SIX AND 11 ON THE YEAR. JARON MAY IS HERE WITH US. JARON. YOU JOINED US EARLIER. YOU SAID THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOE BURROW AND JA’MARR CHASE IN TERMS OF ZAC TAYLOR’S FUTURE. WE EXPECT TAYLOR TO BE BACK NEXT SEASON. WHAT ELSE DID YOU GATHER POSTGAME THAT WILL STAND OUT HEADING INTO THE OFF SEASON? YEAH, WELL, CHARLIE, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE THINKS THAT THE CURRENT ROSTER HERE IN CINCINNATI CAN WIN AND MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS. IF NOT, GO AND MAKE A DEEP RUN INSIDE THE PLAYOFFS. A LOT OF GUYS SUPPORTING ZAC TAYLOR AND THE COACHING STAFF, SAYING THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE A GOOD TEAM HERE IN CINCINNATI. HOWEVER, AS YOU KNOW, THERE OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE SOME CHANGE. SO SOME PLAYERS SPEAKING OUT, JA’MARR CHASE, ONE OF THEM APPLYING SOME PRESSURE TO THE FRONT OFFICE, SAYING, I REALLY HAVE SOME BELIEF IN MYSELF. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE CONFIDENCE AND I CAN GO MAKE PLAYS. HOWEVER, JA’MARR CHASE NOT FULLY SUPPORTING ZAC TAYLOR AND THE ENTIRE COACHING STAFF, SO SOME CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE MADE. ZAC TAYLOR IS EXPECTED TO BE HERE, BUT THERE’S OBVIOUSLY SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. FITTING, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IN TERMS OF HOW OUR SEASON HAS GONE AND IT DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT. SEVERAL TIMES WE’VE HAD GAMES WHERE WE PLAYED WELL IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND WE JUST WE JUST HAVEN’T FOUND A WAY TO TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. I’M VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR COACHING STAFF. I KNOW THOSE GUYS WORK REALLY HARD TO PUT US IN GOOD POSITIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS FEEL WELL PREPARED AND PUT IN THE BEST SPOT TO GO OUT AND SUCCEED. FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I THINK WE’RE IN A GOOD SPOT. ZAC AND THIS COACHING STAFF STILL HAVE YOUR UTMOST CONFIDENCE. I AM VERY CONFIDENT IN MYSELF. I’M CONFIDENT IN THE PLACE THEY CALL FOR ME TO GET OPEN. THIS SEASON IS THE SEASON OF THE WOOD BE KINGS WE COME UP A PLAY SHORT IN ABOUT SEVEN GAMES. THAT’S THE REALITY IN THE NFL. SIX AND 11. IT’S TOUGH. OBVIOUSLY WE PLAYED GAME TO GO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS, SO IT’S TOUGH. WE CAN’T JUST WE GOT TO DO IS JUST COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND TRY TO DO IT. ZAC TAYLOR WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA TOMORROW AT 430. CHARLIE. JA
The top of the NFL Draft order is now set: Here’s when the Bengals will get their first-round pick
Updated: 10:28 PM EST Jan 4, 2026
As the final day of the NFL regular season draws to a close, the top of the 2026 draft order has now been set.After losing 20-18 to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Bengals finished the season with a 6-11 record, which marked their worst seasonal performance since 2020.Among other woes throughout the season, Cincinnati suffered through a tumultuous year that saw the team have three different quarterbacks at the helm after Joe Burrow’s Week 2 turf toe injury, the Bengals’ single biggest blowout in franchise history the very next week in his absence, and the team collectively putting up some of the NFL’s worst defensive stats of all-time.However, if nothing else as a result of these struggles, Cincinnati now stands to profit in the offseason from its pain, with teams that do worse during the season mandated to receive higher picking priority in the NFL Draft over those who do better.So, where does Cincinnati stand? This year, as part of the NFL Draft, Cincinnati will select tenth overall for its first pick, according to ESPN.Already, defensive players are widely expected to be highly prioritized by the team for many of its first few draft picks as a result of its defensive woes this season. Although who specifically may be drafted still remains anyone’s guess.Last year, the Bengals drafted defensive end Shemar Stewart as their first-round pick. Meanwhile, the team has also selected Amarius Mims, Myles Murphy, Daxton Hill first in its last three draft classes between 2022 and 2024.Only the order of the first 12 teams remains certain for now, although the additional Round 1 draft order is expected to quickly fill in over the next few weeks. Additional draft order beyond the first round also remains to be seen for the Bengals and other teams.See the full 2026 Round 1 draft order (as it exists as of Jan. 4) below.NFL 2026 Draft OrderLas Vegas RaidersNew York JetsArizona CardinalsTennessee TitansNew York GiantsCleveland BrownsWashington CommandersNew Orleans Saints Kansas City ChiefsCincinnati BengalsMiami DolphinsDallas Cowboys
As the final day of the NFL regular season draws to a close, the top of the 2026 draft order has now been set.
After losing 20-18 to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Bengals finished the season with a 6-11 record, which marked their worst seasonal performance since 2020.
Among other woes throughout the season, Cincinnati suffered through a tumultuous year that saw the team have three different quarterbacks at the helm after Joe Burrow’s Week 2 turf toe injury, the Bengals’ single biggest blowout in franchise history the very next week in his absence, and the team collectively putting up some of the NFL’s worst defensive stats of all-time.
However, if nothing else as a result of these struggles, Cincinnati now stands to profit in the offseason from its pain, with teams that do worse during the season mandated to receive higher picking priority in the NFL Draft over those who do better.
So, where does Cincinnati stand? This year, as part of the NFL Draft, Cincinnati will select tenth overall for its first pick, according to ESPN.
Already, defensive players are widely expected to be highly prioritized by the team for many of its first few draft picks as a result of its defensive woes this season. Although who specifically may be drafted still remains anyone’s guess.
Last year, the Bengals drafted defensive end Shemar Stewart as their first-round pick. Meanwhile, the team has also selected Amarius Mims, Myles Murphy, Daxton Hill first in its last three draft classes between 2022 and 2024.
Only the order of the first 12 teams remains certain for now, although the additional Round 1 draft order is expected to quickly fill in over the next few weeks. Additional draft order beyond the first round also remains to be seen for the Bengals and other teams.
See the full 2026 Round 1 draft order (as it exists as of Jan. 4) below.
NFL 2026 Draft OrderLas Vegas RaidersNew York JetsArizona CardinalsTennessee TitansNew York GiantsCleveland BrownsWashington CommandersNew Orleans Saints Kansas City ChiefsCincinnati BengalsMiami DolphinsDallas Cowboys