Cincinnati Bengals: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

One Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Target for Each Round of the NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals are certain to focus on defense in the NFL Draft later this month, but the order in which they target specific position groups on that side of the ball is less clear.

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Rival coach rubs salt on a wound Bengals fans are still trying to heal from thanks to Cincinnati’s brutal mistake

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski now has Jessie Bates III on his team, and he remembers very clearly how tough it was to call plays against the Cincinnati Bengals when Bates was with his original team.

Cincinnati Bengals News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 8

Cincinnati Bengals Rank Among Top 10 Team In Defensive Draft Capital Used This Decade

Cincinnati has invested a ton of draft capital into the defensive side of the ball this decade. Warren Sharp broke down the numbers on X this week, noting that the Bengals have spent the ninth-most draft capital on that side of the ball since 2020, all while never fielding a top 10 total defense across that time.

Cincinnati Bengals News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 8

Ranking the Cincinnati Bengals Best Second-Round Picks of All Time

Every spring as the NFL machine steamrolls toward the draft, so much of the focus is on the first round. And rightfully so. That’s where blue chips and difference makers are.

Stephon Gilmore News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NFL Defensive Players of the Year' quiz

The AP has awarded its Defensive Player of the Year Award to the NFL's most outstanding defender since 1971. How many of the NFL DPOYs can you name in six minutes?

The 'Most INT's in a first NFL start' quiz

The '2024-25 NFL interceptions leaders' quiz

The 'Longest NFL receptions of 2025' quiz

Cincinnati Bengals News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 8

Bengals Among Bottom-Half of Teams in Salary Cap Space Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

The Bengals may be largely wrapped with free agency deals outside of some signings on the margins here and there for the rest of the offseason. They have the rookie pool to sign and still can make a couple of extensions happen for worthy candidates, DJ Turner II and Dax Hill.

NFL News / Yardbarker

First-round NFL mock draft: Mendoza goes No.1, then who?

Teams are finalizing their Big Boards with much of NFL free agency in the rearview mirror. There's a look at the least first-round mock draft as of April 8, 2026.

Cincinnati Bengals News / A to Z Sports / April 8

Bengals land the perfect 2026 NFL Draft trade in ESPN’s trade-filled mock but are given strange advice with their haul

The Cincinnati Bengals should be open to trading back early on in the 2026 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Bill Barwell proposes how they can do that in the first-round.

DJ Turner News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 8

Cincinnati Star Cornerback Speaks On Getting Benched Ahead Of Last Season

Every NFL player has their ups and downs. For rising star DJ Turner II, his career has been no different. From being one of the league’s breakout cornerbacks

Cincinnati Bengals News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 8

Bengals Move Down In All Trades 2026 NFL Mock Draft

ESPN's Bill Barnwell released his annual all-trades mock draft on Monday, and he had the Bengals making a trade-back deal with the Rams to move down from No.

Cincinnati Bengals News / NFL on ClutchPoints / April 8

Bengals’ perfect 2026 NFL Draft trade

The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason, like most of their recent offseasons, has been aimed at fixing their defense. The 2026 offseason has brought the team the most intriguing pieces that they’ve seen in a while.

NFL News / Gridiron Heroics / April 7

Cincinnati Bengals: Suddenly Cut Backup O-Lineman, ex-7th Round Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals interior offensive line depth weakened following the departure of several backups. Lucas Patrick joined the New York Giants, Cordell Volson signed with the Tennessee Titans, and Seth McLaughlin, whom Cincinnati declined to sign to a reserve/future deal, instead teamed up with the Detroit Lions.

B.J. Hill News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 7

BJ Hill Seemingly Hints at Bengals Making Blockbuster Move

There are a couple of different needs that the Bengals must address either before, during, or after the NFL draft in under three weeks, and first-year captain BJ Hill has taken to X to seemingly hint at a big move coming for the Bengals.

NFL News / Yardbarker

2026 NFL Draft: Small-school prospects who will make a big impact

NFL prospects from major programs get most of the attention, but there are numerous examples of players drafted from small schools who have become difference-makers.

2026 NFL Draft: 25 prospects who are diamonds in the rough

2026 NFL Draft: 20 famous names who won't be drafted until the later rounds

NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza’s big issue among latest intel

Penn State's Drew Allar sends message to teams ahead of NFL Draft

NFL GM makes prediction about Giants, Caleb Downs draft rumors

NFL News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 7

Bengals Dream Trade Lands Pro Bowl DT, Elite Playmaker in NFL Draft

The Bengals are in a window where they must pull every lever possible to bring the Cincinnati its first ever Lombardi trophy, and following a visit with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love it is clear that the team views the star playmaker in high regard as we approach what is a critical draft.

Cincinnati Bengals News / A to Z Sports / April 7

Bengals make surprising player their first offseason roster cut, and the move only amplifies a need in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals waived backup center Matt Lee, making the former seventh-round pick the first player Cincinnati removed from its roster this offseason.

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The 'Most games played by MLB team' quiz

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Cincinnati Bengals News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 7

2026 NFL Mock Draft: Cincinnati Bengals Land Dream DB to Bolster Defense

The Cincinnati Bengals have a Super Bowl contender of an offense. Their unit, led by Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, is one of the best in the league. They can contend with any opposing defense, but the Bengals' defense has been one of the worst defenses in the league.

Cincinnati Bengals News / Cincinnati Bengals on SI / April 7

Cincinnati Bengals Release Backup Offensive Lineman, Shining Glaring Light on Depth Need

The backup center spot got even thinner behind Ted Karras this week. Cincinnati announced on Tuesday that the team is releasing center Matt Lee. The third-year player got picked by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in 22 games with one start for Cincinnati.

Matt Lee News / NFLTradeRumors.co / April 7

Bengals Waiving C Matt Lee

Per SI.com’s Jay Morrison, the Bengals are waiving C Matt Lee. Lee, 24, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Bengals out of Miami back in 2024. He was able to crack the opening day roster and appeared in all 17 games as a rookie with one start. In 2025, Lee appeared in five games for the Bengals, but made no starts.