I was skeptical of the Bengals drafting LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. I figured that given how poorly their offensive line played in 2020, combined with Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury, drafting a tackle was the obvious choice. Not to mention, the Bengals already had receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd on their roster. Besides, what good is drafting another receiver if your offensive line can’t keep your quarterback upright? Nonetheless, thanks to some added input from Joe Burrow, the Bengals took Chase with the fifth overall pick.
In the preseason, Ja’Marr Chase’s performance left a lot to be desired. He consistently dropped open passes, leading many to believe the Bengals made the wrong choice. Skeptics claimed the Bengals shouldn’t have taken input from their second-year quarterback and instead drafted Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. But in week one, Ja’Marr Chase silenced his critics after catching five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Now through seven games, Chase shows no signs of slowing down.
Ja’Marr Chase: 754 receiving yards in his first 7 NFL games
— PFF (@PFF) October 25, 2021
Most in NFL history ? pic.twitter.com/aIRbjASHiL
The Bengals now sit at 5-2 atop their division. Their defensive signings have been worth every penny, and Ja’Marr Chase has transformed their offense. Against the Ravens in week seven, Chase caught eight passes for 201 yards and a touchdown on their way to a 41-17 blowout victory. The offensive line hasn’t been perfect as Burrow sits tied for eighth in sacks. However, given that last year Burrow was first until his injury, they’re playing much better.
The Bengal’s next four games are against the Jets, Browns, Raiders, and Steelers. Given their opponent’s flaws, there’s a real possibility that the Bengals will be 9-2 through 11 games looking ahead to the playoffs.
Cincinnati’s Young Core
The Bengals are building something special in the AFC North. Joe Burrow is arguably the second-best quarterback in his division, a young and improving receiving core, Joe Mixon is a quality running back, and they’ve made smart defensive signings. The offensive line could still use some improvements, but thanks to Burrow’s mobility, he makes more out of less. Assuming the Bengals don’t make any drastic changes in the coming seasons, the AFC North could be theirs.
The Steelers will be in the quarterback market this off-season, and there’s plenty of questions surrounding Baker Mayfield and the Browns. The Ravens, at this moment, are the Bengal’s only real test. Outside of their division, there isn’t a single AFC team that the Bengals can’t beat. There are still plenty of games left to go, but if the Bengals continue their trajectory, they may have their head coach and quarterback for the next 10 years.
