List of Cincinnati Bengals first-round draft picks

[3][4] Founded as an expansion team of the American Football League (AFL) in 1968, they joined the NFL as a result of the 1970 AFL–NFL merger.

[11] The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks.

Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker.

The team's first-round pick in their inaugural draft was Bob Johnson, a center from the University of Tennessee; he was the second overall selection.

[3][13] The Bengals have drafted number one overall four times and selected Dan Wilkinson in 1994, Ki-Jana Carter in 1995, Carson Palmer in 2003, and Joe Burrow in 2020.

Joe Burrow in a Bengals uniform and helmet with a football in hand, ready to throw a pass.
Quarterback Joe Burrow was the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft . [ 1 ] After being injured during his rookie season, Burrow won the 2021 Comeback Player of the Year Award . [ 2 ]
Carson Palmer in a Bengals jersey and helmet scrambling with a football in his hands.
Quarterback Carson Palmer was the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft . [ 17 ] Palmer spent seven seasons with the team, during which time he was selected to two Pro Bowls and led the league in passing touchdowns during the 2005 NFL season . [ 17 ] [ 18 ]
Anthony Munoz in a Pro Football Hall of Fame sweater speaking into a microphone.
Offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz was drafted with the third pick of the 1980 NFL draft . [ 19 ] During his 13 seasons with the team, he was an 11-time All-Pro , 11-time Pro Bowler , and the 1991 NFL Man of the Year . [ 19 ] [ 20 ] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 and was selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team . [ 20 ] [ 21 ]
Bob Johnson bending over towards the camera with a football in one hand and the other hand on the ground. Wearing a Bengals uniform but no helmet.
Center Bob Johnson was the Bengals' first ever pick, selected second overall in 1968 . He was an AFL All-Star during his rookie season and the Bengals retired the number 54 jersey in his honor. [ 22 ] [ 23 ]
Ja'Marr Chase holding a football while wearing gloves and a Cincinnati Bengals shirt
Ja'Marr Chase is a wide receiver who was drafted fifth overall in the 2021 NFL draft . Since then, he has been a three-time Pro Bowler , a second-team All-Pro , and was named the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year . [ 24 ]