The Cincinnati Bengals have officially grabbed their second player in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It’s clear the front office is looking to reshape the defense under first-year defensive coordinator Al Golden.
With the 49th pick in the draft, Duke Tobin and his staff have selected Demetrius Knight, a linebacker from South Carolina.
Knight is a high-end athlete at the linebacker position but is already 25 years old.
Knight will likely be the day one starter, besides Logan Wilson, who will likely end the Germaine Pratt era in Cincinnati.
As talented as Knight is, this seems like a reach, considering the other players available at 49 for Cincinnati.
It is hard to see the value-grabbing Knight in the second round, considering he would likely have been available in the third round.
Demetrius Knight Jr. is a ball of lightning at LB ⚡️
He explodes to top speed and tackles well in pursuit. Strong, long build (6’1, 248lbs) allows him to stack & shed blocks and hit HARD.
Coverage instincts are sound, but some hip tightness limits him. Day 2 talent. pic.twitter.com/spDW9G0Ovq
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 25, 2025
Considering the availability of other needs at 49, I would give this selection a C+. Knight has so much talent but is already 25 years old.
How do you grade this selection?
No matter what, though, we are all Demetrius Knight fans now, and I will be excited to see what he brings to the table next to Logan Wilson.
Let’s see what Twitter thinks of the pick:
Demetrius Knight Jr is going to be a heck of a ballplayer in Cincy. LBs don’t get a ton of eyes in the process but Knight was a constant talking point, specifically post Senior Bowl, due to his range, physicality and leadership. Really impressive prospect.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 26, 2025
Demetrius Knight Jr. is just a 1:1 replacement for Germaine Pratt.
He was the 84th ranked player on our board.
Positives? He can start.
Negatives? He’s 25 years old and this is really bad value. https://t.co/1w6dXwBUJs
— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) April 26, 2025
Demetrius Knight is older than Ja’Marr Chase.
— Barstool Cincinnati (@UCBarstool) April 26, 2025
#Bengals take LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina.
They desperately needed to fill the LB hole. He is comped to Germaine Pratt and will be replacing Pratt.
Ratledge and Watts left on the board for this pick is surprising, no way around that.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) April 26, 2025
Drafting for need is just running in circles. Reaching for need is punching yourself in the face while running in circles. https://t.co/uEHm5Qf9vJ
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) April 26, 2025
The Bengals are going to have an insane board and reach on someone completely out of left field, aren’t they?
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) April 26, 2025
“He was MVP of one of the best defenses in the country. They just don’t make them this long. Could go to the edge…. Sudden blitzer, can spy a quarterback. Love where he is as a player right now.” Al Golden on Demetrius Knight Jr.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) April 26, 2025
“In terms of that position, he was the guy we were waiting on since this morning.” Al Golden says Bengals were waiting to take linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) April 26, 2025
Looks like another Bengals pick with quite a bit of mixed emotions.