Five bold predictions for the Bengals’ 2021 offseason
By Aaron Burd
Bold Bengals prediction: Ja’Marr Chase and Penei Sewell both fall
Despite the Bengals having a lot of cap space this offseason to spend in free agency, their greatest asset of all is their first-round pick, the fifth overall selection in the NFL draft.
Ja’Marr Chase and Penei Sewell are the two most common names thrown around by fans and media, though most of those people expect only one of the two to be available when the Bengals pick. However, I am confidently predicting that both players will still be on the board at No. 5 and that the Bengals will get to choose between them.
Who the Bengals should select of the two (it should be Sewell) is a discussion for later, the first question is if they will be available. With Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Justin Fields all available, there could be an early run on signal-callers before the fifth pick.
The Jaguars, Jets, and Falcons could all take one of those quarterbacks, while the Dolphins could either trade with a QB-needy team or take Tua Tagovailoa’s old target, DeVonta Smith. These potential scenarios show that it is not so farfetched that the Bengals could be picking with both Chase and Sewell on the board.
Either Chase or Sewell would be a dream pick for the Bengals. Chase was Joe Burrow’s favorite target during his Heisman campaign and would be able to pick up right where he left off with his old quarterback. Sewell, on the other hand, may very well be the best offensive tackle in the past few drafts and would immediately make a huge impact on the Bengals’ offensive line.
Whichever way the Bengals go, they are set to add a huge asset on offense that will be a big part of the Burrow years in Cincinnati. The No. five pick in the 2021 draft will be a defining selection for the Bengals’ future.