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The theme for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 NFL mock drafts is simple — surround Joe Burrow with as much talent as possible.
Most mock drafts feature win-loss projections or outright odds to position the Bengals as a team picking in the top five again. And when they do it’s all about Burrow.
Over at Draft Wire, Luke Easterling gives the Bengals offensive tackle Walker Little out of Stanford at No. 5.
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards goes a similar route, giving the Bengals Oregon lineman Penei Sewell at No. 2: “Sewell is too good of a prospect to bypass. By adding the Oregon product, the Bengals can move Jonah Williams to the right side or slide him inside. The protection of Joe Burrow is of the utmost importance.”
Sewell was also the pick for the Bengals a few weeks back at No. 3 in a mock from Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus:
“The use of the term “generational” has gotten out of control. That being said, Sewell is still a generational tackle prospect. He’ll likely be the best offensive tackle prospect since at least Jake Long, if not Orlando Pace. He already dominated college football with an FBS-high 95.8 overall grade as a true sophomore — his blend of power, technique and athleticism is scary.”
The writeup helps to explain why it’s worth getting excited over such an idea in 2021.
But such ideas do come with a catch. Protecting Burrow is a noble cause, but there is always an outside chance the line won’t be a massive need by the time the draft arrives. Jonah Williams will get his shot at left tackle and the staff really likes a prospect such as Fred Johnson, who could always push Bobby Hart at right tackle.
Ideally, the Bengals will be free of such outright needs and can go best player available. But targeting offensive line this far out is only logical.
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