The Cincinnati Bengals traded away the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, leaving them without a first-round pick for the first time since 1989. That was a bold, win-now move, and honestly, it was the right call for a franchise that desperately needed to show Joe Burrow they’re serious.

But bold moves come with consequences, and the biggest one is this: Cincinnati’s first selection is No. 41 overall in Round 2, with a number of roster needs still to fill. 

So when that pick card gets turned in Friday night, it better have the right name on it.

Cornerback is the biggest need for the Bengals, with linebacker a close second. They also have questions along the offensive line, with Lawrence already solving the interior defensive line puzzle.

The work left is in the secondary and with DJ Turner and Dax Hill already anchoring the linebacker group, Cincinnati still needs some depth pieces to strengthen that unit. That’s where Duke Tobin’s focus should be.

The Bengals spent multiple picks in 2025 on the linebacker spot, adding Demetrius Knight on Day 2 and Barrett Carter on Day 3. The problem is that in 2025, Carter and Knight were one of the worst LB pairings in the NFL, either missing tackles or being picked on in coverage. Knight alone gave up a 106.7 passer rating in coverage. 

With Lawrence now in the middle, the Bengals could use a quarterback of the defense, someone who can make plays in coverage but also play cleanup behind Lawrence’s revamped defensive line. And the best realistic fit at 41? Jacob Rodriguez out of Texas Tech.

Rodriguez is arguably the top realistic target at linebacker for the Bengals and could come in and bring instant stability to that room. He’s not a flashy name, but the Bengals don’t need a flashy name, they need a player that can get the job done. 

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. If the Bengals find that cornerback has dried up by the time they pick, Rodriguez is the move. But if Avieon Terrell is somehow still sitting there? They should take him without blinking.  Terrell is the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, and projects as a starting boundary corner with nickel flexibility. He compiled 125 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, 25 passes defensed, and eight forced fumbles across his career at Clemson. 

Terrell was widely expected to follow in his brother’s footsteps as a first-round selection, but a hamstring injury hampered his performance during the draft process, and that’s the only reason he’s even in this conversation at pick 41. He played man coverage on 44.1% of his snaps in 2025 and posted consistently good PFF coverage grades across three seasons, including an 83.5 PFF defense grade in his final year. 

Terrell is an athletic, fluid mover with clean transitions and enough speed to stay in phase on vertical routes. 

In Al Golden’s defense, that matters. They need corners who can handle man assignments and not get eaten alive when opposing offenses spread the field against Burrow’s competition.

The honest truth about this pick is that the Bengals don’t have the luxury of reaching. The rumor mill has suggested Burrow may be growing displeased with the team’s struggles, and if the Bengals want to keep their franchise quarterback around long-term, they need to prove they can surround him with a winning roster. 

My final take before Friday’s draft: go for the best player available between Rodriguez and Terrell. Both fill genuine holes. Both have Day 1 starter ceilings.