Pro Football Focus' latest mock draft has the Cincinnati Bengals opting for a receiver instead of an offensive lineman with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft in April.
But it's not just any receiver. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's teammate at LSU, led the FBS in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2019 and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver as a sophomore with Burrow as his QB.
What PFF.com's Steve Palazzolo writes in the mock draft about Chase reuniting with Burrow:
While Bengals fans would have loved Sewell to shore up the offensive line, Chase could end up being even better for their offense in the long term. He reunites with former LSU teammate Joe Burrow and gives the Bengals a solid route-runner who simply knows how to win at the catch point at each level of the field. Burrow does need better protection, but receivers who get open quickly also protect the quarterback, and Chase produced a 91.1 PFF grade in 2019 while averaging 21.2 yards per reception.
The most recent NFL.com mock draft had the Bengals taking an offensive tackle with the pick. But it was Northwestern's Rashawn Slater instead of Oregon's Penei Sewell, who some - including PFF - expect to be selected before the Bengals' turn at No. 5.
PFF's mock draft has Sewell going third overall to the Miami Dolphins (from Houston), and Slater being selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers.
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