The Cincinnati Bengals’ first round pick could determine Dax Hill’s future with the franchise.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ cornerback room currently centers on two ascending young pieces entering critical contract windows. Dax Hill, the 2022 first-round pick originally drafted as a safety out of Michigan, has settled into an outside cornerback role after starting 2025 in the slot and shifting full-time outside following a Week 11 move.
He pairs with DJ Turner II, the 2023 second-rounder who has locked down the boundary opposite him. Together they form the projected starting tandem, but depth behind them remains thin, as the unit relies on Josh Newton, Jalen Kimber and Ja’Sir Taylor.
Both Hill and Turner are high-priority extension candidates for the organization, yet the skyrocketing market for cornerbacks has created uncertainty. Hill plays 2026 on his fully guaranteed fifth-year option worth $12.68 million, while Turner’s rookie deal expires after the upcoming season.
According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, this could lead to a major shakeup, especially if the Bengals make a cornerback move on draft day.
“Next offseason, the Bengals will have to decide if they want to give [Dax] Hill and outside cornerback DJ Turner II contract extensions when market value for cornerbacks is skyrocketing,” Baby wrote. If Cincinnati took a cornerback with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, it could hedge against losing either Hill or Turner. That could put Hill on the move again, with another positional shift.”
Drafting Premium Corner Talent Could Force Dax Hill’s Next Transition
Selecting a high-upside corner at No. 10 would directly address the hedging strategy Baby outlined. LSU’s Mansoor Delane, whom the Bengals are reportedly hosting, has emerged as a top candidate for the front office. The 6-0, 190-pound Delane transferred from Virginia Tech to LSU and delivered a breakout 2025 season: 45 tackles, two interceptions, 11 passes defended and just 13 receptions allowed on 147 yards with zero touchdowns in 11 starts.
Drafting Delane would create immediate competition on the outside while preserving flexibility for Hill. Zac Taylor has already left the door open for Hill to slide back into the slot or nickel if the roster evolves, a position he played extensively earlier in his career. A premium addition like Delane would allow the Bengals to keep both Hill and Turner without overpaying in an inflated cornerback market, or it could free them to let one walk after 2026 while still fielding a high-ceiling group.
Extending both remains the stated priority, but the draft could provide a low-risk insurance policy against losing either to free agency or injury.
With the 2026 NFL Draft nine days away, Cincinnati’s decision at No. 10 will shape the secondary for years. Taking Delane, or another top corner, would bolster coverage against elite AFC North passers like Lamar Jackson and also give general manager Duke Tobin leverage in extension talks.