This month, NFL teams are bringing in their rookie class for minicamp, and the Cincinnati Bengals needed to find impact players who could fill deficiencies and contribute early on. This was crucial with only six draft picks, and the orange and black were pleased with their haul in the 2025 NFL Draft. The front office, scouting department, and coaches wanted high-character players who love football and, most importantly, produce on the field. Let’s examine three draft picks who could start in year one for the men in stripes.
3 Bengals Draft Picks Who Could Start in Year One
Shemar Stewart
The Bengals’ first-round pick comes with high risk, and the team hopes he provides a high reward as a rookie, as he immediately impressed defensive coordinator Al Golden. Following the selection, Golden was asked what stands out about Stewart, and he noted, “The overall athleticism, his effort, and his play style, his relentlessness. If there’s a word we want to define our defense with, we want guys that are relentless on all snaps. I think Shemar fits that to a T.”
While Stewart didn’t have a productive career from a sack perspective, he was a master in providing pressure to opposing quarterbacks, which Golden alluded to. The former Aggie will occasionally bookend Trey Hendrickson to garner more juice on the edges so the interior of the defensive line can be more effective. Stewart has tremendous size and athleticism, and Cincinnati will waste no time in getting him in a rotation with incumbents Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy.
Demetrius Knight Jr.
Demetrius Knight is not only a fantastic story, but also a solid football player. He is the Germaine Pratt replacement in every sense, and his length should help a team that was especially poor early in the season from a tackling perspective. Knight also isn’t afraid to be a thumper at linebacker, and his physicality is much-needed for a defense that needs an infused dose of toughness to better compete in the rugged AFC North. Look for Knight to provide an upgraded tandem with Logan Wilson, as the Bengals’ revamped LB room has been completely overhauled.
Dylan Fairchild
Possibly, the most important selection of the Bengals’ draft class is offensive guard Dylan Fairchild from the University of Georgia. Fairchild is projected to start at left guard for the departed Alex Cappa, and Cincinnati is expecting big things from the former Bulldog in their never-ending quest to better protect Joe Burrow. New offensive line coach Scott Peters is a big fan of Fairchild, and the main reason he’s a Bengal. Fairchild is uniquely equipped to understand Peters’ “strike system,” which he developed from his MMA background before becoming an OL coach. It would be a tremendous boost to an already potent offense if Fairchild can quickly get up to speed to give Burrow more time to work his magic and help upgrade the running game as well.
Main Photo: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
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