Bengals Could Target Running Back, Cornerback in 2027 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals lack a running game. It’s among the worst in the NFL, as fans want more from Chase Brown and Samaje Perine to better balance the dangerous passing attack. 

Some thought the Bengals could sign a free agent or make a trade to supplement Brown and Perine, but that didn’t happen. 

It’s never too early to think about next season, and Pro Football Focus put together an early mock draft earlier this week. 

The Bengals picked at #15, selecting Florida running back Jadan Baugh. His size, speed, and ability to break tackles have made him a dangerous ball carrier in the SEC, and he was also a Heisman candidate before the season started. 

He has 110 carries for 672 yards and 12 touchdowns through six games. He has slowed down over the last two weeks, rushing 27 times for 72 yards. In the four weeks before that, Baugh averaged 150 yards on just over 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in three of the first four weeks. Baugh was a major factor in Florida’s big 52-28 win over Ole Miss.

Taking a running back in the first round is risky. You have to be sold that your roster is in good enough shape to excuse using such a valuable pick on a low-leverage position. Names like Jeremiyah Love, Ashton Jeanty, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs highlight the list, while Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton, and Jadarian Price show it’s a 50/50 bet. If they're going into win-now mode, it might be better to take the best player available. 

Cincinnati could also target a corner in this upcoming draft, as DJ Turner and Dax Hill are in the final year of their contracts. There hasn’t been much momentum toward an extension for either player, and targeting a guy like Kelley Jones out of Mississippi State, Ashton Hampton out of Clemson, or Ellis Robinson out of Georgia could make more sense. 

It could also be worth monitoring what the Bengals want to do at tackle. Orlando Brown Jr. will turn 31 next May and has shown some signs of slowing down. Cincinnati could move on from Brown via trade, and the emergence of Amarius Mims could make that move easier. 

Trevor Lauck out of Iowa and Jordan Seaton out of LSU could be first-round targets for the Bengals to shore up their offensive line, which took a step toward becoming a top-10 unit in the league in 2026.