The Cincinnati Bengals would seem to be weighing adding a top offensive lineman or pass-catcher with the No. 5 pick in Thursday's NFL Draft.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor revealed Monday the team is taking wide receiver prospect Ja'Marr Chase's relationship with quarterback Joe Burrow into consideration. However, Taylor added the relationship between the former LSU teammates is just one of many factors that is going into the pre-draft process:
“It’s one of the things that you weigh and certainly we take in a lot of factors — the production on the field, their character, their football IQ, just what they bring to our locker room and to our team as a whole,” Taylor said. “Relationship with the quarterback, that certainly doesn’t hurt. But that’s one of the many things that we weigh.”
Prior to Burrow going No. 1 to the Bengals, he and Chase had one of the best connections in college football during LSU's championship season in 2019. Chase finished that campaign with 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. He opted out of the 2020 season, though that has hardly impacted his draft stock.
The Tigers receiver dazzled at his Pro Day workout at the end of March. Chase ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and recorded a 41-inch vertical leap. Many draft analysts believe he will be the first receiver selected on Thursday.
Will Chase reunite with Burrow in Cincinnati? That remains to be seen. Todd McShay of ESPN reported the latest murmurings Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell might be the favorite to land in Cincy. However, the Bengals might ultimately decide to give Burrow yet another weapon in the passing game.
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