The Cincinnati Bengals need to upgrade their defense over anything else this offseason. They already have a loaded offense with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. That trio should be able to keep pace with any offense in the league, as long as the Bengals defense can get a few stops each game.
But the defense has been so bad over the last few years that the offensive dominance rarely matters. As a result, the Bengals will almost certainly select a defensive star with their first-round selection in the upcoming NFL draft.
Justin Melo of NFL Draft On SI recently put together a mock that had the Bengals making a surprising pick. Melo predicted the Bengals would pass on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and select Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 10th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This would be quite a shocking move.
Caleb Banks Would be a Risky Selection at Pick No. 10
“The Cincinnati Bengals have consistently been a mess defensively over the previous two seasons. Set to lose Trey Hendrickson this offseason, the defensive front seven needs a total revampment,” Melo wrote. “Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks established himself as a first-round prospect at this year’s Senior Bowl, and he could continue climbing draft boards during this week’s NFL Combine.”
Selecting Banks at this spot would be a tough pill to swallow, especially with Styles on the board. Styles is the kind of linebacker that a team can build the entire defense around.
Defensive tackle is a big need for the Bengals. They ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game last season. Banks would work to plug that hole in the defense.
The Florida product is a good athlete, especially at over 300 pounds. He was impressive during the Senior Bowl, too. If he can put together a very impressive performance at the NFL Draft Combine, there’s a chance the Bengals consider him at pick No. 10.
Out of Styles
Passing on Styles to take Banks would be quite a risky move for the Bengals to make. If it doesn’t pay off, they may have wasted another year of Burrow’s prime. Meanwhile, Styles has the potential to be a star linebacker within a year or two in the league.
It’ll be interesting to see how Banks performs at the combine. If he has a good showing, he’ll certain rise up draft boards and could garner interest from the Bengals at No. 10 overall.
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