Latest intel reveals potential Bengals NFL Draft target is expected to be drafted much higher than previously known
Cincinnati could use a receiver like Omar Cooper Jr., if he lasts to them in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals have so many needs on the defensive side of the ball, but finding an upgrade over slot receiver Andrei Iosivas to pair with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for the next few years shouldn’t be totally ignored this offseason.
Iosivas isn’t going anywhere this offseason, however, he’s yet to progress as a starter in a role that prioritizes separation. Chase and Higgins, the strength of the offense, could benefit from someone who wins one-on-one matchups more efficiently, as defenses would have to account for a quicker threat working the middle of the field.
All of this has made Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. an ideal target for Cincinnati in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cooper was one of the best slots in college football during the Hoosiers’ magical championship season in 2025. He’s currently the No. 63 player in the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database.
That number should be rising before long, and it’s not ideal for the Bengals.
Omar Cooper Jr. tracking to be a first-round pick
Whether it’s the College Football Playoff National Championship tax, or certain league personnel with strong takes, Cooper is quickly becoming a possible first-round pick despite exiting the CFB season as a likely Day 2 target.
“For all the draftniks out there, it is time to start penciling Cooper into the first round conversation. The NFL is clearly higher on the Indiana star than the media right now. As long as he has a clean process, it appears he is poised to go quite high in a couple of months.” — A to Z Sports’ Ryan Roberts
Cooper also went off the board No. 29 overall to the Los Angeles Rams in Robert’s newest mock draft.
Indiana had Cooper for the past four years, but began using him as a full-time starter just last season. He hauled in 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns as Fernando Mendoza’s top target. That he led the Hoosiers in receiving production is a big reason why he will be drafted early, but scouts and evaluators in the NFL may be preparing to hear his name called Thursday night instead of Friday evening when the draft rolls around.
Cincinnati owns the No. 10 pick in Round 1 and the No. 41 pick in Round 2. Barring any trades, the Bengals’ second-round selection may be the only realistic spot where they could draft Cooper.
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