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. Now, the Bengals are banking on a resurgence from Lawrence after a disappointing 2025 season with New York.

A new rumor claims that long before the Cincinnati Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence, they were eyeing a deal for […]

One could be forgiven for thinking the Cincinnati Bengals are mostly done with trades after the blockbuster move that sent the 10th overall pick in exchange for Dexter Lawrence . But that just might not be the case.

Trading for Dexter Lawrence has the Cincinnati Bengals in a bountiful position at defensive tackle. If they are going to trade anybody away during the 2026 NFL Draft, it will most likely be at this position.

The Bengals finally made their big move on defense this offseason by adding Dexter Lawrence in a blockbuster trade with the New York Giants in exchange for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. A trade like this is a clear indication that the front office is trying to win right now.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the most conservative NFL teams regarding draft capital for most of their existence. They have built through the NFL Draft, and since 2000, you would need to search pretty hard for the rare occasions that they would even move up in the draft.

But those Bengals still fit in a pretty good spot to land a good defensive player in Round 2 who might just be able to help as a rookie. A recent mock draft from Peter Schrager of ESPN illustrates this point quite well.

One NFL Insider Believes the Cincinnati Bengals Could Make Big Moves in the 2026 NFL Draft. Yes, Even After the Bengals Traded for Dexter Lawrence.