The Cincinnati Bengals are not locked into one path ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. While the No. 10 pick remains the focus, there is growing talk that the team could move back. If that happens, it could change not just the pick, but the type of players they target.

With the No. 10, multiple draft experts have predicted the Bengals to draft a cornerback. And the top two names in this position are LSU's Mansoor Delane and Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, who have also been linked heavily to Cincinnati. But the problem is, Cincinnati already has two corners who are ready to play.

Dax Hill is a veteran starter in the Bengals defense. If the team does decide to make more room, they can look to move him to nickel. But Hill is at his best when he's at the perimeter. The other starter is DJ Turner II. The team also signed Ja'Sir Taylor from free agency.

That is why a trade-down starts to make more sense. Moving back would give the Bengals more picks while still keeping them in range to land a starting-level player at other positions of need, according to Stripe Hype's Matt Fitzgerald.

He named some interesting prospects for Cincinnati to target instead of a cornerback. The Bengals still need an edge and a linebacker, apart from a corner.

Fitzgerald tied the team to star Miami Hurricanes defensive end Akheem Mesidor. He and teammate Rueben Bain Jr. became the most feared sacking edge rushers last season. Mesidor finished with 12.5 sacks last year alone.

Since it is pretty much guaranteed that Bain will be picked up before him in the draft, it puts the team in a prime position to draft Mesidor. There is also a chance of Delane and McCoy going early But Cincinnati can make use of a talented edge like Mesidor.

Fitzgerald also tabbed Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez as a possible Cincinnati draftee. This is the only position that the Bengals have not added to from free agency. With top LBs like Arvell Reese gone before No. 10, the Bengals can also make use of a talented LB like Rodriguez.

And if Cincinnati does have to look at a cornerback, they might be in for a prospect who is creating a lot of buzz

Cincinnati could trade down for an interesting cornerback

San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson is another name to watch. His stock has been rising, and if the Bengals move down in Round 1, he becomes a more realistic option.

Johnson has virtually met with the Bengals, which means that the team already has its eyes on him. He finished his 2025 season with a 34-tackle (solo) haul.

With so many other prospects like this still in the draft, the Cincinnati Bengals should ideally trade down to be set for the long term.

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Written by

Anjali Thakur

Edited by

Afreen Kabir