Following is an early mock draft concensus:

Source (as of 2/1)


Projected Bengals Draft Selection at 12th Overall

NFL.com: Lance Zierlein OT – Orlando Brown, Oklahoma

NFL.com: Daniel Jeremiah OT – Connor Williams, Texas

NFL.com: Bucky Brooks OT – Orlando Brown, Oklahoma

CBSSports.com: Chris Trapasso OT – Connor Williams, Texas

SBNation.com: Dan Kadar OT – Orlando Brown, Oklahoma

SportingNews.com: Eric Galko OT – Brian O’Neill, Pittsburgh

WalterFootball.com S - Derwin James, Florida State

BleacherReport.com: Ryan McCrystal S - Derwin James, Florida State

DraftTek.com OT – Brian O’Neill, Pittsburgh

RotoWorld.com: Josh Norris OT – Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan

CBSSports.com: R.J. White OT – Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame

ESPN.com: Mel Kiper, Jr. LB – Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech

Consensus is they need an offensive tackle lol. I agree...so does Marvin Lewis.

(02-01-2018, 07:36 PM)Synric Wrote: Consensus is they need an offensive tackle lol. I agree...so does Marvin Lewis.

Which is exactly why we will select a WR. They will never see it coming. Sneaky Mike Brown.

Hoping for McGlinchey. Has better feet than both Connor Williams and Orlando Brown.

Seems pretty high to take Orlando and especially Okorafor. Have heard these guys specifically mentioned in the 2nd.

Really early though so this could be pretty spot on come draft day, yah never know.

(02-01-2018, 07:54 PM)TKUHL Wrote: Which is exactly why we will select a WR. They will never see it coming. Sneaky Mike Brown.

WR?
WTF?
It's been 2 years since we took a CB. We have several of their contracts coming up soon after this year and the next 5 years, need to reload such an expensive position, dem's high comp pick positions. We be so smart there, we take a 1st round pick this year, rent it for 5 years, then convert it to a bonus 3rd round pick!! That's how you build a dynasty thru the draft!!

James is a gift at #12. Then you take a couple of O-lineman, followed by some high upside
LB's....imho

I would be shocked if they go Safety in the 1st. Hopefully it’ll be an OT or LB. Biggest needs by far.

(02-02-2018, 12:38 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I would be shocked if they go Safety in the 1st. Hopefully it’ll be an OT or LB. Biggest needs by far.

This

They need to really upset the applecart and pick a field goal holder with their number one pick..  They'd definitely have their pick of the BPA.. Nobody would ever see it coming..

(02-02-2018, 12:46 AM)Go Cards Wrote: This

concur - OT or LB top needs plus a new center but we will have Bodine again.

(02-01-2018, 07:59 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Hoping for McGlinchey. Has better feet than both Connor Williams and Orlando Brown.

Seems pretty high to take Orlando and especially Okorafor. Have heard these guys specifically mentioned in the 2nd.

Really early though so this could be pretty spot on come draft day, yah never know.

Sounds like Okorafor is "Ced.2." I'm sure Paul Alexander would have wanted to take him in the first round:

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/WesternMichigan_logo.gif

Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan
Height: 6-6. Weight: 330.
Projected 40 Time: 5.19.
Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
1/22/18: There were some reports in the media about Okorafor as an early-round tackle prospect. After speaking with some team sources, they weren't enthusiastic about Okorafor. Some sources felt that while Okorafor has some athletic ability, he is a very soft offensive lineman, and they think he is going to get pushed around in the NFL. Those team sources were grading Okorafor on the third day of the 2018 NFL Draft and were against their teams selecting him.

(02-01-2018, 07:36 PM)Synric Wrote: Consensus is they need an offensive tackle lol. I agree...so does Marvin Lewis.

I think everyone knows the need for improved play at OT.
Where I think a disconnect might be is that the team (as indicated by Hobson) does not consider any OL good enough for pick #12 and will instead address OL in rounds 2-4.
Plus we know the Bengals don't typically draft for need anyway in Round 1 and instead focus more on BPA.

(02-02-2018, 11:31 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think everyone knows the need for improved play at OT.
Where I think a disconnect might be is that the team (as indicated by Hobson) does not consider any OL good enough for pick #12 and will instead address OL in rounds 2-4.
Plus we know the Bengals don't typically draft for need anyway in Round 1 and instead focus more on BPA.

