The player the Cincinnati Bengals have to draft in 2021 to help Joe Burrow
By Zach Ragan
Former LSU football quarterback Joe Burrow could use some help in Cincy.
Former LSU football quarterback Joe Burrow is already proving to be one of the toughest young players in the NFL.
But it’s not necessarily a good thing that Burrow is getting to show his toughness.
Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft, has been sacked six times over his first two NFL games.
The former Tigers standout hasn’t shown any ill-effects from the sacks, getting up quickly each time. His toughness, in fact, has impressed opposing defenders.
“The guy is tough. He took some shots and got back up,” said Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett last week (via Cincinnati.com). “He kept his eyes downfield and he wasn’t worried about the rush. That’s better than some veteran quarterbacks.”
Regardless of how tough Burrow proves to be, it’s never ideal for a quarterback to take that many hits. The human body is incredible, but it has a breaking point. And being constantly exposed to blitzing linebackers and hulking defensive ends will eventually take its toll on Burrow.
There’s not much the Bengals can do this year to help Burrow (aside from improving in practice), but there’s a move they could make in next year’s draft that could certainly help.
The player the Bengals should draft to help Joe Burrow
I think it’s pretty obvious the Bengals need to draft an offensive lineman in 2021 — specifically a right tackle.
And there’s a perfect choice that would be a great fit in Cincinnati.
Oregon’s Penei Sewell.
Sewell has elite size, athleticism, and strength. He’s the type of player that ends up being at least a ten year starter in the NFL.
The former Oregon Duck opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns (and later, the Pac-12 decided not to play at all in 2020). But he showed enough as a sophomore in 2019 to warrant being a high first-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
According to Yahoo Sports, Sewell finished the 2019 season as PFF’s highest-graded offensive lineman ever (dating to 2014).
Yahoo Sports also pointed out that Sewell “allowed just one sack over 1,376 snaps the last two seasons”.
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The big question is whether or not the Bengals will have a high enough draft pick to select Sewell. I expect Cincinnati to improve with Burrow under center as the season progresses.
If the Bengals don’t end up with a top-five selection, they should seriously consider trading up for Sewell. There’s not a player in the 2021 NFL Draft that would help Burrow more than the former Oregon defender.