Todd McShay’s bold 2026 NFL Draft suspicion directly involves the Bengals’ plans in the first round
NFL Draft insider Todd McShay sounds very confident in the Cincinnati Bengals being interested in a couple players with their No. 10 pick in the 2026 draft.
The Ringer’s Todd McShay believes cornerbacks Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy will both go off the board early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
How early? McShay doesn’t think both of them are falling past the Cincinnati Bengals’ first-round pick at No. 10 overall, unless Cincinnati takes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. instead. He certainly seems to think at least one corner is going in the first nine picks.
“Now it becomes interesting. If Bain’s sitting there at 10, is that their edge? And it certainly could be. But they also could take the other corner,” McShay said on The McShay Show. “I think Miami at 11 could take a corner. I know Dallas would love to have one, but I don’t think either of them gets to 12.
“I actually don’t know that either of them gets to 11, is the point I’m trying to make.”
Todd McShay directly hints at Bengals targeting cornerback in the first round
This has been a suspicion for a few weeks now. The Bengals addressed the defensive line and safety with intent during free agency, signing two players at each position group. The only investment the cornerback room received was Ja’Sir Taylor, who may or may not end up making the 53-man roster.
With Delane and McCoy projected to go off the board around when Cincy picks in the first round, the fit for either of them makes perfect sense.
The Bengals have DJ Turner II and Dax Hill set to start, but both players are entering contract years and the club has a history of only being able to keep one player at the same position.
Drafting a corner at No. 10 would not only give them immediate depth at an important position, but a long-term solution in case one of Turner or Hill leaves in 2027.
McShay’s suspicion indicates this is how the NFL is seeing the situation as well. Cincinnati has done its homework on both prospects over the past few months, including meetings at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. If a corner is to be taken early by the club, getting it done in first round is not a bad strategy.
The Rueben Bain variable
There are two questions to be answered about the Bengals and Bain.
Will he make it to No. 10? Will they pick him over either corner?
Both are complete unknowns at this point.
Bain has a case for being the better player out of all three options. He dominated during Miami’s 2025 campaign that ended just short of a College Football Playoff National Championship.
The only reason why he could fall 10 spots is because his arms are just under 31″, making him a potential outlier.
McShay’s words definitely keeps that door open. The Bengals may’ve signed Boye Mafe to replace Trey Hendrickson, but Joseph Ossai’s departure has not received the same counter move just yet. It would not be shocking to see them draft an EDGE within the first few rounds, and Bain would be quite the move to satiate that need.
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