Heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals were needing to address their offensive line and were in a prime position to draft Oregon’s Penei Sewell with their first selection. Instead, they went ahead and added a luxury selection in LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase to an offense that already includes quarterback Joe Burrow and fellow wideouts Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins.
But with Burrow coming off his ACL tear and reportedly not suiting up for any preseason action, it remains to be seen what kind of impact Chase can have in his rookie campaign. While Burrow escaping the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list is a step in the right direction for his return to 100 percent, Chase is only as good as the scheme that is in and the QB that is throwing him passes.
The addition of Chase certainly raised a few eyebrows when it happened, but it is his fit most importantly that will dictate how successful his NFL career is.
Chase was drafted with capital commonly used for immediate WR1 options, an unlikely outcome for him in his rookie season with both Boyd and Higgins already in the fold and familiar with what is asked of wideouts in the Bengals’ offense.
Higgins is coming off of a strong rookie campaign in which his 100+ targets turned in 67 receptions for 908 yards and 6 touchdowns, setting the table for what can be expected out of the former Clemson Tiger heading into his second year in the league.
For Boyd, he comes in as the veteran option being pushed down the depth chart by the youngsters, even after he put up a 79/841/4 line, producing the second-lowest average yards per catch (10.6) of his career. He certainly should not be faded in this offense and head coach Zac Taylor wants to employ various multiple WR sets, meaning that Boyd should still have a good year but may still fall third in line behind Chase and Higgins.
Burrow and Chase have a connection that dates back to their days playing pitch and catch as members of the LSU Tigers’ offense – and with the Bengals needing to do something to try and accelerate their rebuilding process, the 2021 season looks to be the best time in which they can finally break out.
2021 Projections
64 receptions / 923 receiving yards / 5 TDs / 3 fumbles
Chase is the clear-cut best WR to come out of this year’s draft, no questions asked. But his fit right out of the gate in Cincinnati certainly could lead to failing to meet lofty expectations for the rookie.
Burrow’s health is the first and foremost determining factor on Chase’s acclimation to the league, as this team’s offensive line was the culprit for cutting his rookie season short. If the Bengals are able to scheme themselves into more favorable situations that do not set Burrow up to be sacked five-plus times per game, then he and Chase should be able to resume their collegiate connection.
Filling the role as the basement member of their division means that the Bengals will likely be in passing situations a good chunk of the time, meaning that Chase certainly will get his fair share of opportunities to make early impressions. But with needing to fill three mouths (Boyd, Chase, and Higgins) in the passing game, plus establishing Joe Mixon on both the ground and through the air, Cincinnati may be hard-pressed to justify their first-round selection early on.
However, even with there being a chance for a slow start for the LSU rookie, Chase should put together a fantastic season in his first year in the league, very similarly mirroring the kind of role and production that Higgins put up last season. If Chase’s history with Burrow and his verticality are able to work in his favor, then producing over 60 receptions and 900 receiving yards certainly can be in the cards.
Between the duo of Boyd and Higgins, over 140 receptions, 1,700 receiving yards, and 10 TDs were hauled in, showing that even though adding a third viable option to this team’s passing attack could add too many mouths to feed, Chase’s role will plug seamlessly into this offense.
The biggest ‘loser’ of this addition looks to be Boyd’s production and Mixon’s pass-catching opportunities, as Chase will likely command a fair share of targets, cutting into expected targets for both of those players. But with the Bengals needing to figure out their offensive identity under their own Sean McVay descendant in Taylor, Chase can help unlock another element of their offense.
Could Chase end up leading this team in most major receiving statistics in 2021? Most certainly. But if the Bengals want to produce a top-notch offensive unit, then divvying up their offensive passing attack will benefit everyone – even if that means quelling some thoughts on a potential breakout rookie campaign for Chase.
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