<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Why-the-best-QB-in-the-2020-NFL-Draft-is-Justin-Herbert-and-not-Joe-Burrow-thumbnail.jpeg"></figure><h1>Why Justin Herbert is the 2020 NFL Draft’s best QB – and not Joe Burrow</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-18T17:33:41-07:00">June 18th, 5:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-18T17:36:32-07:00">June 18th, 5:36pm</time><address><a>Mike Johrendt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, national pundits and talking heads everywhere were excited about the future when it concerns the crop of draftable quarterbacks. Headlined by LSU’s Joe Burrow, the first round figured to also include Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa, with Utah State’s Jordan Love a wild card to join that group.</p><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/image_2021-04-28_113535.png"></figure><p><a href="https://www.fanduel.com/theduel/posts/nfl-draft-qb-selections-2020-by-round-team-01e6y5vzdtj6" rel="noopener">13 QBs</a> ended up being drafted last year, headlined by Burrow going first overall to the rebuilding Cincinnati Bengals. But draft position does not always equate to output and results, and even though this class has only just completed their rookie seasons, there are trends already showing up that can show which gunslinger projects to be the best.</p><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Tua-Tagovailoa-Dolphins-.jpeg"></figure><p>While credit certainly can be given to Tagovailoa’s role in leading the Miami Dolphins, he is not currently in the same company as both Burrow and Herbert. Using a high first round selection on the Alabama southpaw was seen as a gamble, as the QB was coming off hip surgery that reopened the door for Jalen Hurts (who was also drafted in this class) to retake the reins.</p><p>But the lefty has had questionable moments with the teal and orange, although producing a six-win season across nine games and an 11:5 TD-to-INT line is certainly a lot to go off of for expectations. Tagovailoa has been given the short end of things ever since he entered the league, whether that is due to him bucking the trend as a left-hander or because of him just not seeming like a fit down in Miami.</p><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/love.jpg"></figure><p>Nothing is known about Love at this point, especially with Aaron Rodgers still being a member of the Green Bay Packers – with the ongoing situation thrusting Love into the spotlight both on the field and with the press, he is being given an up-close look at what can be expected when he eventually becomes the guy.</p><p>But the real focus here is between the NFL Draft’s first overall (Burrow) and the sixth overall (Herbert) selections, who are the clear-cut best QBs to come out of this draft.</p><p>Chalking it up to a more extensive slate of work can be a fair way to level the playing field, but one outcome remains – Herbert is the best QB to come out of this draft, and it is not really close.</p><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/image_2021-06-18_093209.png"></figure><p>Starting out the comparison at the <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/justin-herbert-1.html" rel="noopener">collegiate level,</a> Herbert absolutely holds the crown here, especially since he ended up suiting up and playing all four years he was at Oregon. Having thrown for just over 1,900 yards his first two seasons, Herbert landed himself on NFL radars after his junior season, where he threw for 3,151 yards, 29 TDs, and one 8 interceptions.</p><p>He followed that stellar season up with an even better one, as Herbert’s senior campaign produced almost 3,500 yards, 32 TDs, and just 6 interceptions. While breaking the mold of previous Oregon QBs and their running abilities, Herbert was more of a traditional pocket passer, but one that did not hesitate to pick up some yards with his legs.</p><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Joe-Burrow_s-former-LSU-teammate-can_t-wait-to-sack-the-Heisman-Trophy-winner.jpg"></figure><p>On the other side, Burrow’s collegiate experience varied heavily, as he made stops at Ohio State and LSU. Having played his first two seasons at OSU (he redshirted in 2015 and suited up in ‘16 &amp; ‘17), having then transferred to play for the Tigers his final two seasons.</p><p>His junior campaign was a solid one, throwing for just <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/joe-burrow-1.html" rel="noopener">under 2,900 yards</a> and producing 16 TDs and 5 interceptions – more apt at running the ball than Herbert, Burrow also had 128 carries this season. While these stats got him on the NFL Draft radar, nothing could have prepared teams for what he was going to put up his senior season. </p><p>All Burrow did <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/leaders/pass-td-player-season.html" rel="noopener">was break</a> the late Cole Brennan’s record from Hawaii for passing scores in a season with 60, helping lead the Tigers to the dismantling of Clemson in the National Championship. Almost quadrupling his season TD output from the previous year is a remarkable feat, exactly why that put him as the top QB in the class.</p><p>Both Burrow and Herbert have experienced vastly different professional careers up to this point – Burrow was lost for the year after having started 10 games, having suffered a torn ACL behind his absolute dumpster fire of an offensive line charged with protecting him.</p><p>On the other side, Herbert was only thrust into action after a medical incident sidelined incumbent starter Tyrod Taylor, who entered the year as the starter for the Los Angeles Chargers. Herbert performed admirably in his first start against the Kansas City Chiefs (a start he was not aware he would need to make until shortly before game time), and proceeded to start 15 games last year.</p><p>Comparing a 15-game slate to that of Burrow’s 10 does not paint an effective picture between the two, so a comparison between the first 10 starts for Herbert and all of Burrow’s season helps line things up better.</p><p>Herbert led in passing yards (3,015 vs. 2,688), passing TDs (23 vs. 16), average completion percentage (67.2% vs. 65.3%), rushing yards (185 vs. 142) and sacks (16 vs. 32), with Burrow coming out on top in fewer interceptions (5 vs. 7).</p><p>While strength of schedule and opponents obviously presented different challenges for each rookie (as well as available offensive skill players), being able to compare both across common stats paints a very clear picture. Yes, the Cincinnati Bengals are far worse than the team Herbert took over, but it is still two rookie QBs assuming starting roles, regardless of the elements around them.</p><p>Both options should have solid NFL careers – that is not what this is about. This comparison merely should be used as a metric to understand the fact that not all things are as cut and dry as draft capital can make it seem.</p><p>Burrow and Herbert are in great positions to succeed in their own respective careers – but as it currently stands and looks to continue to stand, Herbert and the Chargers are better off than what the Bengals and Burrow look to be, one year removed from that NFL Draft class.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Justin Herbert is the 2020 NFL Draft’s best QB – and not Joe Burrow

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Michael-Jordan-Bengals-Joe-Burrow.jpg"></figure><h1>Bengals’ Michael Jordan reveals extreme anguish over role in Joe Burrow’s devastating injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-12T07:20:49-07:00">June 12th, 7:20am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-12T07:21:41-07:00">June 12th, 7:21am</time><address><a>Johnny Recks</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Being an offensive lineman in the NFL can be a thankless job. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most crucial positions in football because it protects the most important of them all, arguably in all sports even.  It’s largely for this reason why it took Cincinnati Bengals guard Michael Jordan quite some time to get over the devastating injury Joe Burrow suffered in the 2020 NFL season.</p><p>It was Jordan who got ran over by Washington Football Team pass rusher Jonathan Allen in a play during a Week 11 road game that resulted in Burrow’s injury, which ultimately led the then-rookie quarterback to miss the rest of the season.</p><p>Via <a href="https://theathletic.com/2642752/2021/06/10/i-took-it-really-personal-bengals-guard-michael-jordan-motivated-to-move-past-his-darkest-moment/">Paul Dehner Jr. of <i>The Athletic</i></a>:</p><blockquote>Jonathan Allen bullied him back, landing squarely on the left knee of Joe Burrow along with a punishing sandwich hit coming off the opposite edge. Jordan rose and looked down at his friend writhing in pain.“I took it really personal,” Jordan said. “It took me about a week to get out of my own head.”</blockquote><p>The Bengals were not contending for even a playoff spot at the time Burrow got injured, as they entered the Washington game with just a 2-7-1 record. But Burrow’s injury certainly made things a whole lot worse for Cincinnati and its fanbase, as Burrow had just been drafted prior to the season first overall.</p><p>The good thing for the Bengals is that Burrow is expected to be back in the 2021 NFL season once he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bengals-news-joe-burrow-dark-horse-mvp-candidate/">completes</a> his long road to full recovery. Hopefully for Jordan and the Bengals’ O-line, they will put up a much better job in protecting Burrow.</p><p>The Bengals will open the 2021 NFL season at home in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/schedule">Week 1</a> against the Minnesota Vikings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals’ Michael Jordan reveals extreme anguish over role in Joe Burrow’s devastating injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Dak-Prescott-gets-into-Michael-Jordan-mode-with-massive-new-deal.jpg"></figure><h1>Cowboys QB Dak Prescott gets into Michael Jordan mode with massive new deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-09T20:26:05-07:00">June 9th, 8:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-09T20:27:14-07:00">June 9th, 8:27pm</time><address><a>Angelo Guinhawa</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is having a phenomenal offseason. After signing a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cowboys-news-dak-prescott-agrees-to-4-year-160-million-deal-with-dallas/" rel="noopener">massive four-year, $160 million extension</a> with America’s team last March, he landed another contract that puts him in elite category–well, Michael Jordan territory.