Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Cincinnati Bengals from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Bengals:
Due to Chase opting out of the 2020 season and combining that with the Heisman winning season from DeVonta Smith, it's easy to forget the type of player Chase was as a true sophomore at LSU in 2019. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the best WR in college football while putting up 84 catches for 1,720 yards and 20 TDs and that was all with an older Justin Jefferson on the team. And who was throwing him the ball that year? None other than Joe Burrow, who I'm sure would be thrilled to be reunited with his former LSU teammate.
The run on quarterbacks took a proposed trade with New England off the board that would have netted the Bengals the 15th and 46th picks, plus a first-round selection next season. Instead, the Bengals go for the biggest, baddest Joe Burrow protector they can find. After signing Riley Reiff on Friday, the Bengals have flexibility with this pick and aren't tied to Sewell, so there's a real consideration for Ja'Marr Chase here. Yet, the idea of slotting Sewell in as the starting guard of today and tackle of tomorrow with Jonah Williams and Reiff as bookends makes for a serious move in fixing the glaring issue keeping Burrow from taking this team to the next level. -- Paul Dehner, Jr.
All along, I've thought it was going to be an offensive tackle here, but if Pitts and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase are on the board, can the Bengals really pass them up? Joe Burrow has to get more playmakers around him. I think Pitts is just too good, and he would instantly upgrade this offense. He is one of the most talented tight ends I've ever graded, and there are people in the NFL who think he could be the second-best prospect in this class. With a deep offensive line class, Cincinnati could likely find a starting tackle or guard at the top of Round 2.
Cincy addressed a bunch of defensive needs during the first week of free agency, but perhaps more importantly it signed offensive tackle Riley Reiff, who was a huge need. The Bengals could still target the offensive line here, but this week we have them taking the most explosive wideout/returner in this class.
The Bengals are going with the kitchen-sink approach to fixing the offensive line, and this is one pick that will certainly stick. Slater has five-position versatility and is as NFL-ready as they come.