Bengals 2021 NFL Draft primer as protecting Joe Burrow the priority

Bengals top targets in 2021 NFL Draft

At this stage of the pre-draft process and with no NFL combine to rely on, many players missing the 2020 season due to opting out and only having access to pro days teams are taking more risk this draft arguably more than ever when it comes to round one. Both prospects that the Bengals have been rumored to target at pick five overall are the left tackle out Oregon, Penei Sewell, and the wide receiver out of LSU in Ja’Marr Chase. Both options would be great for the Bengals but who knows which route they go come draft night.

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Penei Sewell is considered a generational talent at the tackle position, he plays with great length, athleticism, aggression, and anticipation, and although he’s incredibly young and rather inexperienced the ceiling is possibly Joe Thomas high with Sewell.

Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network has high praise for Sewell as the 2021 NFL Draft approaches:

"“From the onset of his career, Sewell was projected as a potential early draft pick at the all-important left tackle position. He possesses the footwork, agility, and movement skills, to hold down the position at the next level, and he projects well in a zone-blocking scheme. He must improve his strength at the point and develop a nasty attitude, but Sewell comes with a large upside.”"

Adding Sewell to the Bengals offensive line would give life to the fan base and should give Joe Burrow some more confidence about his offensive lineman.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

If the Bengals can’t get Sewell because he’s been selected or they decide to pass entirely, Ja’Marr Chase is likely the pick at fifth overall. Chase and Burrow broke NCAA and SEC single-season records while playing together at LSU. Chase opted out of the 2020 season since the LSU Tigers weren’t expected to be super competitive after most of the starters left after winning it all.

Chase isn’t the big body that A.J. Green was but he is scary fast and is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. It also helps that he tested out of his mind at his pro day, racking up a Relative Athletic Score of 9.81 out of 10.

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

The only other option I can fathom happening besides trading down if the Bengals pass on Sewell and Chase and that would be selecting the tight end out of The University of Florida in Kyle Pitts. Pitts is the highest regarded tight end prospect since O.J. Howard came out of Alabama and while he isn’t as good of a blocker as Howard he is a significantly better pass-catching threat.

Pitts is a mismatch nightmare for defenses as corners and safeties are too small to cover him and
Linebackers are too slow to run with him. Pitts can be a tight end or a big-bodied wide receiver for the Bengals and could fill two needs in one shot.