Historically, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to manage their personnel and maximize their draft picks. Unfortunately, 2025 was a clear example of how poorly the Bengals’ front office can create chaos and unrest in their own locker room through its personnel decisions. Coming into the 2025 draft, the Bengals had clear needs at offensive line, defensive line, safety, and linebacker, and they were well-positioned to address many of them.
The Cincinnati Bengals could have used their first-round pick to draft a safety like Malakai Starks or a linebacker like Jihaad Campbell. Instead, the front office selected Shemar Stewart as an edge rusher. The move seemed aimed at putting pressure on Trey Hendrickson during a contract dispute. Stewart joined a team with high expectations but lacked the track record or measurable results to fit the role Cincinnati had in mind for him.
Cincinnati Bengals 2025 Draft Class
| Round | Pick | Player | Position |
| 1 | 17 | Shemar Stewart | EDGE |
| 2 | 49 | Demetrius Knight Jr. | LB |
| 3 | 81 | Dylan Fairchild | OG |
| 4 | 119 | Barrett Carter | LB |
| 5 | 153 | Jalen Rivers | OG |
| 6 | 193 | Tahj Brooks | RB |
While the Bengals let Shemar Stewart’s elite size fool them into believing he was the next great edge rusher, what they had, in reality, was a long-term project that produced 1 quarterback sack. On the other hand, the Bengals did have some success with their 2025 draft picks, with offensive guard Dylan Fairchild as the top performer. Fairchild emerged as a Day 1 starter for Cincinnati, and all indications are that he will be a fixture on the Bengals’ offensive line. In addition, the Bengals had success with late-round draft pick Jalen Rivers, whom they converted from offensive tackle to guard.
The Bengals drafted linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter. Neither stood out for Cincinnati, but both recorded over 100 tackles. However, both struggled in pass coverage. NFL offenses pressured them into making mistakes. Sixth-round pick running back Tahj Brooks did not emerge as a difference maker, but he contributed on special teams during his rookie season.
Cincinnati Bengals 2025 Draft Re-Grade = C+
During the 2025 draft, the Bengals failed to select a superstar player, despite clear first-round opportunities. While they found reliable linebackers and guard Dylan Fairchild became a foundational piece for the offensive line, the 2026 draft leaves no room for error: the Bengals absolutely must hit on their first-round pick and decisively address several glaring roster holes.
Make sure that you check out, Re-Grading the Cleveland Browns 2025 Draft
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