</p><p>According to <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1402806972857061377" rel="noopener">Adam Schefter of ESPN</a>, Prescott just ditched Adidas to sign a massive five-year deal with the Jordan Brand. With that, he becomes the only QB, Cowboys player and the highest-paid NFL player on the roster of the brand.</p><p>Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Schefter noted in his report that it is a “ground-breaking deal’ which the two parties look to take advantage of as Prescott’s rise continues.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dak Prescott’s deal was negotiated by his marketing agent Peter Miller of JABEZ Marketing Group and the Jordan Brand team, and they believe this ground-breaking deal creates a perfect marketing storm around the standout QB, the Cowboys and the Jordan Brand.</p><p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1402807203510239232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">June 10, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Dak Prescott has been with Adidas since being drafted by the Cowboys at 135th overall in Round 4 of the 2016 NFL Draft. Right after his selection, he <a href="https://twitter.com/dak/status/779428610612551680" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> his partnership with the sports retail giant.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Coach you already know I got mine.. S/O <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasFballUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@adidasFballUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MACHE275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Mache275</a>! You know im <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/teamadidas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#teamadidas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#HailState</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPiKuziupx" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/KPiKuziupx</a></p><p>— Dak Prescott (@dak) <a href="https://twitter.com/dak/status/779428610612551680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">September 23, 2016</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>It is worth noting, though, the deal of the Cowboys signal-caller with the Michael Jordan brand didn’t come as a surprise for many. After all, last May, he was spotted in team activities sporting Jordan sneakers.</p><p>Given Prescott’s status and the fact that he plays for arguably the biggest football market, more details about the deal with the Jordan Brand are expected to come out soon.</p><p>For now, Dak is certainly enjoying the moment as more opportunities on and off the field come to him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott gets into Michael Jordan mode with massive new deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Darius-Hodge-Bengals-Roster-2021-NFL-Draft.jpeg"></figure><h1>1 undrafted free agent who will make the Bengals’ 2021 roster</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-06-02T07:43:55-07:00">June 2nd, 7:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-06-02T07:44:40-07:00">June 2nd, 7:44am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With the 2021 NFL Draft behind us and the next season still down the road, the Cincinnati Bengals made some additions to the roster after signing some Undrafted Free Agents (UDFA). The roster is essentially set, where the team will conduct position battles where necessary.</p><p>The NFL is essentially in the “tryouts” stage of the offseason, as late-round picks, journey-man veterans, and UDFA’s will battle it out for a spot on an NFL roster. Anything can happen and we’ve seen some solid athletes beat the odds and make the final roster before.</p><p>The Bengals are still in their rebuilding phase, as most of the team is young and developing in the NFL. The offense looks good on paper, but the offensive line has to improve. Meanwhile, the defense has made some additions, but they also lost Mackensie Alexander, who was a great cornerback for the Bengals last year.</p><p>For that reason, there are plenty of opportunities available for the UDFA’s Cincinnati brought in this offseason. The front office signed 7 total players after they went undrafted, giving Cincinnati plenty of talent to evaluate. Any of them could make the final roster, but there is one that stands out amongst the rest as a potential favorite to remain on the team. With that said, here is the 1 Undrafted Free Agent that will make the Bengals’ 2021 roster.</p><p><b>Darius Hodge</b></p><p>Playing 3 years at Marshall, Darius Hodge signed with the Cincinnati Bengals after going undrafted. He didn’t play much in his freshman year, however, Hodge played a vital role in the Thundering Herds’ defense. In the final 2 years of his collegiate career, Hodge totaled 104 total tackles (17.5 for a loss), 13.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.</p><p>He played on the defensive line during his time at Marshall and will likely do the same for the Bengals. With his 6-2, 245-pound frame, Hodge is a bit undersized to play on the defensive line at the professional level. He’s currently listed as an outside linebacker on <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/cin">ESPN’s early depth chart</a> for the Bengals.</p><p>Hodge is at his best when attacking the quarterback, which is something Cincinnati needs help with after failing to retain Carl Lawson this offseason. It’s possible he makes the team and is utilized in special packages to blitz the quarterback. However, Hodge will likely start his career as a special teams player.</p><p>It’s rare for a UDFA to come into an organization and make a real difference. Instead, Bengals fans should lower their expectations and view Hodge as a potential depth <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/roster" rel="noopener">piece with room to grow.</a> One thing that stands out in Hodge’s favor of making the roster is the limited amount of depth the team has at the linebacker position. There is a lack of competition in the position, which bodes well for Hodge to possibly make the final roster.</p><p>Look for him to be third on the depth chart as an outside linebacker who could sub-in on the defensive line in certain packages. As previously mentioned, he’ll likely be a special teams player, but he could have some opportunities to prove himself throughout the 2021 season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 undrafted free agent who will make the Bengals’ 2021 roster

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Bengals-2021-NFL-Draft.jpeg"><figcaption>Yikes! 😬</figcaption></figure><h1>2 mistakes by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-28T11:35:17-07:00">May 28th, 11:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-28T11:35:17-07:00">May 28th, 11:35am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals made some splash picks during the 2021 NFL Draft. In fact, they walked away setting themselves up for future success. Many believed the pick for Ja’Marr Chase was the wrong choice as the team could have selected Penei Sewell to protect Joe Burrow. However, the Bengals played the board and found a solid offensive lineman prospect in the second round.</p><p>The Bengals hit the nail on the head with their first five picks. Not only did they find Joe Burrow a new weapon and some protection, but the front office beefed up the defensive line. It was necessary considering they couldn’t re-sign Carl Lawson, and Cincinnati was able to snag three defensive linemen in rounds three and four.</p><p>From there, the team continued to add depth to the offensive line, to the running back spot, and added a much-needed kicker. Overall, the Bengals did a solid job in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, there were two mistakes the front office made that could impact the season negatively.</p><h2>Didn’t draft a tight end</h2><p>The Bengals have a solid wide receiver group <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bengals-news-zac-taylor-has-lofty-goals-set-in-place-for-jamarr-chase/">after taking Chase fifth overall</a>. He joins a group that already consists of Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Auden Tate. Even so, the Bengals seemed like a great landing spot for one of the rookie tight ends not named Kyle Pitts. With that said, Cincinnati’s tight-end group is well below average entering the new season.</p><p>To be fair, Drew Sample flashed in a few games last year, but he’s far from being considered a top tight end in the league. CJ Uzomah seems to be the main backup at the position and the front office brought in Thaddeus Moss to potentially earn some playing time as well. Each of these three serve better as backups than starters, which could cause problems for the Bengals next year.</p><p>Cincinnati will likely run 3 WR sets throughout most of the season. That is where this offense will be at its strongest. They’ll also look to utilize the tight end position more for blocking than anything else. Sample will probably find himself open, as opposing defenses will pay more attention to the receivers. He’ll be more of a possession type of target for Joe Burrow but doesn’t add much of a passing threat vertically for the offense.</p><h2>Completely ignored the secondary</h2><p>The Bengals were one of the worst defenses last year which played a large factor in having a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The passing defense struggled throughout the season. <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2020.htm">They finished in the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed</a> (3,859) but allowed the seventh-most touchdowns through the air (32).</p><p>Jessie Bates III is the clear leader of that secondary group. However, outside of him, that unit is lacking firepower. According to ESPN, Trae Waynes, Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton, and Eli Apple make up the core of the cornerback group. After losing Mackensie Alexander in free agency, the Bengals are left with a mediocre cornerback room.