Bengals should consider OSU G Wyatt Davis in NFL Draft second round
By Zac Swain
After Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tore his ACL in week 11 against the Washington Football Team, Cincinnati fans immediately started to look for ways to save their face of the franchise. This was when the Queen City fell in love with Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell.
It’s been more than five months since Burrow’s injury and fans seem to have fallen in love with two other top prospects, Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, and Burrow’s LSU teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
For months it seemed like every Bengals fan was ready to pencil in Sewell as the Bengals 2021 NFL first-round draft pick, but now some of the orange and black faithful have changed their mind and want to add another Ferrari (Pitts, Chase) to the offense instead of buying insurance for their Lamborghini (Burrow).
The one player that every Bengals fan once prayed would still be on the board seems to have taken a turn due to the eye-popping talents in Chase and Pitts. If the front office decides to go with Chase or Pitts, Cincinnati should eye former Ohio State guard, Wyatt Davis.
Interesting cha with DL coach today. We were discussing building an OL. This was our big takeaway- More important how good your worst guy is than how great your best guy is. Defenses attack your worst guy every week. You can improve your worst starters with 2nd & 3rd rd picks.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 14, 2021
Guard Wyatt Davis earned great accolades at Ohio State
Third times the charm?? Cincinnati has taken two other Ohio State offensive linemen in the last five years, guard Michael Jordan and center Billy Price. Unfortunately, both Price and Jordan still haven’t panned out the way Cincinnati hoped.
Davis could become the third OSU OL taken by the Bengals in the last five years, let’s hope the third time really is a charm! With Jonah Williams and newly acquired Riley Reiff holding down the tackle spots for Cincinnati’s OL, they still need an upgrade at guard. Davis is that guy.
During his three-year career at OSU, Davis earned a ton of accolades.
Wyatt Davis College Honors
2020:
- First-team preseason All-American by the Associated Press
2019:
- First-team All-American by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, and The Sporting News
- Second-team All-America choice by the Walter Camp Football Foundation
- American Football Coaches Association of America
- Football Writers Association of America. First-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media)
Davis played at a high level at OSU
Originally Davis opted out of OSU’s 2020 season and entered the 2021 NFL Draft due to Covid-19. Davis would quickly opt back in once he got the news that the Big Ten would reinstate a football season.
In 2020 Ohio State would only play eight games due to Covid-19. Davis started in all eight games. He played a total of (547) offensive snaps and only allowed (3) sacks, (1) QB hit, and (7) QB hurries.
In 2019, Davis started in all 14 games. He played a total of (923) offensive snaps and only allowed (15) QB hurries the entire season. Davis didn’t let up a single sack or QB hit. That is as good as it gets and the Bengals would love to see that carry over to the NFL.
It seems some of the Queen City has fallen in love with the idea of drafting Chase or Pitts. This would mean they would be missing out on the top OL in the 2021 NFL Draft, Sewell. If the Bengals select Chase or Pitts then they should take Davis in the second round.
Next. Bengals upgrading interior OL 2021 NFL Draft priority. dark
Taking Chase or Pitts would allow the Bengals to add an elite playmaker in the first round while adding a talented guard in the second to protect Burrow. No matter what the Bengals decide to do with the fifth pick, it looks like the Queen City is taking the next step to make it to the promised land.