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The Cincinnati Bengals have officially announced the jersey numbers for their 2021 NFL Draft class.
We’ve known since last Friday that fifth-overall pick Ja’Marr Chase would become the first player in franchise history to don the No. 1 jersey. Now, we have the numbers for the nine other rookies from this class:
- Ja’Marr Chase: 1
- Jackson Carman: 79
- Joseph Ossai: 58
- Cameron Sample: 96
- Tyler Shelvin: 99
- D’Ante Smith: 70
- Evan McPherson: 2
- Trey Hill: 63
- Chris Evans: 25
- Wyatt Hubert: 56
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 4, 2021
Some of the numbers being given to certain players may trigger some recent nostalgia.
Ossai is taking Carl Lawson’s old number, 58, as Ossai will try to become the productive pass-rushing specialist that Lawson was as a rookie. Next to him on the defensive line will be Sample rocking the 96, which was Carlos Dunlap’s old number.
Shelvin is probably the most imposing player on the team now, so the No. 99 was an obvious choice since his old number from LSU, 72, is currently being worn by Xavier Su’a-Filo. Hubert is taking Josh Bynes’ No. 56, so that may indicate the door has closed on Bynes returning anytime soon. Hubert was No. 56 at Kansas State.
On the other side of the ball, Evans will wear Giovani Bernard’s old No. 25, which makes sense considering he was drafted to replace him. Smith doesn’t have to do much to be better than Cedric Ogbuehi, the player most fans remember wearing the No. 70 jersey. Hill’s No. 63 was last worn by Shaq Calhoun, and, more notably, Christian Westerman.
Carman was the No. 79 at Clemson, and he’ll be the first to wear that number in Cincinnati since Christian Ringo did for a few games in 2018. Some may remember that was Stacy Andrews’ old number when he played for the Bengals from 2004-08. Carman wore No. 74 for Cincinnati’s Fairfield High School, so maybe he switches to that number if current No. 74 Fred Johnson gets cut later this year.
Evan McPherson’s No. 19 from Florida is still being worn by Auden Tate, so McPherson took Mike Nugent’s old No. 2 instead.
Are you planning on getting a new Bengals jersey? Let us know in the comments!