Bengals draft grades for selecting LB Demetrius Knight Jr. and G Dylan Fairchild on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Apr 26, 2025 3:47 AM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals addressed two of their biggest needs on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, but not exactly in the way many would've expected.

Linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. became Cincinnati's second-round pick at 49th overall, essentially confirming his role as a starter next to Logan Wilson and Oren Burks. In the third round, guard Dylan Fairchild was selected 81st overall to provide more competition for Cody Ford and Cordell Volson at left guard.

The Bengals got two players they targeted, but were they worth the picks used to get them? That's what initial draft grades are all about.

Bengals' grade for drafting LB Demetrius Knight Jr. 49th overall in Round 2

Knight was the player Cincinnati was dead-set on drafting in the second round. He was ahead of Georgia guard Tate Ratledge. Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr., and everyone else available on their board.

And yet, Knight was not expected to be off the board until a full round later. The A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database placed Knight 84th overall in terms of his expected draft position.

Even the Bengals believed they wouldn't have been able to draft Knight in the third round, the decision to select him at this juncture still needs classifying as a reach.

Knight will begin his NFL career at 25 years old. Despite all the positives to his game such as high-quality speed for his size and impressive length and tackling power, Cincinnati is unlikely to get a lengthy career out of Knight considering he's three years older than the average drafted player. Even if he's an opening day starter, that has to factor into the grade.

Pick Grade: C+

Bengals' grade for drafting G Dylan Fairchild 81st overall in Round 3

Staying on theme here, Fairchild filled the Bengals' biggest need at guard but was likely over-drafted. The consensus had him in the range of a mid-fourth round pick. Cincinnati went ahead and submitted his name well before the third round concluded.

That said, a reach in the third round is slightly more forgivable compared to the second round simply due to greater variance in draft boards and differences in players being more marginal at this stage of the draft.

Fairchild may not be a starter like Knight is likely to be, but the left guard job is set up for him to win. He's familiar with offensive line coach Scott Peters' pass protection techniques, and can lean on former Georgia teammate Amarius Mims to get acclimated into the scheme.

There's a good chance Fairchild, who turns 22 in May, wins the LG gig and boosts the ceiling of the Bengals' o-line. That's good enough to warrant a a decent grade.