Final 2018 Draft Mock

[*ochocincos*]

21) Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame - I don't want to see the Bengals go into 2018 relying on Fisher and Hart at RT. Both are in contract years and I don't personally have optimism that Fisher will magically become a good starting RT in Year 4. McGlinchey would solidify the RT position for (at least) the next 4-5 years. Plus, the Bengals met with McGlinchey at his Pro Day and had him in for a private visit, so I'm rather confident he's the pick if still available.

46) Frank Ragnow, C/OG Arkansas - Ragnow is my top C in this draft for the Bengals. Ragnow is well-rounded and his size makes it hard for DL to push him off the LOS. He fits what Pollack will likely be looking for. There's a decent chance one of Daniels, Ragnow, or Price is here. I'd be fine with either Price or Daniels if Ragnow is not available.

77) Tim Settle, DT Virginia Tech - It looks like the Bengals are looking for an early-round DT, which doesn't look good for Billings and Glasgow. Settle is a versatile DT that might not come in and start from Day 1 but does have the potential to become a good starting NT that can also stay on the field on third down due to his impressive athleticism for his size. He has more pass rushing ability than Billings and Glasgow.

100) Jessie Bates III, FS Wake Forest - Coverage FS the Bengals have needed since Nelson left. I'd expect to see Bates used in 3-safety situations, at least as a rookie.

112) Tyquan Lewis, DE Ohio St - Strong-side DE to back up Dunlap and potentially replace him if he leaves in FA after 2018. Lewis also has the ability to swing inside in nickel situations.

151) Tegray Scales, LB Indiana - Hobson and Jim O. have indicated the Bengals likely won't go LB in the first round and instead go later. Tegray Scales is a LB with good instincts and has good enough coverage skills to become a solid 3-down LB and upgrade over the LBs not named Burfict and Brown.

158) Darius Phillips, CB/RS Western Michigan - Playmaker at CB and as a return specialist. Considered undersized by most (about same size as Adam Jones) and not good against the run. Will have to start out as a nickel CB.

170) Antonio Callaway, WR/PR Florida - Very good skill set but very big character red flags. Bengals were at Florida Pro Day and likely getting a look at him. Decent chance he's available in the 5th round. If not, there should be other WRs to compete for a depth spot.

249) Jordan Thomas, TE Mississippi State - Raw TE that has the size to block and contribute as a pass catcher. With Eifert, Kroft, and Uzomah all in contract years, it would make sense to look for a raw TE to groom for a year in case one of them leaves in FA.

252) Josh Adams, RB Notre Dame - Replacement for Jeremy Hill. Good downhill runner that has good long speed and can catch, but does need OL help to get production. Will compete with Brian Hill and Tra Carson for backup spot.

253) Eddy Pineiro, K Florida - Consistent, accurate kicker who has enough leg to hit 50 yarders (long of 54, twice). Career 89% FG kicker in college. 75% of his kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks.

[SadFaceBengal15]

Love the first too. I think Bates is overhyped. He’s my this years taco charlton. IMO won’t amount to anything in the league just thought they both were good college players. I’ll take deshon Elliott in the 4th. We need a ball hawk to create turnovers. Elliott lead the nation in interceptions. I like him in the 4th. I see why some like scales but I think we can do a lot better at backer than scales. He’s only 6ft and a small 230lbs. One scout was the word unspectacular in regards to scales and the nfl. And as much as I’d like to get josh Adams with our 2nd to last pick but he aintgonna fall that far imo. But overall we have good talent coming out of college so it’s a solid draft.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-17-2018, 06:02 PM)SadFaceBengal15 Wrote: Love the first too.  I think Bates is overhyped.  He’s my this years taco charlton.  IMO won’t amount to anything in the league just thought they both were good college players.  I’ll take deshon Elliott in the 4th.  We need a ball hawk to create turnovers.  Elliott lead the nation in interceptions.  I like him in the 4th.  I see why some like scales but I think we can do a lot better at backer than scales.  He’s only 6ft and a small 230lbs.  One scout was the word unspectacular in regards to scales and the nfl.  And as much as I’d like to get josh Adams with our 2nd to last pick but he aintgonna fall that far imo.  But overall we have good talent coming out of college so it’s a solid draft.

