Alabama Football: Mac rises in 2021 NFL Mock Draft 4.0

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Ja’Marr Chase is widely considered to be the best wide receiver prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s bigger than DeVonta Smith, stronger than Jaylen Waddle, and has more speed than most receivers. Despite opting out in 2020, he appears to be poised to be the first wide receiver taken.

I’ve had the Bengals take an offensive tackle in every other mock draft, but this would pair Chase with Joe Burrow, his college quarterback. If the Bengals are confident in the offensive line depth along with the moves they made to bolster the line in free agency, they might instead give Burrow a weapon.

6. Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

With Pitts and Chase off of the board, the Dolphins would likely take one of the two Alabama football receivers. The only question is which one. While I have DeVonta Smith graded higher as a pure prospect, the fit makes sense with Waddle.

This would allow Parker and Fuller to play on the outside while Waddle dominates the slot. He could also impact special teams. His numbers with Alabama football were limited due to injuries and depth, but there is no doubt that Waddle has what it takes to dominate in the NFL. If his medicals come back clean, this could easily be the pick. It’s his ceiling, but it could be where he lands.