With the Bengals on a bye and Ohio State set to visit defending national champion Indiana, the timing makes for a natural draft conversation. There’s plenty of star power in the matchup, and that starts with Heisman favorite Jeremiah Smith. But Cincinnati is not hunting for a first-round wideout, and even if it were, Smith would be out of reach.
That still leaves a few names worth circling for the Bengals, especially on the line and in the secondary.
Austin Siereveld is the kind of offensive line prospect teams like Cincinnati usually have to pay attention to. He has moved all over the Buckeyes’ front over the last few seasons and has played every spot except center.
At the next level, his best fit may be at guard. The Bengals have Dalton Risner playing well, but Risner is scheduled to be a free agent after the season.
Cincinnati also drafted Brian Parker II in the sixth round, and he’ll have a chance to develop into a future starter somewhere on the Bengals’ line. If you’re trying to build a roster that can keep chasing Super Bowls, offensive line depth matters, and Siereveld’s versatility gives him league-wide appeal.
The secondary brings another pair of names into focus. Jordan Battle had a strong showing against Miami, but his early-season issues still linger.
He misses too many tackles, and he is scheduled to be a free agent after the season. That could push the Bengals toward adding another day two safety.
Amare Ferrell fits that bill as an experienced Hoosiers safety with more than 2,000 snaps on his résumé. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, he has the size teams want, and his ball production stands out: eight interceptions over the last two seasons.
Ohio State also has mid-round safety candidates in Earl Little Jr. and Jaylen McClain.
Jermaine Mathews is another defensive back who should stay on the radar. He has logged more than 1,600 career snaps at corner and can line up inside or outside.
His 76.0 coverage grade in the 2026 season speaks for itself, and he handled a tough assignment well against Texas’ talented receivers in week two. This week will be another important test with Becker and Marsh coming his way.
Mathews is about 5’11” and 195 pounds, so he isn’t built like a giant, but he brings physical play, willingness as a tackler, and instincts in zone coverage. He also should test well at the combine.
With DJ Turner and Dax Hill both scheduled to hit free agency after the season, corner could become a real point of emphasis for Cincinnati, and an early-round investment there would make sense.
Ohio State’s draft-eligible group runs deep beyond those three names. The list includes Julian Sayin, Ja’Kobi Jackson, Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin, Brandon Inniss, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Kenyatta Jackson, Qua Russaw, Beau Atkinson, John Walker, Eddrick Houston, James Smith, Christian Alliegro, Payton Pierce, Jaylen McClain, Earl Little Jr., and Terry Moore.
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It is the kind of move that would spark plenty of debate around the Bengals because Stewart remains the sort of young piece teams usually prefer to keep building around. The proposal makes clear how much a cornerback need can change the conversation, but it also acknowledges the obvious hurdle: Cincinnati is not expected to move on from Stewart this early, and there has been no confirmed trade. [Read more 🡒]
Bryan Cooks Bengals Role Just Got Even More Emotional
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Bengals Have An Unexpected Amarius Mims Problem To Fix Fast
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Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher acknowledged the issue and the ripple effect it can have in the middle of a game, when every snap matters and substitutions are never ideal. The Bengals are expected to handle it quickly, because whatever the fix ends up being, they need Mims available and on the field rather than dealing with equipment trouble at the worst possible moment. [Read more 🡒]