</p><p>The offense might be exciting next year, but the defense still needs improvements. Due to the lack of help defensively and not replacing Alexander, the Bengals might find themselves in plenty of shootouts next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 mistakes by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Bengals-2021-NFL-Season.jpeg"></figure><h1>3 potential breakout players for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-23T07:33:39-07:00">May 23rd, 7:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-23T07:34:12-07:00">May 23rd, 7:34am</time><address><a>Ben Cooper</a>16-year-old junior in high school with hopes of becoming a sports analyst</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals had a disappointing 2020 season, but the young team has a ton of potential. Quarterback Joe Burrow went down in week 11 after suffering a terrible knee injury. Burrow tore his ACL and MCL along with a damaged PCL and meniscus.</p><p>Heading into the 2021 NFL season, the franchise added more young talent in the draft. With the Bengals first round selection they chose wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Chase is a dynamic receiver and he will reunite with his college quarterback. These two will already have chemistry, perhaps making Chase an instant impact player. In the second round they took offensive lineman Jackson Carman to protect Burrow.</p><p>These draft picks paired with free agent veterans they brought in will make for an improved Bengals team.</p><p>The Bengals also possess 3 players that are poised to breakout.</p><p><b>3. Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither</b></p><p>The 2020 fourth round pick had a decent rookie season. Davis-Gaither played in every game and finished with 31 tackles. He progressed more and more throughout the season and showcased the player he could be for the Bengals. Davis-Gaither still has a way to go but he will get a chance to breakout this season.</p><p>If he breaks out, Davis-Gaither could become a key part of the Bengals defense for years.</p><p><b>2. Offensive lineman Jonah Williams</b></p><p>Jonah Williams was a 2019 first round pick by the Bengals and he has shown some upside. He missed the final 4 games of the 2020 season, but played well against some good pass rushers. Williams has all the skills and athleticism to become a Pro Bowl lineman. He has great technique which is rare for a young lineman and it will allow him to progress easily.</p><p>Protecting quarterback<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bengals-news-joe-burrow-dark-horse-mvp-candidate/" rel="noopener"> Burrow is very important and</a> Williams progression will help him. The offensive line was horrendous in the 2020 season which resulted in Burrow getting hit a ton in his rookie season. The Bengals made some moves in the off-season to bolster the line which will also help in Williams development.</p><p>Look for Williams to take a jump next season and become a great lineman for Burrow and the Bengals.</p><p><b>1. Wide receiver Tee Higgins</b></p><p>Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins had a solid rookie season and could take a big jump. The Bengals have great depth at receiver especially after drafting Chase. The receiving core will include Higgins, Chase, and Tyler Boyd which should make it easy for Burrow. With great targets around him, Higgins can become an even better receiver as he won’t get as much attention. Higgins just scratched the surface last season and could breakout this season.</p><p>Having a great receiving group will help Burrow even more. Higgins development could take the Bengals offense to the next level.</p><p>The Bengals team is primed to compete with the emerging talent. The AFC North is a tough division that includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns. Those 3 teams all made the playoffs last season which will make it hard on the Bengals to compete. However, they have a young roster that will leave everything out on the field every game.</p><p>Bengals fans should be excited as this team has a ton of potential. With potential breakout players on the roster, it will make it an even more entertaining season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 potential breakout players for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/bengals-news-joe-burrow-reveals-one-change-he-must-make-after-loss-to-ravens.png"></figure><h1>Bengals star Joe Burrow ‘all systems go’ for Week 1 vs. Vikings</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-18T11:25:55-07:00">May 18th, 11:25am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-18T11:37:34-07:00">May 18th, 11:37am</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is “all systems go” for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31466861/cincinnati-bengals-joe-burrow-track-week-1-dr-neal-elattrache-says" rel="noopener">according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.</a></p><p>Dr. Neal ElAttrache relayed the info to Schefter:</p><blockquote>“He’s on track for full go for start of the season,” ElAttrache, who operated on Burrow in December, wrote in a text. “He’s doing all the work. He’s worked his tail off and been an amazingly mature participant in his recovery. He’s focused and great to work with.”</blockquote><p>Burrow tore his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bengals-news-joe-burrow-tore-acl-mcl-suffered-other-structural-damage/" rel="noopener">left ACL and MCL</a> last season in November and then underwent surgery in December, cutting short his rookie campaign after he was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The youngster completed 65.3% of his passes for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games before the injury.</p><p>Joe Burrow could miss most or all of the preseason with the injury based on his timetable, but it’s looking good for him to be out there at the start of the regular season. ElAttrache says the 24-year-old Bengals star is crushing his rehab:</p><blockquote>“We are very happy with his recovery to say the least,” ElAttrache said. “Notwithstanding the nature of his injury and extent of his reconstruction, his knee is performing perfectly.“We just had him tested out here with a high-tech video and biomechanical evaluation and he was ahead of where we anticipated and well into the return to performance phase of his recovery. With him already performing this way, it’s ‘all systems go’ for the start of the season.”</blockquote><p>Burrow went just 2-7-1 in his 10 starts as the Bengals finished the season with a 4-11-1 record. This gave them the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which they used on stud wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was Burrow’s teammate at LSU.</p><p>With Joe Burrow set to be back in the fold, Cincinnati is expecting major improvement in Year 2.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals star Joe Burrow ‘all systems go’ for Week 1 vs. Vikings

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Bengals-Joe-Burrow-.jpeg"></figure><h1>Joe Burrow dark horse MVP candidate</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-14T08:23:04-07:00">May 14th, 8:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-14T08:23:36-07:00">May 14th, 8:23am</time><address><a>Galen Donnelly</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cincinnati Bengals gunslinger Joe Burrow is actually a dark horse to win the NFL MVP in the upcoming season. You heard that here first! Well, actually second, as this isn’t even our take.</p><p>Good Morning Football’s Kay Adams went on TV to make the declaration. Let’s get that context out of the way to see what was said first:</p><blockquote>“He’s a good dark horse,” Adams <a href="https://www.nfl.com/network/shows/good-morning-football" rel="noopener">said about the Bengals gunslinger.</a> “Before his injury last year, he showed us some things. If he can, in that gauntlet of a division, get his team into a playoff contention situation then you have to give him some love as an MVP candidate. He’s got Ja’Marr Chase, he’s got Tee Higgins and there’s no reason he can’t put up monster numbers this year. I think it sounds a little wild, but … year two we saw Lamar Jackson win it year two, we saw Patrick Mahomes win it year two. So why not Joe Burrow?”</blockquote><p>There’s a lot of reasons why not Joe Burrow, even if I personally think he’s a good quarterback who will do great things for the Bengals. That said, comparing him to Patrick Mahomes is clinically insane… at best!</p><p>As mentioned in a post I wrote about <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/justin-herbert-next-in-line-to-be-face-of-nfl-good-for-you-chargers/" rel="noopener">another QB with high expectations this season</a>, not everything has to be “all-time great or bust” whenever we discuss quarterbacks. Furthermore, when did NFL analysts start covering the league like it were the NBA?</p><p>Regardless of where he WON’T be in MVP talks this season, Joe Burrow and the Bengals should be measurably better than last season. That, in itself, is good enough we shouldn’t feel the need to lump hyperbolic statements on top of it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Joe Burrow dark horse MVP candidate

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Bengals-JaMarr-Chase-Zac-Taylor.jpeg"><figcaption>Wow! 😲</figcaption></figure><h1>Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has lofty goals set in place for Ja’Marr Chase</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-06T09:53:37-07:00">May 6th, 9:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-06T09:53:37-07:00">May 6th, 9:53am</time><address><a>Mitchell Widmeier</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals sat in a spot of luxury during the early portions of the 2021 NFL Draft. They had drafted their future of the franchise, Joe Burrow, with the No. 1 overall pick in 2020. As the Bengals watched quarterbacks get plucked with the first three picks in this year’s draft, they knew they would have an array of options to choose from with the No. 5 overall pick.</p><p>The first non-quarterback to go was Kyle Pitts, the dynamic tight end from Florida that was taken by the Atlanta Falcons at four. The Bengals opted to go the route of Ja’Marr Chase, the sensational receiver that was teammates with Burrow at LSU. And now that Chase is locked in to Cincinnati, head coach Zac Taylor has some very big goals for the wideout.</p><p><a href="https://theathletic.com/2570351/2021/05/06/its-not-supposed-to-be-easy-behind-the-scenes-of-the-bengals-complicated-scrutinized-nfl-draft-path/?source=emp_shared_article&amp;redirected=1">In an article posted by Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic</a>, Taylor spoke about Chase’s potential and how the Bengals see things coming to fruition.</p><blockquote>“Everybody was happy with the result and understands what this guy is going to do for us,” Taylor said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of TheAthletic.com. “We take Ja’Marr Chase because you think he’s going to be one of the all-time great receivers here over the next 10-15 years. You don’t want to be influenced by, ‘Is there a lineman there in the second round?’ If you think this guy is as good as we think he is, we just need to get him on the football team.”</blockquote><p>The “all-time great” label is not something thrown around too often for many labels yet it’s the precise description Taylor used in predicting what the future could hold for Chase.</p><p>As the first wideout taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, expectations will be high for Chase regardless. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bengals-news-jamarr-chase-boldly-plans-to-break-literally-all-of-the-records/">Chase has embraced this already with goals of his own.</a></p><p>It appears both sides are on the same page and that Ja’Marr chase is destined to be one of the great ones to ever do it. Now the only thing left is to go out and show it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has lofty goals set in place for Ja’Marr Chase

