The Bengals defensive renaissance has to start in the trenches. Fortunately, there are some great options on the defensive interior in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here are my 10 favorites.
Disclaimer: I have chosen to use comps in my evaluations, but they are intended only to compare the player’s play style to an NFL player and NOT their ability. Comping a player to a Hall of Famer is not a prediction of that player’s success, nor is comping him to an underachieving player a slight on his abilities.
1. Kayden McDonald – Ohio State 6’3” 326 – 20 years old
Kayden McDonald is coming off a monster year for the Buckeyes in which he had 65 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, and 3 sacks. Not bad for a guy who isn’t even old enough to drink.
Pros:
- Simultaneously an unstoppable force and an unmovable object
- Disruptor in the middle who consistently drives interior linemen into their own backfield
- Controls blocks and disengages at will
- Moves shockingly well for a man of his size
- Always running to the football
Cons:
- One-year wonder who was not nearly as productive during his first two seasons in Columbus
- Uninspiring had usage
- Lacks versatility, he does what he does
NFL Comp: Vince Wilfork
Bengals Projection: I’ve seen McDonald comped to D.J. Reader. I didn’t do that, because I think McDonald is a better athlete, but he could be a Reader-level difference maker on the Bengals defense.
McDonald is a dancing bear, massive and athletic. He dominates the line of scrimmage and could be a cornerstone of this defense for years to come.
He very much should be in the conversation at 10 and be a Day 1 starter at nose tackle.
2. Peter Woods – Clemson – 6’3” 315 – 20 years old
Sorry to throw football jargon at you, but Peter Woods is an absolute dude. Similar to Geno Atkins at Georgia, Woods’s production saw a drop off this year, but Woods is a year removed from an 8.5 TFL, 13 hurry seasons. He has all the tools to be the biggest disruptor the Bengals have had on the defensive interior since Atkins himself.
Pros:
- Can win with power or speed
- Quick get off
- Excellent on the move, whether it is stunting an adjacent gap or looping across multiple gaps
- Good hand usage to get off blocks
- Stout run defender
Cons:
- Increased snap count but lower pass rush production in 2025, indicating that me may not be a high volume player (other factors were certainly involved)
- Does not get driven back, but is stalemated too often
- Appears to have short arms
NFL Comp: Jalen Carter
Bengals Projection: Woods will be an instant contributor and a difference maker on the Bengals’ defensive front. Woods will work in a rotation with B.J. Hill at three-technique, allowing the team to keep both fresh and get the most out of them. This is an ideal situation for both the rookie and the veteran.
Woods’s unique skillset would make him a tremendous pick at 10, despite the production drop-off.
3. Caleb Banks – Florida 6’6” 330 – 23 years old
Injury abbreviated Caleb Banks’s 2025, but he was an absolute monster in 2024 with 21 hurries and four sacks. He has unique natural gifts, but is raw despite playing in 34 college games.
Pros:
- Elite strength and incredible athleticism for his size
- Excellent motor, fierce competitor
- Mauler who drives interior linemen back into the backfield
- Fast hands and has a few good get-offs
- Nimble feet that keep moving on contact
- Strong enough to stiff the run on the inside and athletic enough to contain the edge
Cons:
- Wins by being massive and strong, but his technique is extremely raw
- Very tall making it difficult for him to play with good leverage
- Leans on blocks
- Reaches for tackles
- Coming off injury
NFL Comp: DeForest Buckner
Bengals Projection: Banks is probably the biggest boom or bust prospect in this draft class. He is a physical specimen, but underdeveloped in his overall technique.
The question coaches will have to ask themselves is “Why is he so raw?” and “Can I teach him?”
Banks’s upside and raw ability make him worthy of consideration at 10.
4. Lee Hunter – Texas Tech 6’4” 330 – 23 years old
Averaging 10 tackles for loss per year over the last three seasons, Hunter has proven himself as a major disruptor in the defensive line.
Pros:
- Choppy feet that never stop
- Fast hands and excellent swim move
- Splits doubles with ease
- Lives in the backfield
- Strong bull rush
- Sniffs out screens
Cons:
- Limited athletically
- Height impacts pad level
- Doesn’t counter well if initial pass rush attempt is thwarted
NFL Comp: Bobby Brown III
Bengals Projection: Hunter would challenge TJ Slaton for playing time and could develop into the starting nose tackle within a year.
Hunter is worthy of a second-round pick if he is still on the board when the Bengals are on the clock.
