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The Cincinnati Bengals approach the 2026 NFL draft with a host of needs, chief among them the cornerback spot.
Duke Tobin and the Bengals hold the 10th pick. They happen to love speedy cornerbacks, too.
Bonus points? The whole LSU pipeline that’s worked pretty well for the organization over the last few years.
So…here comes Mansoor Delane.
Delane just ran a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. It’s just one data point, sure, but check out other recent Bengals who ran 4.38 or lower:
Tuner, who ran a 4.26 time, is now a big-money extension candidate in a few months. So is Hill, now that he’s seemed to settle on the outside boundary spot after years of moving across the formation.
Is Delane next? He certainly boasts a lot of the other intangibles the Bengals like when it comes to film, fit, leadership, etc.
The need is certainly there. Turner and Hill are starters on the outside. But the boundary depth is quietly below average or worse. And the Bengals have outright ignored slot corner after Josh Newton didn’t blossom last year.
On paper, the Bengals want a prospect like a Caleb Downs to come in and play that slot role while Jordan Battle and Bryan Cook man the typical safety spots. But it’s a fluid overall situation on the back end of the defense.
Bengals fans don’t love the first-round cornerback thing after years and years of it with the likes of Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson. But the closer the draft gets, and the more Delane proves himself, the stronger the chances get.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Did top NFL draft prospect just cement Bengals fate?
Continue reading...
Duke Tobin and the Bengals hold the 10th pick. They happen to love speedy cornerbacks, too.
Bonus points? The whole LSU pipeline that’s worked pretty well for the organization over the last few years.
So…here comes Mansoor Delane.
Delane just ran a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. It’s just one data point, sure, but check out other recent Bengals who ran 4.38 or lower:
- DJ Turner
- Dax Hill
- Cam Taylor-Britt
Tuner, who ran a 4.26 time, is now a big-money extension candidate in a few months. So is Hill, now that he’s seemed to settle on the outside boundary spot after years of moving across the formation.
Is Delane next? He certainly boasts a lot of the other intangibles the Bengals like when it comes to film, fit, leadership, etc.
The need is certainly there. Turner and Hill are starters on the outside. But the boundary depth is quietly below average or worse. And the Bengals have outright ignored slot corner after Josh Newton didn’t blossom last year.
On paper, the Bengals want a prospect like a Caleb Downs to come in and play that slot role while Jordan Battle and Bryan Cook man the typical safety spots. But it’s a fluid overall situation on the back end of the defense.
Bengals fans don’t love the first-round cornerback thing after years and years of it with the likes of Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson. But the closer the draft gets, and the more Delane proves himself, the stronger the chances get.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Did top NFL draft prospect just cement Bengals fate?
Continue reading...
