Cincinnati Bengals: 3 potential steals in the 2021 NFL Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals had a nice draft and came away with several players who they got for a great value. When looking back at the 2021 NFL Draft in a few years, NFL fans will wonder how these three players slid to where they did and what steals they were for the Bengals.

While the biggest names in the draft often go during the first two days, it’s Day 3 that really makes or breaks teams as far as depth is concerned. The Bengals were armed with 10 picks this year and really loaded up on the defensive side of the ball while also adding three offensive linemen.

Let’s take a look at three players who could be the biggest steals in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Cincinnati Bengals’ Draft Day Steals – D’Ante Smith

After passing on Penei Sewell in the first round and then deciding to make Jackson Carman a guard rather than his preferred position of tackle, the Bengals entered Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft with no drafted tackles. That changed with the selection of D’Ante Smith out of East Carolina in the fifth round.

Smith isn’t going to be a starter in 2021 but instead will serve as a depth piece. The ECU tackle has a lot of upside and the Bengals are likely hoping that he can use his rookie season to develop and then take over for Riley Reiff at right tackle in the 2022 season.

While Smith has a lot to work on before he can be an NFL starter, this was a smart selection for Cincinnati. It gives Smith time to learn mechanics before he potentially takes over at right tackle and if he does pan out on the right side of the line, Bengals fans will look back at this pick and wonder how Smith fell to the fifth round of the draft.