:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69216554/1025988918.0.jpg)
The Cincinnati Bengals left plenty of work to be done after getting one of the best players in the draft by selectin wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in Round 1. They clearly had a hole left along the offensive line, and they decided to trade back from their first pick on Day 2, and they still ended up with their guy, Clemson Tigers offensive lineman Jackson Carman.
Cincinnati followed up that pick by stealing Texas Longhorns edge defender Joseph Ossai at pick No. 69. He may end up turning into quite the steal, as he will quickly work his way into the pass-rushing rotation that was in dire need of another body.
Carman worth the wait
There are some that weren’t thrilled about the Bengals trading back and ultimately selecting Carman. There are still plenty of others excited to get the hometown kid back in Cincinnati.
— Captain Obvious (@BengalsCaptain) April 30, 2021
Good pick. Plus two 4th rounders. Nice trade, nice pick.
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) May 1, 2021
Three fourth round picks greatly increases chance of multiple swings at critical positions like OL and DL.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) April 30, 2021
It also looks like Carman’s friends and family are excited he gets to stick around.
The moment you get the call from your hometown team.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 1, 2021
You're going to want to stay until the end! pic.twitter.com/SBq3q8R4gh
One of the biggest fans of the pick may be running back Joe Mixon who seems happy to finally get back to having some daylight to run behind. This is following up him going nits over the Bengals adding Chase in Round 1. Wide receiver Tee Higgins also was quick to welcome his former teammate at Clemson to his new team.
Welcome Big Fella‼️
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) May 1, 2021
What’s @McDonalds Fav saying?! I’m loving it
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) May 1, 2021
@Jackthejiant aye man say man! We back together let’s work brudda!!
— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) May 1, 2021
How does the pick look?
There seems to be a pretty polarizing opinion regarding Carman. Some absolutely hated the pick. There are others that say he could end up being one of the best guards of the draft. At the end of the day, it seems like the state of this offensive line is in offensive line coach Frank Pollack’s hands.
New #Bengals OT Jackson Carman ranks 48th on @PFF’s big board.
— Evan McPhillips (@emcphil) May 1, 2021
Carman allowed 5 sacks and 25 total pressures over 934 pass-blocking snaps in his last two seasons at Clemson https://t.co/u5twsBhUJZ
This is a bad pick for the Bengals that desperately need OL help. They're going out on a limb with Carmen. Young player, but his tape is rough at times. Big guy with short arms. He's a guard and he needs time to develop.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) May 1, 2021
Jackson Carman makes me feel a lot better about @Bengals passing up on Penei Sewell in Round 1. Carman has a high ceiling, could be the best guard out of this draft.
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) May 1, 2021
I trust Frank Pollack Carman looks like he can be a very good guard at the NFL level.
— Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) May 1, 2021
Taking Ossai
The Bengals waited around and won over some fans by stealing Ossai in Round 3. He is a pass rusher who moved from inside linebacker to the edge later in his career. He has a very high ceiling, and he is a developmental player who could quickly find more and more snaps.
This pick gathered plenty of praise.
Joseph Ossai is a great pick here. A+. Shades of Lawson
— Jay R (Bengals Perspective) (@JayRBP) May 1, 2021
Here is a look at the @PFF scouting report from the NFL Draft Guide for new #Bengals EDGE Joseph Ossai
— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) May 1, 2021
Ossai ranks as the 60th overall player on @PFF’s Big Board pic.twitter.com/Vgaef2pj2e
Ossai will rotate with Hubbard at LDE. Hubbard kicks inside in Nickel and that leaves a clear path for a role for Ossai.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) May 1, 2021
He's a bit raw, but an explosive rusher.
Bengals just stole one.
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) May 1, 2021
The #Bengals added an exciting player in Joseph Ossai at pick 69.
— Evan McPhillips (@emcphil) May 1, 2021
Ossai improved his @PFF grade every single year, and his run stop % of 11.5% ranked 2nd out of 107 qualifying EDGE defenders last season pic.twitter.com/32eh7mBupE
I hate to say it cause of where he from lol but we just got a Monster outta Texas ‼️ Welcome my boy!! @joseph_ossai
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) May 1, 2021
Value means everything during the NFL draft, and some felt the team reached for Carman. It begs the question. What if Cincinnati had flipped these picks?
If the Bengals go Ossai-Carman instead of Carman-Ossai, this draft makes much more sense.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) May 1, 2021
Cincy Jungle comes loaded with the best Cincinnati Bengals links, news and analysis and other fun stuff. Got a link we should check out? Email us at cincyjungle@gmail.com, or find us on Twitter at @CincyJungle and on Facebook at Facebook.com/CincyJungle. WHO DEY BABY!