Some buzz is building for Penei Sewell to Bengals

For the past few months, LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been the favorite to be the Cincinnati Bengals’ first-round pick in tonight’s NFL Draft.

Have things changed now that we’re just hours away from the pick being made?

According to Fantasy Points writer Scott Barrett, there’s been disagreement within the Bengals’ ranks as to whether to take Chase, Oregon Ducks tackle Penei Sewell, or even Northwestern Wildcats tackle Rashawn Slater.

Barrett says Sewell will win out.

One reason why the Bengals ‘might’ be favoring Sewell now could be due to a run on offensive tackles happening in Round 1, leaving no quality options to get in Round 2.

That scenario is why NFL Network reporter Daniel Jeremiah pegged Sewell to Cincinnati in his final mock draft on Wednesday.

I have been thinking Ja’Marr Chase would be the pick here for a while, with Cincinnati waiting to add offensive line help in the second round. It’s starting to look like we could see a major run on offensive tackles late in the first round, which could force the Bengals to take Sewell at No. 5.

Personally, I wonder if this isn’t a smokescreen being put out by the Bengals so teams don’t feel compelled to trade ahead of them for Chase, which is exactly what the Detroit Lions tried to do but failed. If teams think the Bengals won’t take Chase, then they’re less likely to move ahead of the No. 5 pick.

Oh, and our own Patrick Carlisle literally just said the same thing.

For what it’s worth, Bengals insider Malik Wright is disputing Barrett’s report.

Thankfully, we’re just several hours away from learning who the Bengals will pick, and even that feels far too long.

What are your thoughts on this latest rumor? Legitimate? Smokescreen? Let us know in the comments section.

And no matter who the pick is, Who Dey!