The Cincinnati Bengals are not a popular team when it comes to 2025 NFL draft grades.
One could probably see that coming pretty quickly after Day 1 when the team selected Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart. While a high-upside pick, the initial response to the move was about as polarizing as it gets.
From there, the Bengals added two linebackers over their first four picks and doubled down on offensive linemen, too, grabbing two over the first five rounds before finishing off the brief class with a sixth-round running back.
Here’s a sampling of how those in charge of NFL draft grades feel about the class.
ESPN
Mel Kiper Jr. at ESPN gave the Bengals a C, saying the value they found wasn’t great:
“Neither player came at value, though. Knight was ranked 82nd on my board and went 49th. Fairchild was ranked 110th and went 81st. On Day 3, my favorite Bengals pick was running back Tahj Brooks. He is coming off back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons on the ground and provides depth behind Chase Brown and Zack Moss.”
RELATED: Bengals undrafted free agency tracker after 2025 NFL draft
NFL.com
At NFL.com, Chad Reuter went with a B- for the Bengals:
“Carter is a good player who will eventually start, but I’m not sure they were able to get maximum value by taking linebackers with two of their first four picks. Rivers addresses the team’s lack of depth at tackle and Brooks should compete for playing time in a crowded running back room.”
USA Today
Nate Davis at USA Today, like many, liked the strategy, but not necessarily the execution while giving out a C grade:
“From a macro perspective, they resourced their draft properly by investing heavily in the defense and offensive line – this team’s major issues in 2024 giving up too many points and its ongoing penchant for getting QB Joe Burrow sacked three times a week. But first-round DE Shemar Stewart is your classic boom-or-bust prospect – how often does that work out in Cincinnati? – and going for a pair of linebackers afterward seemed a bit … odd.”
RELATED: Bengals land NFL’s top undrafted free agent after draft
CBS Sports
Chris Trapasso at CBS Sports threw out another C grade for the Bengals:
“They didn’t need to force the Knight selection in Round 2, and I didn’t get the double-dip at linebacker with Carter. However. Fairchild is an overachiever at guard, which was a gigantic need in front of Joe Burrow. Rivers added more insurance up front, and Brooks and Chase Brown can become a quality former sixth-round tandem in the backfield.”
Associated Press
At the AP, Rob Maaddi put the Bengals at a B-, again pointing out a possible sixth-round steal:
“Edge Shemar Stewart (17) is raw but immensely talented and provides help for a defense that needs it. LB Demetrius Knight Jr. (49) can play right away and LB Barrett Carter (119) has potential. Added depth on the offensive line with G Dylan Fairchild (81) and LG Jalen Rivers (153). Running back Tahj Brooks (193) could be a steal in the sixth round.”
PFF
Another C, this time from PFF, with these notes on Stewart:
“While Stewart’s pass-rush production (67.2 PFF pass-rush grade) leaves something to be desired, he is an incredibly high-potential athlete off the edge. His 88.2 PFF run-defense grade last season will get him on the field early and provide him with a solid floor as he further develops, potentially into Trey Hendrickson’s successor.”
Yahoo Sports
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald at Yahoo Sports also threw out a C, suggesting there could be a delay on all of the picks:
“Bengals added a pair of guards and also running back Tahj Brooks in the sixth round to help round out their running back room. I understand what they’re trying to do with these picks, but the players they selected might not become impact players for a year or two.”
Sports Illustrated
Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame at SI went more negative than most with a D- while pointing out two needs that went unaddressed:
“It’s tough to understand what the Bengals were doing in this draft. Cincinnati had glaring defensive needs on the line and in the secondary. Somehow, the team didn’t take a corner or safety at any point, while selecting multiple guards. The Bengals also took a linebacker, in Knight, who is 25 years old after playing six years in college across three programs. The values were largely poor, and the talents don’t have high ceilings.”
