The Cincinnati Bengals hosted their annual local pro day Tuesday morning. Over 30 players eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft with ties to Cincinnati came to Paycor Stadium. In a little over a week, they will all learn where their next chapter in football takes them.

One of the participants, Jalen Kitna, is well familiar with the orange and black. Kitna’s father is former Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna, who now coaches the nearby Lakota East High School football team.

Kitna is not the only NFL-bound player with a connection to the Bengals and the Queen City. Here are a handful of players in the 2026 draft who are at least somewhat associated with Cincinnati.

Miami OL Francis Mauigoa

One of the best offensive linemen in this year’s class won’t be the first in his family to play in the NFL. Francis Mauigoa has a few older brothers, including Frederick Mauigoa. Frederick played center at Washington State from 2016-19 and signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 draft. He was waived near the start of his first training camp. The Bengals signed him a few weeks later, and let him go during final cuts before the start of the season.

Mauigoa is expected to be drafted in the top-10, likely before the Bengals will be on the clock at No. 10 overall. See if he makes it to your pick with the A to Z Sports NFL Mock Draft Simulator!

Ohio State TE Max Klare

Cincinnati natives know Perfect North Slopes as the area’s go-to snowboarding and skiing destination. Max Klare was born and raised right next to it in Guilford, IN. He went to St. Xavier High School, located 11 miles north of downtown Cincy, and originally competed to play at quarterback. He was moved to tight end after losing the starting battle as a junior. It would not be the last switch he would make as he played his first three years of college ball at Purdue before transferring to Ohio State in 2025.

Klare is projected to go off the board sometime during Day 2 of the draft.

Duke OL Brian Parker II

One of Klare’s high school teammates may be drafted right around him. Brian Parker II moved to Indian Hill, a suburb located about 15 miles northeast of downtown, while he was still in grade school. He enrolled in St. X the same year as Klare and played both left guard and center for the school. He was offered by the University of Cincinnati, but ultimately landed on Duke.

Parker’s expected draft spot is right on the edge between the third- and fourth-round.

Nebraska EDGE Dasan McCullough

There is one player in the draft who has a former Bengal for a father. Dasan McCullough’s dad, Deland McCullugh, played running back for Miami (OH) before going undrafted in the 1996 draft and signing with Cincinnati. He stayed with the Bengals for his rookie season before moving on to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997. He’s now the RB coach for Oklahoma.

McCullough is currently not expected to be drafted.