The Cincinnati Bengals love a good homecoming. There are a handful of players in the 2026 NFL Draft who are familiar with the team and city as they await where they will end up, including a potential top-10 pick.
As the NFL Draft inches closer, we continue our look at defensive prospects that could fit the Cincinnati Bengals in each round in which they have at least one pick.
Legitimate questions about Burrow's future in Cincinnati arose when he first mentioned in December 2025 that he needed "to have fun [playing] again."
The Bengals have Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson backing up Joe Burrow at quarterback this offseason, but those veterans are in their final NFL days. Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo met with Syracuse quarterback Luke Altmeyer this week, and he noted a pre-draft meeting with the Bengals, potentially setting up a youth injection for that position.
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 Cincinnati Bengals have gone through a facelift on the defensive side of the ball. Edge Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, safeties Bryan
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.
The rumor mill is spinning faster than a Joe Burrow spiral, but Orlando Brown Jr. is here to cut through the noise. As whispers of a potential Cincinnati Bengals breakup continue to dominate the offseason headlines, the star left tackle didn’t mince words when addressing his quarterback’s future.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2016 NFL Draft class had just seven picks, but most of them became starting-level players. None of them made more of an impact for Cincinnati than wide receiver Tyler Boyd.
The Cincinnati Bengals need to hit the jackpot during the 2026 NFL Draft after adding some talent on defense during free agency. They were able to land Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook, among others, to bolster their defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals met with Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark at the 2026 American Bowl. Clark, originally a backup for Minnesota, says the meeting with Cincy was memorable.
The Cincinnati Bengals have made a few upgrades to their roster in free agency this offseason. Pair that with the dominance of the team's offense and a big 2026 draft class, then this Bengals team could be a real contender in the coming years.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ strategy for the 2026 NFL Draft starts with a simple truth: standing still is just an option. This franchise has flirted with greatness and built around an elite quarterback and a battle-tested core.
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.
Those associated with the Raiders would likely be thrilled if Mendoza follows in Burrow's footsteps.
The Cincinnati Bengals own the No. 10 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Here are three players, all defensive linemen, Cincinnati should avoid with that pick.
The 2026 NFL Draft is 10 days away, sparking another look at the pick availability for all of the top prospects Cincinnati could take with the 10th pick in this cycle.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason needing to upgrade their defense in a big way. Their defense was one of the worst units in the league last year, and it's going to continue holding them back from contending until it's fixed.
The Cincinnati Bengals are approaching the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear objective to address a surprising need that has emerged on their roster. As attention shifts toward adding another offensive weapon, prospects like Michael Trigg, Jack Endries and Eli Raridon have surfaced as potential fits.
The Bengals kept the pre-draft visit train rolling this weekend with an interior defensive mauler joining the fray. Ryan Fowler reported that Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter was at Paycor Stadium visiting the team on Saturday.
The Cincinnati Bengals have not played overseas since 2019, when the AFC North side fell to the Los Angeles Rams inside Wembley Stadium in a 24-10 loss.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason needing to upgrade their defense, so they spent most of free agency hunting down some impact players. They added Bryan Cook, Ja'Sir Taylor, and Kyle Dugger to bolster the secondary.
The Cincinnati Bengals need to land an impact starter at pick No. 10. There are no other outcomes that should be accepted. They have holes on the team, notably on defense, and they need to land somebody who can make an impact right away.
Thanks in part to a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring and 31st in yards, the Bengals sputtered to a 6-11 record in 2025. A healthy season from quarterback Joe Burrow would go a long way toward an improved record in 2026, but the Bengals are still in dire need of defensive help.
The visit schedule keeps heating up more and more for the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo reported a visit with Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson.
Cincinnati Bengals senior defensive assistant Sean Desai had a huge impact on Boye Mafe becoming the most expensive free agent signing in franchise history.
The Bengals made a pair of notable draft investments at the linebacker spot during last year’s draft. Both Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter played key defensive roles as rookies, and they will be expected to do so again in 2026.
Flacco didn't hold back regarding his thoughts on teams not giving him a chance to start in 2026.
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