The Cincinnati Bengals watched Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft go by without making a pick, and Friday now brings the work they actually need: finding help on Day 2. With No. 41 in hand, the Bengals are expected to chase defense, and the board is already starting to point them toward specific names if they want to get aggressive.
One of the most intriguing options is Jermod McCoy, who made it through the first round despite looking like an NFL starter before his injury. McCoy tore his ACL and missed 2025, and that knee issue is what pushed him out of Round 1. He still ran 4.38 at his pro day, and that speed, combined with tape that was described as arguably the best individual season of any cornerback in the draft, keeps him in the conversation.
There is a wrinkle, though. Dane Brugler said McCoy was off some teams’ boards for another issue in the knee, not the ACL itself, which is exactly the kind of medical split that can change a draft room’s math. The Bengals did not use Thursday to solve that problem, but Friday gives them a chance to decide whether the talent is worth the risk.
If Cincinnati leans away from cornerback, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald is one possibility if he is still there at No. 41. The Ohio State lineman would fit as depth and as part of a young, powerful wave up front, and taking him would also point the Bengals away from T.J. Slaton and his $6.6 million cap savings. That is not a small call. It is a roster decision with money attached.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is another name to watch. The Toledo defender could fill the star role the way Seattle used Nick Emmanwori last year, but the Bengals traditionally stay away from small-school players this early, so that fit comes with a clear organizational hurdle. The same is true for the larger board at the position group level: Cincinnati may like the player, but it has to be willing to make the exception.
Linebacker, though, looks like the clearest thread. Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech was described as the leader in the clubhouse as a Bengals target in the second round, and the club is expected to be seeking linebackers. That focus does not come out of nowhere. Cincinnati also watched Clemson defenders closely during the pre-draft process, which gives them more options if the board turns messy before their pick arrives.
So while Thursday ended with the Bengals as spectators, Friday should bring the first real answer to what kind of team they want to build around the rest of the draft. They can wait and see whether McCoy or McDonald falls, or they can move toward linebacker and a cleaner fit in the second round. Either way, No. 41 is the point where the Bengals have to stop watching and start choosing.
