Zac Taylor speaks about Cincinnati Bengals 2025 NFL draft picks video
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks at a press conference after Bengals make all their picks for the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals finalized their 2025 draft class on Saturday afternoon of April 26.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor – who just completed his seventh draft with director of personnel Duke Tobin and his staff – believes his football team improved over the last three days.
“Really excited about the six men that we drafted,” Taylor said in his post-draft press conference. “I think they all really fit us really well from a standpoint of what their abilities are and how they’re going to fit in the locker room. I’m really impressed with this class and I think we made the football team a lot better over the last three days and I’m really excited about it.”
Here is a pick-by-pick look at the Bengals’ draft class:
Round 1 – Shemar Stewart, defensive end, Texas A&M
Round 2 – Demetrius Knight, linebacker, South Carolina
Round 3 – Dylan Fairchild, guard, University of Georgia
Round 4 – Barrett Carter, linebacker, Clemson
Round 5 – Jalen Rivers, tackle, Miami
Round 6 –Tahj Brooks, running back, Texas Tech
Now that this year’s draft class for the Bengals is complete, let’s dive into some of the biggest questions and themes we learned after three days of the NFL draft.
Bengals biggest surprise pick – Shemar Stewart
Here’s why: The Bengals could have gone a few different ways with the No. 17 overall pick. It’s hard to know what Cincinnati would have done if defensive tackle Walter Nolen wasn’t taken a pick before by the Arizona Cardinals. Nolen to the Bengals seems to have made the most sense. But the NFL draft is unpredictable every year and why teams are prepared.
In selecting Stewart, the Bengals addressed one of their biggest positional needs and selected a talented player with elite physical traits. The only question about Stewart surrounds his lack of production at the college level as he recorded only 4.5 sacks in three years at Texas A&M.
Stewart came prepared and had answers for questions about why he lacked in sacks, arguably the most important statistic when evaluating the production of a defensive end. So did defensive coordinator Al Golden and Taylor.
The Bengals believe with the right coaching, they can unleash Stewart’s game. Because of unknowns around Stewart right now and some of the players still available at the time, the pick will be viewed as a gamble. It will be up to Stewart and the Bengals to prove otherwise.
Bengals best value pick – Dylan Fairchild
Here’s why: The Bengals needed to come away with a starting guard in this year’s draft and they did with Fairchild. He will come to Cincinnati and compete for the starting left guard job right away, according to offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Taylor.
Fairchild started 24 games at left guard for Georgia over the last two years. He was viewed as one of the best pass blocking guards in this year’s draft and the Bengals fell in love with him after attending his pro day in Athens.
He’s tough, physical and takes his job very seriously. He described his role of protecting franchise quarterback Joe Burrow as an “honor of a lifetime” and is eager to reunite with his former teammate, offensive tackle Amarius Mims.
If Fairchild lives up to his potential, the Bengals could have their starting right tackle and left guard in place for years to come.
Bengals most questionable pick – Shemar Stewart
Here’s why: When a prospect is drafted in the first round of the NFL draft there’s a different level of expectations. That is why the Bengals’ gamble on Stewart needs to work out. Cincinnati drafted Myles Murphy in the first round of the 2023 draft and he has yet to live up to the expectations set for him as a first-round pick. When a team drafts a player in the first round, he’s expected to be an immediate starter and get a second contract with the team for it to be viewed as a success to most.
Stewart has all of the physical tools in the world and if he can find a way to put it all together, this pick could be a smashing success for the Bengals. But due to the limited production at the college level, this pick will always be looked at with a critical eye and won’t be able to be gauged until a few years from now.
It should be noted that while this pick will be viewed as questionable until Stewart proves otherwise, Stewart was an overwhelming first-round grade prospect by all NFL draft analysts. The only reason it’s questionable for the Bengals is because of Cincinnati’s need for production immediately at the edge position across from Trey Hendrickson. They don’t have time for a project.
Bengals Day 3 pick with most value – Barrett Carter
Here’s why: Barrett Carter will play right away on special teams for the Bengals and has a chance to carve out a significant role in the future. Logan Wilson has missed time over the last few years with various injuries. In 2021, Wilson played 13 games and last year he was limited to 11 games.
Wilson plays a key role in the Bengals’ defense as the signal-caller. Carter has experience calling the defense as he was a three-year starter at the middle linebacker position at Clemson.
The Bengals are going to find ways to get Carter on the field in the upcoming season and if Wilson misses any time at all, they have a player in house who’s comfortable wearing the green dot.
Bengals most improved position – linebacker
Here’s why: The Bengals made it clear they needed to upgrade their linebacker room when they selected two linebackers with their six picks. Cincinnati’s play at this position has fallen off in the last two years with Germaine Pratt regressing and Wilson dealing with injuries. Akeem Davis-Gaither signed with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason leaving a hole at the No. 3 linebacker spot.
With the additions of Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, the Bengals’ linebacker room looks much improved. The team also signed veteran linebacker Oren Burks in free agency.
When Al Golden first joined Taylor’s staff in 2020-21 as the Bengals’ linebackers coach, the unit performed at a really high level. Golden says he takes great pride in providing clarity for each of his players at this position and plans to do so with this group.
“I take a lot of pride — last time I was here — in that group, how they performed, and the roles they carved out, because it’s really important for linebackers,” Golden said. “You have to have multiple roles. You have to have two of the three roles to be an impactful player, and we want to make sure we have a lot of those guys on this team.”
Bengals position with most questions after free agency and the draft – safety
Based off inconsistent performance of safeties Jordan Battle and Geno Stone last year, it seemed likely the Bengals would address the position in the draft. The team opted not to draft a player in the secondary this year and will move forward with Stone and Battle as the likely starters for Week 1. The hope is with better play from the linebackers, the safeties’ job will be easier. Taylor and Golden are also planning for Stone and Battle to take the next step playing next to one another after one year together in Cincinnati.
Demetrius Knight Jr.’s first interview as a Cincinnati Bengal video
Demetrius Knight Jr. speaks during his first in-person interview as a Cincinnati Bengal after being picked in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.