Michael LaPlaca

The calendar has turned to March and while NFL free agency begins in less than three weeks, the 2021 NFL Draft isn't far behind.

The Bengals currently hold the No. 5 pick in the draft and they have plenty of intriguing options. Take a look at who the analysts and draft gurus are pairing the Bengals with the No. 5 overall pick.

Penei Sewell - OT Oregon

Charley Casserly - NFL.com

Analysis: "Getting the best offensive tackle in this draft class should help."

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Daniel Jeremiah - NFL.com

Analysis: Kyle Pitts is an attractive option, but the Bengals need to make protecting Joe Burrow the priority.

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Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPN

Analysis: "The 2019 Outland Trophy winner has everything teams want in a franchise left tackle. Even though he didn't play last season, his tape from the previous two years is enough to make him the top tackle in this class."

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Todd McShay - ESPN.com

Analysis: Sewell -- who opted out of the 2020 season -- is a game-changing tackle.

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Pete Prisco - CBS Sports

Analysis: Sewell didn't play last year, but he is outstanding and that could mean Jonah Williams moves to the right side.

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Ryan Wilson - CBS Sports

Analysis: The Bengals would love for Sewell to fall to them here and there's a decent chance it happens as teams jockey for QBs at the top of the board.

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Danny Kelly - The Ringer

Analysis: Big, physical, trench dominator; a plug-and-play left tackle who excels both as a pass protector and as a run blocker

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Austin Gayle - Pro Football Focus

Analysis: The former Oregon Duck is a generational offensive tackle prospect who earned PFF grades in 2019 that we've never seen from an underclassman in the PFF College era (2014-20).

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Eric Eager and George Chahrouri - Pro Football Focus

Analysis: While we still think the Bengals need a receiver (everyone does), a prospect of Sewell's quality at this price is superior.

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Drae Harris - The Draft Network

Analysis: Cincinnati protects their franchise quarterback and gets him the best offensive lineman in the draft.

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Luke Easterling - Draft Wire

Story Ja'Marr Chase - WR, LSU

Chris Trapasso - CBS Sports

Analysis: The Burrow and Chase connection reunites in Cincinnati.

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The Athletic

Analysis: "Drafting Chase not only addresses the only real hole we saw in Joe Burrow's game as a rookie - the deep ball - it also reunites the Bengals quarterback with his favorite target from 2019 when he turned in the greatest single-season performance in college football history."

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Anthony Treash - Pro Football Focus

Analysis: Chase's physicality and release package are NFL-ready, and those two strengths equated to massive success against press coverage.

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Doug Farrar - USA Today

Analysis: Chase is as clean a player as you'll find in this draft class. He doesn't have any discernible flaws, and the things that stand out - ridiculous strength and determination from the line of scrimmage to the catch point to after the catch, outstanding route awareness, and sudden acceleration at the second level - really stand out.

Story Kyle Pitts - TE, Florida

Chad Reuter - NFL.com

Analysis: If the Bengals go with the Florida product, it would be the third time in the past 12 drafts that they selected a tight end in the first round (Jermaine Gresham in 2010, Tyler Eifert in '13).

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Lance Zierlein - NFL.com

Analysis: Pitts has a chance to be a generational talent and a relentless nightmare for opposing defenses.

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Dane Brugler - The Athletic

Analysis: Pitts would give Joe Burrow and Cincinnati a unique mismatch weapon.

Story Micah Parsons - LB, Penn State

Nate Davis - USA Today

Analysis: "A versatile defender like Parsons - he's a very capable run defender in a division where the Browns and Ravens like to keep the ball on the ground - would help remedy the defense."

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