50 weeks separate us from the 2026 NFL Draft, and believe it or not, there are plenty of mock drafts already on the internet. You'll find it tough to click on two of them with matching predictions for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

No one really knows which players are set to go in the first round of next year's draft already. Plenty of the top prospects would still actually need to declare for the draft after the 2025 college football season ends. On top of that, projecting which position the Bengals will target with their first-round pick is also a complete guess.

Initial predictions for Cincinnati are all over the place, but consider this a future reference when we see more informed mocks roll out next year. Here are the names to keep track of during the fall and the next pre-draft cycle. 

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Travis May, A to Z Sports: Texas CB Malik Muhammad

Malik Muhammad is on pace to be one of the most experienced third year (early declare) prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Through two seasons with Texas he's already logged nearly 1,400 snaps because he was too good to keep off the field from day one. Muhammad got a bit aggressive last season, giving up a couple explosive plays, but he only allowed a 50% completion rate when targeted and defended double-digit passes. The Bengals don't have to go corner next year, but Muhammad would almost certainly be an upgrade if he improves at all this fall.

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Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

Cincinnati will try to make it work in 2025 with its wide receiver duo and some mid-round guards as its marquee additions on offense. Next year, adding a new element to the group can be something they can aspire for — and a running back like Love would be one heck of an extra layer to have to defend.

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Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Miami OT Francis Mauigo

The younger brother of Francisco Mauigoa, who was drafted this past weekend by the Jets, Francis Mauigoa was a big-time recruit for the Hurricanes and has started all 26 games at right tackle over the last two years. With improved consistency in 2025, he will put himself in the conversation to be a potential first-rounder.

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Jordan Reid, ESPN: Florida DT Caleb Banks

The Bengals surprisingly did not address defensive tackle in this year's draft, so it looms as a huge need entering 2026. They need someone with Banks' great 6-6, 325-pound size in the middle of the line. He showed flashes last season, and if he can continue to progress in 2025 and increase his sack total (4.5), he has the traits to be a top-20 pick.

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Todd McShay, The Ringer: Ole Miss LB Suntarine Perkins

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Rob Rang, Fox Sports: Texas A&M G Chase Bisontis

Yes, Cincinnati used two picks on blockers in 2025, but paying all that money to Joe Burrow and his talented pass-catchers all but guarantees that the Bengals will be using lots of early draft picks on relatively inexperienced offensive linemen on rookie contracts. Bisontis has the burly frame and physicality the Bengals prioritize, starring at left guard the past two seasons after signing with the Aggies as a four-star recruit out of New Jersey. 

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Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Texas RB CJ Baxter

For some, Notre Dame running Jeremiyah Love is the top running back prospect in this class, but Baxter's freshman year was really encouraging. Now, he is returning from injury. The last three running backs that I included in way-too-early mock drafts were Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ashton Jeanty. Baxter is not in the same class as those three players, but there is a lot to like. 

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Max Chadwick & Dalton Wasserman, PFF: Texas A&M G Ar'maj Reed-Adams

The Bengals selected Dylan Fairchild in the third round of this year’s draft, but he projects as a backup guard at this point. Cincinnati gets a starting-caliber guard here in Reed-Adams, who dominated in his first year with the Aggies after transferring in from Kansas. He ranked second in PFF overall grade, PFF run-blocking grade and PFF’s Wins Above Average metric among Power Four guards. Reed-Adams is a powerful player at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds who can excel in any run-blocking scheme.

Curt Popejoy, The Draft Wire: Texas G DJ Campbell

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Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: Penn State CB Elliot Washington II

The Cincinnati Bengals love speed and versatility in their secondary. Penn State's Elliot Washington II brings both, though he needs to show it during the 2025 campaign.

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Bjorn Bergstrom, College Football Network: Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton 

With RB Chase Brown solidifying himself as a long-term option in the backfield, the Bengals grab another back in hopes of evenly distributing some of the load. Singleton has been a star in his first three seasons at Penn State, and that’ll be no different in 2025. He’s an electric, home run-hitting RB who could be an immediate star in the Bengals’ backfield alongside Brown.