The Cincinnati Bengals continued to rebuild their defense on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL draft, selecting South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. with the 49th overall pick. The Bengals entered the draft needing help at every level of their defense, and they’ve addressed needs on the defensive line and in the linebacker corps with their first two picks.

Here’s our instant draft grade of the pick and our rapid analysis of the pick:

South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr. to Bengals NFL draft grade: Instant reaction

Grade: B

Why: The Bengals ranked in the bottom half of the NFL against the run last season, and Knight should help reverse that trend. Cincinnati needs toughness on its defense, and Knight should bring that. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. called Knight a “physical thumper.”

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Knight will replace Germaine Pratt, who’s requested a trade. The rookie is expected to be a nice complement to veteran linebacker Logan Wilson, who’s really good in pass coverage.

The fact Knight is 25-years-old and played six seasons of college football made him a good pick for the Bengals, who haven’t been good in recent drafts at evaluating defensive players. In other words, Knight’s experience meant plenty was known about him and that should’ve helped the Bengals in the evaluation process.

Knight also has a solid reputation as a locker-room leader. He’s married with two children and could eventually help fill a leadership void with the departure of Mike Hilton.

Overall, the Bengals might have been able to get Knight later in the draft. They probably should’ve opted for an offensive guard with this pick, but Knight is expected to step in and contribute right away.