The Cincinnati Bengals eye defensive talent, and have hosted an electrifying linebacker, speedy defensive back, and dominant edge rusher ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals hosted three high-profile defensive prospects on pre-draft visits this week: Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Ohio State cornerback/safety Lorenzo Styles Jr., and Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The visits come as the Bengals continue addressing defensive needs ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins April 24.
Sonny Styles, a 6-5, 244-pound linebacker from Pickerington, Ohio, emerged as one of the top prospects in the class. He recorded 77 tackles in 2025 and posted elite Combine numbers, including a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and 43.5-inch vertical. Scouts project him as a sideline-to-sideline playmaker with coverage skills and first-round potential, drawing comparisons to athletic linebackers like San Francisco 49ers defensive end Fred Warner.
His brother, Lorenzo Styles Jr., a 23-year-old defensive back who transitioned from wide receiver at Notre Dame to safety at Ohio State, impressed with raw athleticism. He ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, the fastest by a safety since at least 2003, though his production remains modest. He projects as a mid-to-late round pick with special-teams upside and developmental traits in coverage.
Akheem Mesidor, a 6-3, 259-pound edge defender from Ottawa, Ontario, transferred from West Virginia and became a cornerstone for Miami. In 2025 he posted 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 71 pressures while helping the Hurricanes reach the national championship game. A three-down prospect with a relentless motor and inside-out versatility, Mesidor is viewed as a potential first-rounder despite turning 25 in April.
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The visits come as Cincinnati continues to focus on defensive reinforcement. The team lost All-Pro edge Trey Hendrickson to the Baltimore Ravens and Joseph Ossai to the New York Jets, before signing former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal and adding veteran DT Jonathan Allen.
The Bengals have also added veteran safeties like former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger, who split time with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
Hosting the Styles brothers and Mesidor shows that the Bengals’ are keen on adding impact players through the draft while managing roster turnover under GM Duke Tobin. Sonny Styles could address linebacker needs, Lorenzo provide secondary speed, and Mesidor boost the pass rush. With the draft approaching, these top-30 visits could eventually help Cincinnati strengthen a defense that ranked as one of the league’s worst in 2025.