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Cincinnati-Bengals-2021-NFL-Draft-Grades-For-Every-Pick.jpg"></figure><h1>Cincinnati Bengals — 2021 NFL Draft Grades For Every Pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-04T16:30:26-07:00">May 4th, 4:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-04T16:31:08-07:00">May 4th, 4:31pm</time><address><a>Edward Marlowe</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals, after some swift maneuvers, had 10 selections in the 2021 NFL draft — including <a href="https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2021/04/08/usc-bengals-icon-anthony-munoz-weighs-in-on-what-joe-burrow-needs-in-nfl-and-cincinnati-in-jamarr-chase-penei-sewell-debate/">a coveted fifth-overall selection.</a></p><p>With the AFC North only getting better, did the Bengals bungle this time around? Or are they on the doorstep of challenging the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens?</p><p>On paper, they certainly got better — and provided some neat tools for franchise face Joe Burrow along <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/news">the way.</a></p><h2>Bengals NFL draft picks:</h2><h2>1) Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU (1st round, No. 5)</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B</b></p><p>There’s absolutely zero question that a guy like Ja’Marr Chase can become a generational NFL talent with the Bengals.</p><p>After a stellar 2019 sophomore season that saw him catch 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns from his new (and old) quarterback, Joe Burrow, Chase opted out of the 2020 season and waited for his name to be called in the 2021 NFL Draft. Shrewd and prudent, Chase’s reported work ethic, acumen for the game and rapport with his former and future signal-caller all point to special, special possibilities with the Bengals.</p><p>This being said, Burrow’s electric 2020 rookie campaign with the Bengals was cut short due to a devastating ACL/MCL tear in his left knee on Nov. 22, 2020, against the Washington Football Team, when a pair of jostling linemen backed into his blindside on a pass attempt to WR Tyler Boyd.</p><p>Coming into that game, Burrow had been hit 72 times on pass attempts, which was tied with New York Giants rookie Daniel Jones (2019) for the most by a frosh quarterback through nine games in two decades.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Bengals</a> QB Joe Burrow came into the game having taken 72 hits. That was tied with Daniel Jones for the most by a rookie QB in his first nine games since 2000.</p><p>— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/joereedy/status/1330603257748570112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">November 22, 2020</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Wouldn’t this mean that the Bengals would’ve wanted to double down on protecting their future face of the franchise with an absolute stalwart of a pick in Oregon’s offensive tackle Penei Sewell? Maybe it wasn’t a sexy pick, but it was sure and true.</p><p>Twenty years from now, when Burrow and Chase have connected on 750 passes for 9,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in their time together, perhaps this will all look silly. After all, Burrow specifically wanted Chase in this Bengals offense, and this was a dreamy draft for the hogmollies — with big-man talent in all rounds. Cincinnati had 10 total picks to select its incoming talent, and taking Chase wasn’t the worst decision.</p><p>It just didn’t feel like “the best.”</p><h2>2) Jackson Carman, Guard, Clemson (2nd round draft pick, No. 14 (46th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: A-minus</b></p><p>No sooner were folks in Cincinnati — fans and media, alike — complaining about the lack of protection on the offensive line, did the Bengals front office address the issue with the second-round selection of Clemson guard Jackson Carman.</p><p>Former Cincinnati star offensive lineman Willie Anderson was consulted about the Carman selection, <a href="https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2021/05/03/bengals-start-jackson-carman-guard-willie-anderson/">per USA Today’s Chris Rolling</a>, and the Bengals actually traded back to get him — adding two fourth-round selections in the deal with the New England Patriots.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Patriots traded the 46th, 122nd and 139th picks to Cincinnati for the right to Alabama DL Christian Barmore at 38.</p><p>— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/1388276066326884354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 30, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>It’s a trade that landed them another LSU star in defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin, and another offensive lineman in East Carolina’s D’Ante Smith, and it’s the kind of draft-day shenanigans that deserve a big kudos to those working the phones. Carman is a Cincinnati native who was graded a little lower than the second round, but this move smells of nothing but pure value.</p><h2>3) Joseph Ossai, Defensive End, Texas (3rd round draft pick, No. 5 (69th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: A-minus</b></p><p>Ossai graded as a second-round defensive end through multiple scouting services, and it’s easy to see why. The 6-foot-3, 256-pound bowling ball spent the 2020 campaign playing at the JACK linebacker position for the Longhorns, where he finished tied for third in the FBS in tackles-for-loss (16) and added 5.5 sacks in just nine games.</p><p>In his 22 consecutive starts for Texas, he pumped out (29.5) tackles-for-loss, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, five pass deflections and two interceptions. He fell to the early third round, and the Bengals smartly snagged him for a defense that was dead last in QB hurries (39) and sacks (17) in 2020.</p><h2>4) Cam Sample, Edge, Tulane (4th round draft pick, No. 6 (111th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B+</b></p><p>Again, this is a Bengals defense that got little-to-no pressure last season, and Sample’s senior season at Tulane — where he led the American in pressures (42) and added career-bests in tackles (51), tackles-for-loss (7.5) and sacks (5.0) — the kind of terror he can be at the line of scrimmage.</p><p>Per Geoff Hobson, <a href="https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-take-second-straight-pass-rusher-with-tulane-s-cam-sample">Bengals.com senior writer</a>, Sample finished as one of the outstanding players at the 2020-21 Senior Bowl, where he notched the highest grade and win rates in one-on-one scenarios.</p><h2>5) Tyler Shelvin, Defensive Tackle, LSU (4th round draft pick, No. 17 (122nd overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B-minus</b></p><p>Shelvin didn’t particularly grade well after opting out of LSU’s 2020 campaign, but he was immoveable for the Tigers in a run to the 2019 FBS Championship. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 350 pounds, he’s an ideal nose tackle with a sub-5.4 40-yard dash, capable of creating a lot of havoc at the line of scrimmage.</p><p>Character issues might’ve been a little bit of concern and leading to his drop in stock, as academics and behavior kept him from enjoying fruitful 2017 and 2018 campaigns. But alongside former college teammates in Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, Shelvin may fit right in with Cincinnati, and there’s no question his size and ability caught the attention of multiple NFL coaches — <a href="https://twitter.com/BrodyAMiller/status/1388547151018483715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1388547151018483715%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincyjungle.com%2F2021%2F5%2F3%2F22416119%2Fbill-belichick-tyler-shelvin-lsu-tigers-news-nfl-rumors-patriots-draft-2021">particularly one in New England</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heard a cool Bill Belichick story while working on this.</p><p>While scouting the 2020 Draft for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#LSU</a> players like K'Lavon Chaisson, Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips, Bill Belichick stopped the film and asked about Shelvin.</p><p>"I want No. 72. You make sure No. 72 is on our team.” <a href="https://t.co/jodFQUx0Co" target="_blank">https://t.co/jodFQUx0Co</a></p><p>— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrodyAMiller/status/1388547151018483715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 1, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>He’s a fairly late flier who could fill it up while in the right spot on the line.</p><h2>6) D’Ante Smith, Offensive Tackle, East Carolina (4th round draft pick, No. 34 (139th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B-minus</b></p><p>With a plethora of options along the offensive line in this draft, Smith is another guy who just fell a little off of his projection (third round) and into the laps of the Cincinnati Bengals.</p><p>Score one for the Orange &amp; Black, who land a guy who wound up being a four-year starter for the Pirates at both the tackle and guard positions. