2 prominent Ohio State NFL Draft prospects share promising remarks about the Bengals following Buckeyes’ pro day
The Cincinnati Bengals are showing much interest in the 2026 NFL Draft prospects from Ohio State.
There are going to be plenty of Ohio State Buckeyes hearing their names called during the 2026 NFL Draft.
It would not be shocking to see the Cincinnati Bengals select at least one of them.
Safety Caleb Downs, despite his “no comment” response about speaking with the team, is a very real possibility, as are two of his other former teammates expected to go off the board early in the draft. One of them may not even make it to the No. 10 pick, but both of them have positive thoughts on landing in Cincinnati.
LB Sonny Styles, TE Max Klare share excitement about the Bengals
While Downs didn’t want to share his pre-draft contact with the Bengals following OSU’s pro day this week, linebacker Sonny Styles confirmed a “few conversations” have been had, and he already has an affinity defensive coordinator Al Golden.
“It’s gone really well,” Styles said of his contact with the Bengals. “I think they do a really good job, love Coach Golden, he’s awesome. I think I’m going down to see them in a few weeks.”
Golden was in Columbus along with director of player personnel Duke Tobin, and three members of the club’s scouting department. Styles was one of the main players they had their eyes on, and as the 21-year old confirmed, they’ll host him for a visit in April.
It would be a pleasant surprise to see Styles still on the board when the Bengals are on the clock in the first round. He’s been projected to go within the first five picks more often than escaping the top-ten since he blew everyone away at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. If he makes it to No. 10 overall, after Cincy did absolutely nothing to its underwhelming linebacker room, it may be one of the easiest selections in the entire draft.
On the other side of the ball, tight end Max Klare is most likely not going to be a first-round pick like Downs and Styles. The Cincinnati native and St. Xavier High School alum is a projected Day 2 pick, but the idea of coming back home is one he’s thought about.
“It’s been great to talk to them,” Klare said of the Bengals. “I mean, that’d be a dream, growing up in Cincinnati and playing for them would be awesome.”
Klare’s Average Draft Positioning according to the A to Z Sports mock draft database is No. 66, which would put him right in the range of Cincinnati’s third-round pick at No. 72 overall. Should the Bengals target a tight end on the second day of the draft, the Queen City native appears to be on their radar.
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