The 2025 NFL Draft for the Cincinnati Bengals was a success, according to most experts and analysis.
Going into the big day, the Bengals needed to make defense a priority, and they did that did that.
Cincinnati got off on the right foot before the draft by getting rid of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who failed to orchestrate any defense at all last year.
At the end of that abysmal defensive season, the Bengals were ranked 27th out of 32 teams, while the offense was ranked fifth.
The offense was there ֱ the defense was atrocious.
The first pick for the Bengals set the tone that defense was at the top of the agenda.
Shemar Stewart is a monster of a man.
The 6-foot-5 and 267-pound edge rusher from Texas A&M will be the perfect bookend for (hopefully) Trey Hendrickson, last yearֱs NFL sack leader.
Stewart was named third-team all-SEC in 2024 in his first season as a full-time starter with the Aggies.
Stewart looks like heֱs carved from granite and possesses a combination of explosiveness and agility.
ֱWe felt we were lucky that he was there,ֱ Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown said. ֱYou can never have enough good pass rushers. Weֱve got a lot of good guys in that room currently, a lot of guys that can get after a quarterback with some high-end traits. And if we keep adding to that room, thatֱs never going to be a problem.
ֱI think in this league, the more that youֱre going to apply pressure on the quarterback is a premium, and thatֱs what Stewart does. He puts pressure on the QB. He has a lot of physical tools, and he has a lot of ability thatֱs going to translate well to our level.ֱ
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the choice was a great addition to the roster.
ֱItֱs not a story about anybody else,ֱ Taylor said. ֱI donֱt think you can have enough D-linemen in this league, in this division. It doesnֱt speak to anybody else on our team. Itֱs just adding another weapon to our defense and keeping guys fresh going after the quarterback.ֱ
According to The Sporting News, the first-round pick by the Bengals (17th overall) earned the grade of A-.
The second pick for the Bengals was Demetrius Knight Jr., a 6-2, 235-pound linebacker.
The South Carolina product spent four years at Georgia Tech before becoming first-team all-American Athletic Conference with Charlotte in 2023 with 96 tackles.
He then transferred to South Carolina for 2024, leading the Gamecocks with three forced fumbles and tallying 82 tackles.
ֱHeֱs an AFC North linebacker and heֱs a perfect fit for what we want to do here in Cincinnati, in terms of how his skill sets match up to what (new Bengals defensive coordinator) Al (Golden) and his staff want to do,ֱ Brown said. ֱYou always want to find guys in this division who are physical. You always want to find guys who have a nose for the football.
Knight Jr. was the 49th pick in the draft, and the Bengals received an A grade by The Sporting News for the selection.
Next came Dylan Fairchild, selected in the third round and 81st overall.
The 6-5, 318-pound offensive guard from Georgia will be assigned to protect quarterback Joe Burrow, who is coming off an MVP-type performance last year.
Fairchild was an AP All-America second-team selection and an AP and coaches second-team All-SEC selection at Georgia.
He only allowed one sack on 787 pass-block reps in his last two seasons with the Bulldogs.
gave the Fairchild pick an overall grade B.
The Athletic said Fairchild is ֱpowerful, tough and naturally aggressive. ֱ He is an ascending prospect with NFL starting upside.ֱ
He sounds like Logan Wilson 2.0.
For the 119th overall pick and the fourth-round selection, the Bengals snapped up Barrett Carter, a 6-0, 231-pound linebacker from Clemson.
Bleacher Report gave this selection an overall grade of B.
Carter was third-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-ACC and a finalist for the Butkus Award (nationֱs top linebacker) in 2024 after compiling 82 tackles and seven pass break-ups.
ֱI think he has multi-position value, is certainly a core special teams guy right out of the gate, and an incredible personality for the locker room,ֱ Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. ֱHeֱs a guy that just brightens every room that he walks into. And I have zero doubt that heֱs going to have a heck of a rookie year.ֱ
In the fifth round, the Bengals took Miami product Jalen Rivers as the 153rd pick.
The 6-6, 319-pound offensive guard played all five spots on the offensive line for the Hurricanes over his college career.
He was honorable mention All-ACC in 2024 and was second-team All-ACC in 2023.
ֱYou can never have enough linemen,ֱ Brown said. ֱOffensive and defensive lines are critical in this league, and we were able to add guys on the offensive and defensive lines that can really help us that play multiple positions, that are versatile, that are tough, that are smart. And I think the Cincinnati Bengals fan base is going to be really excited to see these guys when they get out there. It always starts in the trenches, and those guys you mentioned are going to be great pieces right in the middle, right in the core of the offensive and defensive lines.ֱ
For this pick, Bleacher Report gave the Bengals an A grade.
And finally, the Bengals drafted Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (5-foot-9, 214 pounds).
Brooks had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Red Raiders and tallied 633 touches over that span, forcing 154 missed tackles (third in FBS).
He was first-team all-Big 12 Conference in 2023, ranking fourth in the FBS in rushing yards. He set a school record with 879 rushing attempts and 4,557 rushing yards for his career.
ֱGreat lateral quickness. Good ball skills. Can protect for us. Good all-around back,ֱ Taylor said.
According to , this pick was graded as a B+.
The offense is set.
Burrow and wide receivers JaֱMarr Chase and Tee Higgins will be fun to watch, like always.
The task the Bengals brass had before them was to revamp and rebuild the defense. On paper and according to most of the experts, they did just that.
If you brought home three As and three Bs on a report card, most of your parents would be happy. At least they didnֱt blow any picks, like the Cleveland Browns did.
Letֱs see how the Cincinnati faithful feel about these picks once the season starts.
