The Bengals Can’t Afford to Draft a Corner at #10

Delane may be great, but he isn't solving the Bengals defensive issues.

Mansoor Delane is a terrific player. He isn't a tremendous athlete, but he’s technically and fundamentally sound – to an extreme extent. He was penalized exactly zero times, and didn't allow a touchdown in all of 2025.

He projects as the kind of corner you can leave on an island. He can do it all: man or zone, press or off coverage.

But for the Bengals, drafting a corner at #10 is a major long-term investment – and it's not one they can afford as they go into Joe Burrow's seventh season. Drafting Delane would fill a semi-need, but trading back…that could fill several pressing needs.

The Bengals can't afford to be thinking solely about the future at #10 – they need a difference-maker, not an investment. Delane is an outstanding CB prospect, but he isn't can't-miss.

Even if he is a better prospect than either Dax Hill or DJ Turner, both Bengals corners were highly-drafted, highly-regarded players in their own right.

Turner, especially, had a breakout season where he looked like a shutdown corner. Hill struggled early, particularly while being pigeon-holed as a slot corner, but thrived when he was moved back to the outside once Cam Taylor-Britt landed on injured reserve.

In the best-case scenario, Delane starts opposite Turner, but then what happens to Hill? Moving him back inside would be a step backward.

Playing Delane in the slot feels even more wasteful. He was excellent on the boundary in college, and that's where he should stay.

Drafting for need instead of taking the best player available is always a recipe for trouble, but the value has to be there when you're picking in the top 10 as well.

How valuable would a #2 corner be for the Bengals defense?

More valuable than a do-everything safety (Caleb Downs)?

Or a powerful edge defender (Rueben Bain)?

Or a prototype linebacker (Sonny Styles)?

Or an explosive defensive tackle (Peter Woods)?

Of course, it's not realistic that all the above players will be there. In fact, it's possible that of the four I just mentioned, only Woods will be sitting there when the Bengals pick at #10.

But missing out on the first wave of impact defenders shouldn't make the Bengals desperate.

If Delane is there at #10, chances are, a team will covet him. Trading down would be ideal for the Bengals. It would be sweet to add a top-tier defensive prospect, but the Bengals aren't one player away from being good – or even average – on defense. It's going to take a collective effort that begins with adding as much talent as possible.

One pass rusher, one linebacker, or one cover guy isn't the difference. But adding all the above might be.

This draft isn't known for being top-heavy, but there will be plenty of starting-caliber talent on Day 2 of the Draft.

And the Bengals are in a perfect position to exploit that.

Right now, the prevailing wisdom around the league, and in the minds of draftniks, is when the Bengals are on the clock at #10, Delane could be there. Jermod McCoy, the draft’s consensus #2 corner prospect (and a guy who might have challenged Delane for that #1 designation if not for injury), will likely be there too.

The Bengals could take one of the corners and call it a day. But who is picking immediately after the Bengals? The Miami Dolphins, who everyone and their mother knows is taking a corner.

Hey Lions, looking for a corner? Any interest in jumping in front of Miami and getting your guy?

Hey Buccaneers, how does that offer sound?

Heck, even the Cowboys at #13 might be takers.

The Bengals are in a sweet spot: they can sit back and hope a player like Styles, Downs or Bain falls in their lap, or they can play any of a number of cornerback-needy teams against one another and get a haul for moving back just a couple spots.

The Dolphins are grabbing Delane or McCoy with their pick – if there's a team that thinks it's an elite corner away from a Super Bowl, the Bengals are set up to take advantage.

Grabbing more picks to fill out this defense…that idea should be making Bengals’ fans salivate.

Imagine the Bengals grabbing Peter Woods, Keionte Scott, Jake Golday and a developmental offensive lineman – all in the first two days!

That kind of draft-day haul cool very well change this defense –and it could happen, provided the Bengals can resist the temptation of Delane.