Trades and the Cincinnati Bengals don’t go together during the first round of the NFL Draft. The last time Cincinnati made any sort of first-round move was in 2018, when the Buffalo Bills sent offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and the No. 21 pick for the Bengals’ No. 12 pick, along with a Day 3 pick swap.
To find a trade that occurred while the first round was actually happening, you’d have to go back to 2012 when they moved down from No. 21 to No. 27 to acquire a third-round pick and take guard Kevin Zeitler.
To find a trade UP in the first round, you’ll find yourself in the 1990s when they traded up from No. 5 to No. 1 for running back Ki-Jana Carter. Carter was an unfortunate injury bust, and Cincinnati hasn’t moved up this early in the draft since.
Needless to say, if the Bengals pulled off what A to Z Sports’ Destin Adams has them doing in his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, it would be one of the most shocking moves in franchise history.
Bengals aggressively trade up for Ohio State’s Arvell Reese in latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Adams believes Cincy needs to upgrade its defense by sacrificing its first-round pick, second-round pick (No. 41), and 2027 first- and third-rounders to the New York Jets for the No. 2 pick. With that pick, the Bengals select Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, an edge defender-linebacker hybrid from Ohio State.
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“The Bengals’ defense is in a tough spot, and it needs talent at all three levels. The team’s offense is so good that I almost think it would be irresponsible of them not push the chips in and make sure to upgrade its defense by any means necessary. So I have them making an aggressive trade to land in-state Ohio State star Arvell Reese, who can drop back in coverage and rush the passer.” — A to Z Sports’ Destin Adams
It’s a cool fantasy, especially for the large chunk of Bengals fans who also bleed Scarlet and Gray, but it is indeed a fantasy.
The Bengals are as conservative a franchise as you’ll see in the NFL. The idea of giving up a future first-round pick is already a hang-the-phone-up scenario for Mike Brown and Co. Day 3 picks can be on the table in a pick-swap scenario, and getting established NFL players can sweeten the pot, but Cincinnati will never forfeit so much of its capital for a single pick under its current (and future) ownership when it comes to straight-up pick-for-pick trades.
Reese, a consensus top-five player in this class, would undoubtedly add value to a defense that desperately needs playmakers and pass-rushers. He would also need to be an All-Pro almost immediately for this trade to work out in the Bengals’ favor. The assets they’d give away could also be used to bolster the unit, so Reese needs to bring the value of multiple potential starters and then some.
Again, it’s just not the way Cincy operates.
Safely include Reese in the Bengals’ big board when the draft rolls around. If he’s somehow available 10 picks in, he’ll be their selection, but don’t expect them to trade up one spot for him, let alone eight.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Jan 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.