First Pick - Trending 4/5

[Okeana]

I have been following some trends with top mock experts, statements made recently by Hobson, and other news leaking around the league which leads me to believe the following 4 players are among the leading potential picks if the Bengals stay at 11.

1.  Dwayne Haskins - QB - OSU




The primary team of interest for Haskins up to this point has been the Giants, but recently there has been tons of rumors coming out that they don't care for Haskins as a potential pick at that spot.  Other teams that could move up like the Dolphins or Washington seem very unlikely to do so with their current situations which would mean that chances are he drops to us at 11.  

Since the Bengals seem no longer invested in a long term commitment to Andy Dalton there has been a lot of buzz about the Bengals potentially selecting him in a lot of mocks.  With all that said Hobson said something rather interesting on his article regarding Haskins.  

"if he is there at No. 11 would they go for a guy that basically did it for only one year? They almost always stay away from one-year wonders at every position, never mind first-round QBs. So history would say no, but we’ve seen plenty of history get moved in the first round before so I never say never."  - Hobson

This is a very interesting statement to evaluate for a number of reasons.  First, it could be a smoke screen to lead teams not to trade up for Haskins because they believe he won't fit or Second it could be they have an eye on a quarterback who has more time as a starter either at 11 or the 2nd round.  I tend to take Hobson at face value because I don't really consider him a clever guy and I would say that the Bengals do not intend on drafting a first-round quarterback this year.



2.  Devin Bush - LB - Mich



It's pretty clear that Devin White has solidified himself as a top 10 pick with the Combine and now our biggest need as a team must be filled in a very weak linebacker class.  Luckily Devin Bush is the real deal and pretty much everyone agrees that Bush is easily a top 15 pick with him now creeping up into the top 10.  I have recently seen him mocked by multiple top guys going to the Broncos at 10, but also he's being mocked a lot to our team because of the obvious need.  Rumors are around the League that the Steelers may even trade up to get Bush because they're absolutely in love with him.

Hobson, however, is sending a lot of mixed signals about the pick that has me questioning their mindset on Bush.  Below are a couple of quotes from Hobson's article on Bush.

"You’re right. The Steelers are supposedly drooling over Bush. And I love Bush, too. He’s fast, tough, smart, leads and he’ll hit you. He’s also small and that worries me. I mean, he looks like a safety. And, remember, Shazier has at least two inches on him. But, man, they need him, don’t they?" - Hobson


"Bush is the best fit when it comes to position need, of course, but is he the best 11th pick? Like you, I also think it’s a nice fit, but it does fly in the face of usual top ten principles that a guy shouldn’t be off size or too slow or a projection. In this case, Bush is under six feet and weighs just 234 pounds. Not very big." - Hobson 


I think there is a 50/50 chance that the Bengals take Bush at this point because of the absolute need at the position.  They did themselves no favors in free agency and cutting Burfict going into this draft.  It sounds like me that this pick would be more likely if they traded back several picks and he makes it past Greenbay or Steelers moving up.  I don't want to litter this with my opinion on the players, but I will say I've always viewed bush at the very least as a top 20 player and I think he will be a better pro than college player which says a lot.


3.  Jonah Williams - OT - Bama





Now, this pick comes specifically from something I saw Hobson say in his Q&A that screams Jonah Williams at #11.


"I think they are going to draft an offensive lineman or two even if they don’t take them in the first round. If they deem one not valued enough at No. 11, I would imagine they’ll keep looking. They need another tackle, for sure. And I’d quibble with you. I’d say linebacker is a bigger need than the offensive line." -  Hobson


"I thought when they signed Bobby it was a way of freeing them up in the draft so they wouldn’t have to take a tackle at No. 11 and, to me, anyway, it was a sign they felt there were going to be higher-rated players at other positions. Does it mean now they can take a backer or one of those D-ends? That’s what I was thinking, but I could also see them taking a tackle at No. 11 if the grades merit. Especially if they think he’s versatile." - Hobson


Everything he is saying he leads me to believe that they need an all-around lineman who is " Versatile "  to play at multiple positions to make a first-round selection.  Jonah Williams is the only guy in round 1 that has the draft value and skill set to fill this role.  I'd say that the potential of a first round Offensive lineman this year is highly unlikely.







4.  Christian Wilkins - DT - Clemson (Hobson's Choice)









The defensive line is heavily in play in this draft and while it may not be this exact player a lot of things point to this being the guy.

"I love Wilkins all on my own. How could you not? I guess the knock on him is he does nothing spectacularly. But all I know is he’s an Opening-Day ready defensive tackle that has played a lot of games (50) with a lot of production and played his best on the biggest stage of all for Clemson. And he’s impeccable off the field as the only Clemson scholarship player to graduate in two-and-a-half years. If you can pencil in a guy as a solid 10-year player in the trenches, what are you waiting for? For what it’s worth, Wilkins is Scouts, Inc.’s No, 5 player. So some don’t see it as a reach. But maybe the Bengals agree with you.


 I don’t see Oliver getting to No. 11, either. I’m not sure about the Geno-Donald comps. This kid’s good, but those guys are brute strong and at a maybe 270 pounds, he can’t anchor like them. They’ve both got longer arms than Oliver, but yeah, you’re right. He’s got game-changing speed, enough it looks like he can go the edge, too. That worries you a bit, too. Some are talking about him on the edge, even at linebacker. So what is he? But no question his speed makes him a potential top seven guy." - Hobson


That's right friends you heard it here first.  I will let you read all that and leave you with this.  Hobson is not a free thinker and he doesn't seem like the kinda guy that does a lot of his own research on players;  This leads me to believe that he is hearing this from someone on the scouting department.  I would say that the chances of drafting a DT are very high and Wilkins is probably has a 75% chance to be the pick.




Sleeper Pick : TE Hockenson or Fant

Lots of references to tight end being a possible pick in the first round and they have done it before as an organization so I don't know how much influence Marvin had on those picks.  read the full article here ( https://www.bengals.com/news/hobson-s-choice-emotions-eleven-as-bengaldom-mulls-draft )