Update: The Bengals blew it and didn’t choose Penei Sewell.

Introduction

All too often do we see immense talent wasted by colleges and professional organizations. Just this week nearly 17 million people tuned in to watch Jalen Suggs and the Gonzaga Bulldogs play Baylor for the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship. Had Suggs not followed his heart, we may have been watching a completely different game, and he would have spent the season backing up Iowa quarterback Spencer Petra. What a waste of his talents that would have been. Teams like Alabama are so star studded that 4 and 5 star recruits waste away as reserves, before transferring out and never reaching their full potential. I hold these teams and organizations accountable. Especially the colleges. I know you want to win but these young men’s futures should come first.

History

At the professional level, we see some team year after year that drafts talent, but never surround them with the proper support. Some make it through the storm like a Baker Mayfield who had to endure coaching and scheme changes every season before Stefanski came along.

I’m showing my age a bit, but I remember the laser arm and ability of a young David Carr. The Texans took this freakishly built quarterback and then never allowed him to stay upright and wondered why he didn’t succeed. The biggest let down of all was the early retirement of Andrew Luck from the Indianapolis Colts in August of 2019. The Grigson era, prior to Ballard, never gave Luck any protection and he was basically beaten into submission by opposing defenses. Is Burrow the next casualty of faulty decision making by management and coaching?

Joe Burrow

The truth is only time will tell. In Burrow’s rookie season he started 10 games for the Bengals and looked like the real deal on the field. He compiled a stat line of 2,688 yards with 13 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. He did that while playing behind an atrocious o-line. PFF ranked the Bengals offensive line 30th last season, with only Jonah Williams registering a pass blocking grade of 70% or higher. Even he is questionable as a left tackle in the NFL. He may be better suited for guard or the right side. During those games Burrow was under constant pressure and took 42 quarterback hits as well as 32 sacks.

We all know how this ended. Sadly, Bengals fans witnessed their franchise cornerstone being carted off with a torn ACL on Nov. 22 against the Washington Football Team. So how will the Bengals front office help their young signal caller?

Bengals Draft

All signs point to drafting a potential franchise left tackle in the upcoming draft. I personally would do the same, but recently many people have started to say the Bengals will draft Jamar Chase at five. Chase played with Burrow at LSU and Burrow has not been quiet in his support of the Bengals choosing Chase. Many analysts are even starting to mock Jamar to the Bengals at five. But why? How could the Bengals do this to the cornerstone player? Sewell is in not only my opinion but many others a can’t miss NFL left tackle that could protect Burrow for years and years to come.

The Bengals Decision

So the Bengals must draft Sewell with the number five pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. If they don’t, I personally will lose all hope in the franchise. Recently one executive mentioned they believe they can get quality offensive lineman in the second and third round. Well that is true, but you can’t get a Penei Sewell then! If they give in to the pressure of giving Joe Burrow who he wants, although flashy, and not what he needs they are headed for even more let downs in the years to come.

Burrow should return to form this coming season, but that won’t matter if he is constantly under duress or back on the surgery table because they can’t provide protection. I believe it is very hard to play quarterback at an NFL level playing from your back. I tend to believe most of you would agree. As to the thought that there are many talented lineman this year, the same could be said for the wide receivers so why not get another receiver later after you give your star some protection? With the addition of a stud like Sewell the Bengals could move Jonah Williams to guard, where most scouts thought he belonged anyhow, and still draft another quality lineman in the top of round three.

What Will They Do

I wish I was in a room with Bengals fans now. I can only imagine how many would be in agreement with my thoughts. With just the addition of Sewell, let alone another young offensive lineman, I would predict their line takes a huge step forward allowing Burrow time to make progressions and find open receivers like Boyd, Higgins, and Tate all of whom are already on the roster. That makes the idea of taking Chase even more egregious to me. Wide receiver is one position that the Bengals have plenty of young talent at.

This is not an indictment of the Bengals front office, however it easily could be if they choose not to heed the advice of myself, most other analysts, and Bengals fans themselves. I know Burrow may be friends with Chase, and yes Chase is a bonafide stud at the position, but the front office needs to remind Burrow that while they respect Joey “B” and his opinion in the end it is their decision. Remind him that it’s their job to give the team what it needs and not what it wants.

Sewell to the Bengals is the most obvious pick in the draft in my opinion if I’m sitting in a front office. Bengals nation we hear you, and we stand with you, we want to see Joe Burrow flourish and play a long career. So to Mike Brown and Zac Taylor we plead our case “You Must Draft Sewell!”