2021 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals reunite Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase

With the fifth pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals reunite Joe Burrow with his old go-to wide receiver from LSU, Ja’Marr Chase. The two were unstoppable during their 2019 championship season, breaking records in the process. Chase set new SEC marks for receiving yards (1,780) and touchdowns (20) in a single season. While he was a 2020 opt-out, Chase proved more than enough to be the first receiver taken off the board.

Chase plays a physical brand of football at the wide receiver position and can hurt you in so many different ways. He’s an elite route-runner with reliable hands and his ability after the catch is incredible for a guy with his size. It feels like a mismatch anytime he is in single coverage and plays like he wants the football more than anybody he lines up against. He will join Tyler Boyd and 2020 second-round pick, Tee Higgins, in the Cincinnati receiver room that all of a sudden becomes one of the most dangerous young units in the NFL.

The Bengals are still looking to find their offensive identity with Joe Burrow at the helm and I think this pick lets you know what kind of team they want to be. They want to air it out and put points on the scoreboard, and the selection of Ja’Marr Chase will certainly add a game-changing spark to that offense.

A lot of fans may have been hoping to get Burrow some protection in the form of Penei Sewell with the fifth overall pick, but with this being a historically deep class of offensive lineman, the team clearly feels they can find some help up front with their next pick at 38.

Regardless of who you wanted them to take, there is no denying that the Cincinnati Bengals got better with their selection of Ja’Marr Chase at fifth overall. This offense is going to be must-see TV in 2021.