Cincinnati Bengals

If there are teams that want to move into the top five of the 2021 NFL draft, they are doing a good job of hiding that interest from the Cincinnati Bengals.  

Duke Tobin, Bengals director of player personnel, told reporters that the team hasn't received any "hard" offers for the No. 5 pick.

"I think people are waiting to see what's going to happen at 3 and 4," said Tobin. 

It's widely assumed that Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson will be the first two players taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. 

The San Francisco 49ers already made a move up to get the No. 3 pick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Mac Jones has been the most-discussed player landing with the Niners, though Trey Lance and Justin Fields could still be in the mix. 

Depending on what the 49ers do, teams lower in the draft that have interest in one of the remaining quarterbacks could look to move up. There's also a wealth of talent at other positions, including wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, tight end Kyle Pitts, linebacker Micah Parsons and offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater to choose from. 

The Bengals could go any number of directions based on their current roster. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them take a pass-catcher or an offensive tackle, but if they want to secure more picks with the idea they could get a high-quality player lower in the first round, trading back could make sense for them. 

Cincinnati has eight picks in the 2021 NFL draft. 

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said Tuesday he isn't lobbying for the team to select former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase or any other player in the 2021 NFL draft.

Appearing on the Pro Football Focus podcast with Cris Collinsworth (h/t Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com), Burrow gave his take on Cincy's draft situation. When asked if he has a preference regarding who the Bengals take with the No. 5 pick, he said:

"I trust the organization to do what they do and do their jobs and pick the best player. I think we're in a good spot to take just the best available. Especially after the free agency we had. We got a lot of really good players that are going to be a lot of help on defense, and Riley Reiff at tackle is going to help us a lot."

Burrow added: "I'm not watching film on any of these guys. I've just seen highlights. The organization knows more than I do and will make the best pick."

One might assume that Burrow would pulling for Chase given how great a connection they had during their time together at LSU. During Burrow's record-breaking 2019 season that saw him throw for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns and six interceptions en route to the Tigers going undefeated and winning a national title, Chase was his top target.

Chase finished with 85 receptions for 1,785 yards and 20 touchdowns that season, netting him the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the best wideout in college football. While Chase sat out last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he is still widely considered the top wide receiver in the 2021 draft ahead of the Alabama duo of Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith.

The Bengals are in the most ideal of situations in this year's draft since the four teams picking ahead of them all have a need at quarterback. The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers are all but certain to take a QB, while the Atlanta Falcons could do so as well at No. 4.

If that happens, the Bengals will have their pick of the litter at other positions, including several who could lend support to the 2020 No. 1 overall pick in Burrow.

Taking Chase to complement wideouts Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd is a possibility, but the Bengals could also go with Florida tight end Kyle Pitts or bulk up Burrow's protection with Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell or Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who suffered a season-ending left knee injury against the Washington Football Team last year, is optimistic about his chances to return to the field for his team's 2021 regular-season opener.

The 24-year-old spoke on The Cris Collinsworth Podcast featuring Richard Sherman about his recovery (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk).

"I'm very optimistic about where I'm at and also where the team is at," Burrow said.

"Rehab is going very, very well and lifting is going very, very well. I'm in great shape. Legs feel good; knee feels good. There's still a long way to go, but I'm expecting to be there on the first snap of 2021."

The former LSU star and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner was hit by two Washington defenders on an incomplete pass during the third quarter of the Bengals' 20-9 defeat to the NFC East champions on Nov. 22. He suffered a torn ACL and MCL and damage to his PCL and meniscus and missed the remainder of the year.

However, things are "looking up" for Burrow, as he also said on the podcast. He added that he's lifting normally, doing squats, running and even had his first throwing session within the last week-and-a-half. Burrow said that he can drop back and do play-action passes but that he cannot roll out and throw yet.

Burrow completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns (five interceptions). He threw for 6.7 yards per attempt and added 142 rushing yards and three scores.

The arrow is pointing up on the Bengals if Burrow returns for Week 1, which will feature the majority of NFL teams playing Sept. 13. The Bengals will bring back numerous offensive talents in wideouts Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd and running back Joe Mixon. They'll also welcome back offensive tackle Jonah Williams from injury. In addition, the team picked up offensive tackle Riley Reiff via free agency.

Also, Cincinnati will almost certainly look to provide more help for Burrow with the fifth overall pick in the draft, whether it be an offensive lineman (e.g. Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell) or a pass-catcher (Florida tight end Kyle Pitts or LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase).

