Alabama football breaks record in NFL Mock Draft 5.0
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Bengals fans, hear me out. I know that you want Penei Sewell. I understand the importance of protecting Joe Burrow after his injury last season. That being said, I like the value of offensive tackles in the draft. You can get an interior lineman or a tackle like Alabama football’s Alex Leatherwood in the draft on Day 2.
Also, the Bengals signed Riley Reiff. He will improve the line at right tackle. Jonah Williams will also get better at left tackle with another year under his belt. The line is already better than it was last year, but the receiving corps lost A.J. Green.
Chase might’ve opted out of 2020, but he did enough in 2019 to prove himself as a receiver. He is electric, and his strength jumps off of the page. He has some of the strongest hands in the draft, so you could see why the Bengals would like him.
If you want Chase, you can solve other issues later in the draft. Pairing these former LSU stars together makes too much sense. I love the value of Penei Sewell, but Chase is the way to go if you’re Cincinnati. It’s what I would do, and I think it is what they will eventually do on Thursday.