The Cincinnati Bengals have played against the defender position several times in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It's hard to say which time is more interesting. But Cincinnati caught the Dmitry Knights in South Carolina in the second round, which seemed to eventually show the end of the Jamian Pratt era after offseason veterans’ trade requests.
Below is a draft expert’s reconnaissance report on Knight.
“An active, green-dot defender, Knight has a quick downhill trgger against the run, with the straight-line pursuit speed to drive and finish at the ball carrier. Though he has some limitations in coverage, he is a capable underneath zone defender who can reach his landmark and get eyes on the passer. Overall, Knight won't be a true three-down player for some schemes, but he fits the bill for a defense seeking a fast, thumbing run stuffer and blitzer he has an old-fashioned mindset.
“Passionate defender, good figure, good instincts, and has a sense of how to play this position. The Cavalier is a fluid athlete who pursues average speed and short-zone bursts. He quickly diagnosed it with his eyes and instinct, and he manipulated around his body like running. He is good at sliding blocks and rarely allows blockers to stick to the second layer. He is aware and productive in the area, but may be difficult to keep within the coverage of people. He is not a twitching mover, but knows how to play the game and has a chance to play in all three games. The Cavaliers' off-field manner and football character should use the deal as a future starter seal for Inside'Backer.“
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“Overall, Knight uses it as a direct contribution to defense due to his three-point projection and elite athleticism. Knight's length, intuition and closing speed, as well as his comfort with space and obvious ball production, has the potential to develop into a basic defensive type, with Green-Dot's potential if he continues to adjust his game as a running guard.“
“Overall, it's perfect for the Cavaliers to be an inside linebacker in odd numbers and even frontlines. But the team may view him as a low-small prospect because of his age, 25 years old before his rookie season.“
"The Little Knight is best at being Mike's defender in a stress-oriented system. His game is based on aggressiveness in many stages. Whether he triggers a blitz or a landmark trigger in a fire zone, the Little Knight will have the most influence on the delivery of these concepts.
His ability to insert distances between tackles keeps defenses in good range. The Cavaliers should be seen as a starting player in development, and with the right opportunity he can see the field early in his career. ”
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