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: 2025 NFL draft grades: Bengals bashed for mediocre showing
The Cincinnati Bengals are not a popular team when it comes to 2025 NFL draft grades.
One could probably see that coming pretty quickly after Day 1 when the team selected Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart. While a high-upside pick, the initial response to the move was about as polarizing as it gets.
From there, the Bengals added two linebackers over their first four picks and doubled down on offensive linemen, too, grabbing two over the first five rounds before finishing off the brief class with a sixth-round running back.
Here’s a sampling of how those in charge of NFL draft grades feel about the class.
ESPN
Mel Kiper Jr. at ESPN gave the Bengals a C, saying the value they found wasn’t great:
“Neither player came at value, though. Knight was ranked 82nd on my board and went 49th. Fairchild was ranked 110th and went 81st. On Day 3, my favorite Bengals pick was running back Tahj Brooks. He is coming off back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons on the ground and provides depth behind Chase Brown and Zack Moss.”
RELATED: Bengals undrafted free agency tracker after 2025 NFL draft
NFL.com
At NFL.com, Chad Reuter went with a B- for the Bengals:
“Carter is a good player who will eventually start, but I’m not sure they were able to get maximum value by taking linebackers with two of their first four picks. Rivers addresses the team’s lack of depth at tackle and Brooks should compete for playing time in a crowded running back room.”
USA Today
Nate Davis at USA Today, like many, liked the strategy, but not necessarily the execution while giving out a C grade:
“From a macro perspective, they resourced their draft properly by investing heavily in the defense and offensive line – this team’s major issues in 2024 giving up too many points and its ongoing penchant for getting QB Joe Burrow sacked three times a week. But first-round DE Shemar Stewart is your classic boom-or-bust prospect – how often does that work out in Cincinnati? – and going for a pair of linebackers afterward seemed a bit … odd.”
RELATED: Bengals land NFL’s top undrafted free agent after draft
CBS Sports
Chris Trapasso at CBS Sports threw out another C grade for the Bengals:
“They didn’t need to force the Knight selection in Round 2, and I didn’t get the double-dip at linebacker with Carter. However. Fairchild is an overachiever at guard, which was a gigantic need in front of Joe Burrow. Rivers added more insurance up front, and Brooks and Chase Brown can become a quality former sixth-round tandem in the backfield.”
Associated Press
At the AP, Rob Maaddi put the Bengals at a B-, again pointing out a possible sixth-round steal:
“Edge Shemar Stewart (17) is raw but immensely talented and provides help for a defense that needs it. LB Demetrius Knight Jr. (49) can play right away and LB Barrett Carter (119) has potential. Added depth on the offensive line with G Dylan Fairchild (81) and LG Jalen Rivers (153). Running back Tahj Brooks (193) could be a steal in the sixth round.”
PFF
Another C, this time from PFF, with these notes on Stewart:
“While Stewart’s pass-rush production (67.2 PFF pass-rush grade) leaves something to be desired, he is an incredibly high-potential athlete off the edge. His 88.2 PFF run-defense grade last season will get him on the field early and provide him with a solid floor as he further develops, potentially into Trey Hendrickson’s successor.”
Yahoo Sports
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald at Yahoo Sports also threw out a C, suggesting there could be a delay on all of the picks:
“Bengals added a pair of guards and also running back Tahj Brooks in the sixth round to help round out their running back room. I understand what they’re trying to do with these picks, but the players they selected might not become impact players for a year or two.”
Sports Illustrated
Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame at SI went more negative than most with a D- while pointing out two needs that went unaddressed:
“It’s tough to understand what the Bengals were doing in this draft. Cincinnati had glaring defensive needs on the line and in the secondary. Somehow, the team didn’t take a corner or safety at any point, while selecting multiple guards. The Bengals also took a linebacker, in Knight, who is 25 years old after playing six years in college across three programs. The values were largely poor, and the talents don’t have high ceilings.”
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: 2025 NFL draft grades: Bengals bashed for mediocre showing
