NFL Draft: Bengals take wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with first-round pick

Chase caught 84 passes for a team-high 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns during that season and won the Biletnikoff Award given to the most outstanding college receiver, but like many others in this draft class, he opted out of the 2020 campaign. There really wasn’t much more he needed to show.

Burrow, the top overall draft pick in 2020, had said in multiple interviews this offseason he would love to have Chase on his team again, though he wasn’t necessarily lobbying for him or against any other players. Chase made similar comments in pre-draft interviews about the possibility of a reunion with his former quarterback.

The Bengals had representatives at Chase’s Pro Day in March, when he ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and had a 41-inch vertical leap and 11-foot broad jump. His 40 was one of the seven fastest times for a receiver during the pre-draft testing process.

“He’s a premier receiver in this draft,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Monday when asked to assess Chase. “He does a lot of things really well. And, you know, when you watch the tape in 2019, it’s fun to watch Joe play again, because that’s the most recent tape you’re watching, but tremendous player and it’s obvious why it’s put himself in conversation to be a high pick.”

Most mock draft boards had the Bengals taking either Chase or Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, but it’s likely the Bengals will be able to take advantage of depth in the offensive line class to go and add some protection for Burrow with a second- and/or third-round pick Friday.

Chase’s arrival comes in the Bengals’ first season without A.J. Green on the team since he was drafted fourth overall in 2011. He joins a talented receiver group that includes 2020 second-round pick Tee Higgins and proven veteran Tyler Boyd.

The draft began with a run of three quarterbacks as expected. The Jaguars selected Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence first overall, the Jets took BYU’s Zach Wilson at No. 2 and the 49ers picked North Dakota State’s Trey Lance third, but the fun began after that.

With the Falcons going with tight end Kyle Pitts, the Bengals had both their projected top options available.