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PFF Names Potential Breakout Candidate on Cincinnati Bengals Roster
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- PFF Names Potential Breakout Candidate on Cincinnati Bengals Roster
(Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
Pro Football Focus released an article last week highlighting its breakout candidate for each of the 32 NFL teams. PFF named a Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman, but it's probably not who most people would expect.
Amarius Mims has been receiving praise all offseason from other players, coaches and media outlets who think he is primed to take a huge leap in 2026. He was named a top building block for the franchise by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report , and the front office named him as one of the main reasons to believe in this year's offensive line . However, he is not who PFF chose.
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They chose Dylan Fairchild , the second-year guard out of Georgia whom the Bengals selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. He started 15 games as a rookie last year, compiling a 74.3 PFF pass-blocking grade over his last eight contests, making him the highest-rated rookie guard in the league and the fourth-highest-rated rookie offensive lineman during that span.
PFF's Gordon McGuinness backed up the selection by saying Fairchild is capable of developing into the Bengals' best offensive lineman by the end of the season.
Fairchild entered his rookie season with plenty to prove after Cincinnati drafted him in the third round, but he not only earned a starting job — he showed he belonged. His strong finish to last season sets the stage for him to have an even bigger role on the offensive line this year. With another year of experience and a full offseason working alongside Mims and the rest of the offensive line, the sky is the limit for Fairchild.
Ted Karras explained why he should take that next step , saying his ability to generate force sets him apart from the rest. His assessment of Fairchild speaks to just how high the young guard can go.
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He should feel more comfortable with the speed and physicality of defenses in the NFL, and with all five returning pieces healthy, Fairchild is poised to be a valuable asset in improving the offensive line play and keeping Joe Burrow clean.
PFF's selection of Fairchild as Cincinnati's breakout candidate feels less like a prediction and more like the expectation. He's already demonstrated he can play at a high level, so now the next step is building on the final eight weeks of last year and using it to put out consistent production.
If Fairchild builds on his late-season surge, he will have a legitimate chance to establish himself as a cornerstone of the offense for many years to come, which is exactly why PFF believes he could be the Bengals' best by season's end.
