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Georgia Bulldogs' Dylan Fairchild reacts to blocking for Joe Burrow at the next level
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Quarterback Joe Burrow is somewhere celebrating following the Cincinnati Bengals' third-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.

With their 81st overall selection, the Bengals chose Georgia offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild, who is widely regarded as an elite pass protector, and made it clear moments after hearing his name called that he can't wait to get to work for Burrow.

"Oh, it's an honor. It’s an honor," Fairchild told the media on Friday night. "And it's something that I'm going to live and die by every single day. It’s the biggest honor of my life. And I'm just super excited to do it. Again, I'm gonna live by the sword and die by the sword and give my all every single day to do so."

Fairchild allowed only one sack across 787 pass-blocking snaps during his college career, a testament to his exceptional consistency.​

In his final season at Georgia, Fairchild earned Second-Team All-SEC honors and was recognized as a Second-Team All-American. His performance was highlighted by a Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 87.0, the highest among all guards in college football. 

The Bengals' offensive line struggled quite a bit last fall, especially in pass protection. Injuries and inconsistent play really exposed Burrow, who spent way too much time under pressure or rushing throws. He was also sacked 48 times over 17 games. 

That’s what makes the Fairchild pick so important. He brings youth, power, and pass-blocking reliability, which is exactly what Cincy needs to stabilize the o-line and protect their QB1. 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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