The Cincinnati Bengals went into the weekend needing help boosting their defense after it was exposed last season. Now that the dust has settled from the NFL Draft in Green Bay, it seems the orange and black understood the assignment with their six picks. So, without further ado, let’s award some grades for the Bengals’ 2025 draft class.
Cincinnati Bengals 2025 Draft Grades
First Round (17th Overall): Shemar Stewart, EDGE
The Bengals were unlikely to come out of the first round without an EDGE rusher. When Walter Nolen went off the board one pick prior at 16 to the Arizona Cardinals, that left Shemar Stewart as their highest rated player. Stewart is an athletic marvel, evidenced by his perfect Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 10.00.
Stewart’s issue is translating his talent into sacks, as the former Texas A&M product only had 4.5 sacks for his career. He excels in generating QB pressures, and Cincinnati is betting heavily on his potential with the hope that new defensive coordinator Al Golden and DL coach Jerry Montgomery can maximize it.
Grade: C+
Second Round (49th Overall): Demetrius Knight Jr, LB
The Bengals desperately needed to upgrade at the linebacker position, and round two saw them take thumper Demetrius Knight Jr. from South Carolina to replace the departing Germaine Pratt. The slight knock on the grade comes from the prevailing sentiment that Knight might have been there a round later for the taking. Cincinnati didn’t want to take any chances as they landed a day one starter this season.
Grade: C+
Third Round (81st Overall): Dylan Fairchild, OG
If bolstering the defense was plan 1A, finding adequate offensive guard play was plan 1B, close behind. Pick 81 saw them take Dylan Fairchild from the Georgia OL factory. In a recurring theme, Fairchild is expected to start as a rookie at left guard to help protect Joe Burrow.
Grade: B-
Fourth Round (119th Overall): Barrett Carter, LB
The Bengals double-dip at linebacker and take a player likely in the discussion at 49 in Barrett Carter from Clemson. Carter is your prototypical three-down linebacker with great agility and quickness, and will start the season rotationally behind Logan Wilson and Knight.
Grade: B
Fifth Round (153rd Overall): Jalen Rivers, OT
Jalen Rivers from Miami (FL) was selected in round five, and the Bengals are listing him as a tackle with positional versatility and great length. He was fantastic in 2024, only allowing 1 sack in 348 pass block snaps. Expect Rivers to be in the mix for a backup tackle role behind Orlando Brown Jr.
Grade: B
Sixth Round (193rd Overall): Tahj Brooks, RB
Tahj Brooks was the final pick for the Bengals’ 2025 draft class, and they got a good one in Tahj Brooks from Texas Tech, who produced some big numbers. In his college career, he rushed for 4590 yards with an astounding 2809 yards after contact and forced 235 missed tackles. The Bengals usually keep 4 running backs on the roster, and Brooks will join incumbents Chase Brown and Zack Moss, and familiar face Samaje Perine.
Grade: B
*Stats and research provided courtesy of NFL.com
Main Photo: Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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