The Cincinnati Bengals traded away their first-round pick in this year’s draft for former New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on April 18.

If the Bengals hadn’t agreed to a trade with the Giants, Cincinnati would have owned the 10th pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

Based on how the first nine picks went, here are the players who were available that fit the Bengals’ needs:

Downs, an Ohio State safety was one of the most popular prospects picked to the Bengals in mock drafts. He was projected to be the first safety drafted in 2026 and went No. 11 overall to the Cowboys.

Ruben Bain Jr. would've filled a need at defensive end and was a highly rated prospect from the runner-up Hurricanes last season. He did not have the measurables in terms of arm length at the combine to make him a top-five pick, but the production was there on film in college.