The 2026 NFL draft will kick off from Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23 (8 p.m. ET).
For the first time in 37 years, the Cincinnati Bengals do not have a first-round pick after pulling off a blockbuster trade to land defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants.
The Bengals’ first selection in this year’s draft is pick No. 41 on Friday, April 24. Who will they take? Of course, the first round has to play out on Thursday, but national pundits have a general idea based on draft grades who will still be on the board.
In 1989, when the Bengals traded their first-round pick (No. 31) to Atlanta, Cincinnati used its first three picks (No. 35, No. 55 and No. 83) on offensive players. The consensus among mock-drafters is that won’t be the case this time around and the Bengals will continue to address a defense that ranked 31st overall last season.
The Lawrence trade threw a wrench in most predictions, but there is still a slew of two-round mock drafts over the last week. Here’s a list of the players mocked to the Bengals at pick No. 41.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway mocked Rodriguez to the Bengals in the second round, citing the team’s need to add depth behind second-year linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, a duo that struggled in 2025.
The Bengals were active in finding defensive free agents but didn’t sign a linebacker. Rodriguez racked up a combined 255 total tackles over his last two seasons with the Red Raiders. Last year, he had a sack, seven forced fumbles, a pair of recoveries and four interceptions.
WalterFootball also mocked Rodriguez to the Bengals at No. 41. Here’s what they said about the pick.
“Sonny Styles is no longer an option for the Bengals at No. 10. Instead, they could target the third off-ball linebacker in this class at No. 41.
“Jacob Rodriguez is an instinctive linebacker. He thrived at the combine.”
R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Bengals ranked No. 23 in the NFL in sacks (35) last season, then lost Trey Hendrickson in free agency. Cincinnati added Boye Mafe from Seattle on a three-year deal, but should target pass-rushers at some point in the draft.
Thomas combined for 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons with the Sooners.
CBS Sports mocked Thomas to the Bengals at No. 41. Here’s what they said about the pick.
“Thomas would provide Cincinnati with more depth at defensive line alongside fellow first-round picks Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart.”
Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
Mel Kiper Jr. had Thomas going one pick before the Bengals to the Chiefs at No. 40. He then mocked Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell to Cincinnati.
Howell posted 25 sacks over his last three seasons at Texas A&M on the same defensive line as Shemar Stewart.
Here’s what Kiper said about the pick.
“Bengals fans will see “Texas A&M edge rusher” and have flashbacks to last April, when the team took Shemar Stewart despite his 4.5 sacks over three seasons with the Aggies. Stewart ended up with one sack as a rookie. Howell wears the same uniform but is on the other end of the spectrum. He had 11.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season. That’s big-time production for a Cincinnati team that just lost Trey Hendrickson.”
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Bengals had the No. 26 pass defense last season. Cincinnati added a pair of safeties in Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger and one corner in Ja’Sir Taylor.
Terrell didn’t record an interception last season, but tied a Clemson single-season record with five forced fumbles and broke up nine passes. The brother of former first-round pick A.J. Terrell, he was a third-team All-American.
Rob Rang of Fox Sports mocked Terrell to the Bengals. Here’s what he said about the pick.
“Terrell didn’t run like a first-round pick at his Pro Day, but his tape and bloodlines suggest he’ll be a longtime starter.”
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Dan Wilkins from The Score has another corner going to Cincinnati in the second round.
McCoy’s landing spot this week is a storyline to follow after he suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire 2025 season. In 2024, he was a second-team All-American with the Volunteers.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Could the Bengals go with a safety in the second round? Chad Reuter of NFL.com mocked McNeil-Warren to Cincinnati.
The first-team All-MAC selection had two interceptions, three forced fumbles and 77 tackles last season. He was also a third-team All-American.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top predictions for Cincinnati Bengals 2nd-round pick
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
