ESPN Has Bengals Rolling With Cornerback Avieon Terrell in Way-Too-Early 2026 Mock Draft

 The 2025 NFL Draft is way down the line, but it's never too early for a little mock draft this time of year. ESPN's Matt Miller has the Bengals taking Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 26th pick next April.

The draft order was determined by ESPN's Football Power Index for the 2025 season.

"Defensive line could become the No. 1 need if the Bengals can't resolve the Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart contract situations," Miller wrote. "But assuming cooler heads prevail, Cincinnati should concentrate on its secondary. The Bengals have several young cornerbacks in Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner II, and Dax Hill, but they've been held back by injuries and inconsistency. Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell, had two interceptions and broke up 13 passes last season. His versatility, speed, and production point to him being a value add late in Round 1."

It's rare to have too much depth at the cornerback spot in the NFL. Injuries happen there all the time and with how many get played snap-to-snap it's hard to scoff at big investments toward CB.

The calendar will tell us what Cincinnati needs most over the next nine months.