The Cincinnati Bengals unveiled new uniforms for the 2021 season Monday: 

https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1384115632115884039

The jungle awaits. 🐅@Tide | #NewStripes pic.twitter.com/rVsdsnAlje

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 19, 2021

The introductory video features current stars Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins and others, while also including a cameo from former player Chad Johnson.

The jerseys feature "new stripes" from the version we have seen since 2004. The white jerseys also resemble the color rush uniforms the team wore last season. Even if the changes are subtle, it's a newer look while also keeping the same style we have seen from the franchise since first introducing the stripes in 1981. 

This change could help signify a new era under Burrow as the squad tries to turn things around after four straight losing seasons.

It also won't hurt the team to sell more jerseys after no player finished among the top 50 in the league in sales between March 2019 and February 2020.

Tight end Thaddeus Moss, the son of Randy Moss, has been claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals after he was waived by Washington, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday. 

Moss was released by Washington on Friday, having signed with the team last season after going undrafted out of LSU. 

Doctors learned at the 2020 NFL scouting combine that Moss had fractured his fifth metatarsal in his foot, an injury that required surgery and a recovery period of almost eight weeks, per ESPN's John Keim. He was on Washington's injured reserve list as a rookie.

According to Keim, Washington's decision to waive the tight end was about his production, not his injury. 

The Bengals and the New England Patriots were reportedly among teams that reached out to Moss after he went undrafted, but he chose Washington because the team was the first to call, per Keim. 

Now in Cincinnati after all, he'll reunite with his college quarterback, Joe Burrow. During his final year at LSU, Moss helped the Tigers to a national championship by collecting 570 yards and four touchdowns on 47 passes with Burrow on the other end of those balls.

He'll slot into a tight end room that includes Drew Sample, C.J. Uzomah, Mason Schreck and Mitchell Wilcox. 

Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz will forever be Cincinnati Bengals legends, and they were officially recognized as such by the team Thursday.

The Bengals announced the formation of their Ring of Honor and named Brown and Munoz as the first two members of the inaugural class. The Ring of Honor, which will be displayed inside Paul Brown Stadium, was designed to "recognize former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the franchise's history and tradition."

Introducing the Bengals Ring of Honor. Legends to be forever immortalized in Paul Brown Stadium.

Full list of nominees coming soon: https://t.co/MCLmrxULmY pic.twitter.com/G23jRStSLB

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 8, 2021

Brown and Munoz will be joined by two others in the inaugural class that will be celebrated during halftime of a Bengals home game during the 2021 campaign.

"The Bengals Ring of Honor is a way to show our appreciation for individuals who have made a significant impact on our franchise," team President Mike Brown said. "We selected Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. They are in the Hall of Fame in Canton, and it pleases me to put them out front as our initial inductees. We have a lot great players and coaches to honor, and it will be fun to reminisce as we go about this process."

It is difficult to imagine football in Ohio being anywhere near the same without the contributions of Paul Brown, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

He coached the Massillon Tigers at the high school level, and the school eventually built Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. He also coached the Ohio State Buckeyes for three seasons at the collegiate level before eventually embarking on his NFL career.

Brown was the head coach and general manager of the Cleveland Browns from 1946 through 1962 and was a three-time NFL champion. He then became the first head coach and general manager of the Bengals and stayed with the franchise from 1968 through 1990.

Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium is named after him, and his son Mike is still the team president.

As for Munoz, he is undoubtedly one of the best players in Bengals history.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 following a 13-season career in Cincinnati. The team selected him with the No. 3 overall pick of the 1980 NFL draft, and he became an 11-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro selection.

Munoz also helped lead the Bengals to two Super Bowl appearances and won the NFL Man of the Year in 1991.

The Cincinnati Bengals announced the release of running back Giovani Bernard on Wednesday after he spent eight years with the organization.

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported Bernard requested his release after the team approached him about taking a pay cut two weeks into free agency.

Bernard was scheduled to count $4.8 million against the salary cap in 2021 as part of his two-year, $9.7 million contract. The Bengals saved $4.1 million with the roster move.

The 29-year-old UNC product made an instant dual-threat impact for Cincinnati after being selected in the second round of the 2013 draft. He topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three NFL seasons and tallied 17 total touchdowns over that span.

His impact as a rusher has faded over the years – his 124 carries in 2020 were his most since 2015, and he's finished below four yards per attempt in four of the past five seasons – but he's remained a valuable asset as a pass-catcher out of the backfield

Bernard has recorded 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career, including 47 catches in 2020, which ranked tied for 11th among running backs.