Don’t think many had Ross as BPA at 9 last year.

(02-02-2018, 11:34 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Don’t think many had Ross as BPA at 9 last year.

Disagree, especially given Williams and Davis were both gone before #9.
Many of the other prospects available at 9 also had question marks so "BPA" was subjective based on the team.
We know the Bengals were high on Ross and it was obvious why...he has elite explosion and was highly productive his last year in college even after his multiple knee surgeries.
Foster had character concerns, size concerns, and health issue IIRC.
Allen had a very concerning health issue and concern over where he would fit best in a 4-3.
Hooker had a health issue at the time and only one year of production.
OJ Howard had concerns of lack of receiving production in college but did show glimpses of his potential and many people said 9 was too early for a TE.
Lattimore, like Hooker, only had one year of production in college.

And I should clarify my previous statement...Bengals don't go "pure" BPA, but BPA does have a lot of weight in their decision in first round (it seems anyway).

(02-02-2018, 04:09 AM)grampahol Wrote: They need to really upset the applecart and pick a field goal holder with their number one pick..  They'd definitely have their pick of the BPA.. Nobody would ever see it coming..

This.  I'd be ok getting BPA at that position.  Maybe even looking for a backup person in round 2. 

(02-02-2018, 12:38 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I would be shocked if they go Safety in the 1st. Hopefully it’ll be an OT or LB. Biggest needs by far.

Yep.  They may like some of the safeties, but they have two starters under contract and glaring needs elsewhere.  I don't envision them upsetting the Williams/Iloka apple cart.  I know it's the Bengals and all, but I don't see how James doesn't take one of their jobs if he's on the roster.  Not the Bengal way.

(02-02-2018, 11:31 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think everyone knows the need for improved play at OT.
Where I think a disconnect might be is that the team (as indicated by Hobson) does not consider any OL good enough for pick #12 and will instead address OL in rounds 2-4.
Plus we know the Bengals don't typically draft for need anyway in Round 1 and instead focus more on BPA.

If I had to take a guess as to what the Bengals will do (assuming Hobson is correct that they won't take O-line with pick #12) my guess would be that they will take Linebacker Roquan Smith.

Just a very early guess based on who may still be there at pick #12 but we could use a high energy tackler with speed that appears to be good in pass coverage as well.

Roquan may not be quite as fast as Ryan Shazier of the Steelers (4.38 forty) but Roquan should run well at the combine.

(02-02-2018, 11:31 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think everyone knows the need for improved play at OT.
Where I think a disconnect might be is that the team (as indicated by Hobson) does not consider any OL good enough for pick #12 and will instead address OL in rounds 2-4.
Plus we know the Bengals don't typically draft for need anyway in Round 1 and instead focus more on BPA.

I don't disagree with BPA philosophy, but this year I think they need grab what is needed in RD 1 at least. The way I see it is, Merv is on borrowed time I believe. He has to do something in the next 2 years. 

(02-02-2018, 11:31 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think everyone knows the need for improved play at OT.
Where I think a disconnect might be is that the team (as indicated by Hobson) does not consider any OL good enough for pick #12 and will instead address OL in rounds 2-4.
Plus we know the Bengals don't typically draft for need anyway in Round 1 and instead focus more on BPA.

I don't pay much attention to Hobspin. I don't believe he has any more inside information than any other Bengals Reporters. Also Hobspin said that before they even had a new offensive line coach in place to evaluate the talent in the upcoming draft. 

Marvin has recently come out and said Ced has had 2 years and he has held the team back. I think that's Marvin's way of saying it's time to move on so if there is a tackle they like at 12 I would guess they jump on him in a heartbeat.

(02-02-2018, 01:00 PM)sandwedge Wrote: I don't disagree with BPA philosophy, but this year I think they need grab what is needed in RD 1 at least. The way I see it is, Merv is on borrowed time I believe. He has to do something in the next 2 years. 

I've always preferred a BPA-need mix.
I think it's safe to say the two biggest areas of need are OT, LB, and C.
Therefore, if it were me, the pick would be BPA for one of those three positions.