Two parties continue to emerge when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals and the fifth pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
One party aligns with the thinking the team should use the premium pick on the best offensive lineman available. That’s often Oregon’s Penei Sewell, sometimes otherwise.
The other agrees with the thinking that getting a weapon like Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is the best course of action for Joe Burrow.
Look no further than mock drafts for proof.
Over at CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson makes Pitts the pick and notes the following:
“The Bengals would love to get offensive line help here, but with Sewell off the board they could focus on the best pass catcher in this draft class. Pitts is listed as a tight end but he can line up anywhere and is a matchup nightmare for corners, safeties and linebackers.”
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, on the other hand, goes with Sewell: “Kyle Pitts is an attractive option, but the Bengals need to make protecting Joe Burrow the priority.”
What the Bengals end up doing and how it impacts the team over the long-term largely hinges on what the front office does in free agency. If it can nail down a top free-agent lineman, it makes taking a weapon like Pitts much easier.
In the past, the Bengals have gotten themselves into trouble by drafting strictly need. That’s why we’ve argued Pitts is the ideal target if the team gets a big win in free agency.
The reality? Both Sewell and Pitts are elite prospects worthy of a top-five spot. The Bengals can’t really go wrong, but a proper trip to free agency will help things along much more than sitting on their hands will.
