The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and the Cincinnati Bengals have invested in defense, protection, and flexibility. Media outlets across the country are weighing in with grades and expert analysis.
Round 1, Pick 17 - EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
"I'm a massive fan of Shemar Stewart. His production doesn't tell the whole story, a terrifying blend of speed and power. Al Golden loves athletes on the edge, and Stewart is the best athlete in this class."
"This is a great pick for Al Golden given Stewart's explosive upside for the scheme."
"His get-off and straight-line speed are excellent, and he's very strong against the run."
"Stewart can certainly do that [bring pressure], and the 6-5, 267-pounder certainly fits the bill of what the organization looks for at defensive end with his imposing build and athleticism."
"This one always made too much sense. The Bengals have a type when it comes to drafting edge rushers, and Stewart checks every box. He's got a big frame with length, and rare athleticism and physical tools for his size."
"In Shemar Stewart, the team gets a 6-foot-5, 267-pound pass-rusher who is built out of granite. The traits and athleticism are off the charts..."
"[The Bengals] take one of the most elite athletes seen at the position in years. Stewart is all about traits with great size, length, speed and explosiveness."
View photos of Shemar Stewart at the 2025 NFL Draft after he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses for a photo during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart arrives prior to the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart during the 2025 draft first round in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses for a photo with guests during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart celebrates after being selected seventieth overall during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses for a photo with guests during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses for a photo during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses for a photo with guests during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart celebrates with fans after being chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 17th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (Tyler Kaufman/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart during the 2025 draft first round in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses for a photo with guests during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart poses on stage after being selected 17th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart puts on a hat after being chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 17th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Round 2, Pick 49 - LB Demetrius Knight JR., South Carolina
"The Bengals score another fine pick for Golden after getting Stewart for the front-seven pass rush. Knight, no pun intended, is a moveable chess piece who will flat-out make a lot of plays to help Logan Wilson."
"Knight is an attacking, reliable player."
"Last year, Knight (6-1 ½, 235) moved to South Carolina, where he had 82 tackles, including eight for loss, and three forced fumbles. Knight brings toughness to a defense that needs it."
"Knight's game is NFL-ready. Length, stellar range, awesome tackler."
"...a tenacious run defender with great burst...provides a key piece on early downs for the Bengals' defense."
"He's fast running downhill and is a missile as a spy and blitzer."
Top photos of Cincinnati Bengals second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. during his time at South Carolina.
LB Demetrius Knight Jr. celebrates a play against Akron, Saturday, September 21, 2024.
LB Demetrius Knight Jr. yells on the sideline during a game for the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Clemson Tigers, Saturday, November 30, 2024.
LB Demetrius Knight Jr. lines up for a snap against Old Dominion, Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Wofford quarterback Bryce Corriston (8) is pushed out of bounds by South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) throws a pass in front of South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (17) during the second half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Round 3, Pick 81 - G Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
"Fairchild has the strength, intelligence and agility to play guard or center at the next level."
"A weight-room warrior (440-pound bench press, 570-pound squat) and former high school wrestler, Fairchild has competitiveness that comes out on nearly every snap."
"Fairchild is one of the better interior offensive linemen in the class and has the power and aggression to stick in the interior..."
"Dylan Fairchild was an excellent high school wrestler who uses that skill to be a good interior pass blocker."
Top photos of Cincinnati Bengals third-round pick Dylan Fairchild during his time at South Carolina.
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during Georgia's game against Georgia Tech on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) sets up for a play against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during Georgia's game against Texas in the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)
Alabama linebacker Trezmen Marshall (17) recovers a fumble against Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during Georgia's game against Mississippi State on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)
Georgia running back Trevor Etienne (1) breaks through the line of scrimmage as lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) blocks Tennessee Tech linebacker Kalvyn Crummie (42) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Athens, ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during Georgia's game against Alabama on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Al., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during Georgia's game against UMass on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws from behind offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee , Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) and Earnest Greene, III (71) set up for a play against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Round 4, Pick 119 - LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
"Impressive working in space, can cover man or zone, understanding of where quarterback wants to go with the ball"
Top photos of Cincinnati Bengals fourth-round pick Barrett Carter during his time at Clemson.
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) pumps up the crowd at the start of an NCAA college football game against Appalachian State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) sacks Stanford quarterback Justin Lamson (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) plays against Louisville during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) holds up four fingers and an North Carolina State towel to begin the 4th quarter during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) closes on Florida State running back Lawrance Toafili (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) reacts during an NCAA college football game between Clemson and Citadel on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) reacts after defeating SMU during the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) defends as Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) throws a pass during the second half of the Cheez-It Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) reacts in the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter (0) pumps up the crowd at the start of an NCAA college football game against Appalachian State, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Round 5, Pick #153 - T, Jalen Rivers Miami
"Thickly built, long arms, large hands, strong anchor, moves people in the run game"
"Stocky blocker who bounced from LT to LG in college. Uses his long levers to his advantage. "
Top photos of Cincinnati Bengals fifth-round pick Jalen Rivers during his time at Miami.
Jalen Rivers lines up for the snap against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Jalen Rivers lines up for a snap against the Iowa State Cycles on the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
National team offensive lineman Jalen Rivers of Miami (64) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Miami offensive lineman Jalen Rivers looks on from the bench during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, left, and Georgia Tech defensive lineman Eddie Kelly tackle each other during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
National team offensive lineman Jalen Rivers of Miami (64) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Miami lineman Jalen Rivers runs a drill during the school's NFL football pro day Monday March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)Monday, March 24, 2025, in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Round 6, Pick #193 - RB Tahj Brooks Texas Tech
"This is a great fit for what the Bengals need in the backfield...The Texas Tech product is quick and powerful with a low center of gravity at 5-foot-9 and 214 pounds."
"Brooks is a personal favorite among the late round running backs. He is short, but thick through his lower body, which allows him to break arm tackles and explode through run lanes. "
Top photos of Cincinnati Bengals sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks during his time at Texas Tech.
RB Tahj Brooks walks out the tunnel ahead of a game against Baylor, Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) breaks a tackle against Oregon during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Chase Seabolt)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) during an NCAA football game against Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Morgantown, W. Va. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball as Iowa State defensive back Malik Vernon (7) tries for a tackle in the first quarter during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs past California defenders during the first half of the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Shreveport, La. Texas Tech won 34-14. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs for a first down against California during the second half half of the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game, Dec. 16, 2023, in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, file)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs into the end zone for a touchdown late in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) tries to break a tackle by Iowa State defensive back Treyveon McGee (24) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Texas Tech won 14-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) breaks a tackle against an Oregon defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Chase Seabolt)
Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks (28) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
In this Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, file photo, Texas Tech wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (13) runs with the ball against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston. There are a few simple explanations about why Texas Tech hasn't really spread the ball around that much on offense. Ezukanma makes things look so easy with all those big plays while leading the nation in receiving and Tahj Brooks has more than 100 yards rushing in both games with four touchdowns when he wasn't even expected to be the team's top running back. Plus, the Red Raiders (2-0) just haven't run a whole lot of plays. (AP Photo/Justin Rex, File)
RB Tahj Brooks celebrates a run against West Virginia, Friday, November 29, 2024.
RB Tahj Brooks scores a touchdown against TCU, Saturday, October 26, 2024.
RB Tahj Brooks against Iowa State, Saturday, November 2, 2024.
