Bengals Take Risky Approach in New 7-Round NFL Mock Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals' draft strategy in this projection includes a controversial first-round pick and a small trade.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:23pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant orange, black, and white tones, capturing the energy and movement of a football game in an abstract, cubist style.A cubist interpretation of the Bengals' draft strategy, deconstructing the team's risky first-round pick and efforts to build depth across the roster.Cincinnati Today

A new 7-round NFL mock draft from NFL.com's Chad Reuter has the Cincinnati Bengals making some bold moves, including selecting cornerback Jermod McCoy in the first round despite his injury history and executing a small trade to add more picks later in the draft. The Bengals also address needs at safety, edge rusher, and tight end in this projection.

Why it matters

The Bengals have several holes to fill on their roster, particularly in the secondary, pass rush, and tight end depth. This mock draft illustrates how the team could approach the draft with a mix of high-risk, high-reward selections and more conservative depth additions.

The details

In the first round, the Bengals are projected to select cornerback Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee, despite the fact that he missed the entire 2025 season due to an ACL tear. The Bengals have shown a willingness to take chances on players with injury histories, as they did with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. At pick No. 10, McCoy would provide much-needed help in the secondary, but his injury is a significant red flag. Later in the draft, the Bengals make a small trade to add more picks, selecting safety McNeil-Warren, edge rusher Jake Golday, and tight end depth.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26.

The players

Jermod McCoy

A cornerback from the University of Tennessee who missed the entire 2025 season due to an ACL tear, but impressed at his pro day workout.

McNeil-Warren

A safety prospect who could provide depth and development behind the Bengals' current starters.

Jake Golday

A local product who could provide insurance at edge rusher if the Bengals' gambles on other prospects don't pan out.

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What they’re saying

“McCoy looked healthy and fast during his pro-day workout, likely locking up an early draft slot. Don't forget that Cincinnati took a shot on Ja'Marr Chase after the receiver did not play in his final college season. They might not blink at selecting McCoy, even though he missed the entire 2025 campaign after suffering an ACL tear in January of that year.”

— Chad Reuter, NFL.com Analyst

What’s next

The Bengals will continue to evaluate prospects and finalize their draft board ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins on April 24.

The takeaway

This 7-round mock draft highlights the Bengals' willingness to take calculated risks in the draft, particularly with their first-round selection of Jermod McCoy despite his injury history. The team also looks to address depth needs at several positions, though the lack of an interior defensive lineman selection may raise some eyebrows.