The Cincinnati Bengals are currently at four new free agent signings as we start closing the book on NFL free agency.

There’s more work to be done filling roster holes now that the quality veteran options have been taken off the board. Filling them in the NFL Draft is a risky venture, but sometimes, need and value coincide for select teams.

Cincinnati is one of those teams this year according to a top draft analyst.

Bengals’ biggest remaining needs are the strength of the 2026 NFL Draft

The Bengals still have holes to fill at defensive end and linebacker after nearly three weeks of free agency has come and gone.

Cincinnati did sign DE Boye Mafe, but with both Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai now gone, depth at the position group has dwindled and there’s a clear vacancy for one more impact player to fill.

Conversely, the Bengals did absolutely nothing at the LB spot and still have non-existent depth underneath last year’s rookie starters Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., both of whom struggled mightily for most of 2025.

NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein ranked every position group of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in order from strongest to weakest class. His top two are edge defender, and linebacker.

Cincinnati may be positioned to take one of the top EDGEs in this class in Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. If he goes off the board before the No. 10 pick, there will be plenty of options in the following two rounds when the Bengals select No. 41 and No. 72 overall.

“This class figures to provide a strong number of future starters, with as many as 17 players poised to come off the board in the first three rounds, but the quality of depth will trail off on Day 3. The edge defenders will rule the first round.” — NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein

A similar situation exists at LB. Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, who will soon have a local visit with the Bengals, is the consensus top backer and may not make it to their first-round selection. Finding an alternative on Day 2 won’t be an issue like it won’t be for EDGE.

“Off-ball linebacker became a consistently sparse offering in the draft over the last several years, but this is one of the strongest groups we’ve seen in a while.” — NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein

The draft is about players, not positions, but Cincinnati may end up lucking out by filling needs with players worthy of top-100 picks anyways.