Zac Taylor Cincinnati Bengals
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NFL Draft guru Todd McShay has a bold prediction for the Cincinnati Bengals. They're already locked on a player for their first-round pick.
The NFL Draft is coming in just two weeks. Around the league, teams are locking in their plans for the first round, looking to find their next franchise cornerstones. That includes the Cincinnati Bengals, who have several needs they’re looking to fill with the No. 10 overall pick.
One NFL Draft analyst, Todd McShay, now thinks that the Bengals are already locked in on their first-round pick. On The McShay Show, he shared that if Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain slips to No. 10, then the Bengals are likely looking at him. Otherwise, there are a pair of cornerbacks that Cincinnati will be looking at.
“It becomes interesting if Bain is sitting there at 10,” McShay said. “Is that their edge? And it certainly could be.”
McShay noted that the other major position of need for the Bengals is cornerback. There, they have two likely options available at No. 10, Mansoor Delane of the LSU Tigers and Jermod McCoy of the Tennessee Volunteers.
“But they also could take the other corner,” McShay added. “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.”
What to Know About Rueben Bain
Rueben Bain Miami Hurricanes
GettyMiami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain
21-year-old edge rusher Rueben Bain is a South Florida native who would go on to become a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023. He would decide to stay local and play his college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
Bain would quickly make his impact felt as a freshman, racking up 7.5 sacks in his first season in college. Injury issues would limit him as a sophomore, but Bain quickly bounced back in 2025. There, he put up one of the best individual seasons by any player in the entire country, with 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for a loss, and 54 total tackles. That was good enough to earn All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Honors.
Despite that production, there are some concerns about his size. In particular, his arms were measured at 30 7/8’’ long. That’s relatively short for an edge rusher, where finding a way to battle linemen and keep them from getting their hands on you is important. For comparison, David Bailey and Arvell Reese, both of whom are expected to be high first-round picks, were measured at 33 3/4’’ and 32 1/2’’ respectively. They’re both also two inches taller than Bain.
Still, Bain’s talent is impossible to ignore, and most mock drafts have him going high in the first round. That includes in the recent ESPN mock draft that included Mel Kiper, Matt Miller, and Field Yates. There, Bain went at No. 12 to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Key Needs for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Draft
Duke Tobin Cincinnati Bengals
GettyCincinnati Bengals GM Duke Tobin
There are a few clear needs for the Cincinnati Bengals going into this year’s NFL Draft. That starts with the defensive side of the ball, where the Bengals need to find a way to better rush the passer and cover in the secondary. McShay touched on both of those potential needs when talking about the No. 10 overall pick.
Others are always going to be concerned about the offensive line. Certainly, that’s a fair concern. Quarterback Joe Burrow missed significant time a season ago with injuries, and the Bengals don’t have much of a shot in the AFC North without him. But could there also be room for another weapon?
“The Bengals could spend all eight of their picks on defense and the fanbase wouldn’t complain. There’s no denying the group needs a continued infusion of talent,” Alex Ballentine wrote in Bleacher Report. “What we wouldn’t expect is that Joe Burrow needs another weapon, but there’s still room for a promising young tight end on the roster.”
It’s an interesting thought. Wide receiver is one of Cincinnati’s strongest positions, but there is a gap at tight end. It shouldn’t take precedent over the defense, but if the right player is available, then there’s no reason to jump on a solid tight end too.