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2021 NFL Mock Draft: Trevor Lawrence goes to Jacksonville

By Nicholas McGee

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers sits in the pocket during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the LSU Tigers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers sits in the pocket during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the LSU Tigers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers races past Nolan Turner #24 of the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers races past Nolan Turner #24 of the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

Pick Analysis. WR. 3. player. Scouting Report. LSU. Ja'Marr Chase. 56

The Bengals franchise-tagged A.J. Green this offseason in the hope of him returning to his best after a 2019 season lost to injury and being a reliable weapon for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow.

While there is wisdom in keeping around a receiver as experienced and as consistently effective as Green, handing him a contract beyond the 2020 season is not a move the Bengals should be looking to make.

Green turns 32 years old next month and it is fair to question how effective he will be coming off torn ligaments in his ankle.

Chase was arguably the top receiver in college football last season, becoming the top target for Burrow as LSU steamrollered to the National Championship.

Restoring that partnership makes sense for a Bengals team that will look to build one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL under a Sean McVay disciple in Zac Taylor.

Adding Chase to an attack that features an underrated and consistently productive receiver in Tyler Boyd, this year’s second-round pick Tee Higgins and a multi-faceted running back in Joe Mixon is a recipe for Cincinnati achieving that goal.

Taking in a wide receiver in the top five is viewed as a gamble, with the recent example of Corey Davis a cautionary tale. Chase, however, is fully worth the risk and the smart money says it is a bet that would pay dividends for the Bengals.

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