The NFL playoffs are more than halfway through, but the College Football Playoff is coming to an end with the National Championship between Indiana and Miami kicking off Monday night in Miami Gardens, FL. It’s also the last time the Cincinnati Bengals and every other club will see 2026 NFL Draft prospects play a college football game.

Cincinnati won’t get a chance to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza even if they wanted him with the No. 10 overall pick, but the Bengals could very well be the first professional team for most others playing in Hard Rock Stadium.

Here are five players from Monday’s title game Cincinnati needs to watch closely, ordered by their current Average Draft Position (ADP) in the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database. All stats come from Pro Football Focus.

Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.

A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database ADP Rank: 3

Bain has a great chance of being the first non-quarterback to come off the board in April’s draft. The 21-year old has the highest pass rush win rate among Power 4 starting EDGEs (24%), and the fifth-highest when just counting True Pass Sets (30.3%). He wins with brute force and quality hand usage around the edge, two qualities that translate well into the pros.

There will be questions about Bain’s arm length, but in a class without a lot of blue-chip first-rounders, Bain shouldn’t drop out of the top 10. The Bengals should be his floor, considering how much they still need pass-rushing help.

Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database ADP Rank: 7

The first offensive tackle off the board figures to be a two-horse race between Utah’s Spencer Fano and Mauigoa, who plays right tackle for the Hurricanes. Still just 20-years old, Mauigoa elevated his game as a pass-protector in his third year starting and has kept that level throughout the CFP. He ranks seventh in Pass Blocking Efficiency (PBE) for True Pass Sets among Power 4 starting tackles (97.8).

Cincinnati has its starting OTs in Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims for 2026, but the depth behind their tandem of 6-8 edge protectors is non-existent and Brown’s contract expires next year. Cody Ford is the current swing tackle, and he’s a likely salary cap casualty. Finding an upgrade over Ford, who can also replace Brown in 2027, would be a wise usage of the No. 10 pick.

Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor

A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database ADP Rank: 84

Looking beyond the first round is where a guy like Mesidor comes into play. While Bain has been wreaking havoc on one edge, Mesidor has been winning just as often off the other. The 24-year old has the second-highest pass rush win rate going against TPSs among Power 4 starters (36.4%), and is fourth in pressures (41).

Mesidor’s age is why his draft stock is up for debate. He’ll be 25 when he hears his name called, and the last first-rounder who was a 25-year old rookie was Hayden Hurst in 2018. If he’s still on the board entering Day 2, he’ll be a part of the conversation for the Bengals.

Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.

A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database ADP Rank: 95

Mendoza’s trusty slot receiver is also in play to become a Day 2 selection. Cooper has been one of the most productive receivers out of that alignment this season, entering Monday night with the eighth-best Yards Per Route Run (2.59) and the fourth-best passer rating when targeted (142.7). He’s played 84% of his snaps from the slot this year after repping 90% out wide in 2024, so he’s well-versed both inside and out.

Don’t sleep on slot receiver as a need for Cincinnati. Andrei Iosivas is entering a contract year, and the Bengals could benefit from a quicker option who separates faster. Cooper would make a ton of sense in Round 3.

Indiana OT Carter Smith

A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database ADP Rank: 107

Carter has been almost perfect as the Hoosiers’ LT in his third season manning the position. He’s only been charged with allowing six pressures all year, and only one in the CFP thus far. His PBE when executing True Pass Sets than of 98.6 is only lower than Fano (98.9) among Power 4 starters. He’s been lights out in pass pro, but one year of this level has him projected as a mid-round selection. He can make or break that going up against Bain and Mesidor, as Miami’s duo has flipped between the left and right edge throughout the year.

Should Cincinnati wait until Rounds 3 or 4 to address swing tackle, Smith is definitely a solid option.

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