Cincinnati Bengals' Duke Tobin Visits Ohio State, Sonny Styles for Pro Day

College Pro Days have arrived, just a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft. Cincinnati Bengals general manager Duke Tobin is on the hunt for future draft prospects to help bring the franchise back to playoff and Super Bowl contention. They have missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, so every step of the offseason is vital for getting the team back to the top.

With the No. 10 pick in the first round of the April 23rd Draft, the Bengals need to capitalize on a prospect that can have an immediate impact. Last season, Shemar Stewart ranked last in the NFL in production from rookie first-round picks, and Cincinnati must avoid a repeat if playoff contention is the goal in 2026.

It’s no secret that the defense is where the priorities lie for upgrading the team. Tobin addressed those concerns at the start of free agency by adding former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe, former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook, and former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. While these pieces will supply significant leadership and star power right away, the draft will be just as important for picking key pieces for the future. 

Tobin was anticipated to attend multiple Pro Days leading up to the draft, and he was spotted at his first one close to the franchise. 

The Ohio State University held its annual Pro Day on Wednesday, and the Bengals' general manager was in attendance, taking notes on potential candidates for Cincinnati’s first-round pick. 

Winning nine national championships, OSU is no stranger to holding future NFL stars in its facilities. The 2024 CFP winners tied their school record of 14 draft picks last season, including four in the first round. While there may not be that many selected next month, there are three players who all have high potential to be selected in the top-10 picks. 

Keeping this in mind, Tobin wanted to make his presence felt for the three potential superstars. At three different positions, they are all impact players on the defensive side of the ball, which should be extremely enticing to the franchise just over 100 miles away. In ESPN’s most recent mock draft, the three Buckeyes are all selected within the first five picks of the draft. It seems that these mock drafts have significant movement every week, so it will be hard to tell who will be selected where until the day actually comes. 

When asked about their conversations with the Bengals, all three prospects gave very different answers. Safety Caleb Downs (likely selected in picks 5-10) answered “no comment” to the question, edge rusher Arvell Reese (likely selected in picks 2-5) said he hadn’t had many conversations with the franchise, but linebacker Sonny Styles (likely selected in picks 4-10) gave an extended answer. 

“I’ve had a few conversations, and it has gone really well,” said Styles. “I think they do a really good job. I love Coach Golden, he’s awesome … I think I’m going down to see them in a few weeks.”

Styles has made his name as one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft this season due to his unmatched athleticism. His 43.5-inch vertical jump was the highest by a linebacker since 2003, and his 4.46 40-yard dash time tied the fastest amongst all prospects in his position this season, proving his status as one of, if not the best, athletes in the draft. Being that the linebacker may be the Bengals’ biggest need to this point, he has all the potential to be the perfect fit if he falls to No. 10.