Why the Bengals don't have a Round 1 pick in 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For the first time in almost 40 years, the Cincinnati Bengals are without a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. 37 years, to be precise.
After a one-for-one swap of the Giants' Dexter Lawrence for the Bengals' No. 10 overall pick, Cincinnati is now in pioseesion of a three-time Pro Bowler. Zac Taylor and his defense have been nothing short of disappointing ever since their Super Bowl 56 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and the departure of star Trey Hendrickson did not make things any easier for fans.
Now, the Bengals are banking on a resurgence from Lawrence after a disappointing 2025 season with New York. Perhaps a change of scenery and conference will help the defensive tackle return to being a defensive menace.
Here is a recap on why Cincinnati does not have a first-round pick, along with who the Giants may take with their second Round 1 pick.
NFL DRAFT RANKINGS 2026:QBs | WRs | TEs | EDGE | RBs
Being without a first-round pick should come as a weird sight for Bengal fans. The Cincinnati franchise has had a Round 1 pick in every draft since 1989, according to Pro Football Reference.
A large portion of the Bengals' first-round picks, with the exception of Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, have been swing-and-misses. Now, the franchise will be without a decision to make on Day 1 of the 2026 Draft, barring a trade.
Cincinnati will be without the first-round pick in this year's draft after acquiring Dexter Lawrence from the Giants. Here are the full trade details:
Cincinnati Bengals received: DT Dexter Lawrence
New York Giants received: 2026 first-round pick (No. 10)
To address the continuous concerns about not gifting star QB Joe Burrow enough prowess on the defensive side of the ball, the Bengals opted to exchange their No. 10 pick for Lawrence. His 2025 campaign with the Giants was nothing short of abysmal, finishing with career lows across the board in sacks (0.5), solo tackles (14), and total tackles (31). However, Cincinnati is showing that they will hold out hope that a change of scenery will help Lawrence return to his 2024 form when he finished with nine sacks and his third-straight nod to the Pro Bowl.
The Giants were already slotted to draft either an elite offensive or defensive player; now, they can take either or double up on a specific side of the ball. Fans were debating whether it was worth it to draft an elite WR at No. 5, or choose a star defender if Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, or Caleb Downs were available. According to Vinnie Iyer's latest three-round mock draft, the Giants are projected to take LB Sonny Styles at No. 5, and WR Jordyn Tyson with the Bengals' No. 10 pick.
Cincinnati will make its first selection at No. 41 in the second round. This marks the first time the Bengals are without a first-round pick since the 1989 Draft.
The team has found some success in recent second rounds, such as the 2022 Draft. That year, the Bengals selected Tee Higgins at No. 33, and he signed a four-year, $115 million extension with the team in March 2025. Cincinnati does have a servicable amount of draft capital to still have the potential of trading up or down in this year's draft.