Cincinnati Bengals Select Defensive Star Rueben Bain Jr. in Post-Free Agency Mock Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is barreling down the pipe toward the football world as Sports Illustrated's Daniel Flick dropped a new mock draft this week ahead of the big event.holds top 10 picks in most of the draft rounds next month, and Flick has them using that first asset on Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
inked big deals with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, defensive end Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook, filling key holes on a woeful defense, but they still need another pass rusher,". "Bain could go earlier than No. 10—Tennessee and New Orleans are strong possibilities—but he’d be a tremendous value in Cincinnati. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Bain has an expansive array of pass-rush moves and strong, efficient hands to discard blockers on both running and passing plays."Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. against the Indiana Hoosiers during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images, Bain is ranked seventh on their consensus big board and second among edge rushers behind Texas Tech's David Bailey. There is a clear drop-off in edge talent after Bain. Auburn's Keldric Faulk Jr. is currently the next highest-rated edge defender at No. 19 overall on the MDB. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is very familiar with these defensive names and got plenty of information on them at the 2026 NFL Combine. "Every resource imaginable. It's whatever connection we have to someone who's been around them, whatever scouting report we had on them coming out of college," Taylor said at the combine about what methods they use to learn about players. "There can be a lot of different ways you approach it. We try to utilize every single one of them to make sure you're getting the right person who walks in. You're not bringing in a problem. You're bringing in one of us, you know, someone who fits our personalities in our locker room. And so we spend a lot of time. We're very careful with who we bring in and try to make the right decisions." Sign Up For Our DAILY Newsletter for More Free Coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals Delivered to You Directly For more on the Bengals, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and be sure to check us out on your favorite audio platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio,o and Amazon. Make sure you bookmark BengalsTalk.com for the latest Bengals news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! We're a one-stop shop for all things Cincinnati Bengals! Join the 63,000+ Bengals fans who subscribe to us on YouTube.Russ Heltman is on the Bearcats and Bengals beat for On SI. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH. Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bengals Beat Out Multiple Teams to Sign Joe Flacco to be Joe Burrow’s BackupCincinnati Bengals Beat Out Multiple Teams to Sign Joe Flacco to be Joe Burrow’s Backup
Read more »
Joe Flacco returning for 19th NFL season on one-year contract with BengalsThe 41-year-old has signed a one-year, $6 million deal.
Read more »
Post-Free Agency Mock Draft: Jets Select Another Franchise QuarterbackNew York takes another big swing at solving the position. Plus, Jeremiyah Love’s top-five home, and four Ohio State players come off the board in the first round.
Read more »
Cincinnati Bengals Missed on Crucial Position in Free AgencyWith all the planned reshaping of the Cincinnati Bengals' defense, they missed out on a key position in free agency
Read more »
Cincinnati Bengals Interested In Elite Linebacker, Visit Set UpCincinnati Bengals Interested In Elite Linebacker Sonny Styles, Visit Set Up
Read more »
Why The Bengals Passed On Randy Moss Twice In 1998 NFL DraftWhy The Cincinnati Bengals Passed On Randy Moss Twice In 1998 NFL Draft
Read more »