Two Bengals defenders have landed on Pro Football Focus’ list of the 10 second-year players under the most pressure heading into 2026, and both names make sense given how rough Cincinnati’s defense was last season.
Bradley Locker singled out first-round pick Shemar Stewart and second-rounder Demetrius Knight Jr., pointing to a unit that finished 30th in the NFL in scoring defense at 28.9 points per game, 24th against the pass and last against the run. The Bengals attacked the defense in free agency, the draft and a blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence, but they did not add a linebacker, banking on Knight and Barrett Carter to take a step after being pushed into action as rookies.
Knight’s rookie year was more about survival than impact. He became a starter, but the production never matched the role.
PFF said his 40.2 overall grade ranked 56th out of 59 qualified linebackers in 2025, and he finished below a 45.5 mark in both run defense and coverage. He also missed 15% of his tackles, tied for 15th-highest among that group.
Here’s how PFF framed it:
"Knight emerged as a starter for the Bengals’ defense, but that didn’t equate to standout play. His 40.2 overall PFF grade ranked 56 th out of 59 qualified linebackers in 2025, finishing below a 45.5 mark in both run defense and coverage.
The South Carolina product also missed 15% of his tackles, tied for 15 th -highest in that contingent. While the Bengals made upgrades to their defensive line and secondary, the team’s linebacker corps was virtually untouched.
Given that the unit was the worst in the NFL last season by overall PFF grade, Knight needs to unlock another gear if Cincinnati’s defense is to play closer to league average. With better underlying surroundings, the soon-to-be 26-year-old Knight will be in the limelight even further."
Knight said last month at minicamp that the second year feels different.
"I know what to expect. I know the playbook," Knight told The Enquirer last month during minicamp."
When you get here as a rookie, you're trying to not roll with the punches but you're trying to make sure you're good for that day. Now, I can understand what's going on today, what's going on tomorrow, what we put in last week...
Just being at home."
Stewart’s rookie season was even more turbulent. It started with a contract dispute and ended with just 11 tackles in eight games. He missed time with knee and ankle injuries and finished with one sack.
PFF was blunt about the performance. Stewart played only 280 snaps because of the injuries, but the grade still lagged badly even when he was on the field.
His 41.2 overall mark was the worst among 120 edge rushers who played at least 250 snaps, and his 29.3 run-defense grade was especially poor. PFF also placed him in the 12th percentile in pass-rush grade and the 16th percentile in pass-rush win rate.
The Bengals have since added former Seahawk Boye Mafe to help the edge room, especially with Trey Hendrickson heading to Baltimore. Even so, Stewart remains a central piece for a defense that ranked 29th in EPA per play. Cincinnati needs the 22-year-old to take a real step if it wants to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
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