A Pre-Combine Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner. The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of work to do, and it’ll all get started in Indianapolis. Defacto GM Duke Tobin will be bumping elbows with actual GMs and others who make the decisions for their teams, likely looking for a trade partner for a tag-and-trade of Trey Hendrickson. At the same time, the Bengals’ woefully tiny scouting department will be in town to start researching these future NFL players.

With compensatory picks still undecided, plus potential trades and free agent signings, the Bengals have plenty of needs. For the first time this offseason, we will use FanSpeak’s mock draft machine. This time, we will draft off of our own Mike Kashuba’s Big Board 1.0!

A Pre-Combine Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 10: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Trey Hendrickson is more than likely going to hit the road, so the Bengals need a game-changing edge rusher. Despite using first-round picks on the EDGE in two of the last three seasons, neither has developed into that game-changer. Myles Murphy is looking more like Sam Hubbard, and it took Shemar Stewart until Week 17 to earn a sack.

David Bailey has been an uber-productive member of the Texas Tech defense after transferring in from Stanford. Heading into the CFP, Bailey leads the Big 12 with 17.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his only season with the Red Raiders. He converts pressures into sacks at an alarming rate and is quick off the snap. The Bengals need a dawg rushing the passer. If Arvell Reese doesn’t inexplicably fall down the board, Bailey would be a great choice.

At this point, it feels like any of Baily, Caleb Downs, or Rueben Bain Jr. could be the pick at 10.

Round 2, Pick 41: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

After starting his career at Auburn, Lee Hunter hit the transfer portal to land at UCF. There, he broke out in 2023 and 2024. From the interior defensive line, Hunter amassed a total of 131 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and one pass breakup. Before the 2025 season, he transferred again to Texas Tech, where he was an integral part of one of the best defensive lines in the country. He assed 41 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and forced a fumble.

The Bengals need certified dudes on defense, and Hunter fits the mold. He’s not a pass rusher; he’s a massive run-stopper. If D.J. Reader doesn’t return and the Bengals manage to get a decent interior pass rusher, Hunter would be a massive get.

Round 3, Pick 72: Kamari Ramsey, SAF, USC

We missed out on Emmanuel McNiel-Warren by one pick in the second, so let’s go and get the top safety from USC. This is a good draft to need a safety, and if you miss out on the top-end talents, there is plenty more.

Kamari Ramsey was a regular member of the USC secondary after transferring from UCLA, notching 133 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in his time. He could be a solid addition with his high football IQ and ability to cover tight ends. He was not all that productive in terms of hauling in interceptions…but he was always in the right place and even helped his safety running mate bring in five last year.

Full Kamari Ramsey Scouting Report

Round 4, Pick 110: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

Let’s be greedy. The Bengals’ offense, while one of the best in the NFL, could be better. Cincinnati needs a reliable WR3, and there are plenty of options in this draft. Let’s go with Clemson’s Antonio Williams.

Williams led the Tigers in receiving in his freshman and redshirt sophomore seasons. His true sophomore season was cut short due to injury, but over four seasons, he totaled 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s a slot guy who will run in the 4.4s. He’s reliable across the middle and is one of the more polished route runners that you’ll find on Day 3.

Round 6, Pick 186: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

In 2023, the Bengals nailed their fifth-round pick with Chase Brown. He was an uber-productive back out of the Big Ten who, despite racking up plenty of carries, still had plenty of tread on the tires. He’s up for an extension, and we’ve seen how those go for the Bengals and running backs. Why not pick up a guy with 25 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons?

Jonah Coleman has everything you want in a bellcow back. He carried the ball 552 times in his career between two seasons at Arizona and two at Washington. He had plenty of juice in terms of getting the big play (seven touchdowns of over 10 yards), but he can also punch it in at the goal line with 17 touchdowns of three yards or less (12 of one yard).

Round 6, Pick 196: Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington

You can’t have too many corners. Esphesians Prysock is a developmental outside corner who could step up into a CB2 role if D.J. Turner or Dax Hill walks after this year. At 6’4″, he’s in rarified air. He was not incredibly productive in college, with just two interceptions, but imagine lining him up against another tall receiver who has been all over either of the two shorter corners.

Round 7, Pick 218: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU

A player who looked like a sure-fire first-round pick after two years could very well be there late on Day 3. Harold Perkins broke out as a true freshman and sophomore with 26 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and seven forced fumbles.

Then, he tore his ACL in 2024 and was not quite as dominant last year. He’s expected to test well at the Combine, so who knows if he will be here at this pick. Either way, the Bengals need help at linebacker in one way or another.

He will need to figure out the missed tackles, however…

Round 7, Pick 224: Kaden Wetjen, WR/PR/KR/ Iowa

In the seventh round, you’re looking for anyone and anything that could help the roster. Most of the time, you nab depth pieces or punters, but why not go out and get a return specialist? A few years ago, this writer begged the Bengals to pick Britain Covey, who has been a solid returner for the Philadelphia Eagles.

As of now, the return man job has been Charlie Jones’s, who has been solid. But aside from him, what is there? Why not burn a seventh-round pick on a returner who has all kinds of bolded numbers on his Sports Reference Page? In his three seasons with Iowa, Kaden Wetjen returned 40 kicks for 1,538 yards (27.5 yards per return) and two touchdowns. As a punt returner, he fielded 54 punts, which he returned 954 yards and four touchdowns. He earned All-American honors last year as well.