The Cincinnati Bengals were once again an elite offense behind the fearsome triumvirate of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Unfortunately for the 2024 Bengals, football is played on both sides of the ball, and a porous defense led to a frustrating season full of one-score losses and a second straight year out of the playoffs.
The Bengals took care of business with Higgins and Chase, but have a long way to go before returning to the top of the AFC. How did each of Cincinnati’s picks at the 2025 NFL Draft grade out?
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Overall Bengals Draft Grade: B
The Cincinnati Bengals had an up-and-down performance in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they ended up with an overall solid haul. Their first-round selection, Shemar Stewart, is a massive bet on upside.
Stewart is a specimen and arguably possesses the most enticing physical traits of any edge rusher in the class. However, his lackluster college production (4.5 sacks over three seasons) leaves many questions about his NFL outlook.
The Bengals added a pair of linebackers in Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter. Knight at No. 49 felt a little early, although his athletic traits jump off the screen. Carter was a three-year starter in the ACC and could be a useful sub-package player for Cincinnati. This seems like a duo for the future with longtime starters Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt still in the building.
Where the Bengals could see a more immediate impact from this draft class is on the interior offensive line. Dylan Fairchild is a high-IQ prospect known for his physicality and aggression. He’s a powerful and technically sound offensive lineman who offers positional versatility.
Jalen Rivers can also play guard or tackle, but he projects better as an interior player. Cincinnati could have a new starting guard by season’s end. Tahj Brooks was a workhorse back at Texas Tech and could potentially add depth behind Chase Brown in the backfield.
The Bengals’ draft class has plenty of potential, but there are unknowns at the top. With Trey Hendrickson’s future still up in the air, they’re hoping Stewart can pan out and live up to the hype that his physical traits have garnered.
Grades for Every Bengals Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 17
Shemar Stewart, EDGE | Texas A&M
Grade: C+
Shemar Stewart’s eventual landing spot was heavily theorized in the weeks leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. Some mock drafts had him going inside the top 10, while others had him slipping all the way to 32. He ended up in the middle, landing with the Bengals at 17th overall.
In terms of physical talent, no one bests Stewart – it’s as simple as that. At 6’5”, 267 pounds, with over 34” arms, he has hyper-elite explosiveness, short-area agility, twitch, and power output to go along with blistering pursuit speed and a truly unhinged motor. The problem with Stewart is that his physical upside is largely where the pros of his profile begin and end.
In run defense, Stewart can be undisciplined and over-eager. In the pass-rush phase, he can be uncontrolled and unrefined. The Bengals haven’t proven they can deliver on these kinds of high-upside gambles at EDGE; the Myles Murphy pick from two years ago hasn’t panned out. But Stewart has the talent, and he has the motor, and every evaluation is different. Perhaps if they can keep Trey Hendrickson in-house, Stewart can learn from him and unlock his potential.
- Round 2, Pick 49
Demetrius Knight Jr., LB | South Carolina
Grade: C+
The Bengals doubled up on defensive picks in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting South Carolina’s Demetrius Knight Jr. with their second-round selection. Knight should file in well as a SAM linebacker, and he could ultimately become an ideal replacement for Germaine Pratt when the latter moves on.
At 6’2”, 235 pounds, with over 32” arms, Knight has a dense, compact frame and exceptional length when taking on blocks, and he’s an explosive, hard-charging aggressor coming downhill. He can deconstruct extensions and make tackles, and his athletic makeup lends well to his short-zone upside.
Knight is a solid player, but the Bengals passed up an opportunity to shore up an interior offensive line that’s in dire need of upgrades.
- Round 3, Pick 81
Dylan Fairchild, OG | Georgia
Grade: A
The Bengals’ perpetual problems on the offensive line made the unit a need entering the draft. In particular, right guard loomed as a hole after Alex Cappa’s release. Dylan Fairchild primarily played left guard at Georgia but could switch sides and slot in as a Day 1 starter.
Fairchild is a high-IQ prospect known for his physicality and aggression. Refreshingly, his quick feet and hands make him a plus in pass protection. That’s a huge need after the Bengals’ guards combined to allow the most pressures in 2024.
- Round 4, Pick 119
Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
Grade: A-
The Bengals have double-dipped at linebacker after taking Demetrius Knight Jr. in the second round. Barrett Carter was a top-100 player on PFSN’s pre-draft big board, as the Clemson linebacker was a productive three-year starter for the Tigers.
Carter’s speed is intriguing for an undersized linebacker (6’0”, 231 pounds), and enabled him to pile up 30.5 TFLs the past three seasons. He has some deficiencies in run defense but could be a useful sub-package weapon. Carter pairs well with Knight’s bruising size and run defense, making the duo a potential successor to long-time starters Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt.
- Round 5, Pick 153
Jalen Rivers, OL | Miami (FL)
Grade: B - Round 6, Pick 193
Tahj Brooks, RB | Texas Tech
Grade: B+