A big reason the Cincinnati Bengals haven't made the playoffs in the last three seasons is Joe Burrow's injury issues. Oh, and a dreadful defense. Oh, and awful showings in the NFL Draft by Duke Tobin and the NFL's most under-manned scouting department.
That last fact bears repeating at every turn until the Bengals actually do something about it.
There's a somewhat common phrase that applies here. "Play stupid games; win stupid prizes." in Cincinnati's case, cheap out on your resources to evaluate personnel; see corresponding losses and wasted prime Burrow years pile up.
Bengals rank 29th in 2025 NFL Draft class rankings...and that sounds about right
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards gave the Bengals' 2025 draft class a C- grade, with zero Year 1 hits. Here's the rest of his write-up:
"Linebacker was identified as a point of weakness for the AFC North franchise last offseason. They used two mid-round picks to address the position and then stuck by those players through a volatile season. First-round pick Shemar Stewart was underwhelming when available. Offensive guard Dylan Fairchild did enough to earn a longer look and inspire some confidence long-term. Cincinnati could come away from this draft with a few decent starters, but there are questions regarding that possibility."
Fun fact: I'm in complete and utter lockstep with Edwards' ranking, only I made mine immediately after the draft. Because I knew the awfulness that was about to unfold. The screenshot I shared below with my X/Twitter pal ZIM is from April 26, 2025, at 9:17 p.m. EST. Find me out in the wild and I'll show you.
My worst draft classes of 2025 (from April) pic.twitter.com/eDuTwSTDVP
— Matt Fitzgerald (@MattFitz_gerald) January 30, 2026
To be honest, Edwards served up a rather generous report card that does leave some wiggle room since only one season is in the rooks' books. I may have a small issue with saying Dylan Fairchild isn't a hit, but that's more because he's at least a passable starter at left guard.
Yeah. Passable starters at the guard spots have been hard to come by in Cincinnati. Fairchild isn't some transcendent player. He's fine. He had a fine rookie year. That's all Burrow needs from him. Any improvement from here is welcome. Sustaining the current foundation is also fine, and by Bengals standards, should be considered a massive draft hit.
The rest of the rookie crew is bad. No delicate way to put it. I buried the lede a little bit here. Edwards alluded to the dreadful play of rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter.
Another fact that bears repeating: The Bengals had signed a Super Bowl-winning starter, Oren Burks, away from Philadelphia in free agency. They still had Germaine Pratt under contract. Pity they alienated him into requesting a trade or release, because he's a heck of a player. Eventual first-time captain Logan Wilson was entering the second season of a four-year contract.
Welp. Cincinnati's geniuses waited till June to cut Pratt loose. They dumped Wilson to the Cowboys for a seventh-round pick at the trade deadline. Knight and Carter were the worst starting linebacker tandem in the NFL.
I don't know what Edwards means at the top of his Bengals blurb by, "Linebacker was identified as a point of weakness..." by whom? Not me! It wasn't a great group, but it was fine! Not worth spending two of your top four picks on, especially when they're fringe/dubious prospects.
Just dreadful roster building and team management. Duke Tobin should be in jail.
Oh and we haven't mentioned Shemar Stewart. I mean I guess in hindsight, Mike Green and James Pearce Jr. had some serious character concerns. But like...speaking of Eagles linebackers, their eventual first-round pick, Jihaad Campbell, was right there. At No. 17 overall. My 14th-rated player; I had Stewart 52nd.
Howie Roseman and his much bigger, well-funded personnel operation just wipe the floor with Duke Tobin and the Bengals' band of underdogs.
It's an embarrassment for the organization. Mike Brown should be ashamed at his frugality in this area. It's cost the Bengals and Burrow multiple playoff trips, multiple major injuries, and a lot of heartache.