2021 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins grab DeVonta Smith at 3, Mac Jones goes to Washington
By Randy Gurzi
![Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a touchdown pass in front of The Citadel defensive back Ronald Peterkin (33) during Alabama's 50-17 win over The Citadel in Bryant-Denny Stadium, Nov. 17, 2018. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Alabama Defeats The Citadel](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F975c1a95603477070f4ac4224b9c024edc0127dcbd59673b97301e172d8b5525.jpg "Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a touchdown pass in front of The Citadel defensive back Ronald Peterkin (33) during Alabama's 50-17 win over The Citadel in Bryant-Denny Stadium, Nov. 17, 2018. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Alabama Defeats The Citadel")
OT. Oregon. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Penei Sewell. 5. 56
This season is going to be huge for Cinncinatti Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. The young head coach was 2-14 as a rookie in 2019, and then last year he was 4-11-1. That gives him a winning percentage of .203 in two seasons and an overall record of 6-25-1.
For that reason, there were whispers that he could be in trouble when ‘Black Monday’ hit — the first Monday after the season when coaches are fired. In the end, it seems the powers that be want to give Taylor at least one more season, and the fact that he lost his quarterback to a torn ACL when they were finally playing better likely contributed to that decision.
Of course, if Taylor is going to improve this coming season, he’s going to need to make things easier for Joe Burrow under center. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick was impressive but he was also constantly under duress. To try and alleviate that, the Bengals grab the No. 1 offensive lineman in this class with Penei Sewell out of Oregon.
Sewell opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns over the pandemic but he did more than enough with his short time with the Ducks to prove he’s ready to take his game to the next level. A day one starter, Sewell will give Burrow the time he needs to avoid having to take off as much as he did during his rookie campaign.