NFL Draft Rumors: If Ja'Marr Chase Isn't Available at No. 5, Bengals May Trade Down

This is an interesting nugget about the Bengals' options at No. 5

CINCINNATI — It's safe to assume the Bengals would love to take LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase or Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell with the fifth pick in Thursday's NFL Draft. 

The debate about Chase and Sewell has gone back and forth for months, but is there a clear leader? 

NFL reporter Malik Wright was the first to say the Bengals were taking Chase. Since then, other newscasters—both locally and nationally have heard similar things about the LSU wide receiver. 

Joe Goodberry became the latest to declare Chase the clear leader in Cincinnati's draft room. He joined Jake Liscow and I on the most recent episode of the Locked on Bengals podcast.

"They absolutely love Ja'Marr Chase. He's gonna grade extremely high for them based on what they like, based on how they drafted receivers. I have no doubt in my mind they believe Chase is a blue chip once in a 5-10 span receiver. They're going to love him," Goodberry said. "Maybe he's above Penei Sewell and clearly. Maybe he's a tier above to the point where [the Bengals say] 'we've got no questions. We think he's got a high upside plus a safe floor. We think he fits.'"

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What happens if the Falcons take the 21-year-old with the fourth pick or a team decides to leap frog the Bengals to take Chase? Goodberry believes the Bengals would try to trade down in that scenario. 

"Maybe Sewell is in the next tier with a (Rashawn) Slater, with those other receivers and maybe that's when a trade could happen because Chase is not there. Now you're in the second tier. Now you have the opportunity to stay within that tier and go back to [picks] eight or nine for the right pick or the right compensation and still get a guy you want in that tier."

If the Bengals have similar grades on Rashawn Slater, Sewell and a few other players, then there's no not reason to trade down if Chase isn't available at No. 5. 

For months we've debated about Sewell or Chase, but it feels like the Bengals have the LSU star firmly ahead in the race to be the fifth pick. 

We'll get the answer on Thursday night. Listen to our entire conversation with Goodberry below.

For the latest on free agency and the NFL Draft, bookmark AllBengals and check out some of our other articles below.

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