Fairchild is looking to be on the starting five upfront in Week 1.
Although the Cincinnati Bengals waited until the third round of the NFL Draft to select an offensive lineman, they may have drafted one that could become really good. He certainly was that way in college at Georgia.
Dylan Fairchild was the Bengals’ third-round draft pick. A 6-foot-5, 315-pound guard, Fairchild started 24 games at left guard over his last two seasons with the Bulldogs. That included starting in all 14 games last season at Georgia, earning him Second-Team All-American status.
Fairchild is already making an impression on the Bengals veteran offensive linemen.
“[He’s] the strongest dude I ever met in my life. Pound for pound,” right tackle Amarius Mims said at Bengals offseason workouts via Bengals.com. “He has that factor about him. Not just in a game, but in regular life. I feel bad if he gets his hand on a regular pedestrian just walking down the street. If it’s not a football player, he’ll probably (do damage).”
Mims played with Fairchild at Georgia, so he’s very familiar with what he can do upfront.
In addition, captains Orlando Brown Jr. (left tackle) and Ted Karras (center) also have effusive praise for the Bengals third-round pick. Brown mentioned that Fairchild has been asking endless questions while watching film together.
“His play strength is very unique,” Brown said. “There’s reason [the Bengals] took him in the third round, and gave him the opportunity to be the guy at left guard. Just in terms of play strength, the right mindset, his ability to pass protect. For his size he’s got a unique body in terms of his length, height, strength. In college, playing as well as he did in the SEC, and how consistent he was, it’s what made him a hot commodity.”
Not only does Fairchild bring experience to Cincinnati, but he also brings a high degree of maturity.
“He recently got married and I think that bodes well,” Karras said. “He’s kind of coming in as a grown man, a married man. It doesn’t seem like the moment is too big for him. I figured if this guy is eager, I have the accommodations and I wanted to get my hands on him first.
“I think he’s done a great job so far. We’re two days in working with him. Made of the right stuff, played at a big-time program, and seems to be kind of a physical specimen. Excited to have him.”
The Bengals are in the third and final week of Phase 2 of offseason workouts.
