues producing first round wide receivers; Tate is the next in line.
9. Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State
Reese can play off-ball linebacker or up on the line of scrimmage. He amassed 6.5 sacks on the season for the Buckeyes. Reese is heavy-handed, physical, and an athletic marvel. Regardless of where teams view him playing at the next level, he played his way into top-five consideration this year.
10. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson is a player I have zero questions about for his on-field ability. He is a dominant receiver when healthy. The problem has been staying healthy. He has an extensive injury history that includes a torn ACL in 2022, a broken collarbone in 2024, and hamstring issues this year. When healthy, he is a dominant weapon, making plays for his quarterback. He can line up in the slot or on the outside, makes contested catches at a high rate, possesses high-level ball tracking ability down the field, and has excellent body control. His medicals will be key to how high he is ultimately drafted this year.
11. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles is a converted safety from the Buckeyes. Still just 21 years old, Styles has already played over 2,100 career snaps for Ohio State. He has looked comfortable in coverage, had just a 2.2% missed tackle rate, and has elite athleticism for the position. While Arvell Reese has burst on the scene, people should not forget just how talented Styles is.
12. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The former five-star recruit played his third year with Miami. He was the starting right tackle for all three of those seasons. He has allowed just 14 pressures through his first 15 games in 2025. He blocks well on the move, is a mauler in the run game, and has improved his consistency in pass protection this year. Mauigoa should be able to stick at right tackle at the next level, but if not, he could slide inside and likely be a Pro-Bowl caliber guard.
13. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane transferred to LSU from Virginia Tech this past year. He was the best cornerback in college football. He allowed only a 37.1% completion rate against him on the season. He will bring experience, physicality as a tackler, and a player with good ball skills to whatever team drafts him.
14. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon may be primarily a slot receiver in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t worthy of a top twenty draft selection. Lemon is elusive with the ball in his hands, a quality route runner, and brings added value as a returner.
15. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
McCoy did not play a game in 2025 after suffering a torn ACL in January of 2025. His tape in 2024 was fantastic. He was a shutdown corner for the majority of the year for the Volunteers. His ability to mirror opposing top receivers, ball skills, and ability to be physical at the line in press-man coverage scream future Pro-Bowl player at the next level.
16. Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
Faulk is a big-bodied edge setter at 6’6”, 285 pounds. He provides a high-floor player as a run defender with powerful hands and alignment versatility. His ability as a pass rusher is still a work in progress, which is why he doesn’t make my top 10. He had only 29 pressures and two sacks on the season. Those numbers are quite a bit lower than many of the other top players at the edge position. He is still a young prospect at just 20 years of age until September 2026. Combining that upside with his ability as a run defender is why he is still likely to be drafted fairly high this year.
17. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is an athletic pass catcher for the Ducks. He has had some injuries this year, but when healthy, he looks like the only tight end worthy of a first round selection. Even though he is considered a bit smaller for the position, that doesn’t affect him as a blocker. He is a tenacious player in that aspect, who has multiple blocks where he takes a guy 15-20 yards down the field in the run game. That type of two-way ability will entice somebody to take Sadiq in the first round.
18. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The younger brother of AJ Terrell, Avieon, is an absolute dog on the football field. He is undersized at just 5’11 and 180 pounds. He plays much bigger than that. He reminds me of Trent McDuffie. He is competitive at the catch point, ferocious in run support, and knows how to create big plays with turnovers.
19. Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Ioane was one of the more consistent bright spots for a disappointing Penn State team in 2025. Thickly built at 6’4” 335 pounds, he is a mauler in the run game. He allowed just four pressures in pass protection the entire season. Ioane has all the makings of an All-Pro for years to come in the NFL.
20. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Allen is everything teams are looking for in a modern linebacker. He can rush the passer, he has excellent pursuit speed, and he has shown tremendous improvement in coverage this year. His sideline-to-sideline range, football IQ, and experience as a three-year starter are more reasons he seems like a safe bet to go before the end of the first round.
21. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
McDonald was one of the best run stuffing defensive tackles in college football. He can absorb double teams and hold the point of attack. While he doesn’t provide much as a pass rusher, he can push the pocket with power on the interior.
22. Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
Howell was solid in 2024 for the Aggies after transferring from Bowling Green. With the departures of Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton to the NFL, he took on a starring role on the defense. He had 11.5 sacks on the year. He has an array of pass rush moves, a lightning-quick first step, and is a solid run defender on top of it all. There will be some concern about his sub-31” arm length. I think he can be an outlier in that aspect; he is just too talented as a pass rusher not to be impactful at the next level.
23. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Concepcion is a dynamic weapon as a returner, receiver down the field, and on screens and reverses. Basically, get the ball in his hands and let him go to work. The transfer from North Carolina State was tremendous for the Aggies in 2025. He had over 900 yards with 9 touchdowns on the season.
24. Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
Proctor is a good athlete overall for his size, but his foot speed off the snap against speed rushers gives me concerns. Currently weighing around 370 pounds, he also needs to lose some weight for durability purposes. I have compared him to the mountain from Game of Thrones. He can get beat with speed, has massive size, and needs to get his hands on you to be effective. He did finish strong for Alabama the second half of the season. I imagine someone takes the swing on his rare traits before the end of the first round.
25. TJ Parker, DE, Clemson
Parker came into this season considered a top-five player in this draft class. He has not had nearly the same splash play production he did during the 2024 season. In 2024, he had 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. This year, those numbers went down to 5 sacks and 0 forced fumbles on the season. He has still been able to generate pressure at a high rate. He ended the season with a 28.6% win rate on true pass sets.
26. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Lomu was only a redshirt sophomore this year. He is an advanced technician for his age. He has a natural kick slide and blocks well on the second level. He isn’t nearly as good of a run defender as his teammate Fano, but he is further along in pass protection.
27. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Hood spent a season at Auburn, a season at Colorado, and his final one playing for Tennessee. Hood is sticky in coverage, has good awareness playing zone, and impressive closing speed. He could sneak his way into the bottom of the first round.
28. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Boston has great size at 6’4” and 209 pounds. He is much more than just a contested catch guy, though. He displays toughness over the middle of the field, possesses strong hands, and is more athletic than expected for his size. He even returned punts for the Huskies.
29. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
Pregnon transferred to Oregon from USC ahead of his final season of college football. It was a wise decision, as he played the best football of his young career. Pregnon is a high-level pass protector with awareness against stunts and blitzes, active hands, and quick feet. He allowed just five pressures the entire season, including the playoffs.
30. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
Abney has impressive footwork and change-of-direction ability. He has displayed good ball skills and the ability to smother opposing receivers down the field. He is willing and capable as a run defender. He had an impressive 4.3% missed tackle rate during the 2025 season.
31. Logan Jones, OC, Iowa
Former wrestlers who are offensive linemen from Iowa are typically good bets to have some success in the NFL. He isn’t quite the prospect that Tyler Linderbaum was (not many are), but he is a good player who should be a ten-year starting center in the league. Jones was originally recruited to play defensive tackle. Going against Linderbaum was one of the reasons he decided to make the switch to the other side of the ball. Jones only allowed three pressures on the season, while facing the likes of A’Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, and Domonique Orange.
32. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
McNeil-Warren is going to be the next Toledo Rocket defensive player to be drafted to play in the NFL. He has excellent length, quick reactionary time, and nine career forced fumbles. Having almost identical coverage and run defense grades around 90.0 on the season per PFF.
33. Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
Lew declaring for the draft was a bit of a surprise to me. He is still only 20 years old. He is also coming off a torn ACL he suffered in October. He had two years of eligibility remaining, but instead will be taking his talents to the NFL. Another guy with a high school wrestling background, Lew has good athleticism, grip strength, and a high football IQ. If teams are comfortable with the medicals, he could be a guy that makes way into the late first round.
34. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Banks was out injured for the majority of the 2025 season. If it wasn’t for that, he would likely be even higher in my rankings. In two games toward the end of the season in 2024, he showed what type of disruptive presence he could be from the interior. Against LSU, Banks recorded nine pressures. The following week, against Ole Miss, he added another six. Those are incredible numbers for any pass rusher, let alone a defensive tackle. He gives tremendous effort for a guy who is 6’6” and 334 pounds. He moves well at that size, as well. This is a high-risk, high-reward type of prospect.
35. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Hill is a versatile player in the front seven. He can line up at off-ball linebacker or play on the edge. In three seasons at Texas, he accumulated 17 sacks. He is relentless in pursuit and a physical finisher. While coverage has not been his best attribute, he did show improvement in that area this season.
36. Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Brazzell has great length at 6’5”. He is a big-play weapon down the field with his ball tracking, body control, straight-line speed, and size. Unlike some previous wide receivers from Tennessee who were strictly downfield weapons, Brazzell can actually run crisp routes and be a weapon in the intermediate game.
37. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Thieneman was a highly sought-after transfer from Purdue this season. He ultimately chose the Oregon Ducks. He is a willing and capable tackler on the back end of a defense. I wish he had better eye discipline. He also takes some funky pursuit angles at times. I do expect he will test well, which could ultimately move him even higher up draft boards.
38. R. Mason Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
Thomas is an undersized pass rusher for the Sooners. He may ultimately be limited to just a defensive pass-rush specialist role in the NFL. Those players are still valuable. He has tremendous explosiveness off the snap, bend around the edge, and closing speed to chase down the quarterback or running back. He had a 35.1% win-rate on true pass sets during the 2025 season, which was among the highest in the country.
39. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Freeling has a basketball background which shows up immediately when watching his film. He is quick to get up to the second level, has great lateral agility, and knows how to use his body to wall off pass rushers. Freeling has ideal size for a left tackle at 6’7” and 315 pounds. He doesn’t have as much experience as some of the other top lineman in this class, but he might have the most upside.
40. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Cisse transferred to South Carolina from North Carolina State ahead of the 2025 season. He is one of the faster corners in the nation. He allowed just a 47.4% completion rate against him on the season. That ability to cover one-on-one is the biggest reason he sneaks into my top 50.
41. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Johnson has great hip fluidity to quickly change direction and break on the football. He had an unreal 92.4 coverage grade in 2025. He allowed just a 41.9% completion rate against him, recorded 4 interceptions, and had only a 5.6% missed tackle rate in 2025. With a good senior bowl week, Johnson could rise into the first round.
42. Zion Young, DE, Missouri
Young has ideal size for an edge at 6’5” and 260 pounds. He is among the leaders in stop rate at 9.3% on the season as a run defender. He also improved his pressure rate to a 25.6% win rate this year, after having just a 15% win rate in 2024. Zion also had a career-best 6.5 sacks on the season.
43. Chris Bell Jr., WR, Louisville
My biggest question entering the season was how would Bell respond to being the number one wide receiver in the offense? He passed that test with flying colors. Having amassed over 900 receiving yards prior to tearing his ACL in December. His size at 6’2”, 227 pounds, combined with game-breaking top-end speed, shows a player with tremendous upside. He still needs to fine-tune the intricacies of playing receiver, but the tools are there. The injury does cloud his draft projection.
44. Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
Mesidor will be turning 25 during draft month this year. That combined with injuries are the only reasons he isn’t higher on this list. Mesidor is a dominant pass rusher. He had a 35.8% win rate on true pass sets during the season. That led to him recording 10.5 sacks on the year. He is a physical finisher in the backfield, has the versatility to play up and down the line, and a dynamic first step off the snap.
45. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
Ramsey has the versatility to play at free safety or at nickel corner. He has outstanding instincts, ball skills, and is physical in run support. One of the biggest improvements he has made this year is becoming more reliable as a tackler. In 2024, his missed tackle rate was over 20%. That number was down to just 3.2% in 2025.
46. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Branch is a dynamic speedster at wide receiver. He put up over 800 receiving yards for the Bulldogs after transferring from USC. Branch is elusive in the open field, had just a 2.4% drop rate, and also provides added value as a returner. Even though he is a bit undersized at 5’10” and 175 pounds, he has not recorded a single fumble over the past two seasons.
47. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Speaking of players that are undersized, Ponds is listed at just 5’9” and 170 pounds. You wouldn’t know it based on how he plays the game. He is a physical hitter in run support that consistently puts his body on the line and delivers the punishment. He has matched up with some of the top receivers and come out on top in his two his years at Indiana. Ponds has an 84.5 coverage grade with just a 3.6% missed tackle rate during the 2025 season.
48. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
A big bodied nose tackle prospect, Hunter comes in at 6’4” and around 330 pounds. The durability is incredible for a player with his size. He has played over 500 snaps in each of the last three seasons. Even though he isn’t overly explosive as a pass rusher, he still had a 17.5% win rate on true pass sets as a defensive tackle. He is a high level run defender. His 11.9% stop rate on the season was behind only Kayden McDonald in this draft class.
49. Brian Parker II, OL, Duke
Parker played left tackle for the Blue Devils. Most project him to kick inside because he is listed at only 6’5”, 305 pounds. I actually have him listed with my center rankings. I think he could make a similar transition as Graham Barton. He is known as a team leader and a guy who constantly stays active, looking for work as a blocker.
50. Romello Height, DE, Texas Tech
Height is an explosive pass rusher that played opposite of David Bailey at defensive end for the Red Raiders in 2025. He had 62 pressures on the season, finishing the year with a 26.5% win rate on true pass sets. He reached double digits in sacks for the first time in his career, finishing with 10 on the season. The biggest question with Romello is exactly just how big he will measure in at during the combine.
Prospects Ranked 51-100
51. Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
52. Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
53. Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State
54. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
55. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
56. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
57. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
58. Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
59. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
60. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
61. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
62. AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
63. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
64. Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
65. Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
66. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
67. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
68. Billy Schrauth, OG, Notre Dame
69. Jake Slaugher, OC, Florida
70. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
71. Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
72. Arion Carter, LB, Tennessee
73. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
74. Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
75. Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan
76. Devin Moore, CB, Florida
77. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
78. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
79. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
80. Joshua Josephs, DE, Tennessee
81. Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
82. Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami
83. Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
84. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
85. Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois
86. Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland
87. Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
88. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
89. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
90. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
91. Jaishawn Barham, LB, Michigan
92. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
93. Bishop Fitzgerald, S, USC
94. Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
95. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
96. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
97. Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
98. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
99. Rene Konga, DT, Louisville
100. Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
Players that are just outside the top 100: Skyler Bell (WR), Kage Casey (OT), Justin Joly (TE), Xavier Scott (CB), Malachi Fields (WR), Will Lee III (CB), Jalon Kilgore (S), Deion Burks (WR), Daylen Everette (CB), Judy Bowry (OT), Taurean York (LB), Demond Claiborne (RB), Darrell Jackson Jr. (DT), Aaron Anderson (WR), Austin Barber (OT)
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