Bengals Eyeing Top Defensive Prospects in NFL Draft Trade-Up

Cincinnati could look to move up to land elite linebacker or edge rusher

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:12pm

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The Cincinnati Bengals hold the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they may look to trade up in order to land one of the top defensive prospects. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese are all potential targets for the Bengals if they decide to be aggressive on draft day.

Why it matters

The Bengals' defense lost some key pieces in free agency, so they'll be looking to reload through the draft. Landing an elite defensive talent like Styles, Bailey, or Reese could be a game-changer for Cincinnati as they look to build on their recent success and make another deep playoff run.

The details

The Bengals hold the 10th overall pick, but Styles is projected to go as high as 5th overall, while Bailey and Reese could both be off the board by the time Cincinnati picks. To land one of these blue-chip prospects, the Bengals would likely need to trade up into the top 5 picks, which would be an expensive proposition but could pay dividends on the field.

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

The players

Sonny Styles

A linebacker from Ohio State University who is projected as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

David Bailey

An edge rusher from Texas Tech University who is expected to be a high first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Arvell Reese

An edge rusher from Ohio State University who is widely projected to be selected early in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What’s next

The Bengals will have to weigh the cost of trading up against the potential impact of landing one of these elite defensive prospects. They'll need to be aggressive on draft day if they want to secure a blue-chip talent to bolster their defense.

The takeaway

The Bengals have a chance to land a game-changing defensive player in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they may need to be willing to trade up in order to do so. Securing a top-tier linebacker or edge rusher could be the key to taking their defense to the next level.