3 new Cincinnati Bengals players who could single-handedly make the team better ahead of 2025 NFL season

2. LB Demetrius Knight Jr.

Behind Slaton on the field will be Knight, the team's second-round pick who's slated to start at linebacker next to Logan Wilson. Knight is the direct replacement for Germaine Pratt, whom was released earlier this month after weeks of anticipation. His performance as a rookie will be compared to the most recent version of Pratt, the one who became a liability on the field just as quickly as his ascent was to becoming a core piece. 

Taking the spot of a lackluster starter is an easy path to proving your value. Knight is a handful of years younger than Pratt and with that comes a boost in overall movement and tackling ability. He's already adapting to the mental side of things. The expectation is he hits the ground sprinting once the season arrives, and the middle of the defense should benefit from it.

3. LG Dylan Fairchild

Copy and paste most of Knight's case here for Fairchild, AKA "Pickle." The Bengals are giving their third-round pick the keys to take over left guard, replacing Cordell Volson with Volson still on the team, and it'll require a disastrous training camp and preseason for that to change.

Volson's struggles involved withstanding power in pass protection through three years of starting without any form of competition in the last two. Fairchild's main strength is, well, strength! He's a better athlete than Volson as well, but in terms of creating a firm pocket for quarterback Joe Burrow, the 22-year old should solidify the left side of the offensive line while playing in-between the line's two best starters in left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and center Ted Karras.