New NFL Rumors Reveal Potential Host for 2029 Draft After Vikings Awarded 2028 Event

The potential location of the 2029 NFL draft is reportedly gaining some clarity.

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission have been engaged in ongoing conversations with the NFL to host the 2029 draft, according to Sydney Franklin and Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).

The 2028 draft was officially awarded to the Minnesota Vikings on May 19.

Meanwhile, the 2027 draft will be hosted by Washington, D.C. after Pittsburgh hosted the 2026 event.

As for the Bengals, Sports Business Journal's Ben Fischer previously reported that Cincinnati "has the inside track" to host the 2029 draft.

Ten teams sent representatives that met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to learn and develop their own hopes of hosting the draft in the future during the 2026 draft, as the Bengals were among those organizations (via Fischer).

Cincinnati has currently submitted a letter of interest to host the draft despite not submitting a formal bid at this point, per Franklin and Wartman.

The Bengals have yet to hold the draft at home since it started traveling to different cities in 2015. It was previously hosted by New York City for 50 straight years.

Cincinnati is coming off a 2025 campaign in which it missed the playoffs with a 6-11 record, but is looking to return to the postseason led by stars such as Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase.