With Super Bowl LVI just around the corner and this spectacular 2021 NFL season coming to a close, it’s not hard to say we’ve witnessed the best of the best rookie talent come to affect. Considering all other teams’ draft picks, its safe to say, the Cincinnati Bengals had the best one in the 2021 Draft, as of now.

Super Bowl LVI bound WR Ja’Marr Chase, of the Cincinnati Bengals,was formerly an LSU Tiger. This first round No. 5 draft pick was surely a great choice for the Bengals.

Hailing from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, Louisiana, Chase was a standout athlete from the beginning. Many college teams had Chase on speed dial after finishing his high school varsity year receiving 1011 yds., 14 TDs, 101 yds. per game, with only 61 catches on the 2017 season! (Ja’Marr Chase’s high school highlights can be seen here)

Following his high school career, Chase decided to attend Louisiana State University and ‘chase’ his longtime dream to be an NFL WR. Things didn’t start off so easy in LSU, as Chase would’ve hoped.

“Les Miles told me I couldn’t play receiver when I was coming out of high school,” Chase explained. “So that was something I had on my shoulders growing up. Les Miles told me he thought I could play cornerback. I wasn’t really at the full position of receiver yet, so I just kept working at my craft in the offseason, waking up early in the mornings to work out. I just kept focused.”

This served as motivation for Chase, and he worked harder to achieve that position and the goal he always wanted.

Still trying to find his groove, as a newcomer on the LSU roster, Chase had 313 yds., 3 TDs, with 23 receptions in the 2018 season. Chase was determined to significantly improve following the season.

Chase caught 84 of QB Joe Burrow’s passes, for a total of 1,780 Yds and 20 TDs in the 2019 season, quite an improvement for Chase!

Sky seemed to be the limit here in LSU for Chase, yet Covid hit the NCAA hard, and Chase decided to sit out most of the 2020 season. This led to Chase’s end as a Tiger in LSU and a spot in the 2021 NFL Draft. Chase was selected by our Cincinnati Bengals into what was to become nothing short of a revived dynasty.

Chase started the season off hot, right off rip, immediately clicking with his old LSU teammate, QB Joe Burrow. Completely outperforming expectations after many Cincinnati fans thought was a bad pick, with players like WR Jaylen Waddle, OT Penei Sewell, and WR DeVonta Smith still on the table, yet Chase was picked, and rightfully so.

Chase was the main target for Burrow, receiving nearly 1,455 yds. of Joey B’s 4,611 passing yds., beating Chad Johnson’s 1,440 yds. Bengals franchise single season receiving record, as well as the NFL Rookie receiving record.

Chase’s ability to maneuver his body to catch difficult balls and always being able to get two feet down with control of the ball are some of his most accomplished attributes. As well as how well he’s able to track down the ball, he makes for a devastating downfield threat to defenders.

Chase has preformed quite well in the NFL postseason and has surely contributed to the Bengals Super Bowl run.

First round of the playoffs, Chase tallied up 116 yds., with 9 receptions against the Las Vegas Raiders. The game following, against the Tennessee Titans, Chase had another spectacular game, raking in 109 Yds, with 5 receptions. Then, to end the Bengals playoffs, Chase saw 54 more Yds to his name, with 6 receptions against the Kansas City Chiefs.

All things considered, the choice for 2021 ROY seemed to be quite an easy decision for NFL fans and it is clear that with the pace he’s at right now, he’s soon to be an NFL all pro phenomena!