Cincinnati Bengals: How Many Picks Are Spent On Defense?
After a season where the Bengals’ defense allowed the most yards and third-most points in the NFL, the easy answer to this question is all of them. The team struggled to defend both the pass and the run, and despite adding former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe and former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook, there are still holes all over Cincinnati’s defense. The team also lost former All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson to their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens. After leading the league in sacks in 2024 with 17.5, Hendrickson struggled along with the rest of the team, posting only four.
After trading away Logan Wilson last season to the Dallas Cowboys, the Bengals’ linebacking corps is among the worst in the NFL. The team also needs help at corner, as well as depth at safety and across the defensive line. The amount of draft capital spent on defense will come down to who is available at each of the Bengals’ picks, as well as whether the team decides to upgrade on offense.
Running back is one position the Bengals could upgrade, as current starter Chase Brown is serviceable but not elite. Bringing in competition for receiver Andrei Iosivas could strengthen an already elite receiving corps that contains Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Cincinnati could also continue to invest in the offensive line in an effort to protect quarterback Joe Burrow, who has struggled to stay on the field throughout his career. When healthy, Burrow is an elite talent who is more than capable of leading a high-powered offense, even with an average supporting cast.
Assuming the board allows for it, at minimum, the Bengals should use their first three picks on defense. This would allow them to come away with an impact player in the secondary and the linebacking corps, as well as build up the depth of the unit. If the Bengals want to contend for the division in 2026, they cannot send out a defense that will rank among the league’s worst again. A healthy Burrow can take care of the offense, but he needs a defense to help him.
