Cincinnati, Ohio – As NFL free agency gains momentum, excitement is building for the upcoming NFL Draft, set to take place in April. The league recently announced its compensatory picks on Tuesday, which are awarded to teams that lose more qualifying free agents than they gain. These picks range from the third to the seventh rounds and are based on a formula taking into account average player salary, snap counts, and postseason accolades.
This year, the Cincinnati Bengals did not qualify for any compensatory picks, leaving them with a total of six picks as they head into the draft. Notably, the Bengals traded their seventh-round pick in 2025 to the Chicago Bears to acquire running back Khalil Herbert during the 2024 NFL season.
The Bengals hold the 17th overall pick in this year’s draft. This pick has been significant for the franchise in the past, having picked 17th four times historically, with the last occurrence in 2012 when they selected cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.
Following their 2024 draft selection of Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims, various mock drafts suggest multiple directions for the Bengals with the 17th pick. While the team may bolster the offensive line, many analysts are leaning towards selecting defensive talents who could make a real impact.
Pundits have spotlighted numerous potential game-changers for Cincinnati, and the anticipation continues to build as the draft draws near. The Bengals now have a chance to enhance their roster significantly with the draft approaches.
As the team prepares for this crucial moment in the offseason, fans can look forward to exciting developments leading up to the draft in Green Bay.
