The 2026 NFL Draft is just a little over a week away, and everybody thinks the Cincinnati Bengals are going to select a defensive player with the No. 10 overall pick. Almost everybody.
NFL insider Albert Breer responded to a question in a recent mailbag about the draft, saying Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor is a dark horse for the team’s first-round pick.
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“My guess is that No. 10 is close to being the floor for (Caleb) Downs,” he wrote. “I don’t say that unequivocally because I think Bain could be in play for them, as well as the top two corners (again, depending on what they think of McCoy’s knee). I’d also throw Proctor in there as a wild-card name I’ve heard for Cincinnati.”
The Bengals have Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims as Joe Burrow’s bookend protectors, and Brown was just extended through the 2028 season. There isn’t a need for an offensive tackle in the first round like there is on all three levels of the defense, but they could definitely upgrade their swing tackle, who is probably Cody Ford at the moment.
However, Dane Brugler wrote in his 2026 copy of “The Beast” some analysts think he would be a better fit a guard at the next level.
“Proctor is big, strong, and explosive, which is an exciting foundation for an offensive lineman, but that optimism should be curbed until his discipline and technique catch up,” he said. “He has starting-caliber upside at left tackle, although some teams believe moving to guard would be best for his pro career.”
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The Bengals, like at offensive tackle, are pretty set at guard for the ‘26 season. They have Dylan Fairchild, last season’s third-round pick out of Georgia, who will be entering his sophomore season as the starting left guard, and Dalton Risner, who signed a one-year deal in March, at right guard.
Considering the defense was largely to blame for the last two seasons of Burrow and the offense missing the playoffs, a top-10 pick should be spent on that side of the ball. However, the Bengals have always liked to use their first-round pick on guys who won’t contribute immediately.
Hopefully, Breer’s source on this one is way off.
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