Re-signing Jalen Davis may have solidified the starting three corners for 2026, but DJ Turner and Dax Hill are both potential free agents in 2027. Will the Cincinnati Bengals re-sign both?
It seems likely that the team will want to retain Turner, who broke out last season, but they may have trouble bringing back Hill, too.
Looking forward to the future and a possible upgrade in the slot, here are the best 10 cornerbacks in this year’s draft.
Jermod McCoy’s time in college football was short, but impressive. He had six interceptions in only two seasons of collegiate play. That includes 2 as an 18-year-old freshman at Oregon State and 4 as a 19-year-old sophomore at Tennessee.
Runs the route better than the receiver in man coverage
Plays tight on slants and uses off-hand to play the ball
Perhaps a bit too physical for NFL rules, will need to adjust to avoid penalties
Bengals Projection: There’s virtually no chance McCoy falls to the Bengals now that they’ve traded away their first-round pick for Dexter Lawrence.
Mansoor Delane transferred to LSU for the 2025 season after playing at Virginia Tech for 3 seasons. In one year at LSU, he did not give up a single touchdown in coverage.
Over the last two seasons, he got his hands on 18 passes and hauled in 6 interceptions.
Blankets receiver in man coverage on underneath routes
After a three-year college tour that included stops at Auburn, Colorado, and finally Tennessee, Colton Hood enters the draft as one of the top cornerbacks. Could his next stop be Cincinnati?
Locks in on receiver in man coverage and plays the ball through his hands
Physical when taking in blocks and making tackles, but throws body around rather than using any technique
When he uses his hands, he creates separation for the received
Although he has the makeup speed to cover it up, often loses ar release in man
Technique with hands is inconsistent, can get a little grabby
Bengals Projection: It would be surprising if Hood made it to 41. Though it is unlikely that he will end up in Cincinnati, he would be a good backup in year one who could replace Hill in year two after refining his technique.
Avieon Terrell didn’t have any interceptions last season, but he forced a whopping 5 fumbles. He forced 3 the previous season, for a total of 8 forced fumbles in his career. He also had 3 sacks and 3.5 TFLs a year ago.
Inside/out versatility, plays run and blitzes effectively from slot