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Though it might make some sense for the Cincinnati Bengals to trade out of the 2021 NFL draft’s fifth pick, it doesn’t sound like that is in the plans.
Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin says the team will listen to all trade offers, of course. But in an interview with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, a certain paragraph makes it clear they like where things stand now:
“We feel we’re in a good spot. We’re going to be careful not to be overly greedy and get out of a spot where we maybe lose a premier player and we feel like can get one of the premier players in this draft. We feel there are enough guys with the fifth pick in the draft to get a real guy that we feel comfortable with. And hits in a position of need.”
Given the outlook around the league right now, it sure seems like the Bengals will have their choice of at least two of the following three names: Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Kyle Pitts. That’s thanks to a stunning Sam Darnold trade between the Jets and Panthers.
It takes a team that wants to trade up to make something happen, too. At this point, if teams get the sense that four quarterbacks could be gone over the first four picks, few might want to move up for the fifth quarterback.
Still, the right offer might be able to sway the Bengals anyway. The team is obviously in a great spot to get a premium prospect but could be in a similar situation with additional assets after a trade back.
We presented one such scenario in our latest mock:
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