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CIN
Cincinnati Bengals
Draft Needs
| Priority | Position | Level | Target Round | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EDGE | CRITICAL | Round 1 | Lost Trey Hendrickson to BAL and Joseph Ossai to NYJ; tied for last in pass rush win rate in 2025; Boye Mafe does not fully replace Hendrickson |
| 2 | DT | HIGH | Round 1 | No true disruptive interior presence; BJ Hill and TJ Slaton insufficient; signed Jonathan Allen but need high-upside youth |
| 3 | CB | HIGH | Round 1 | Secondary was a major liability in 2025; opposing offenses consistently scored; need a starting-caliber corner |
| 4 | LB | MEDIUM | Round 2 | Front seven depth lacking at linebacker; need at least one starting-caliber LB |
| 5 | OG | MEDIUM | Round 2 | Interior OL remains a concern at center and right guard; protecting Joe Burrow is non-negotiable |
| 6 | S | MEDIUM | Round 3 | Signed Bryan Cook as bridge; still need long-term young talent at safety |
Draft Strategy
Balanced Approach
This team takes a balanced approach, weighing both player value and team needs. They will take the best player available when the value is clear, but will also factor in positional need when players are similarly rated.
Team Info
Cincinnati
City
Bengals
Nickname
AFC
Conference
North
Division
2026 Draft Picks
8
Total Picks
1
Round 1
3
Top 3 Rounds
0
Compensatory
| Round | Pick | Overall | Type | Original Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rd 1 | 10 | #10 | OWN | - |
| Rd 2 | 41 | #41 | OWN | - |
| Rd 3 | 72 | #72 | OWN | - |
| Rd 4 | 110 | #110 | OWN | - |
| Rd 6 | 189 | #189 | OWN | - |
| Rd 6 | 199 | #199 | TRADE | DET |
| Rd 7 | 221 | #221 | TRADE | NYG |
| Rd 7 | 226 | #226 | OWN | - |
Needs Summary
1
EDGE
CRITICAL
2
DT
HIGH
3
CB
HIGH
4
LB
MEDIUM
5
OG
MEDIUM
6
S
MEDIUM
2026 Offseason Moves
+ Additions
Boye Mafe
DE
FREE AGENCY
from SEA
$20.0M/yr
3yr
Bryan Cook
S
FREE AGENCY
from KC
$13.4M/yr
3yr
Dalton Risner
OG
FREE AGENCY
$3.2M/yr
1yr
Jalen Davis
CB
FREE AGENCY
1-year re-signing
Jonathan Allen
DT
FREE AGENCY
from MIN
$13.0M/yr
2yr
Orlando Brown Jr.
OT
FREE AGENCY
2-year extension through 2028 re-signing
− Losses
Cordell Volson
OG
FREE AGENCY
to TEN
UFA; signed with Titans 1yr/$2.5M
Joe Flacco
QB
FREE AGENCY
Unrestricted free agent
Joseph Ossai
LB
FREE AGENCY
to NYJ
UFA; signed with Jets 3yr/$36M
Noah Fant
TE
FREE AGENCY
Unrestricted free agent
Trey Hendrickson
DE
FREE AGENCY
to BAL
UFA; not franchise-tagged; signed with Ravens 4yr/$112M; CIN receives 2027 3rd-round comp pick