Breaking down the 2025 Bengals’ Draft Class

(From left to right) Shemar Stewart, Demetrius Knight Jr, Dylan Fairchild, Barrett Carter, Jalen Rivers, Tahj Brooks

With the 2025 NFL season inching closer and closer, the annual NFL draft has finally passed. There’s no more mock-drafts and predictions, as we now know which new players the Bengals will be bringing with them into training camp. With a questionable first round pick, to stellar UDFA pickups, the Bengals draft class has gotten mixed ratings and scores throughout the media. Liam Dodds ‘25 and Aidan Taubert ’25 will dive in to see how these players may pan out in the future, and if the Bengals had made the right pick.

DL | Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)

At pick 17, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M’s former three-year starter at DL, who was felt by some Bengals fans to be a huge reach as a first round pick. While Stewart is known to be a freak athlete, standing at 6’5, 291 lbs. and running a 4.59 forty-yard dash. The main question most are asking is, will this translate into the league? Stewart only managed to muster up 4.5 sacks during his career at Texas A&M, which is something that doesn’t look good if you are a D-lineman. Where he does excel though is in his ability to cause disruption in the pocket, causing opposing Quarterbacks to have to make quick, indecisive reads causing detrimental mistakes for opposing offenses. This pick may have been a risky one, but all we’ll have to do is trust in the Bengals Organization and their vision for Shemar Stewart.

LB | Demetrius Knight Jr. (South Carolina)

At pick 49 in the 2nd round, the Bengals selected Demetrius Knight Jr. out of South Carolina. He had played a pivotal role in the Gamecocks defense this past season. Though he has a large wingspan and an excellent speed for a linebacker, the question is about his size and other capabilities as a linebacker. Knight Jr. stands at 6’2, 235 lbs. This size to weight ratio is questionable. 6’2 is considered slightly below average than the average linebacker and he is also fairly heavy for his height. He also had a poor combine, not looking particularly impressive in anything but his speed and wingspan. This pick is going to be one of those picks where we’ll just have to wait and see if it pans out or not.

OL | Dylan Fairchild (Georgia)

With Pick 81 in the 3rd round, the Bengals selected Dylan Fairchild, out of Georgia. Fairchild has been pinned as a player who could make a quick impact on the team, and could be a great rotating piece for injuries and inconsistencies in the O-Line early in his career. Fairchild has the size, athletic ability, and raw power to turn himself into a future starting guard for the Bengals. The development of him as a player is very vital for his success on the team, and he’ll need to be a player to watch for before they throw him into the fire.

LB | Barrett Carter (Clemson)

With Pick 119 in the 4th round, the Bengals selected Barrett Carter, out of Clemson. A potentially good tool for new defensive coordinator Al Golden, Carter is known to have the agility and quick reaction time for sudden adjustments as an open-field tackler. At 6’1, 230, he has decent size and the chance to become a full time starter in Cincinnati. He has the explosiveness, and ability around the field to play wherever he is put, and can be utilized when needed. Productive in college, we could see even more production at the NFL level if Carter continues to develop his game.

OL | Jalen Rivers (Miami)

With Pick 153 in the 5th round, the Bengals selected Jalen Rivers, out of Miami. As a longtime member of the Hurricanes, and teammate of first overall pick Cam Ward, Jalen Rivers has had a silent career and helped other players around him stand out and succeed. These are good problems to have for offensive linemen, as the less you hear about them, the better they’re probably doing. A massive guy at 6/5, 325, The potential is absolutely there for Rivers to develop into a solid guard or tackle for the Bengals, whether he’s a depth piece, or rotating starter. Nevertheless, a great pick up for the Bengals.

RB | Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech)

With Pick 193 in the 6th round, the Bengals selected Tahj Brooks, out of Texas Tech. As a player who spent 5 years in college all at Texas Tech, Brooks was well known in 2023 for his power and eye-catching playmaking abilities. His 2024 season was nice, and we saw him have a statistically better season, however concerns over his limited explosiveness and breakaway speed arose. He had inconsistent elusiveness in the open field, and developed a fumble problem in the previous year, tanking his draft stock. Brooks has to opportunity to redeem himself as an RB3 on the Bengals, and an opportunity to split carries with Zack Moss.

Notable Undrafted Free Agents

C | Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State)

The Bengals picked up Seth Mclaughlin as an UDFA, and the media and NFL scouts were shocked to see he wasn’t drafted. He was quickly labeled as one of the best free agent pickups, and an immediate locker room and depth impact. A starter on the Ohio State championship team, McLaughlin protected Will Howard throughout the playoffs and was an important piece in their terrific season. At 6’4, 305, he has the perfect size for a linemen and ability to develop into a potential starter for the Bengals in the future, if other plans fail.

DL | Howard Cross III (Notre Dame)

The Bengals snagged Howard Cross III out of Notre Dame, and he’s a project player to say the least. He is known to lack significant size and strength, and may struggle to hold his ground against offensive linemen at the next level. He is also known to struggle against double teams, but he was still an impactful player on the Notre Dame defensive line. Playing under Al Golden, it’s safe to assume he had a big say in the UDFA signing of Howard Cross III. There’s practice squad potential for him, and there may be opportunities for him to get brought up into games when needed. But for now, don’t expect an immediate impact from Cross.

WR Jordan Moore (Duke)

Jordan Moore, aka Jo Mo, out of Duke, was a smart pick-up for the Bengals. With the question of whether Jermaine Burton will end up panning out as he’s been involved in many problems off the field, adding Moore to the room will help sort of ease the tension of the situation. He stands at 6’0, 194 lbs.  Jo Mo’s ability to cut up defenses and his talented route-running capabilities could make him a viable target for Joe Burrow. His agility also makes him great after the catch, with the ability to make defenders miss and get downfield. Overall, Jo Mo has great potential and is an exciting prospect if everything pans out well.