2021 NFL Draft: Bears land top pick in preseason 2021 NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
2021 NFL Draft Round 1, Pick 7 (Cincinnati Bengals, 4-12)
Miami (FL). 7. Pick Analysis. Defensive End. Gregory Rousseau. player. 56. Scouting Report
I think the Bengals are on the right track in their rebuild, having focused on the offense for much of the last few drafts, especially in the early rounds. Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon should push the score that could put them in the thick of a lot of games this season.
The difference in those games could come down to their pass rush, or lack thereof. An aging veteran in Carlos Dunlap is coming from one side with Sam Hubbard on the other. The duo isn’t bad, but could definitely use an injection of a strong, youthful player like Gregory Rousseau.
Rousseau would revitalize the rush and contribute against the run, which will be key for Cincinnati moving forward. In a division that includes players like Lamar Jackson and Nick Chubb, this will force the Bengals to really invest in their run defense this coming off-season and Rousseau can do it all as a well-rounded edge rusher.
The other direction this pick could go, depending on where it is in the draft, is the offensive line. Protecting Burrow and paving lanes for Mixon will be important, but the current group is serviceable enough to allow a pick on the defensive side in the first instead.