The 2026 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. when the first round begins in Pittsburgh. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the prohibitive favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders and things are uncertain after that.
The draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network and runs tonight through Saturday, April, 25. Rounds two and three begin at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, and rounds four-through-seven start at noon on Saturday.
The Cincinnati Bengals don’t have a first-round pick after trading the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Follow along for live updates during the first round of the 20v6 NFL Draft:
2026 NFL Draft is underway: The Oakland Raiders are on the clock
The crowd has been assembling in Pittsburgh all day. The anthems have been sung. It’s time to begin the 2026 NFL Draft.
Can the Bengals trade back into the first round of the NFL draft?
The Bengals could package picks from this year and the future, but currently don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Coupled with limited salary cap space − less than $6 million in effective cap space, according to overthecap.com − Cincinnati would need to move around a lot of money via restructured contracts. For instance, the No. 10 pick, which now belongs to the Giants, is nearly a $6 million cap hit in the first season.
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 NFL Draft picks
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
How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft
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 Friday with rounds four-through-seven on Saturday, starting at noon.
Where can I stream the NFL draft?
The 2026 NFL Draft can be seen on multiple outlets for live streaming. Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and NFL+ will all have live coverage. The platforms will have programming from ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
Who will the Bengals pick in the second round of the NFL draft?
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.”
Who will the Bengals pick in the third round of the NFL draft?
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: Live updates from 2026 NFL Draft 1st round. Will Bengals trade up?
Reporting by Jason Hoffman and Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
