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The idea the Cincinnati Bengals will take LSU wideout Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth pick in the 2021 NFL draft just keeps gaining steam.
Chase just put up epic numbers at his pro day, then hit the interview scene and said he wouldn’t mind a reunion with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati.
And Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated has heard some interesting things too.
While analyzing whether the Bengals would actually make a first-round trade (it’s quite rare), Breer dropped the following:
“That says to me that it might take a lot to wrest the fifth pick from the Bengals, who I’ve heard really like LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase (with Joe Burrow doing a little in-house campaigning for him as well), and would also have the option to seriously upgrade the offensive line there with Oregon’s Penei Sewell or Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater. Miami at No. 6? Maybe, if the Dolphins don’t wind up moving that pick for a certain veteran quarterback.”
Chase himself has hinted he’s been in contact with the Bengals multiple times, too. Burrow has reportedly been campaigning for the pick.
But one big disclaimer: As much sense as Chase would make in the offense, as much as he’s a rare wideout prospect and as nice as his prior connection with Burrow is…it’s smokescreen season.
Could this all be an elaborate smokescreen in the hopes of pushing Penei Sewell down the board or getting a team to trade for the fifth pick? Maybe, but at the same time, the Bengals haven’t exactly upgraded the wideout spot as needed yet.
Either way, throw this on the pile when it comes to the Chase-to-Bengals speculation.
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