It’s time to add onto the heaping pile of Cincinnati Bengals mock draft database! As any older Bengals fan would tell you, Cincinnati absolutely has to rebuild its offensive line. Even with an active free agency, can the Bengals afford to pass up the opportunity to draft a guy many are calling the best tackle prospect in years?
Leading up to this mock, we also focused on Kyle Pitts (here) and Ja’Marr Chase (here).
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2021 Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft: Penei Sewell Edition
Round 1, Pick 5: Penei Sewell, Tackle, Oregon
Before opting out of the 2020 season, Sewell was widely considered to be the top tackle prospect in the draft. As a two-year starter, Sewell garnered praise from all levels.
#Bengals Mock Draft thread 1.0
R1 P5: Penei Sewell, OT
6’6” 325lbs
This pick would be a huge step forward into fixing the offensive line. Sewell is a physical, athletic lineman and could start at LT day one for the Bengals (Williams to RT). pic.twitter.com/ik8E1jewHQ— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) February 6, 2021
As a freshman, Sewell started every game up until his injury. Despite having his season cut short, he was named a Freshman All-American and Honorable Mention All-PAC-12. As a sophomore in 2019, Sewell absolutely dominated his competition. He earned a 95.8 overall PFF grade (91.1 pass-blocking/95.7 run-blocking) which was easily the best in the nation.
Sewell has all the tools to make him the top pick in any Bengals mock draft. He has some serious strength as a run blocker. With his massive frame and agility, it’s even more impressive that he has impeccable balance. As a pass blocker, Sewell never allowed more than two pressures in a single game. If you want to protect franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, Sewell is the man.
Round 2, Pick 37: Christian Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
It is becoming more and more likely that legendary tackle Geno Atkins will not be with the team when the 2021 season kicks off. Mike Daniels, in his 11 games, was not what they had envisioned. So enter a guy who can start day one: Christian Barmore.
Cincinnati’s defensive line was impressively weak last year. They could not generate any kind of pressure on the quarterback. Barmore, even though he is younger and rawer, could provide a spark. Last season, Barmore logged 37 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and eight sacks.
Barmore could very easily be a first-round pick, so having him fall to 37 would be great value for the Bengals. His long arms allow him to control offensive lines and he has a burst that is almost EDGE-like. 3-tech is a massive need for the Bengals.
The Bengals are historically strong in the second round. Tee Higgins, Jessie Bates, Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd, Giovani Bernard, and Andy Dalton were all second-rounders. If Barmore falls to them, I fully expect him to be added to this strong list.
Round 3, Pick 69: Josh Myers, Center, Ohio State
The first Buckeye to be selected in any of my Bengals mock draft series is center Josh Myers. Myers was a two-year starter at Ohio State and when he missed time due to COVID-19, there was a noticeable hole.
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The Bengals re-hired Frank Pollack as offensive line coach. He coached in Cincinnati in 2018…the same year they selected Billy Price. “Why pick another center from Ohio State? Price is a bust!!” Myers is not Price. Price is not Myers. Josh Myers is a different prospect, but he’s not going to be a first-round pick. The expectations of a first-rounder and a third-rounder are vastly different.
The 2020 season ended with starting center Trey Hopkins going down with a torn ACL. Myers could supplant him as starting center. Or, at the very least, be a decent stop-gap until he returns. Myers is a big dude at 6’5″, 312 lbs. His strength is run blocking, but he also excelled at pass blocking. Despite not being the greatest athlete, Myers can move.
Myers is a trustworthy center and can develop into a solid center.
Round 4, Pick 109: Sage Surratt, Wide Receiver, Wake Forest
As with Ja’Marr Chase, Sage Surratt opted out of the 2020 season, so many college football fans may have forgotten what Surratt can do. After missing out on the “elite” receiver prospects, Cincinnati can get some serious value in the former Demon Deacon.
Surratt was quietly dominant for an otherwise okay 8-5 team. That Wake offense averaged 288 yards per game through the air…111 of those yards were to Surratt. In only nine games, Surratt went for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns off of 66 receptions.
