Last year, the Bengals had the No. 1 pick and they selected Joe Burrow. It looked like a win, as Burrow and second-round pick Tee Higgins balled out for the first half of Cincy's season. Unfortunately, Burrow eventually got hurt and the Bengals bottomed out.
Cincinnati will have a top-five pick once again and they are well-positioned to continue adding to their offense. They did add a bunch of players in free agency on defense, so the team could be in good shape if they can have a solid draft and fill the remaining needs they have, particularly on offense. The No. 1 thing on their mind should be the offensive line.
Here's a look at the Bengals' picks in the 2021 NFL Draft:
MORE NFL DRAFT: Complete 7-round mock | Top 100 big board
Bengals draft picks 2021: Who did Cincinnati take?
- Round 1, Pick No. 5: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
- Round 2, Pick No. 46: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
- Round 3, Pick No. 69: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
- Round 4, Pick No. 111: Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane
- Round 4, Pick No. 122: Tyler Shelvin, DT, LSU
- Round 4, Pick No. 139: D'Ante Smith, OT, East Carolina
- Round 5, Pick No. 149: Evan McPherson, K, Florida
- Round 6, Pick No. 190: Trey Hill, C, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick No. 202: Chris Evans, RB, Michigan
- Round 7, Pick No. 235: Wyatt Hubert, DE, Kansas State
Bengals 2021 NFL Draft order
| Round | Pick |
| 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 14 (from Patriots) |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 6 |
| 4 | 17 (from Patriots) |
| 4 | 34 (from Patriots) |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 6 | 18 (from Dolphins through Texans) |
| 7 | 7 (from Lions through Seahawks) |
MORE: Read the latest NFL Draft news at SN's draft HQ
Bengals NFL Draft needs
- Offensive line: The Bengals couldn't protect Joe Burrow last year, and he suffered a torn ACL as a result. The team added Riley Reiff this offseason but grabbing a stud tackle like Penei Sewell early would make a ton of sense. They also need an upgrade at guard.
- Wide receiver: A.J. Green and John Ross are gone, so the Bengals need a third WR to pair with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
- Tight end: Drew Sample was inconsistent last year. The Bengals should add some competition for him to give Burrow a potential No. 1 tight end weapon as they continue to build up their offense.
- Linebacker: The Bengals drafted three linebackers in 2020, but they still need to add an upgrade at the position.
- Defensive end: Trey Hendrickson was added to the fold by Cincinnati but Carl Lawson went elsewhere. The Bengals need to find someone to work in tandem with Hendrickson.
Cincinnati Bengals mock draft 2021
Here are the latest 2021 NFL Draft projections for the Bengals, according to Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Team | Position | College |
| 1 | 5 | Penei Sewell | OT | Oregon |
| 2 | 6 | Terrace Marshall Jr. | WR | LSU |
| 3 | 5 | Patrick Jones II | EDGE | Pittsburgh |
| 4 | 6 | Rhamondre Stevenson | RB | Oklahoma |
| 5 | 5 | Nick Eubanks | TE | Michigan |
| 6 | 6 | Ellerson Smith | EDGE | Northern Iowa |
| 6 | 18 | Robert Jones | G | Middle Tennessee State |
| 7 | 7 | Damar Hamlin | S | Pittsburgh |
