Bengals meet with 3 high-profile defensive prospects
The Bengals have had a busy end to the week, meeting with a number of high-profile prospects ahead of the Draft.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) celebrates after a sack against the Indiana Hoosiers in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Bengals are doing more due diligence ahead of the NFL Draft, predictably focusing on the defensive side of the ball. Per reports, aside from meeting with Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez late this week, they are hosting three other notable defenders.
The Styles brothers from Ohio State—Sonny and Lorenzo Jr. —as well as Miami edge defender Akheem Mesidor, per insider Tom Pelissero. We’ve long-chronicled Sonny’s stats and background, as he is very likely to be a top-five or top-10 selection in this year’s class.
While he is an off-ball linebacker, his high-end athletic profile, production, and character make him a blue-chip prospect in this class. Lorenzo has been a cornerback and nickelback for the Buckeyes over the past three seasons. He began his career at Notre Dame as a wide receiver, playing 34 games as a defender from 2023-25.
He logged 47 total tackles the past two seasons with seven passes defended. While he didn’t net an interception with Ohio State, he’s been gaining more attention lately for a number of reasons—mostly his athletic profile. Lorenzo Styles Jr.