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reports Smith had the longest wingpsan of any offensive lineman at the 2020-21 Senior Bowl, and season-ending injuries in 2016 (back) and 2020 (knee scope) are some of the only visible reasons Smith was available in the middle of the 2021 NFL Draft.</p><p>Smith was the second of three offensive linemen drafted by the Bengals this season, as the overhaul along the wall continues.</p><h2>7) Evan McPherson, Kicker, Florida (5th round draft pick, No. 5 (149th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B-minus</b></p><p>Graded as the highest specialist kicker in the draft field (fifth/sixth round), the Bengals didn’t reach too far for one of the more accurate kickers in Florida’s history.</p><p>He made 85% of his field-goal attempts in his career (51-for-60, an SEC record), including 17-of-19 in both is freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2020, he posted a single-season school record of four 50-plus makes, and went 17-for-22 for the potent Gators. Inside the 40-yard line, he was even more accurate: 94.5% for his career.</p><p>Missed PATs have delightfully become a chaotic part of the NFL game in recent years, but McPherson didn’t miss many in college — going 159-for-160.</p><p>McPherson likely is coming in to create some competition with veteran Austin Seibert, who came to the Bengals after Week 13 of 2020 to replace <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/3/22/22341056/lions-news-rumors-randy-bullock-bengals">an injured Randy Bullock</a> and connected on 6-for-8 field goals with a long of 48 while not missing a PAT.</p><h2>8) Trey Hill, Center, Georgia (6th round draft pick, No. 6 (190th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B-minus</b></p><p>Hill did skip his senior season in order to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, but the 6-foot-3, 315-pound true center was once considered one of the top offensive linemen in the country. He started the final four games of his freshman season (2018) at right guard, before moving to center in Kirby Smart’s offense for the next two seasons.</p><p>His late surgery in 2020 repaired torn menisci in both knees.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Most improved offensive lines this offseason, per <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_Linsey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@PFF_Linsey</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rx5PEAY8pe" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/Rx5PEAY8pe</a></p><p>— PFF (@PFF) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1389278590060085248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 3, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><h2>9) Chris Evans, Running Back, Michigan (6th round draft pick, No. 18 (202nd overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: C+</b></p><p>A rare 24-year-old rookie for the NFL, it’s hard to see where Evans is going to get touches in this offense — with Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, CJ Uzomah, Thaddeus Moss, Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine and Drew Sample all scrambling for some touches this year.</p><p>But the Bengals did let longtime utilityman and eight-year veteran Giovani Bernard walk in the offseason, and with him goes more than 6,500 yards all-purpose and 33 touchdowns in the span.</p><p>Evans didn’t play too much for the Wolverines in 2020 (16 carries, nine catches), but does have a lengthy career in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of both lining up as a receiver and taking snaps out of the backfield. It’s the kind of versatility the Bengals will be looking for in trying to replace a guy like Bernard.</p><h2>10) Wyatt Hubert, Defensive End, Kansas State (7th round draft pick, No. 7 (235th overall))</h2><p><b>Bengals Grade: B+</b></p><p>Hubert did nothing but rush and rush and rush some more for Kansas State, where over the last three seasons he amassed 34 tackles-for-loss, 20 sacks, was twice named First Team All-Big 12 and earned Freshman All-American status. If the Bengals only bring him in on third downs to specifically frustrate opposing quarterbacks, this pick is a complete win for the front office.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cincinnati Bengals — 2021 NFL Draft Grades For Every Pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Bengals-news-Ja_Marr-Chase-boldly-plans-to-break-literally-all-of-the-records-Thumbnail.jpeg"></figure><h1>Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase boldly plans to break literally all of the records</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-30T08:56:53-07:00">April 30th, 8:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-30T09:00:33-07:00">April 30th, 9:00am</time><address><a>Matt Wadleigh</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals are having a Bayou Bengals reunion after taking Ja’Marr Chase at No. 5 overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow gets to reunite with his former college teammate and Chase wasted no time throwing out some predictions for his rookie campaign, <a href="https://www.bengals.com/news/the-chase-is-on-for-bengals-i-m-going-to-break-every-record-they-ve-got">according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. </a></p><blockquote>“I’m going to break every record they’ve got. That’s my goal right there. I’m telling you right now,” <a href="https://www.bengals.com/news/the-chase-is-on-for-bengals-i-m-going-to-break-every-record-they-ve-got">said Chase.</a> “I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but it’s going to get done.”</blockquote><p>Those are bold predictions for Chase, but it’s evident the talent is there. The former LSU star didn’t play in 2020 after opting out. However, his 2019 season was absolutely incredible in the Tigers’ run to the National Championship victory. While some big names like Chad Johnson and AJ Green are fixtures in the record books for the Bengals, Chase could very well eclipse some of their marks.</p><p>Chase had 84 catches for 1780 yards and 20 scores in just 14 games and would’ve easily been the top receiver taken in the 2020 NFL Draft class. So, the Burrow-Chase connection is back, and Bengals head coach Zac Taylor should be smiling like no other.</p><p>Chase also won Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver. However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-draft-news-bengals-select-jamarr-chase-with-no-5-pick/">new Bengals pass-catcher</a> didn’t stop there with the predictions.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Among Chase’s goals for 2021…. win Rookie of the year and get 10 TDs</p><p>— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeoffHobsonCin/status/1387943734524928003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 30, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>That seems more than obtainable for a guy that absolutely destroyed college competition in 2019. With Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, not to mention Joe Mixon, Burrow has a plethora of options to choose from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/roster">on that offense</a> and the Bengals should improve dramatically in the 2021 season.</p><p>Bold claims for Chase, but if 2019 was any indication, his numbers could very well be in the franchise record books for the Bengals for a long time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase boldly plans to break literally all of the records

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/image_2021-04-30_095956.png"></figure><h1>3 early predictions for Ja’Marr Chase in his rookie season with Bengals</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-29T19:08:37-07:00">April 29th, 7:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-29T19:08:37-07:00">April 29th, 7:08pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/emasseysports/" rel="facebook">Evan Massey</a>Evan Massey is a sports writer who has also covered politics, entertainment, and many other things. He is also the Editorial Manager for ClutchPoints.com. His work has been featured on ESPN, Forbes, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, and plenty of other online publications.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals felt very good about their future following last year’s NFL Draft after taking LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. Unfortunately, they saw Burrow go down with a season-ending gruesome knee injury in his rookie year. Now heading into their QB’s second year, they are still confident in their young quarterback even following the injury and are adding more talent around him.</p><p>Not only did the Bengals add more talent around Burrow by drafting a wide receiver with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, they <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbFCtor0e6A">drafted</a> a former teammates of his. Cincinnati decided to go with LSU wideout Ja’Marr Chase with their first-round selection.</p><h2>Three (3) Bengals Rookie Predictions for Ja’Marr Chase</h2><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bengals-rumors-Joe-Burrow-to-reunite-with-ex-LSU-teammate-Ja_Marr-Chase-in-Cincinnati-Thumbnail.jpg"></figure><p>Chase is coming off of a 2020 season that saw him sit out the year due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in 2019 with Burrow, however, he put up massive numbers. He ended up catching 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in that season.</p><p>During the offseason, the Bengals saw longtime star receiver A.J. Green leave town in free agency to sign with the Arizona Cardinals. That left them with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins as their top targets. Chase will join them and form a young and dynamic three-headed monster at the position for Burrow.</p><p>All of that being said, let’s take a look at three early predictions for Ja’Marr Chase with the Bengals in his rookie season.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p><b>3. He Takes Over As An Instant Starter</b></p><p>Granted, the Bengals love what they have in second-year wide receiver Tee Higgins. He has big-time potential and he will have a major role in 2021. But, he’s likely going to be replaced as a starter by Chase.</p><p>Chase and Boyd are going to be the top two wide receivers on the depth chart entering the season. He brings massive playmaking potential and already formed chemistry with Burrow. Those two things alone will power him to a starting role in Week 1.