2021 NFL Draft: Ranking the 5 biggest reaches

4. Jackson Carman, No. 46 to the Bengals

It was no secret that the Bengals needed to drastically improve the offensive line this offseason, as it was one of the worst in the NFL last year.

After passing on Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell with the fifth pick and taking LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase instead, the Bengals headed to the second and third days with multiple holes to fill on the line. With plenty of talented players on the board, it was interesting that Cincinnati chose Clemson offensive tackle Jackson Carman over some of the other guys available.

Carman was thought to be more of a project player that would be better suited to be taken in the third or fourth round. He did not have the season that you want a top tackle pick to have in 2020 and taking him over a guy like North Dakota State’s Dillon Radunz is very risky for a team that needs dramatic improvement up front.