T.J. Houshmandzadeh weighs in on who Bengals should draft with 5th pick

As we get closer and closer to NFL Draft night, more and more debate continues about who the Cincinnati Bengals should draft with the No. 5 overall pick.

Some believe that the Bengals should take the top player on their draft board, which could be LSU star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase or Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

However, others believe that the Bengals need to work on their biggest need, which is without a doubt the offensive line.

Former Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh made an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd to give his thoughts on who Cincinnati should take.

“Penei Sewell from Oregon, offensive tackle, or Rashawn Slater, the tackle from Northwestern,” Houshmandzadeh stated. “You have to draft one of those guys. The focus for the Bengals should be offensive line early and often in the draft and if you can find a defensive starter up front, you do that as well, but you have to keep Joe Burrow protected. When you look at that division [the AFC North] the Steelers always play defense. The Ravens always play defense. Oh, and the Browns have Myles Garrett, so you have to keep Joe Burrow upright and protect him and it starts upfront. If they draft anyone other than those two linemen, I’ll be shocked.”

I think majority of Bengals’ fans will be ecstatic if they take Sewell at No. 5. However, if Chase, Pitts, or Alabama wide receivers DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle are available when the Bengals go on the clock, it would be hard to say they should take Slater over any of them.

Taking Sewell is an easy decision at No. 5 but the last thing I want to see the Bengals do with that pick is reach and take a guy like Slater with the talent that is also going to be available when their pick rolls around.