He accounted for 27% of all receiving yardage for the team. That may not sound like much, but he only played nine games and was opposite fellow 1000-yard receiver Kendall Hinton. Surratt’s ability to catch the ball away from his body and ability to get off press coverage will translate to the next level.
He’s got big play written all over him. He can win contested catches and will provide effort where it may have been lacking in 2020…
Round 5, Pick 148: Rashad Weaver, EDGE, Pitt
Every Bengals mock draft is going to have at least one EDGE prospect. Before free agency, the Bengals only have Sam Hubbard and Khalid Kareem at the position. Even if they re-sign Carl Lawson, Cincinnati has a need.
🔊🚨Audio Breakdown!!🚨🔊Rashad Weaver out of Pitt has impressed me every time I put on the tape. Had 48 pressures per @PFF and 7.5 sacks. Not bad for missing all of 2019 due to a torn ACL. Weaver has an intriguing blend of power and speed at 6-5 and 270 pounds. pic.twitter.com/GNo5I6dJ7f
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 6, 2021
Weaver leaves Pitt as a consensus All-American with 34 tackles, 14 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. After missing all of the 2019 season with a torn ACL, coming back with a career year was huge for Weaver. He had first-round aspirations, but those dreams will not come to fruition.
Weaver has a length to his game that will allow him to immediately challenge to be in the rotation. He is explosive off the ball and has a very high motor. The Bengals have a certain culture and schematic fit that Weaver is perfect for.
The Bengals have a history of selecting guys who have sustained serious injuries. While I may not trust the medical staff of the Bengals, Weaver has shown that he is back and healthy.
Round 6, Pick 186: Jarrett Patterson, Running Back, Buffalo
If there is another Bengals mock draft out there (other than my own) that has Cincinnati selecting Buffalo stud Jarrett Patterson, it gets an endorsement from me. Samaje Perine is set to be a free agent and Bernard is a likely cap casualty. The Bengals need a playmaking back-up to Mixon.
I gushed about Patterson in my Kyle Pitts-centered mock. The dude is a stud and legitimately dominated. He went off for 1,072 yards and 19 touchdowns in only six games. He had a two-game stretch where he accounted for 710 yards and 12 scores.
Patterson accounted for 53% of the team’s rushing total. He accounted for 32% of the team’s TOTAL yardage. The MAC Offensive Player of the Year would be a home run pick in the sixth round.
Round 7, Pick 229: Trill Williams, Corner, Syracuse
A repeat selection, just like with the Pitts to the Bengals mock draft, I have Trill Williams coming to Cincinnati in the seventh round.
Williams is a physical corner who will likely earn his way into any rotation. If you watched the Bengals in 2020, there was likely a few moments where a corner got beat and you’re sitting there scratching your head saying “who??”
Even if William Jackson III and Mackensie Alexander come back, corner is a need. Williams would be a great project for Lou Anarumo‘s defense and could be trusted if his name is called.
Round 7, Pick 249: Markquese Bell, Safety, Florida A&M
The final pick in this Bengals mock draft dips into the FCS. Even with the best safety in football, Cincinnati needs some depth at safety, and taking a flier on one of the best HBCU defenders would do just that.
Bell is no stranger to adversity. Initally committing to and enrolling at Maryland, the former four-star prospect went the JUCO route. After a year at Coffeyville CC, Bell transferred again to Florida A&M.
As a safety in 2019, Bell racked up 61 tackles, five for loss, two forced fumbles, five interceptions, and nine pass break-ups. Fellow safety Vonn Bell was a force in run defense but was often exposed as a pass defender. Bell would develop into a solid safety with Bates and could start out in passing situations.
His coach referred to him as the best safety in all of college football. If that’s true, snagging him at pick 247 would be textbook value.
What Does Your Bengals Mock Draft Look Like?
The vast majority of Bengals fans want Sewell. There’s even been some legitimate talk of Rashawn Slater at pick five as well, so it will be an interesting story to follow. Ultimately, the Bengals have a lot of work to do. With a strong free agency and draft, Cincinnati could get back to a respectable level. Build around and protect Burrow and have a decent defense and the Bengals could surprise.
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