Three quarterbacks will almost certainly go off the board to begin this year’s draft, which is the first time that will have taken place in 22 years. The Falcons don’t know whether to buy anything Matt RyanHeir to the throne at number 4. This puts the Bengal in a position to land perhaps the best non-quarterback of this draft.
By picking fifth without needing a quarterback, the Bengals will have a host of offensive prospects to choose from. Given the problems they’ve had in their offensive line over the years, they have been linked to Oregon tackle Penei Sewell Zac Taylor, player personnel director Duke Tobin and offensive line coach Frank Pollack were in Eugene, Oregon, for Sewell’s pro day, Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweetsPollack told attendees that Sewell impressed him, Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets
Sewell would make sense as a player who could be a long-term starter to the left tackle Jonah Williams, but Tobin said Bengals could get a starter caliber lineman on the second night of the draft. Cincinnati has starter figures on O-linemen expected to go into the second and third rounds, Tobin said during a podcast with Bengals announcer Dan Hoard (Twitter linkTobin added that the addition of veteran can be addressed Riley Reiff gives the team a better O-line outlook than in 2020 (Twitter link via Ben Baby from ESPN.com).
There are needs on the inside of Cincinnati’s O-line, and Tobin said more additions will take place. But the experienced manager understandably does not give off the atmosphere that the team must add an impact blocker early on.
The Bengals also don’t want to trade too far below No. 5; they may not be interested in going down at all. One of the best players available could suit the Bengals, who have included Joe Burrow in their pre-draft trial, Tobin more or less confirmed (via Baby, on TwitterBurrow has one Yes’Marr Chase reunion, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. The Eagles can very well expect this to be the direction the Bengals are heading, with Breer noting that Philly believes there is a good chance Cincy will place Chase at number 5. Having a greater receiver requirement than the Bengals, the Eagles performed from No. 6 to No. 12 late last month.
The Bengals have not re-signed any of the top-10 recipients on last year’s roster – AJ Green and John Ross – but have invested a first or second round pick in three of the past five designs. Chase retired from his junior season, but exploded for 84 receptions, 1,780 yards and 20 touchdown catches during Burrow’s Heisman-winning 2019. He and Burrow played together for two seasons at LSU.
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