:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69221227/1283562974.0.jpg)
A deal to trade eight picks back in the second round gave the Cincinnati Bengals a slightly busier Saturday afternoon to close their 2021 NFL Draft. Cincinnati finished with 10 picks in total, including the draft’s first wide receiver off the board, the first kicker off the board, a running back, and SEVEN offensive and defensive linemen.
It was a much-needed weekend for them. The Bengals could not afford to enter the 2021 season without seriously bolstering their trench groups. The offensive line got three players who are all very different in terms of where they project to play, and the defensive line added three edge rushers and one of the biggest nose tackles to come out of college in a while.
Such a direction generated mostly positive buzz about the Bengals’ draft class as a whole. Once Team Chase and Team Sewell merged back into a collective fan base united. Here’s how Twitter reacted to the Bengals’ draft.
A- for me and I know I’m in the minority but the Bengals added 1k pounds to the trenches in the draft
— Ace Boogie (@NewStripeCity) May 1, 2021
The most impressive part of the #Bengals haul to me? They added at least 4 starters/regulars with Chase, Carman, Ossai, and McPherson.
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) May 1, 2021
Bonus: Added depth on both sides of the line. Got a bunch of interesting Day 3 lottery tickets.
Good draft weekend for Cincinnati.
Of those 3 OL.. if one is great it's a great class.. if 2 are great. Unreal class.. look at that DL now.. wow
— Chris Hemingway (@UKHemingway) May 1, 2021
My final #Bengals draft grades:
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) May 1, 2021
5. Ja’Marr Chase - A
46. Jackson Carman - B
69. Joseph Ossai - A+
111. Cam Sample - B+
122. Tyler Shelvin - C+
139. D’Ante Smith - B-
149. Evan McPherson - B+
190. Trey Hill - B+
202. Chris Evans - A
235. Wyatt Hubert - B-
Overall: B+
Best Bengals draft class in 10 years! Top 3 talent in Chase, 2 inside starters on the OLine, Rotation DE depth behind Hubbard and Hendrickson, and DT depth to help worst run defense! I don’t ever remember being this optimistic bout a Bengals draft class #WhoDey https://t.co/TmG9W0fHkI
— LI3 Mile$ (@BasedINLoyalty) May 2, 2021
Bengals take 7 trench guys in the draft....that has to be a record, right?
— CREID (@Creid85) May 1, 2021
This drafted replacements for AJ Green, Dunlap, Lawson, Geno, and Gio.
— Fred Taylor (@hammock_fgt) May 1, 2021
Now let's see how well they can actually replace them.
I’d give the Bengals a B+ this year. Absolutely love Chase in 1. Like the Carman pick in 2 but feels like it might have been a bit of a reach. Then love the rest of the draft addressing the D-Line and O-Line with good value picks in Ossai / Shelvin / Smith. Overall very solid
— Ian Manor (@Lateralus42093) May 2, 2021
Might not be a bigger Cam Sample fan than me. I compared aspects of his game to Carl Lawson, so no surprise that Cincy is the team that selects him in this draft
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) May 1, 2021
As a #Bengals fan, I have no idea what to make of their draft. I hope they all succeed but I've seen a lot more failure than success to get my hopes up. We'll see what happens this season
— Jimmy (@RandomIgnorance) May 1, 2021
Now if these fine young gentlemen can make the transition smoothly. And establish the cohesiveness needed to perform as a unit. The Bengals might just get the opportunity to participate in postseason play.
— T.M (@TM89075521) May 1, 2021
Depth at WR is still an issue for the Bengals
— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) May 1, 2021
I thought they’d double down, maybe with a returner
1. Alpha
— Bengals24/7 (@AllHeWR0TE) May 1, 2021
2. Big Willie Approved
3. Tackle for Loss Machine
4A. An absolute Menace
4B. Immovable object
4C. Bully
5.
6A. Versatility
6B. Watch this dude. Bad man.
7. Gorgeous hair. That's all I know.
2021 #Bengalsdraft class https://t.co/OQ2nXFOPqh
— Nick Manchester (@NickManchester9) May 2, 2021
Bengals sign Kansas RB Pooka Williams Jr, per @TomPelissero
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) May 1, 2021
His career forced missed tackle rate is 2nd in the 2021 Draft class (33%) pic.twitter.com/evJwwEKW76
I like who the #Bengals got in the 4th round. I’m a fan of McPherson and Chris Evans as well. If even 2 of the guys they drafted today make it, it’ll be their best draft in years
— Clay Winstead (@ClayWinstead) May 1, 2021
We won't know what this draft does for.the Bengals until these guys take the field. They certainly went for starters and depth in the trenches and I love that.
— It's Chase!! (@gregoiremastin) May 1, 2021
Happy! Crushed the lines. And Chase! Let's go to work!
— kc (@kevin6234) May 1, 2021
Yes Indeed Love The The Bengals Draft is Xcellent pic.twitter.com/RVLZLKWjVW
— William B Parrott (@WillBrentP56) May 1, 2021
love the heavy commitment to the trenches!
— David Wegemo (@wegemorot) May 1, 2021
and on top of that a potential star WR, new kicker and exciting RB - I couldn’t ask for more. great draft!
The best part of NFL Draft isn't nitpicking the picks, it's discovering new people to cheer for.
— JustNotSports (@JustNotSports) May 1, 2021
Bengals drafted a RB named Chris Evans (who Twitter dubbed "Captain America") who has a Kid N Play reference in his Twitter handle.
I'm buying this man's jersey. All in. pic.twitter.com/iH3d0ZNSQp
It's the “We're Going To Be Friends” edition of the #Bengals Booth Podcast as I take an in-depth look at Day 3 of the NFL Draft before Dave Lapham joins me for an overview of the Bengals entire draft class. Available where you get your podcasts https://t.co/zgouZYNlbb
— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) May 2, 2021
Cincinnati Bengals 2021 NFL Draft || Warriors #WhoDey #NewStripes pic.twitter.com/H1e6wKb3jr
— Wheels (@Wheels02) May 2, 2021
Pt. 2 pic.twitter.com/a73bOEbwku
— Wheels (@Wheels02) May 2, 2021
Be sure to send us your favorite tweets in the comments section so we can keep the good times rolling!