Ole Miss at Oklahoma (Saturday 12:00 p.m. ET)
The Cincinnati Bengals could be in the market for adding a defensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ole Miss has a BIG one in the form of Zxavian Harris. Harris is 6’7” and 330 pounds. He has surprising
athleticism for a player with his size. He is also one of the strongest players in college football.
On the opposing side, the Oklahoma Sooners have several defensive players that the Bengals could be intrigued by. One of those, could end up being R. Mason Thomas. He doesn’t fit the typical size profile for a Cincinnati defensive end. However, we have seen Al Golden have a tendency to drop his defensive ends into coverage. Could they start looking to draft players that can rush the passer, while also having the athleticism to drop in coverage more effectively? It wouldn’t surprise me.
Baylor at Cincinnati (Saturday 4:00 p.m. ET)
The Cincinnati Bengals could be looking to add another quarterback to the room during the upcoming 2026 draft. If they do, I would expect that player to potentially be a day three developmental player. Baylor has a player that fits that mold. Sawyer Robertson is a 6’4” 220 pound quarterback that is asked to pass the ball frequently for the Bears offense. His accuracy is a work in progress but he is a tough player with good mobility. I could see Zac Taylor and Dan Pitcher looking to develop someone like Robertson as a long-term backup option.
Maybe the Bengals stay local to grab that backup quarterback option. Brendan Sorsby and the Bearcats are playing some really good football right now. Sorsby has all the tools to be an NFL quarterback. He possesses a strong arm, is accurate in the intermediate game, and has displayed improved decision making throughout the season. This season he currently has 17 passing touchdowns to only 1 interception. He does have one more season of eligibility that he could use. If he declares, he could end up working himself into being a top 100 draft selection.
Texas A&M at LSU (Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET)
Texas A&M has one of the most explosive pass rushers in college football in Cashius Howell. Howell is another “undersized” defensive end that normally wouldn’t fit the Bengals mold for the position. With new defensive coordinator Al Golden, we may see a change in that philosophy. Howell has a deep arsenal of pass rush moves, elite bend, and a quick first step that he combines to be a nightmare for opposing offensive tackles.
The Bengals have certainly found a quality outside cornerback in DJ Turner. Could they look to pair him opposite of another early round corner? If they do, Mansoor Delane is a player to watch. After transferring to LSU from Virginia Tech, he has taken his game to the next level. Delane has true lockdown potential on the outside. He is also a more than willing tackler in run support.
