The Cincinnati Bengals finally got busy in the offensive trenches in front of Joe Burrow in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft with Dylan Fairchild.
Fairchild’s arrival creates more competition at a guard spot that desperately needed it this summer. At first glance, he has what it takes to win a starting job in training camp.
Here’s what prominent NFL draft minds had to say about Fairchild before the draft.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
“Fairchild is built to hold his ground and jolt defenders at the point of attack, and he plays with the fierce demeanor to win his individual battles (wrestling mentality). At times, his feet, hands and eyes can get slightly disjointed as he responds to quickness, but he flashes dominance when his moving parts all stay on the same page. Overall, Fairchild lacks experience — and it shows at times — but he is powerful, tough and naturally aggressive. I expect him to continue getting better with additional reps. He is an ascending prospect with NFL starting upside, in the Wyatt Teller mold.”
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
“Two-year starter who will offer more with his pass protection than his run blocking. Fairchild plays with quick hands and adequate athleticism as a move blocker. He’s big but struggles to push opponents and sustain blocks at the point of attack and wasn’t enough of a difference-maker for the run game. He’s steady in protection with decent range and active hands. He’s athletic enough to recover against counters but could have issues when matched against a good bull rush. Fairchild could go in the middle rounds and eventually become a starter.”
The Draft Network
“Overall, Fairchild appears to have a clear path to developing into a reliable starter in a gap/power scheme and with the right development could evolve into a high-level player for an offensive line unit.”
Bleacher Report Scouting Department
“Overall, Fairchild has the size, athletic ability, raw power, and demeanor to mold himself into a future starting guard. Still, it was a bit of a surprise declaration due to his raw, unrefined skill set that led to a wide floor/ceiling gap and made his landing spot a critical aspect of his projection. Due to the range of potential outcomes in his development, it is difficult to see him as more than a backup as a rookie, but the physical tools are there to take over a job at guard eventually.”
33rd Team
“Fairchild projects as a zone scheme blocker thanks to good foot speed and sufficient hand usage to torque and seal gaps. He’s got the makings of an effective pass protector but will need to see, feel, and frame games along the point in a more timely manner before he’s ready to be the best version of himself as a starter in the pros.”
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: 2025 NFL draft: What experts said about new Bengals OL Dylan Fairchild
