Cris Collinsworth talks Bengals’ options at No. 5 pick

It seems like most former Cincinnati Bengals are all heavily in favor of the team taking Penei Sewell in the first round.

From offensive linemen Anthony Muñoz and Dave Lapham, to wide receiver Tim McGee, they all want to see the Bengals improve Joe Burrow’s protection.

While some fans think that Ja’Marr Chase would give the Bengals a lethal offense, most former players want to go with the offensive line.

Former Bengals’ wide receiver Cris Collinsworth has something else in mind, though.

Geoff Hobson talked to Collinsworth, the current NBC analyst and chairman of Pro Football Focus. Collinsworth has a pulse on the heartbeat of both Team Chase and Team Sewell.

“Do they need what Chase would bring them as one of the greatest deep threats we’ve ever seen in college football? Yeah,” Collinsworth said. “And, oh, by the way, the guy who was throwing him the ball is the one that is going to throw it to him.

“Would I love that? Yeah. But would I prefer that Joe stay alive for a year in which he’s going to be playing on a bad leg? Yeah. Honestly, if I ran the Bengals and I was making that decision and you have to throw Pitts into that decision, it’s really hard. And they may have the choice of all three. I’m not so sure if the Bengals won’t ultimately trade out of that pick.”

At the end of his interview with Hobson, Collinsworth slides over to a new side of the problem in the same way that he slides next to Al Michaels on Sunday Night Football broadcasts.

“I’m worried they have three tackles at that point, and moving Sewell to guard, I’m worried about that because I want to keep him developing,” Collinsworth said. “What I would do is do everything in my power to trade out of that position. Hoping somebody would overpay to get a quarterback. I think I’ll be able to get a tackle in the first 15 picks. I think I’ll be able to get a receiver in the first 50 picks that is high quality.”

Either way, Cris Collinsworth will be on the edge of his seat on draft night, just like the rest of us.

“I literally can’t wait for the draft. It’s the ultimate poker game when your team is the one really sitting on the button,” Collinsworth said. “They have a chance to make their franchise.”