After being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Dylan Fairchild made it clear he plans to protect Joe Burrow at all costs.
Now continuing to roll into training camp, he’s not backing off that promise.
Fairchild was one of the Bengals’ biggest offseason acquisitions because of their desperate need for offensive line stability. They drafted him out of Georgia to help anchor a unit that’s failed Burrow too many times in recent years.
He’s penciled in at left guard. That spot’s been a rotating door — filled by veterans, reshuffled linemen, and quick fixes. Fairchild gives them a shot at stability.
Fairchild Could Lock It Down Early in Bengals Offense
At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, with 34 college games under his belt and two national titles at Georgia, Fairchild checks the boxes. He plays with balance and punch. He’s been through big stages playing in the ferocious SEC conference. Now he’s in an NFL camp where every snap counts.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. wrote in a July 21 story: Pressure will be high and eyeballs will be fixated on the Bengals’ guard battles all camp. At the center of that is this third-round pick for whom the team has cleared the path to assume the starting left guard role. Will he be up to the test? Or will putting him out to protect Joe Burrow on Sept. 10 feel like organizational malpractice? There are three veteran options around Fairchild and we’ll learn how tough his transition to the NFL will be and if the Bengals will still have more questions than answers at the problematic guard spot.
The Bengals believe so. Fairchild’s work this offseason showed urgency. He took full advantage of OTAs and minicamp, leaning on veterans like Ted Karras and Orlando Brown Jr. His reps weren’t empty, and he asked questions. He’s learning fast and staying close to the vets. The ideal rookie.
With padded practices underway, the evaluation gets real. Fairchild needs to hold up in protection and show he can win on pull blocks and in the run game. This staff isn’t looking for development reps. They’re looking for solutions before Week 1.
Competition Isn’t Backing Down Either
Cordell Volson isn’t giving up the job without a fight. After starting 15 games last season and has taken another step forward this offseason. He knows the system. He knows the stakes.
The Bengals also signed Samaje Perine and brought in rookie Tahj Brooks to boost the run game behind Chase Brown, and Zack Moss on a reworked contract this offseason. But if the guard play doesn’t improve, none of it matters.
Fairchild isn’t guaranteed anything. But he’s in control for now. The staff sees the traits. He just has to stack days, show he can finish blocks in live work, and avoid rookie miscues.
Burrow has dealt with pressure in his face for four straight seasons. If Fairchild can change that, even slightly, this offensive line outlook shifts. And so does the Bengals’ ceiling.
Fairchild knows what’s on the line. He’s fighting to be the guy Burrow can trust when the pocket starts to collapse.
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