Bengals Trade for Lawrence, Skip Round 1

0:00It's April 23rd from Breaking News to Sunday Matchups. This is NFL News Today, powered by AI. The Cincinnati Bengals just flipped the script on the 2026 NFL Draft by trading their 10th overall pick straight up for Dexter Lawrence. One of the league's elite nose tackles. This blockbuster deal means they bow out of round one entirely, now rolling into round two with pick number 41 and six more selections after. They locked in a contract extension with Warren's camp before pulling the trigger, calling it an all in play to anchor the defensive line. Front office boss, Dutobin said, the draft board at 10 didn't line up with their top targets, so they grabbed a proven game changer instead of gambling on rookies. Fans and analysts are buzzing. This is uncharted territory for the franchise, shaking up mock drafts left and right. Front should boost young studs like Shamar Stewart, next to him and Demetrius Knight behind, instantly elevating the whole unit.

1:01Looking ahead, cornerback screams biggest need, with linebacker right behind, plus depth at wide out three, tight end and offensive line. Whisperer say more trades could drop, maybe sliding down for extra picks without climbing back into the first. Half-kicks off Thursday, April 23rd at 8 p.m., Eastern in Pittsburgh, keep eyes peeled on ABC, ESPN, or NFL Network as the Bengals hunt. Those defensive gems to build around their new beast up front.