Bengals draft picks tracker: Every selection, live grades

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The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2025 NFL season hoping to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 campaign. Instead, they posted their first losing record since the 2020 NFL season while dealing with familiar problems.

Joe Burrow was unable to stay healthy and played just eight games in 2025 because of a toe injury. The Bengals went 5-3 when he led the team but just 1-8 without him.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati's defense was once again one of the league's worst. The Bengals' stop unit allowed the fourth-most defensive EPA per play in 2025, per NFL Next Gen Stats, while ranking 22nd in pressure rate. They made a splash on April 18, trading for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, parting ways with the tenth overall pick in the process.

Because of those persistent issues, the Bengals are likely to continue investing in their defense in hopes of eventually building a quality unit. Cincinnati could also look to bolster the protection in front of Burrow, just to give the 29-year-old quarterback a better chance of staying healthy for a full season.

Here's everything to know about the Bengals' picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:

Bengals 2026 NFL Draft picks​

The Bengals have seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list:

• Round 2, Pick 41
• Round 3, Pick 72
• Round 4, Pick 110
• Round 6, Pick 189
• Round 6, Pick 199 (from Lions via Browns)
• Round 7, Pick 221 (from Giants via Cowboys)
• Round 7, Pick 226

The Bengals are without their first-round pick after trading it to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence.

DEXTER LAWRENCE TRADE GRADES: Who won blockbuster Giants-Bengals deal?

Bengals 2026 NFL Draft needs​

Cornerback​

DJ Turner II has blossomed into a solid starting cornerback for the Bengals, but the team could use a high-end option across from him to help keep Dax Hill in the slot. Cincinnati could consider adding a player like Brandon Cisse or Chris Johnson with their second-round selection, if either is still on the board.

Edge rusher​

The Bengals lost Trey Hendrickson to the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason. They signed Boye Mafe to help replace him, but they could still stand to add a third edge rusher to pair with Mafe and 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart long-term.

Offensive tackle​

Orlando Brown Jr. is coming off a difficult 2025 season during which he surrendered nine sacks and committed 10 penalties while grading 60th among 84 qualified offensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus. The Bengals thought enough of Brown to give him a two-year extension in the offseason, but adding some mid-round depth to serve as eventual competition for the 29-year-old would be wise.

Bengals 2026 NFL mock draft​

Here's what the Bengals could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:

• Round 2, Pick 63*: CB Chandler Rivers, Duke
  • Rivers is another undersized cornerback at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds who plays bigger than his frame with a thumping run defense presence. Downs’ arrival in Round 1 will raise the floor of the secondary and Rivers could compete for the nickel spot to ease pressure on Downs to stick to that spot from Day 1. Rivers could also compete for an outside spot where he spent time in college.
• Round 3, Pick 72: IOL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
  • Cincinnati could use more help on the interior offensive line and Rutledge is a good value at this spot. The Georgia Tech product offers great burst off the line as a standout run blocker for the future on the interior.
• Round 4, Pick 110: Edge Anthony Lucas, USC
• Round 4, Pick 131*: RB Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
• Round 6, Pick 189: CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
• Round 6, Pick 191*: Edge Vincent Anthony Jr., Duke
• Round 6, Pick 199: S Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
• Round 7, Pick 221: OT Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame
• Round 7, Pick 226: WR Kendrick Law, Kentucky

* Projected trade with the New England Patriots.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bengals NFL draft tracker 2026: Full list of picks, live grades

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