Believe it or not, the Bengals could still be in a prime position to draft Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell. After they beat the Steelers and Texans, many thought that they would no longer have a high enough pick to draft the 20-year old tackle prospect.
However, there is a good chance that three quarterbacks will be taken in the first four selections, meaning only one other player other than Sewell would have to be taken for him to become a Bengal. At the moment, Sewell and former LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase are the favorites to be drafted with the fifth overall pick.
It could come down to who’s available, but expect the Bengals to lean towards protecting their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow if both are still on the board. It’s hard to say anything about Sewell that hasn’t already been said.
Penei Sewell: The highest-graded offensive tackle in the PFF College Era (2014-present) - 95.5. pic.twitter.com/sfIov5ECkO
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 21, 2020
Considered by many to be the best offensive tackle prospect in years, it is clear that the Oregon product would be a much-needed addition to a Bengals offensive line that has drawn so much ire. With an overall grade of 95.5, Sewell is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded offensive tackle since 2014.
While Sewell hasn’t played since 2019 he shouldn’t miss a step when transitioning to the NFL. Sewell is the type of player who could be the Bengals’ best offensive lineman as early as week one of his rookie year. While that doesn’t sound like much, soon-to-be third-year tackle Jonah Williams is a solid player himself.
If the Bengals manage to hire a solid offensive line coach, Sewell could reach his full potential in Cincinnati. When that happens, Burrow will have an elite group of tackles protecting him for a long time in Sewell and Williams.