I understand where you are coming from. I chose Scales because the team has met with him, so I assume he's a Day 3 target.
A guy like Genard Avery has a solid profile and résumé and also is (much) faster and heavier than Scales but he played at Memphis, which is not a Power 5 school. But Nick Vigil also played in a non-Power 5 conference and was selected by the Bengals so it could happen.
I don't really see guys like Kenny Young or Christian Sam any better than Scales.

Regarding Scales being "unspectacular", I don't think anyone would project a 5th round pick or later being "spectacular". They are projected late for a reason. They are expected to become just decent starters or more likely backups/ST players. But every now and then with a good scouting department, you can find diamonds in the rough like Marvin Jones or George Iloka.

As for safety, I used to also be high on Elliott until I watched videos of his interceptions. They all practically fell right to his lap. I didn't see any great coverage or playmaking ability from him. And given that both NFL.com and NFLDraftScout consider him more of a box safety rather than a true coverage safety (reflecting what I saw in videos), I've steered away from him as an early-round prospect. I'd still definitely consider him, Igwebuike, or Armani Watts in the 5th round though if the Bengals decided to wait that long for a safety.

When it comes to Josh Adams, I can see him being available in the 7th round because:
1) He's still dealing with a foot injury
2) RBs always fall due to the plethora of talent
3) From what I've read and watched, he's not a very good "creator." He depends on good blocking up front to give him holes and he's not very agile. I think it really helped Adams having McGlinchey and Nelson blocking for him. He's kinda like Jeremy Hill.

If he's not available in Rd 7, oh well. I just hope there's no RB taken within the first 5 rounds because I think there are bigger needs.

[SadFaceBengal15]

WHen has this team found a diamond in the rough at linebacker late? They are terrible at scouting backers. Outside brown and burfict we have no one. The rest are trash imo. I’d like to target a linebacker in the first 3 rounds. In regards to scales and “unspectacular”. It was in reference to any trait of his with none of them jumping off the board. I’d take it as scales at the end of the day is an ehh. In regards to Elliott being in the right spot at the right time for some of his picks is a testimony to him understanding where he needs to be and as a safety ur typically over the top so picks falling in his lap(like bates) are commen. He’s also a hard hitter with a lot more stoutness to him than bates. Elliott will come up with no fear and pop u. This team has emphasized needing more turn overs, Elliott leading the cuntry in picks is a perfect fit for what we want. I don’t see much of a difference in all the tape of Elliott and bates and in fact I see better value for Cincinnati and what they want from the positions in Elliott in the 4th round than bates in the 3rd. Much rather take a rasheem Greene and a Darius Leonard in rounds 3 and come back and grab Elliott in the 4th. Greene truly has the potential to take over for Dunlap when it comes time and Leonard will start immediately at backer with brown. And then being able to grab Elliot and handle safety as well is much more appealing than imo reaching for a Jesse bates in the third round which is where we typically do a lot of damage at DE. As for Adams I agree 100% cuz I hve him mocked in the exact same spot lol. Not sure what I was thinking there lol

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Great mock Ocho.

[Hammerstripes]

Great mock, but I do think that the first 2 picks are wishful thinking.

[*ochocincos*]

(04-25-2018, 11:17 AM)Hammerstripes Wrote: Great mock, but I do think that the first 2 picks are wishful thinking.

They are. I'd be perfectly OK with Ragnow in Rd 1, Settle in Rd 2/3, and Tyrell Crosby or some other OT in Rd 2/3. But preferred would be what I have listed in the mock.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-25-2018, 11:27 AM)ochocincos Wrote: They are. I'd be perfectly OK with Ragnow in Rd 1, Settle in Rd 2/3, and Tyrell Crosby or some other OT in Rd 2/3. But preferred would be what I have listed in the mock.

Yeah, i didn't want to mention it lol

Would love Ragnow, Settle and Crosby. Those be some mean, physical sumbitches.

I am going to bump my 2nd mock where i picked Ragnow and Rashaan Evans 1,2.

Might be my most realistic mock leading up to the Draft now.