The Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled to make their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in the second round, which starts at 7 p.m.
The Bengals didn't have a first-round pick after trading the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Cincinnati has seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and has needs at defensive end, defensive back and linebacker as well as offensive line depth.
Here's everything you need to know for the Bengals in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Here are the seven picks the Bengals have in the remaining six rounds of the draft:
Round 2, Pick 41Round 3, Pick 72Round 4, Pick 110Round 6, Pick 189Round 6, Pick 199Round 7, Pick 221Round 7, Pick 226
The second round of the draft begins at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Rounds two and three are tonight with rounds four-through-seven on Saturday, starting at noon.
Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway has the Bengals selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez in the second round at No. 41 overall.
From Conway: "... 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."
Conway has the Bengals selecting Missouri defensive end Zion Young in the third round at pick 72.
Per Conway: "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."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals picks in 2026 NFL Draft round 2, 3 | What to know