With just under a week until the clock starts, the Cincinnati Bengals mock draft path is gaining clarity. After an eventful free agency period filled with interesting additions, Cincinnati gave itself much more flexibility. While holes still exist, the team can now use the draft to clean up some positions. Still, they are still at the mercy of the other 32 teams and many have similar needs to the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft 2.0
Round 1, Pick 5: Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU
Ja’Marr Chase NFL Draft Profile
The likely pick and perhaps the best fit, all signs point to Ja’Marr Chase joining the Bengals with the fifth pick. Malik Wright, who covers the Bengals for TWSN and is well-connected to the organization, called the pick a 96% lock. Reuniting with his college teammate, Chase gives the team a chance to vastly improve in 2021. Further, there are rumors that Burrow is stumping for his former teammate behind the scenes. After all, when he and Burrow last shared the field, the two were celebrating LSU’s National Championship victory. Further, A.J. Green is out the door and there’s limited receiving depth behind Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Auden Tate. Cincinnati needs another top-end receiver to eat up targets. That shouldn’t be a problem for Chase, who compiled 1,780 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 84 receptions catching for Burrow in 2019.
Los Bengals seleccionarán a Ja'Marr Chase quinto en la general
I bengalesi sosterranno Ja'Marr Chase al quinto posto assoluto
Bengals будет драфтом Ja'Marr Chase 5-м в общем зачете
— Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) April 23, 2021
Round 2, Pick 38: Teven Jenkins, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State
Teven Jenkins 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Since they’re likely to go with a receiver in round one, it still leaves a big hole on their offensive line for day two. While Teven Jenkins could sneak into the back-end of the first, he would be a home-run for Cincinnati in the second. In Jenkins, the team solidifies their right tackle of the future, as Riley Reiff is signed for just one season. Jenkins improved in each season as Oklahoma State’s blindside blocker, toping out this year as a redshirt senior. During the 2020 season, Jenkins graded out as Pro Football Focus’s third-best college tackle, earning a 92.0 mark. While he has work to do in the pass blocking game, developing behind Reiff and with line coach Frank Pollack could do wonders.
Round 3, Pick 69: Quinn Meinerz, Interior Offensive Line, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Quinn Meinerz 2021 NFL Draft Profile
With this mock draft pick, the Cincinnati Bengals fill perhaps their biggest roster gap, installing Quinn Meinerz as their day-one right guard. A revolving door position for the team last year, Meinerz could be a solid fit for the next decade. The biggest question around Meinerz, who started at the Senior Bowl, will be his ability to adjust to the pros. Meinerz played college ball at Division III powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater as a center. At the next level, he’ll face faster and stronger competition than ever in his career. Still, he looked impressed blocking top college talent at the Senior Bowl and could be a vast improvement for Cincinnati.
Round 4, Pick 111: Shaka Toney, EDGE, Penn State
Shaka Toney 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Behind the offensive line, the departure of Carl Lawson brought a major need for the Bengals to add an edge rusher. Fortunately for the team, they’ve had a long string of success identifying quality players from this group with mid-round selections. Shaka Toney is the kind of physical freak that the Bengals have long craved in their ideal pass rushers. The 6’3”, 252 lbs edge packed in five sacks and one forced fumble in 2020 for Penn State. Over his four-year college career, he contributed 20.5 sacks and four forced fumbles as a key player on his defense. While he might just be a situational pass-rusher, it would be a welcome addition. After all, Cincinnati struggled as much as any team in create pressures during the 2020 season.
Round 5, Pick 149: Milton Williams, Defensive Tackle, Louisiana Tech
Milton Williams 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Rumored to be connected to Cincinnati as early as the third round, Milton Williams brings a ton of value if he’s on the board this late. For one, he could become one of the draft’s biggest steals with his off-the-charts athleticism playing a huge factor. For another, he’s replacing a major spot in the Bengals organization, acting a the heir to the Geno Atkins throne. Allegedly, the Dallas Cowboys also have a sweet tooth for Williams that could have him off the board very early. While his ten total college sacks don’t jump off the page, his ability to stuff runs is an invaluable trait. With Cincinnati needing to assist Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard in pressures, Williams makes that task a little easier. Coupling him with D.J. Reader and Larry Ogunjobi could prove to be a brilliant move.
Round 6, Pick 190: Chris Evans, Running Back, Michigan
Chris Evans 2021 NFL Draft Profile
With this pick, the Bengals take a swing at their replacement for Giovani Bernard. Joe Mixon is still running the show in the Bengals backfield, but Chris Evans could be a good infusion of youth. While Evans isn’t a prolific rusher, there seems to be untapped potential in his pass-catching game. He averaged 9.8 yards per catch on 49 total receptions at Michigan, including a long of 56 yards. Giving Joe Burrow more receiving options will always go a long way, especially with the Bengals needing a new backup runner.
Round 6, Pick 202: Aaron Banks, Guard, Notre Dame
In another move to bulk up the line, targeting a two-and-a-half-year starter from Notre Dame in Aaron Banks. Standing 6’5” and 330 Lbs, Banks has great size and power, making him a valuable developmental piece. Certainly, his game is a little raw and he looked overmatched by Christian Barmore in the College Football Playoffs. Regardless, Cincinnati needs to develop more pieces on their line and certainly gain more blocking depth. While some might clamor for another edge or receiving option here, adding to the line talent gives better flexibility.
Round 7, Pick 235: Matt Bushman, Tight End, BYU
Without impressive size or speed and injury concerns, Matt Bushman could very well end up an undrafted free agent. Perhaps if he’d been able to contribute in Zach Wilson’s prolific 2020 season in the BYU offense, Bushman would land much higher on the board. Suffering a major Achilles tendon injury just one week before his senior season, his past production is outweighed by medical red flags. Regardless, when he was healthy in 2019, he accumulated 688 yards on an average of 14.4 yards per reception. In addition, he’s a really quality blocker who’s not afraid of the dirty work. Joe Burrow likes to target his tight ends and Bushman seems like a low-risk, high-reward target. Plus, it gives Burrow one more target to wrap this Cincinnati Bengals mock draft.
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