Cincinnati Bengals Select Barrett Carter in Fourth Round of NFL Draft

CLEMSON, South Carolina — The Cincinnati Bengals selected Barrett Carter, a linebacker from Clemson, with the 119th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on April 26. Carter is the first player picked by the Bengals this year not from the Southeastern Conference, but he remains in the same geographical area after playing in South Carolina.

In the 2024 season, Carter earned recognition as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and Phil Steele, finishing with 82 total tackles, the second-highest on the team. He also recorded 3.5 sacks, which ranked third for the Tigers. Over his college career, Carter accumulated 254 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 12.6 sacks, 24 pass breakups, and three interceptions.

Bengals Defensive Coordinator Al Golden praised Carter’s capabilities, saying, “He’s an impressive human being with a 4.0 GPA. Pre-snap, he’s clearly in charge of that defense. He has good coverage skills and four-down value, making him an asset on early downs, third downs, and special teams.”

NFL.com provided a positive evaluation of Carter, giving him a grade of 6.25 and suggesting he could become an average starter in the league. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein noted that Carter has impressive range and body control, essential traits for his role as a run-and-chase linebacker.

Carter’s collegiate achievements include being a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker, and he was active in community service through the Our Friend Christopher organization. The Bengals expect Carter to contribute on special teams and in various defensive packages right away as he transitions to the professional level.

As the Bengals look to strengthen their defense, Barrett Carter’s addition marks a new chapter in his football career, following a noteworthy tenure at Clemson.