5. Gracen Halton – Oklahoma 6’2” 292 – 22 years old
Gracen Halton is a reliable force on the Sooners’ interior with 13 TFLs and 8.5 sacks over the last two seasons.
Pros:
- Very quick first step
- Excellent stunts and loops
- Uses hands well to get off blocks
- Versatile and can line up all over the line
Cons:
- Doesn’t strike blocker, feels them out, and reads backfield
- Holds ground in run game and gets off blocks but doesn’t penetrate
NFL Comp: Ed Oliver
Bengals Projection: Halton would be a fun moving piece to add to Al Golden’s defensive toolbox. He could be the Larry Ogunjobi replacement that Bengals fans have longed for, but brings greater position versatility.
Halton is worthy of consideration at pick 41.
6. Chris McClellan – Missouri 6’3” 315 – 22 years old
Chris McClellan is coming off a huge year where he produced to the tune of 8 TFLs and 6 sacks, but can that be replicated at the next level?
Pros:
- Wins one-on-one as a pass rusher with powerful bull rush
- Relentless – never stops
- Outmuscles his opponent
- Generally holds his ground against the run despite poor leverage
Cons:
- Wins with strength but pass rush moves are slow and unnatural
- Plays too high, particularly in the run game
- Not very quick off the ball
NFL Comp: Alim McNeil
Bengals Projection: McClellan was highly productive in the SEC, but his technique issues are cause for concern. He would be a bit of a project, who could give you some pass-rush looks here and there in his rookie season. His upside makes him worthy of a Day 2 pick.
7. LT Overton – Alabama 6’5” 278 – 21 years old
Lebbeus Overton has potential to be a difference maker in the NFL, if he finds a defensive coordinator who understands him.
Pros:
- Tough gritty competitor
- Strong power rusher
- Does not get moved in run game
- Versatility to play edge on early downs
Cons:
- Tweener, more of a 3-4 defensive end than anything
- Pad level reflects height
- Not particularly quick
NFL Comp: Logan Hall
Bengals Projection: Overton would be a versatile moving piece on the defensive front. He brings power and strength to the interior and can be an extra big man on the edge in running situations.
Overton is worthy of a Day 2 pick as long as you have a plan for how you are going to use him.
8. Dontay Corleone – Cincinnati 6’1” 335 – 23 years old
Could the Cincinnati native be the right fit for his hometown team? Corleone is a strong nose tackle with the natural leverage that many in this class lack.
Pros:
- Powerful hips, gets push into the backfield
- Stout run defense
- Surprisingly athletic, perhaps at his best on the move
Cons:
- Not particularly quick off the ball
- Doesn’t bring much as a pass rusher
NFL Comp: Poona Ford
Bengals Projection: Corleone would come in and compete for the starting job at nose tackle. His power, leverage, and surprising athleticism will give him a good chance of beating out the incumbent TJ Slaton.
He is worthy of consideration on Day 2.
9. Kaleb Proctor – Southeastern Louisiana 6’3” 280 – 22 years old (estimate)
In today’s college football climate, Kaleb Proctor could have left whenever he wanted, but he decided to stay at the FCS level for all four years.
Pros:
- Extremely quick first step
- Cross face stunts leave OL heads spinning
- Controls opponents’ upper body, throwing them off balance
- Proved he can hang with the big boys after a 2-sack performance against LSU
Cons:
- Undersized and played at an FCS school, will need to prove he can hold up in the run game in the AFC North
- Pass rush moves are limited, best when stunting
- Although his agility is good when he knows where he is going, sudden reactive change of direction lags behind
- Struggles to chase down the ball carrier, but not for lack of effort
NFL Comp: Adetomiwa Adebawore
Bengals Projection: Proctor will be able to contribute as a pass rush specialist in Year 1 and will be best when he is put on the move. Strength and pass-rush moves will require development in order to reach his full potential.
You could make a case for him in Round 3, but I see him as a priority 4th-round target.
10. Dominique Orange – Iowa State 6’4” 325 – 21 years old
Dominique Orange has some unique natural gifts, but has à long way to go to become anything more than a rotational player in the NFL.
Pros:
- Plays with impressive leverage for his size
- Great tackler
- Quicker than you’d think
Cons:
- Struggles to disengage from blocks
- Double teams neutralize him
- Bull rusher with no pass rush moves
NFL Comp: Sam Adams
Bengals Projection: Orange is a true nose tackle, but has relied too much on being the biggest, baddest dude on the field and not developed his technique.
At only 21, he certainly has time to grow, but as a rookie, he would be a 20-snap-a-game role player.
I would be interested in him early on Day 3.
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