The Cincinnati Bengals are slated to have seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Bengals, however, aren't scheduled to make their first selection until Friday's second round because the team traded it's 10th overall pick in the first round for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Cincinnati also doesn't have a fifth-round pick, which was used to acquire quarterback Joe Flacco and a sixth-round pick from the Cleveland Browns last season.
The Bengals need to nail this draft after three consecutive years of missing the playoffs. It's important for Cincinnati to come away with at least three impact players on defense.
So, without further ado, here is my two-round mock draft.
The Bengals will use their second-round pick on a linebacker for a second year in a row. In 2025, Bengals’ director of personnel Duke Tobin used two of his six picks on linebackers Demetrius Knight (second round) and Barrett Carter (fourth round).
Knight and Carter’s rookie seasons were full of ups and downs. The franchise is hopeful both players take a step forward in Year 2. But the pick of Rodriguez gives the Bengals a safety net if the plan doesn’t go as expected for Knight and Carter.
It’s also worth noting the Bengals didn’t address the linebacker position in free agency despite a glaring need to improve at the position.
The Bengals used one of their top 30 pre-draft visits on Rodriguez, signaling their interest in him. He’s athletic and versatile, and maybe most importantly, is highly praised for his leadership. He was a two-time team captain at Texas Tech.
Rodriguez also has a knack for taking the ball away and creating turnovers. He led FBS with seven forced fumbles in 2025 and registered over 100 tackles in each of his final two seasons at the collegiate level.
In selecting Rodriguez, the Bengals get a player who can compete for a starting role immediately.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Bengals have to improve on defense and it’s why they use their first two picks on that side of the ball.
After signing defensive end Boye Mafe in free agency, Cincinnati now rounds out its edge group with a flush of new, young talent. The Bengals used their first-round pick in 2025 on defensive end Shemar Stewart. His rookie season didn’t go as planned due to injuries and a contract holdout in the offseason.
Former 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy and Mafe will enter the season as the projected starters at defensive end. Stewart is expected to take a big leap in his second season. Now, Young completes the room.
Young started two years at Missouri and recorded nine sacks. He’s not the best edge rusher in this year’s draft class, but he showed a lot of promise during his final seasons in the SEC. He finished second in the SEC in tackles for loss (16.5) and third in quarterback pressures (53).
With the right development plan and coaching, Young could make an impact early for the Bengals in their quest to apply more pressure on opponents’ quarterbacks.
Round 2, Pick 41Round 3, Pick 72Round 4, Pick 110Round 6, Pick 189Round 6, Pick 199Round 7, Pick 221Round 7, Pick 226
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals mock draft for 2026 NFL Draft round 2, 3