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Bengals go heavy on defense in final 7-round NFL Mock Draft
TL;DR
The Bengals are focusing on defense in their final 7-round NFL Mock Draft. They recently traded their first-round pick for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, indicating a strong commitment to winning now.
Key points
- Bengals focus on defense in NFL Mock Draft
- Traded first-round pick for Dexter Lawrence
- Commitment to winning now
- Possible future trades predicted
Mentioned in this story
Dexter Lawrence
Bengals
The day is here! The day we have all been waiting for, for months.
Today is the start of the NFL Draft. Some of us simply turn it on and watch the first couple of rounds, and others create thousands of mock drafts to see if they can even come close to guessing who their favorite team is going to pick. In the end, nobody really knows except the front office sitting in the war room.
Though the Bengals already made a pre-draft trade over the weekend as they traded away their first round pick (#10) for All-Pro defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence. Some say it was too steep, and others say itās about time this front office made some sort of splash, showing they want to win right now.
Albert Breer has already predicted that he believes this isnāt the last trade for the Bengals. He believes they jump high for Joe Burrow and make another trade. Only question is: Do they make a giant trade back into the first round, move up, or maybe back into the second round?
For now, hereās my projection for the Bengalsā current draft picks.
Pick 41: Jacob Rodriguez (LB)
Iām sticking to my guns. This will be very interesting. In all of the mock drafts I have completed or have seen, the Texas Tech linebacker falls anywhere from 32-43. I say he falls to 41, and the Bengals pounce on the Red Raider linebacker.
Jacob Rodriguez (6ā1 235) Texas Tech
- Productive with 255 tackles, 6 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles over the last two seasons
- Team captain and leader
- Physicality as a tackler
- Football intelligence and was originally a QB at Virginia
- Impressive instinctsā¦ pic.twitter.com/hgweU9K3L0
ā Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) January 24, 2026
Pick 72: Jalon Kilgore (S)
Iām going to stretch again. Ever since the combine, he has risen in the ranks. He filled perfectly into Nick Emmanworiās shoes to become the Gamecocksā premier safety. The Bengals added Bryan Cook a couple of months ago, but Iām not passing up on a big safety if I come across one.
Q&A
What trade did the Bengals make before the NFL Draft?
The Bengals traded their first-round pick (#10) for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Who is predicted to be traded by the Bengals during the NFL Draft?
Albert Breer predicts that the Bengals may make another trade, potentially moving up or back into the first round.
What is the Bengals' strategy for the NFL Draft?
The Bengals are going heavy on defense in their final 7-round NFL Mock Draft.
Why did the Bengals trade their first-round pick?
The trade was made to acquire Dexter Lawrence, showing the Bengals' desire to strengthen their defense and compete immediately.
