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:
After selecting Joe Burrow first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Bengals would be in an ideal situation if this year's draft begins with an unprecedented selection of four quarterbacks to start the draft. Could they auction this pick off to Carolina or Denver, who may be willing to move up a few spots to draft Trey Lance?
If not, they have their choice of non-QB prospects and I could see them either reuniting Burrow with Ja'Marr Chase or drafting Sewell. Fortunately for the Bengals, deep and talented wide receiver and offensive tackle classes should provide values at both positions for their second-round pick (No. 38).
The Bengals have begun the process of upgrading their offensive line by signing Riley Reiff, but it's only a one-year deal for the 32-year-old tackle and that shouldn't preclude them from selecting an elite prospect like Sewell here. While Sewell opted out of the 2020 season, the 2019 first-team AP All-American was dominant in his true-sophomore campaign and won't turn 21 until October. Sewell is the No. 2 prospect on our 2021 NFL Draft Big Board.
Chase is the best wide receiver in the class, and he set then-SEC records in 2019 with Bengals QB Joe Burrow under center for LSU. An opt-out in 2020, Chase is a physical matchup for any cornerback, and he is incredible at tracking and adjusting to the ball in the air. Tight end Kyle Pitts could be the guy if he were available, and no one is claiming that the Riley Reiff signing closed the door on the draft's top two tackles -- Oregon's Penei Sewell and Northwestern's Rashawn Slater -- here either. But Chase is a dominant playmaker who would make an immediate impact outside. Also watch for a potential trade back: There are plenty of teams eyeing quarterbacks Trey Lance and Justin Fields (Ohio State) in this range.
The Bengals have an interesting choice here: take the stud tackle who can be a cornerstone of the offensive line for years or give quarterback Joe Burrow a game-changing weapon. Picking Pitts over Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell or one of the top receivers is a gamble, but the Florida star is the type of matchup nightmare that could take the Bengals offense to the next level.
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.
It could be seen as a personal affront to Joe Burrow if owner/GM Mike Brown doesn't pick an offensive lineman in the first round. But Burrow is reportedly pushing the Bengals to draft his former college teammate. A lot of people are forgetting how good Chase, the 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner, actually was during the Tigers national title run as a 19 year old. Remember, Justin Jefferson was considered Robin to his Batman.
Joe Burrow will need better protection, but veteran free agent RT Riley Reiff helps opposite LT Jonah Williams, and a 6-foot-6, 240-pound unicorn more than fills the void left by the departure of WR A.J. Green.
The Bengals just gave offensive tackle Riley Reiff a one-year, $7.5 million deal in free agency, but that shouldn't preclude them from also taking the top lineman in this draft. Sewell has the skill set to start his career at guard, if that's what Cincinnati envisions in 2021. And he has the athleticism and light feet to be a long-term difference-maker at either tackle spot. In any case, Sewell would provide a massive boost for an offensive line that desperately needs one as it seeks to protect Joe Burrow.
Joe Burrow will need two things to flourish in Cincinnati: extra protection and extra targets. If four QBs go in the top four picks, the Bengals will have their pick of the best from either group -- and in this case, they go for the blind-side blocker. Penei Sewell opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still is the best blocker in the class, with excellent upper-body power in the run game and the technique and arm length to hold off pass-rushers.
