The Cincinnati Bengals made it very clear last offseason that the coaching staff was going to invest significant time into their rookies and younger players in the building.
The Bengals ranked 7th in the NFL with total snaps played by rookies, and a large majority of those went to guys like Dylan Fairchild, Demetrius Knight Jr., and Barrett Carter.
Dan Brugler of The Athletic recently shared his 2025 NFL All-Rookie Team for this past season, and those names were mentioned in his article.
Brugler placed Fairchild as a runner-up to the team after posting a 59.1 overall PFF grade this past season on 961 snaps.
“A year ago, Tate Ratledge and Fairchild were starting guards at Georgia. Now, they look like promising building blocks for the Lions and Bengals, respectively,” Brugler wrote. “Ratledge led all offensive rookies in snaps played during the regular season and was one of the NFL’s more consistent run blockers. Fairchild had a few more ups and downs, but he graded out as an above-average player, especially for a mid-third-round pick. The Bengals should feel confident about their left guard moving forward, which they certainly couldn’t say last year.”
Both Knight and Carter earned honorable mentions from Brugler with their play in their rookie season as Bengals.
Knight finished 2025 with a 41.9 PFF grade on 798 snaps, but flashed down the stretch with solid performances against the Cardinals and Browns.
Carter finished the 2025 season with a 39.5 PFF grade on 792 snaps and struggled to really find his footing most of the year.
The Bengals are going to likely go with those two guys next season after showing their faith in that duo by trading away Logan Wilson mid-season.
We will see what their sophomore season brings in 2026!
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