</p><p>The Bengals have to feel very good about their selection at No. 5 overall. Adding more firepower to their offense will help them compete this season. Chase has superstar potential and Cincinnati will be very happy that they decided to take him.</p><p> </p><p><b>2. Chase Racks Up 1,000 Yards, At Least Eight Touchdowns</b></p><p>As a rookie, Ja’Marr Chase is going to live up to all of the hype and expectations. The Bengals not only got themselves a good player, they got themselves a future superstar. Chase is going to start his NFL career off with a bang.</p><p>We are predicting that Chase will rack up 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie year. He is also going to catch at least eight touchdown passes.</p><p>Those numbers are going to make any critics of the pick shut up quickly. Chase may not play a major position of need for the Bengals, but the pick makes perfect sense. It will make Joe Burrow happy and will help take the offense to the next level.</p><p> </p><p><b>1. A Top-Three Finish In Offensive Rookie of the Year Race</b></p><p>Finally, the Bengals are getting themselves a guy who could end up winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. It will be tough for him to actually win the award due to names like Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson also being drafted, but he will finish top-three in the race for the prestigious award.</p><p>Ja’Marr Chase has the “It” factor about him and the Bengals need more of that. He has the potential to break off a huge touchdown anytime he touches the football. The numbers we predicted above for him could end up being below what he actually produces.</p><p>Cincinnati is going to be a fun team to watch moving forward. They may not be a Super Bowl contender in the next couple of years, but they are heading down a path to compete for a spot in the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 early predictions for Ja’Marr Chase in his rookie season with Bengals

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NFL-Draft-news-Team-X-select-Ja_Marr-Chase-with-No.jpeg"></figure><h1>Bengals select Ja’Marr Chase with No. 5 pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-29T18:02:38-07:00">April 29th, 6:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-29T18:06:05-07:00">April 29th, 6:06pm</time><address><a>Joseph Nocco</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Because he didn’t play last season due to the “coronavirus” pandemic, it was often forgotten this offseason just how impressive former LSU Tigers wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was during his collegiate playing days. However, the Cincinnati Bengals certainly didn’t forget as the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/roster"> franchise</a> officially selected Chase at No.5 overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday evening.</p><p>With current Minnesota Vikings and former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson stringing together quite the stellar rookie season in 2020-21, such a campaign could be a sign of things to come for Chase atop the highest level as well.</p><p>The 21-year-old wideout stands at an even 6’0″ while weighing around 210 pounds and could not be more ready to take the next step in his playing career. A dynamic pass catcher all over the field no matter where he lines up, Chase can simply do it all from the wide receiver position as the Bengals will surely waste absolutely no time in getting him acclimated to the NFL game.</p><p>In what would become his final season at LSU back in 2019-20, Ja’Marr Chase helped lead the Tigers to a national championship victory while serving as the<a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1387934189480259592"> team’s top pass-catching target</a> — even ahead of the aforementioned Jefferson. During that memorable campaign, Chase tallied 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and mind-boggling 20 touchdowns. A reliable deep threat week-in and week-out for current Cincinnati Bengals and former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the soon-to-be rookie wideout in Chase also averaged 21.2 yards per reception in 2019-20.</p><p>Burrow should be plenty excited to reunite with his old college teammate and the Bengals duo of Tee Higgins and Chase should be a breath of fresh air for the Bengals fans. Can Cincinnati make its way to the top of the AFC North in the 2021 season and beyond with one of the scariest offenses in the league?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals select Ja’Marr Chase with No. 5 pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Bengals-news-One-big-reason-Cincinnati-could-draft-Ja_Marr-Chase-No.jpg"></figure><h1>One big reason Bengals could draft Ja’Marr Chase No. 5 in 2021 NFL Draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-26T13:11:35-07:00">April 26th, 1:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-26T13:12:49-07:00">April 26th, 1:12pm</time><address><a>Marty Fenn</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Cincinnati Bengals would seem to be weighing adding a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-draft-rumors-jamarr-chase-or-penei-sewell-bengals-zone-in-on-target-at-no-5/" rel="noopener">top offensive lineman or pass-catcher</a> with the No. 5 pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft.</p><p>Bengals head coach Zac Taylor <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBfyNvUKCHI">revealed</a> 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:</p><blockquote>“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.”</blockquote><p>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 <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_ef48071e-ebc5-11ea-80e4-bba7c5720d03.html">opted out</a> of the 2020 season, though that has hardly impacted his draft stock.</p><p>The Tigers receiver dazzled at his Pro Day workout at the end of March. Chase <a href="https://www.panthers.com/news/jamarr-chase-wide-receivere-lsu-pro-day-workout-shines">ran</a> 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.</p><p>Will Chase reunite with Burrow in Cincinnati? That remains to be seen. <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/insider/story/_/id/31317771/nfl-draft-buzz-2021-everything-todd-mcshay-hearing-top-prospects-qbs-team-strategies-early-picks">Todd McShay of ESPN</a> 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.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

One big reason Bengals could draft Ja’Marr Chase No. 5 in 2021 NFL Draft

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Bengals-Joe-Burrow.jpeg"><figcaption>Will Burrow be ready for week 1?</figcaption></figure><h1>Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow reveals incredible injury update on torn ACL</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-21T05:37:17-07:00">April 21st, 5:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-21T05:37:17-07:00">April 21st, 5:37am</time><address><a>Jeremy Chua</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has taken significant steps in his road to recovery from a torn ACL injury that abruptly ended his rookie campaign last season. He positively spoke about his current condition as he expects himself to be back in action come Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season for the Bengals.</p><blockquote>“I’m very optimistic about where I’m at and also where the team is at,” Burrow told Cris Collinsworth on the <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/bengals-qb-joe-burrow-ahead-of-schedule-plans-to-be-there-on-the-first-snap-of-2">Pro Football Focus podcast</a>, via the team website. “Rehab is going very, very well and lifting is going very, very well. I’m in great shape. Legs feel good, knee feels good. There’s still a long way to go, but I’m expecting to be there on the first snap of 2021.”“I’m expecting to play game one. I expect to take part in practice. I’m feeling really good. I’m ahead of schedule.”</blockquote><p>Despite the Bengals lacking elite weapons on both sides of the field, Burrow was still able to make a good impression after being the top overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He successfully showed flashes of his potential during games until he went down with a torn ACL injury back in week 11 for the Bengals against the Washington Football Team.</p><p>Due to the setback, the former LSU standout notched a total of 2,688 passing yards on 264 completions to go with 13 touchdowns through just 10 games played for Cincinnati. Without their top guy, the Bengals failed to get back on the right track as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/schedule">they concluded their campaign with a disappointing 4-11-1 record, finishing last in the AFC North division.</a></p><p>Despite encountering a major injury in his first pro season, high expectations are still set to surround the Bengals star quarterback in 2021. Hopefully, he will continue to do well on his rehab as he prepares for a bounce-back campaign for the Bengals next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow reveals incredible injury update on torn ACL

