Barring a trade, the Bengals will not have a top-10 pick in the NFL draft for the first time since 1991.
But history indicates that selecting 14th overall doesn't necessarily diminish their chances of finding someone who can contribute.
Take last year's draft: With the No. 14 pick, Houston drafted running back Eddie George, the NFL's offensive rookie of the year.
Or take past Bengals' drafts.
Glenn Cameron, a solid linebacker for 11 seasons, was a No. 14 pick from Florida in 1975. Blair Bush, a solid center, was taken 16th from Washington in 1978.
Wide receiver Eddie Brown came from Miami in 1985 with the No. 13 selection.
Moreover, one of their finest first-round choices came in the No. 15 slot. The year was 1973, when they plucked wide receiver Isaac Curtis from San Diego State.
Curtis caught 416 passes in 12 seasons, the second-highest total in franchise history. Had he played under today's liberalized passing rules, his total would have been substantially higher. His 53 receiving touchdowns remain a Bengal record.
''He was the greatest receiver we've ever had,'' Bengals General Manager Mike Brown said of Curtis. ''He had truly amazing speed and could catch as well as anybody we've ever had.''
The plethora of productive players chosen in the second round or later proves that disproportionate attention is given to first-round selections.
Among current Bengals, receivers Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott and quarterback Boomer Esiason were taken in the second round; quarterback Jeff Blake was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round; offensive tackle Joe Walter, a 12-year veteran, was chosen in the seventh round; and kicker Doug Pelfrey was tabbed in the eighth round.
The Bengals' list of late-round selections who ultimately thrived was particularly impressive in previous decades.
They got tight end Bob Trumpy in the 12th round in 1968, all-time interceptions leader Ken Riley in the sixth round in 1969, cornerback Lemar Parrish in the seventh round in 1970, cornerback Louis Breeden in the seventh round in 1977, guard Max Montoya in the seventh round in 1979 and nose tackle Tim Krumrie in the 10th round in 1983.
''There are going to be guys who aren't even drafted that will be excellent football players,'' said Assistant General Manager Pete Brown, who supervises the Bengals' draft.
''All you can do is put your interpretation on each guy and if it fits, you take him at the right point in time in terms of your analysis.''
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