Mock Draft Roundup: What should Bengals do with a top-15 pick?

The Cincinnati Bengals are now 1-4-1.

While the team has no intent of tanking, especially with the success they’ve seen even in losses, looking towards the future is never a bad thing for a team with four losses in six games.

The Bengals are set in several positions.

They won’t be looking at safety, defensive line, running back, wide receiver or tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft. Let’s just say most, hopefully correctly, assume the Bengals will get some offensive line help.

With a projected top 15 pick, let’s dive into who recent mock drafts believe will be a Bengal in 2021.

NFL Mocks: Bengals select LB Micah Parsons with fourth-overall pick

Missing out on Sewell by one pick is brutal for the Cincinnati Bengals. Their offensive line is an absolute mess and if Sewell were available, he would be the pick here for Cincinnati. However, there is not another offensive lineman in the 2021 NFL Draft class worthy of going this high. With that being the case, the Bengals look in another direction and land on Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

The Draft Network: Bengals select WR Ja’Marr Chase with sixth-overall pick

In a perfect world, Penei Sewell winds up in Cincinnati, as that is far and away their most pressing need. Unfortunately for Joe Burrow and Bengals fans, Sewell is long gone. I try to make it up to Burrow by reuniting him with his former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who together with Burrow had one of the best quarterback-to-wide-receiver seasons in the history of college football in 2019. Chase is WR1 for me, as I feel like his rare body control, ball skills, and competitiveness will easily translate to success at the next level. Adding him to a receiver group that already consists of Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins will set up Burrow for success for years to come.

NFL Spin Zone: Bengals select OT Alex Leatherwood with eighth-overall pick

It’s been discussed ad nausea this season but Joe Burrow needs better protection up front if he’s going to survive with the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s why the franchise adds Alex Leatherwood to give Burrow a pair of Alabama offensive tackles to help the cause.

CBS Sports: Bengals select OL Wyatt Davis with fifth-overall pick

Giving Joe Burrow opportunity to actually scan the field for more than a second before pressure mounts would be a good idea for the Bengals. Davis is the consensus top guard in the country.

Pro Football Network: Bengals select OT Penei Sewell with seventh-overall pick

Athletic, strong, and dominant, Penei Sewell has everything that you want in an offensive tackle and then some. Equally as impressive in pass blocking or run blocking, Sewell is not only the best offensive tackle in this 2021 NFL Draft class, but also the best offensive tackle prospect in a number of years.

NBC Sports: Bengals select OL Wyatt Davis with 12th-overall pick

Remember that stat about Carson Wentz being the second most sacked quarterback in the league? Well, yep, you guessed it, Joe Burrow (Bengals’ starting quarterback) leads this dubious category by being sacked a league high 22 times. Cincy needs to protect this tortured talent by selecting Wyatt Davis, a major upgrade for the Bengals’ interior offensive line. Davis’ skill set functions in any type of offense and he completely neutralizes defenders.