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Joe-Burrow-Bengals.jpg"></figure><h1>Bengals QB Joe Burrow helps show off new uniforms</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-19T06:17:30-07:00">April 19th, 6:17am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-19T06:18:20-07:00">April 19th, 6:18am</time><address><a>Isaac Doctor</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are having a busy offseason and only time can tell whether the moves they’re made so far are going to pay off. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/schedule">At this point</a>, it seems the most fire moves the Bengals have done is having <a href="https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1384119177330397198">new uniforms</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Look good, feel good, play good 🐅<a href="https://twitter.com/tide?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Tide</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewStripes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#NewStripes</a> <a href="https://t.co/HIwOHLYys9" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/HIwOHLYys9</a></p><p>— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1384119177330397198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 19, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The jungle awaits. 🐅<a href="https://twitter.com/tide?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Tide</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewStripes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#NewStripes</a> <a href="https://t.co/rVsdsnAlje" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/rVsdsnAlje</a></p><p>— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1384117155818459148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 19, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">A new look for a new era. Uniting our past with our future. <a href="https://t.co/HEDSzVBLdI" target="_blank">https://t.co/HEDSzVBLdI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tide?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Tide</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewStripes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#NewStripes</a> <a href="https://t.co/uM7HMwAs7K" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/uM7HMwAs7K</a></p><p>— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1384115632115884039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 19, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p> </p><p>Including legendary wide receiver, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was a nice touch. The Bengals are picking at fifth overall and some mock drafts have the team taking a wideout, who could be Burrow’s Ochocinco. The receiver is Ja’Marr Chase, who was Burrow’s teammate at LSU.</p><p>The duo was deadly at the collegiate ranks and projects to cause a lot of trouble for defenses at the next level. Reuniting teammates in the NFL is also a bit of a feel-good story.</p><p>Going back to the advertisements, Burrow could be seen wearing a white version of the uniform. The famous laundry detergent, Tide is mentioned in the posts. If the team wants to see Burrow’s uniform not require too much Tide to get the dirt out from being sacked too often, they should pass on Chase.</p><p>Instead, the Bengals’ front office <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-draft-rumors-jamarr-chase-or-penei-sewell-bengals-zone-in-on-target-at-no-5/">should choose</a> Oregon’s Penei Sewell, who is the best offensive lineman prospect in recent history. Burrow’s rookie campaign was cut short due to an injury, but even before that, he was taking a lot of punishment from opposing defenses.</p><p>Getting Sewell would not be nearly as exciting as compared to having Chase, but it looks like the wiser move. Further, Burrow already has two solid receivers in Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, who may not reach the heights of Chase, but have high ceilings of their own.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals QB Joe Burrow helps show off new uniforms

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/image_2021-04-18_004837.png"></figure><h1>Ja’Marr Chase or Penei Sewell? Bengals zone in on target at No. 5</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-17T09:53:09-07:00">April 17th, 9:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-17T09:53:09-07:00">April 17th, 9:53am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NFL draft is right around the corner, as the first round is set to begin on April 29th. With plenty of talented prospects available this year, each franchise aims to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/roster">improve their roster</a> for the future. For the Cincinnati Bengals, the front office has a difficult choice ahead of them.</p><p><a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-closing-ja-marr-chase-153551902.html">According to Yahoo Sports</a>, The Bengals have been zoning in to select either Ja’Marr Chase or Penei Sewell. However, based on a report from a close source, it sounds like the Bengals are leading towards picking Chase fifth overall.</p><blockquote>“That’s the vibe given off via a new report from Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who told Jason McIntyre on Fox Sports Radio the following: ‘The latest I’m hearing is the Bengals are targeting Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Burrow’s former teammate at LSU.’ “</blockquote><p>Ja’Marr Chase opted out of the 2020 season but proved to be one of the top receivers in college football during the LSU Tigers’ national championship run. During his sophomore campaign with Joe Burrow under center, Chase eclipsed 84 receptions, 1,780 yards, and 20 touchdowns. To say he was Burrow’s favorite target would be an understatement.</p><p>Drafting Chase makes a ton of sense. The Bengals quarterback already has built chemistry with the talented prospect, and Chase is considered to be the best receiver available in the draft. Cincinnati’s offense suddenly becomes a legitimate threat, as the roster would contain Burrow, Chase, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon.</p><p>Most believe the smart choice would be to draft Penei Sewell, as the Bengals’ offensive line is well below average. However, it would be difficult to pass up on Chase, especially considering he’d come in already comfortable with the quarterback.</p><p>Only time will tell if this comes to fruition, as we won’t know for sure until April 29th. The Bengals sit in a great spot, as they’re in a position to select a top prospect no matter what.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ja’Marr Chase or Penei Sewell? Bengals zone in on target at No. 5

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Buccaneers-news-Tom-Brady-successfully-recruits-Giovani-Bernard-to-Tampa-Bay-Thumbnail.jpg"></figure><h1>Tom Brady successfully recruits Giovani Bernard to Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-12T13:38:18-07:00">April 12th, 1:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-12T13:42:25-07:00">April 12th, 1:42pm</time><address><a>Michael Corvo</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Here’s a shocker: Tom Brady has successfully recruited another veteran. On Monday,<a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1381696600053964800"> NFL Network’s Tom Peliserro</a> reported that long-time Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernand will sign a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Veteran RB Giovani Bernard is signing a one-year deal with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Bucs</a>, per source.</p><p>Tom Brady and Bruce Arians both personally recruited Bernard, one of the NFL’s best receiving backs, after his release from Cincinnati. Another weapon for Brady and the Super Bowl champs.</p><p>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1381696600053964800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 12, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>According to Peliserro, Bernard’s agreement to join Tampa came after personal recruiting efforts from the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/roster">Bucs quarterback</a> and head coach Bruce Arians.</p><p>It’s easy to understand the appeal of Bernard for Brady and Arians. The 29-year old has long been one of the steadiest receivers out of the backfield in football. Bernard has caught 342 balls (not including playoffs) since his rookie season of 2013 at an average of 8.4 yards per reception.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1381697338989809667?s=20">Ian Rapoport of NFL Network</a> noted that New England Patriots halfback James White — who caught over 300 passes from Brady across six seasons in Foxborough — considered signing with the Buccaneers before opting to re-up with the Pats.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">James White had interest in joining Tom Brady and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bucs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Bucs</a> as their third-down back before re-signing with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Patriots?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Patriots</a>. Instead, it’s the newly available Gio Bernard. He had interest from TB and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Chiefs</a>, but ends up in Tampa Bay. <a href="https://t.co/OjMJY9lxTp" target="_blank">https://t.co/OjMJY9lxTp</a></p><p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1381697338989809667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 12, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>The Kansas City Chiefs also had an interest in Bernard, per Rapoport. The 5’9 tailback was released by the Bengals after spending eight seasons with the franchise that drafted him in the second round (no. 37 overall) out of North Carolina.</p><p>Bernard played a larger-than-expected role for Cincy in 2020 after starter Joe Mixon suffered a foot injury. The veteran racked up 771 yards and six total touchdowns from scrimmage. He tallied 47 receptions and should bring his pass-catching ability to the Bucs.</p><p>Brady and the Super Bowl champs will have no shortage of weapons in their arsenal next season with the Bucs returning all 22 starters from last season’s title-winning group.</p><p>Bernard will join Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones II, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and C.J. Prosise in the Tampa Bay backfield as the Buccaneers look to repeat.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tom Brady successfully recruits Giovani Bernard to Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/munoz.jpg"></figure><h1>Bengals’ Anthony Munoz weighs in on Ja’Marr Chase-Penei Sewell debate surrounding No. 5 pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-08T15:14:40-07:00">April 8th, 3:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-08T15:15:22-07:00">April 8th, 3:15pm</time><address><a>Bryce Hendricks</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Anthony Munoz, Ja’Marr Chase, and Penei Sewell all know that the Cincinnati Bengals currently hold the fifth pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and that there is much buzz about who they should be looking to draft.</p><p>Last year, the Bengals took LSU <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/news">star quarterback</a> Joe Burrow. Burrow had a good start to his rookie campaign before going down with a brutal leg injury. Burrow’s success give the Bengals a franchise cornerstone and it now becomes about building the roster out around him.</p><p>The two players most brought up in the conversation for the Bengals are Burrow’s former teammate, LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, or the tackle from Oregon, Penei Sewell. One former Bengal, Anthony Munoz, <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/1380182150625034241">made his opinion clear.