While most of the Cincinnati Bengals‘ starting positions are decided, one of the biggest battles entering training camp is at slot cornerback.
A second-year undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, Bralyn Lux, could push Jalen Davis for a starting spot at nickel corner during the 2026 season.
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Bralyn Lux
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Hometown: San Jose, California
Contract Status
The Bengals decided to bring back Bralyn Lux with a reserve/future contract in January of 2026. If he makes the active roster, Lux would earn a salary just over $1 million for the 2026 season.
Background
Bralyn Lux was an undrafted free agent that the Bengals brought to training camp after the 2024 football season. He was originally a walk-on at Fresno State as a defensive back after being a two-way player during his high school football career in California. After a few seasons at Fresno State, Lux transferred to Texas Tech. He spent two seasons as a key starter at defensive back for the Red Raiders during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
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The Cincinnati Bengals gave Lux an opportunity after the 2025 NFL Draft, where he had gone undrafted. He flashed multiple times during training camp and preseason for Cincinnati.
Wearing #21, he even reminded me several times of former Bengal Mike Hilton with his ability to come up near the line of scrimmage and make plays off the edge.
While those performances were not quite enough to earn him an initial spot on the Bengals’ 53-man roster, the team was more than happy to keep him on the practice squad after the cut-down day. Lux was called up to the active roster during the final two games of the 2025 season. He ended the season with three tackles, playing some rotational snaps and on special teams during those final two games.
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2026 Outlook
Jalen Davis is currently projected to be the starting slot corner for the Bengals during the 2026 season. As another former undrafted free agent, there is no guarantee he finishes training camp as the starter. Bralyn Lux has already been earning some snaps with the first team unit during OTAs.
Once thought of as a player who could once again be on the outside looking in for a spot on the 53-man roster, Lux could do more than just make the team. It would not be a shock at all to me if Lux ended up playing meaningful snaps during the 2026 season, potentially even earning some starts. He has the work ethic as a former walk-on, the coverage ability, and the physicality as a run defender to make a real run for playing time for a talented Cincinnati Bengals team.
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