NFL mock draft 2021: Justin Fields, Trey Lance land in perfect situations
2021 NFL mock draft: Round 1, 5th overall
56. Player Bio. Oregon. Penei Sewell. player. Pick Analysis. OT. 5
Investing in the offensive line to improve the protection given to Joe Burrow has to be the top priority for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. Burrow was running for his life throughout his entire rookie season and the lack of protection given to him eventually led to the young star quarterback suffering a major knee injury. If the Bengals expect to get the most out of Burrow going forward, they simply must improve their current offensive line situation.
The addition of Rily Reiff in free agency is a nice step forward but it is not enough. With this in mind, the Cincinnati Bengals select premier offensive tackle prospect, Penei Sewell, in the first round of this 2021 NFL mock draft.
Sewell is a generational offensive tackle prospect who had unprecedented success at an extremely young age in college. He consistently dominated opposing defenders lined up across from him, displaying a lightning-quick first step and impressive power at the point of attack.
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Sewell is an extremely athletic offensive tackle prospect who shines when asked to get out in space. He is a weapon in the run game when attacking the second level and shows tremendous natural footwork in pass protection. Sewell also shows extremely strong hands, typically dominating opposing defenders once he engages.
Adding Sewell to the mix is a no-brainer for Cincinnati at No. 5 but it does create some interesting decisions for the team going forward. Jonah Williams shined at left tackle last season but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his short NFL career. Sewell is a natural let tackle who undoubtedly has massive upside at the position but does it make more sense to leave Williams at left tackle and move Sewell to the right side?
I could also see Cincinnati moving Williams to right tackle or even to the inside, creating room for Sewell to take over as the team’s blindside protector. Either way, adding Sewell to the mix would immediately take the Bengals’ offensive line to the next level.