If you did a mock draft anytime before Wednesday afternoon, it is now ready for the trash. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore announced he is staying at Oregon for one more season, taking another quarterback out of the mix for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chances are, most media outlets updated their mock drafts on Thursday, including The Athletic’s Dane Brugler posted a fresh mock draft.
This time, the Cincinnati Bengals land one of the top pass-rushers in the draft in Miami’s Reuben Bain Jr. The Bengals will once again be looking for help rushing the passer, especially with Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai set to become free agents again.
“At this early juncture, defensive line is the overwhelming favorite to be the Bengals’ pick.
Because of his “tweener” skills and lack of length, Bain is one of the more polarizing prospects in this class. Even if he falls short in a few areas, however, he is a stout run defender with the relentless power as a pass rusher to kick down the door to the pocket.“
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Bain is going to be a fascinating study during the draft process. There were times he was considered the best player in college football but some argued (whether it was right or wrong) that Bain hasn’t fully shown up during the College Football Playoffs, including the Fiesta Bowl semifinal win over Ole Miss.
Bain gets one more chance in the spotlight before the draft as Miami prepares to face No. 1 Indiana in the National Championship Game on Monday.
Bain still has plenty of potential and could create a good, young pairing on the edge with Shemar Stewart, who is coming off a successful rookie season, though injuries did limit him during the season.
For those wanting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, he was taken one pick before, by the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9. That shows one way Moore’s decision to stay in school can affect the top of the draft, with only one perceived top quarterback in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals land National Championship contender in new mock draft
