Drought increasingly threatens cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production by restricting seedling establishment, root development, and reproductive growth. Microbial seed treatments offer a potential biological complement to drought-adapted cultivars and soilwater management because beneficial bacteria can be delivered close to emerging roots. Plant growth-promoting bacteria may influence drought responses through several mechanisms, including the moderation of stress-associated ethylene by 1- aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, production of exopolysaccharides, changes in root architecture, nutrient mobilization, and regulation of osmotic and antioxidant responses. Here, we synthesize the published evidence on cotton-associated bacteria and outline a framework for evaluating bacterial seed coating under defined water-deficit conditions. A published cotton study reported that selected phyllosphere isolates tolerated osmotic stress and that seed treatment with an Acinetobacter isolate was associated with improved germination and seedling vigor under the conditions tested. These findings support further investigation but do not establish that all strains or coating formulations produce consistent benefits. We propose evaluating inoculant identity, viable cell delivery, coating compatibility, root colonization, and plant responses in replicated experiments, followed by multi-location field testing. Microbial seed coating could improve cotton establishment reliability in water-limited environments, provided that strain-specific effects, formulation stability, agronomic performance, and economic feasibility are demonstrated under realistic growing conditions.