CINCINNATI — The crew at Pro Football Focus is starting to fire up 2026 NFL mock drafts, and Cincinnati took an ACC mauler in the latest rendition from Trevor Sikkema. The Bengals have a roughly 52.4% chance of landing a top 10 pick at the end of the season, and Sikkema has them taking Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 10th selection.

Make no mistake, Bain is an exciting prospect. Both Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai are on the way to free agency. Myles Murphy has shown a few flashes, but the team has gotten nothing from last year’s first-rounder, Shemar Stewart. Bain makes sense.

Will Hill spells out exactly why — and how — the Bengals could make a miracle end-of-season run and capture the AFC North.

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Field Yates dropped his latest 2026 NFL mock draft on Wednesday morning and slotted a defensive mauler with the Bengals at Pick 10. Cincinnati selected Miami (FL) edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the top-tier selection. ESPN's Football Power Index gives Cincinnati a 52.4% chance of landing a top-10 pick at 4-9 overall.

You know draft season is really starting to blossom when the great Dane Brugler of The Athletic drops his first mock draft of the season. He did just that on Wednesday and Cincinnati Bengals fans are going to love the player Brugler sent to Cincinnati in the first round.

As we keep an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft, we're identifying each team's biggest holes and which Day 1 and 2 prospects could best fill them. Here is the AFC North.

The Chargers placed tight end Tucker Fisk on injured reserve. Fisk will be out at least until the playoffs and the Chargers proactively signed a tight end.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart returned to practice this week after going on injured reserve in November, though he’s unlikely to make his return to the field on Sunday.