"Throughout my life I've been dealt bad cards here and there, but it's always, 'What does that next hand [hold]?" Bernard told reporters in December. "There is always an opportunity to capitalize. There is always an opportunity to grow from your mistakes or whatever it may have been ... It's in my DNA."

The 5'9'', 205-pound Florida native should attract ample interest as a third-down weapon, as he could provide value to a contender in that niche role.

Teams may wait until after the draft, which kicks off April 29, to see how their backfield depth chart stacks up before making him an offer, though.

Meanwhile, Bernard's departure from Cincinnati sets the stage for Joe Mixon to handle a substantial three-down workload in 2021, with Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams as the chief reserves.

When 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns to just six interceptions in one of the greatest passing seasons in college football history, LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase accounted for nearly one-third of those yards and exactly one-third of those touchdowns as a receiver. 

A true sophomore at the time, Chase was a unanimous All-American, a first-team All-SEC wideout and the winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the top wide receiver in college football. 

That was the last we saw of Burrow and Chase together, or Chase in general because he opted out of the 2020 campaign at LSU while Burrow shined in an abbreviated rookie campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

But two particular predraft developments have given rise to the possibility that the duo could reunite in Cincinnati this fall. 

First, there was last week's trade between the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

With San Francisco clearly moving into the No. 3 spot in the draft to land a quarterback, and with signal-callers already likely to land with the Jacksonville Jaguars first overall, the New York Jets (or a trade partner) second overall and possibly even the Atlanta Falcons fourth overall, the Bengals could find themselves with the pick of the non-quarterback litter when they're on the clock with the No. 5 overall pick on April 29. 

Ever since it became obvious he'd be their top pick in the 2020 draft, the Bengals have appeared determined to prove to Burrow that they mean business about honoring his desire to be with a competitive team.

They promised they'd be more heavily involved in free agency, and that's been true for a team that usually sits out that process. This year, they've seemingly doubled down on that. 

"I think we have one of the premier, best young quarterbacks in the game, and we're going to do everything we can to build around him," Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin said last month. "It's going to start with him."

Even if Burrow doesn't openly lobby for Tobin and Co. to draft Chase, bringing in Burrow's most productive weapon from the best season of his football life would seem like a smart way to make him as happy and effective as possible in his return from knee surgery. 

Then, there was Chase's highly touted performance at LSU's pro day Wednesday, where the barely-21-year-old lived up to the hype with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, a 41-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot broad jump. 

Oh my. 😳@LSUfootball WR Ja'Marr Chase just ran a 4.38u 40-yard dash. (via @SlaterNFL) pic.twitter.com/nV9D7Cep4N

— NFL (@NFL) March 31, 2021

Poor pro days are few and far between in the predraft process, but that was particularly important considering Chase didn't play in 2020 and could face questions that he was a one-hit wonder in college who benefited from being Burrow's top deep threat. 

On Wednesday, Chase made it easier for the Bengals to justify selecting a wide receiver early in back-to-back drafts despite the fact that they're already paying Tyler Boyd $10.8 million a year.

Sure, 2020 second-round pick Tee Higgins exploded for more than 900 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. But the A.J. Green era is over, and there's an obvious spot for Chase opposite Higgins with Boyd operating almost entirely out of the slot. Higgins would be Burrow's big target, Chase would be his fastest target, and Boyd would be his efficient safety valve. 

Throw in the presence of Joe Mixon in the backfield and you're golden. 

Chase's pro day performance also made it easier for the Bengals to defend rolling with him instead of alternatives DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle from Alabama and Kyle Pitts from Florida. 

Pitts also put on a show at his pro day, but Waddle didn't take part in Alabama's pro day and Smith was only a limited, last-minute participant in the event, as both are coming off injuries. 

What separates Chase is his ceiling. He was consistently dominant in contested-catch situations as a teenager in 2019 and there isn't anything he can't do. He's got top-quality hands, runs excellent routes, has the speed to stretch the field, can take anything to the house and isn't a bad blocker. 

He's proved to be a game-changer despite lacking the height and weight that causes scouts to drool. But at 6'⅜", 201 pounds, he doesn't face major questions about his size as Smith does. 

Could you fault the Bengals for drafting Pitts instead? At this point, probably not. He's a tight end with wide receiver speed and finesse, and he dwarfs this class' top receivers physically. But he wasn't close to as productive at Florida as Chase was at LSU, and Pitts has made it sound as though the Falcons could remove him from the equation anyway. 