</a></p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anthony Muñoz said he would absolutely draft Penei Sewell at No. 5. </p><p>“If my name was Joe Burrow, I’d be pretty happy.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Bengals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@FOX19</a></p><p>— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX19Jeremy/status/1380182150625034241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 8, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Munoz, the former NFL tackle who became a Hall of Famer with the Bengals, makes it clear Sewell would be the most helpful for Burrow’s future success. The big tackle would likely fill on the left side of the line to protect Burrow’s blindside. This could go a long way to making Burrow feel safer in the pocket.</p><p>Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow proved to have incredible chemistry at LSU, leading the Tigers to the national championship. Burrow has not yet had an elite wide receiver option with the Bengals and Chase could definitely be that in the NFL.</p><p>Whichever path the Bengals decide to go down, it will certainly be with the hope of helping to make Burrow’s life a little easier in the pocket.</p><p>Burrow is the franchise in Cincinnati. Maximizing him and his future career is the way to go for the Bengals, who simply have to find the right path in order to do that. Helping Burrow with a big-time wide receiver offers a line of logic which is hard to knock… but giving Burrow a strong offensive tackle could be the chess move which pays greater dividends for Cincinnati in the long run. This is not an easy decision to make for a franchise which needs to hit a home run.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bengals’ Anthony Munoz weighs in on Ja’Marr Chase-Penei Sewell debate surrounding No. 5 pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/bengals.jpg"></figure><h1>3 perfect options for Bengals at No. 5 in 2021 NFL Draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-04-07T17:13:39-07:00">April 7th, 5:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-04-07T17:13:39-07:00">April 7th, 5:13pm</time><address><a>Julian Fadullon</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In what was yet another depressingly disappointing year for the Cincinnati Bengals, the team did walk away from 2020 with some real hope for the future. Their offense has the potential to be something next season, helmed by their 2020 No.1 pick Joe Burrow who is flanked by legitimately <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/roster" rel="noopener">good weapons</a> in Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. With any luck, Joe Mixon will also be back for a redemption campaign after an injury-plagued season in 2020.</p><p>The problem is those injury bugs. Burrow, in particular, had a scary knee injury right in the middle of his scintillating rookie campaign, annihilating whatever playoff hopes the Bengals had with a talent like him under center, at least for 2020. He is still recovering, but we can expect his grit, toughness and talent to still be there when he returns to the field this fall.</p><p>What the Bengals need to do more than anything else is support their hometown hero. Whether that means protection, weapons or both is up to them, but the path for the team going into the 2021 NFL Draft is clear: build around Burrow. The team already addressed both their interior and perimeter defenses in free agency, meaning that they have the flexibility to support Burrow on the offensive end with the fifth pick.</p><p>Here’s how they do it. These are the three best options at pick No. 5 for the Bengals:</p><h2><b>1. OL Penei Sewell, Oregon</b></h2><p>Look, the Bengals did a good thing in free agency in spending big for Riley Reiff. <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReifRi00.htm" rel="noopener">Reiff</a> and Jonah Williams make for a solid combo at both ends of the offensive line. Moreover, the signing does signify that Cincinnati could be looking to cash in on what could be the greatest wide receiver rookie class of all time in this year’s draft.</p><p>But if you are a Cincinnati fan, you should be scared to death of Burrow’s knee injury this past season. He’s mobile and very aggressive, but that means that he should be all the more protected as his career goes on. Franchise quarterbacks are rare, and what the Bengals found in Burrow is rarer than even that. Worse, who’s to say that Reiff (32) will be there for Joe in three years’ time?</p><p>No, the best thing that Cincinnati can do is invest in protecting who is arguably their best player going into this 2021 season. Penei Sewell is a physical freak. His technique might be slightly behind the rest of this year’s OL rookie class, but his athleticism and speed for his size are off the charts. Sewell is a rare lineman who could actually recover on a botched blocking assignment, which denotes almost generational talent at the position. He has the attitude, the skills and the pedigree to be Burrow’s blindside wall for a decade, and the Bengals would do no better than to invest in that for a player that is both talented and already injury-prone.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/oregonfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@OregonFootball</a> OL Penei Sewell puts up 30 bench press reps at his Pro Day 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/NFLDraft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@NFLDraft</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/peneisewell58?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@peneisewell58</a> <a href="https://t.co/NQZZ7LOvMT" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/NQZZ7LOvMT</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1378101476958986242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 2, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>This is a list of the top three options for Cincinnati, but Sewell is the no-brainer, can’t-miss prospect of this class if he makes it to pick No. 5. Take him.</p><h2><b>2. TE Kyle Pitts, Florida</b></h2><p>If the Bengals want to go in on a weapon and Kyle Pitts is on the board, they can at least rationalize that he offers some protection as a TE. However, Pitts is built less like a blocking or combo TE than as a hulking wide receiver. Think DK Metcalf’s shirtless photo with cartoonish bubble muscles on the shoulders and arms. Kyle Pitts is <i>big</i>.</p><p>The fact that a tight end is actually being mocked up as going this high in the draft (or even higher if the Atlanta Falcons want him at pick number four) is a testament to how good of a player they are. Tight ends don’t usually go this early, and the position is notoriously hard to draft well for. But if there is one prospect that, barring injury, is a slam dunk at the position, it is Pitts. He’s a pass catcher and playmaker for sure, but his body would be a beast to get past for rushers as well.</p><p>If trained properly, he can be a generational talent at the position.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@MoveTheSticks</a>' No. 2 overall prospect: Florida TE <a href="https://twitter.com/kylepitts__?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@kylepitts__</a></p><p>He just ran a 4.44u. ⏱🔥</p><p>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/GatorsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@GatorsFB</a> Pro Day LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@nflnetwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/7CYGd8bKNx" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/7CYGd8bKNx</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1377283868479401987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">March 31, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>If Sewell is unavailable, or if the Bengals sincerely think that Reiff and Williams are enough to guard the edges of their line (a dubious prospect), Pitts is the next best thing.</p><h2><b>3. WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU</b></h2><p>This one needs a little explaining. Of the options available to teams at wide receiver, Chase is not only the consensus number one pick (which is saying a lot, given the depth of this class), but one that has built-in chemistry with Burrow. Notice Chase’s school? That’s the key: Burrow and him were as thick as thieves during LSU’s magical 2019 championship run, and Chase is one of the primary reasons behind Burrow’s deserved Heisman win in the bayou.</p><p>If given the chance to reunite, the two could very well reignite that spark once more. Moreover, adding Chase to the already-capable corps of Boyd and Higgins makes Cincinnati’s roster of weapons immediately more threatening.</p><p>Again, this pick is dependent on how much the Bengals’ front office trusts their offensive line as is. It should be said that the team has plenty of options at wide receiver even in the second round, and this could easily be seen as an unnecessary slight overdraft.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ja’Marr Chase with an unofficial 4.38 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day 💨<a href="https://twitter.com/Real10jayy__?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@Real10jayy__</a> (via <a href="https://twitter.com/SlaterNFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@SlaterNFL</a>)<a href="https://t.co/QRnjtiGKzx" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/QRnjtiGKzx</a></p><p>— Overtime (@overtime) <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1377269695871655945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">March 31, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>But Burrow has already given his endorsement to his former partner in crime, and Cincinnati is most likely listening. If the team fancies its gambling chances with its offensive line, look for them to give serious consideration to the bayou’s finest.</p><h2><b>Honorable Mentions</b></h2><p><b>OL Rashawn Slater, Northwestern: </b>If the Bengals somehow don’t trust Penei Sewell’s lack of polish, Rashawn Slater makes up for that, in theory. If Sewell is available, pick him instead.</p><p><b>OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC: </b>He is similar to Slater, but sub out polish for versatility at the position.</p><p><b>WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama: </b>He is regarded as the second-best wideout prospect in this class behind Ja’Marr Chase.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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