Bengals could fall to seventh in 2021 NFL Draft with win over Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals could fall to seventh in the 2021 NFL Draft with a win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

A win by the 3-10-1 Cincinnati Bengals over the 4-10 Houston Texans on Sunday could drop them to seventh in the 2021 NFL Draft order. Cincinnati currently has the third-worst record in the NFL. That would place the Bengals third in the 2021 NFL Draft. Houston has the sixth-worst record in the NFL.

The Miami Dolphins hold the Texans pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and would pick sixth. The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are fourth and fifth and the Philadelphia Eagles seventh. Atlanta and Carolina are 4-10 and Philadelphia is 4-9-1. Atlanta plays at Kansas City, Carolina is at Washington and Philadelphia is at Dallas.

The Falcons are a big underdog at Kansas City, while Philadelphia and Carolina are only slight dogs against Washington and Dallas. Bengals fans should be rooting for those teams to win. Houston is a slight favorite against Cincinnati. The win by the  Jets last week at the Rams can completely change the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Jets are now 1-13 this season, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record in the NFL. With an easier schedule than the Jets, the Jaguars currently own the number one pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The consensus and likely unanimous first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is Clemson Quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence will almost definitely be the first pick no matter who finishes with the worst record in the NFL in 2020. When the Jets had the worst record most analysts projected Lawrence first, Ohio State QB Justin Fields second to Jacksonville and the Bengals to choose Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell third.

The Jets win could change the top of the draft after Lawrence would likely go first to Jacksonville. New York chose Sam Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2018 draft. They would have moved on from Darnold with the opportunity to draft Lawrence. With the second pick, the Jets seem more likely to choose Sewell.

That could reshape the direction of the entire 2021 NFL Draft. If the Bengals drop to seventh, which seems unlikely, Sewell would be long gone. The other name often mentioned for the Bengals is LSU wide receiver, JaMarr Chase. Chase led the potent 2019 Tigers offense in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

At seven, Chase will almost definitely have been drafted. Sewell is the consensus third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Philadelphia is currently projected to select Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons with the seventh pick. The Bengals need significant help throughout the roster but Lawrence, Fields and Sewell are the clear top three.