As for Chase and Burrow, they've both carefully expressed their admiration for one another in regard to a potential reunion. 

"That's a really good player," Burrow said in January, per ESPN's Alex Scarborough. "It's pretty easy to throw to him when he has five yards of separation every snap. He's an exciting player and a great guy and a friend as well. He was fun to play with."

"I wouldn't mind going back with Joe," Chase said following his pro day, according to Scarborough. "If we go back together, we're trying to do nothing but get back our chemistry and have some more fun."

Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison were first-round picks two years apart. Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry were drafted in back-to-back years by the Baltimore Colts, as were Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin with the Dallas Cowboys. 

Burrow, who before getting hurt was playing fantastic football with limited support as a rookie, and Chase, who possesses practically everything you want in a star receiver, absolutely have the ability—and the chemistry—to become that next special quarterback/wide receiver duo. 

And even if they team up but never reach Manning-Harrison or Aikman-Irvin levels of greatness, there's so much talent and potential there that they'd have to immediately be considered a threat to current dominant batteries like Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, and Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf.

          

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter, @Brad_Gagnon.

LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase "wouldn't mind" joining forces with his former quarterback, Joe Burrow, on the Cincinnati Bengals. 

"If we go back together, we're trying to do nothing but get back our chemistry and have some more fun," he said Wednesday, per ESPN's Alex Scarborough. 

Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick last year, previously shared a similar sentiment about Chase, who is considered a top prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. 

"That's a really good player. It's pretty easy to throw to him when he has five yards of separation every snap," Burrow said in January. "He's an exciting player and a great guy and a friend as well. He was fun to play with."

Chase opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic but ended on a strong note with the Tigers. He was named the winner of the 2019 Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the country, recording 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns on 84 receptions while catching passes from Burrow. 

At LSU's pro day Wednesday, Chase clocked a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and posted an 11-foot standing broad jump and a 41-inch vertical jump. He said his result in the 40-yard dash pleasantly "surprised" him, per Scarborough. 

2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, who posted 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns en route to a perfect, title-winning season with Alabama last campaign, is considered Chase's primary competition to be the first wide receiver off the board April 29.

B/R's Draft Big Board 1.0 released March 2 ranked Chase as the third-best wideout in the 2021 class, while Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus listed Chase and Smith first and second, respectively, at their position last week.

Chase spoke of his desire to be the first wideout off the board. 

"It's very important for me [to be the first receiver picked], not just because I dreamed of it, but I worked my butt off to get here," Chase said, per Scarborough. "I don't want nobody to take that from me. I'm not letting anyone take it from me. So I'm gonna keep working."     

It's looking increasingly like the Cincinnati Bengals are set to pair Joe Burrow with a former favorite collegiate target.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported the Philadelphia Eagles moved back from No. 6 to No. 12 in a deal with the Miami Dolphins in part because they believe the Bengals will select LSU's Ja'Marr Chase with the fifth pick in next month's draft.

Chase and DeVonta Smith are widely viewed as the top two receiving prospects in this class. Breer noted Burrow gave Bengals brass a "glowing review" of Chase, who sat out the 2020 season.

A unanimous All-American and winner of the Biletnikoff Award in 2019, Chase recorded 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns while emerging as Burrow's favorite downfield target in a national championship season for LSU. The Tigers blasted several national offensive records on their way to going 15-0 and putting together one of the finest seasons in college football history.

Chase likely would have been the first receiver taken in the 2020 NFL draft if he were eligible.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind," Burrow said in January when asked if he'd like to reunite with Chase. "Ja'Marr's a really good player; it's pretty easy to throw to him when he has five yards of separation every snap. He's an exciting player and a great guy and a friend as well. He was fun to play with."

The Eagles are in desperate need of a playmaker at wide receiver, and trading down six spots may be an indication they see Chase as the clear WR1 in this class over DeVonta Smith. The 2020 Heisman winner is widely expected to be a top-10 selection as well, but some have expressed concerns over his 170-pound frame.

Chase, who was listed at 6'1" and 200 pounds at LSU, has no such issues and is viewed as a potential perennial Pro Bowler. The Bengals have solid talent at wideout with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, but a playmaker like Chase could give Cincinnati one of the best young skill-position groups in football.

The Eagles, meanwhile, are in a rebuilding phase after spending the offseason gutting their roster because of salary-cap issues. The 2022 first-round pick they acquired from Miami is likely more valuable than staying at No. 6 and taking a receiver they're not necessarily sold on.