Pro Football Focus: Bengals don’t have to force OT if not Penei Sewell at 5

The Bengals do not have to address offensive tackle with the fifth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft if Penei Sewell of Oregon is not available. In a video posted to Twitter last week, Pro Football Focus addressed the Bengals slot in the draft and what Cincinnati fans expect with that pick. The Bengals can wait on an offensive tackle.

Offensive tackle of one of the deepest positions in the 2021 NFL Draft. Trading down or selecting another position with the fifth pick in the draft could be the right direction for the Bengals to go. Most mock drafts have Sewell being drafted by the Jets with the second pick in the NFL Draft behind Trevor Lawrence to Jacksonville.

With Jonah Williams at tackle, the Bengals are strong at one half of the bookend. If Sewell unlikely falls to the Bengals with the fifth pick, PFF stated “If he is there sprint the card in.” If as expected Sewell is not available PFF asserted that Cincinnati does not have to have to force the pick with another OT at five.

Eleven of the top 50 players in the 2021 NFL Draft are OTs according to CBS Sports. The assertation by PFF that Cincinnati can wait until their second-round pick at 38 to take a starting NFL OT will likely turn out to be true. The Bengals might also have trade offers to consider with the fifth pick to move down and acquire more picks.

"“Cincinnati Bengals faithful want an offensive tackle in this class. They want to address the offensive line this offseason to keep Joe Burrow upright in 2021. But if Penei Sewell is not there at five, they do not have to force it. Penei Sewell is fantastic.If he is there sprint the card in, but if he’s not you don’t have to force a Rashawn Slater, a (Christian) Darrisaw at number five. What you can do in this class because this tackle class is so deep is wait to the top of the second round and get a guy with legitimate NFL starter potential.Tevin Jenkins Oklahoma State, Sam Cosmi, Texas, Alex Leatherwood, Bama, even Walker Little former five-star Stanford player that hasn’t played a lot of football of late. But the top of the second-round that is a ton of value. I think the Bengals can wait on an offensive tackle in this class.”"

The offensive line and getting Burrow more playmakers at wide receiver are critical for the Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Cincinnati does not select a tackle with the fifth pick, WRs JaMarr Chase of LSU and Burrow’s successor as the Heisman Trophy winner, Davonta Smith of Alabama could be the selection.

The Bengals have to make upgrades on defense in the 2021 NFL Draft. Cincinnati is not likely to take a defensive player with the fifth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Michigan defensive tackle Kwity Payne are the only defensive players ranked in the top 10 2021 NFL Draft prospects by CBS Sports.