Let’s take a look at what the Bengals might do in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Using the seven-round draft from @shanephallem on X/Twitter from his website (draftcountdown.com), these are my thoughts.

Now, understand, once I deviate from Shane’s draft, the chances of that original player being available in the next round go down but we will say everything stays as is even though I go a different direction.

And there were times when I had a couple of choices at one pick, went with a certain position then had the same position with a similarly ranked player available with the next pick. I tried not to look ahead to see who was there with the next pick, otherwise I might have changed some of these choices.

Still, it was fun seeing who the Bengals might add to continue their quest for a Super Bowl.

At 18, there are plenty of good players for the Bengals to choose from depending on what position they want to fill.

If offensive line, OT Amarius Mims from Georgia and OG Taliese Fuaga from Oregon State and OT Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma are available.

Also, WR Brian Thomas Jr. and WR Xavier Worthy are there along with DL Jer’Zhan Newton. In the secondary, DB Cooper DeJean, CB Kool Aid McKinstry and CB Nate Wiggins.

If it is a pass rusher, there are DE Laiatu Latu from UCLA and DE Darius Robinson of Missouri.

Shane has the Bengals taking Fuaga but my pick would be DL Jer’Zhan Newton out of Illinois. I know there will be those who clammer for an offensive lineman but I think Newton is a game-changer for the Bengals defense.

Plus Cincinnati added OT Trent Brown to give the team a solid starting five on the offensive line. Yes, DT Sheldon Rankins also was added to bolster the defense but I still think Newton is more of an impact player than Fuaga who would be my second choice.

At 49, Shane has TE Ja’Tavion Sanders from Texas going to Cincinnati.

The last update had Sanders Texas teammate T’vondre Sweat going to the Bengals but since the news came out about his DWI arrest, Sweat is not likely

Also believe players like DE Chris Braswell or CB Cam Hart are strong options, both being players that could immediately help this season.

Could the Bengals double down on defensive linemen? DT Braden Fiske from Florida State would be my pick here if Fuaga was the choice at 18.

But if Newton is the first pick at 18 then I’m going for OL Zach Frazier out of West Virginia at 49 to help bolster the line in front of Burrow.

At 80, Shane goes with DL McKinley Jackson from Texas A&M.

There are several good options here DL Mike Hall from Ohio State, WR Ricky Pearsall from Florida, RB Braelon Allen from Wisconsin, TE Ben Sinnott from Kansas State.

Here I am going with Pearsall though Hall was tempting. I like that kid a lot and think a Fiske/Hall pairing would do wonders for the defensive line if Fuaga goes at 18.

Pearsall can step right in and compete for the third wideout with a couple of 2023 rookies. In the end, if he is the fourth wideout on this team, they are stacked.

At 97, the Bengals supplemental pick, Shane gives the nod to OL C.J. Hansen from Holy Cross. He is underrated and I’ll stick with that pick.

At 115, Hallam stays with offense and picks RB Audric Estime from Notre Dame. Though the Bengals added RB Zack Moss in free agency, Estime is unlike any back on the Bengals roster. He’s big and could be a closer late in the game. Like the 97 pick, I think Shane nailed this one as well and will keep it.

At 149, Shane goes with Hansen’s Holy Cross teammate WR Jalen Coker. With my pick of Pearsall, I’m going away from Coker.

Top choices here are DB Khyree Jackson of Oregon, DE Brennan Jackson of Washington State, DL Mekhi Wingo of LSU, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste from Notre Dame and OL Zak Zinter from Michigan.

With DB Geno Stone and DB Vonn Bell added in free agency, safety isn’t a big need but the team didn’t really add a pass rusher in free agency so I’m going with Jackson over Jean-Baptiste.

In round 6 at 194, Shane has OL Javion Cohen of Miami (Fla.) as the pick. I have two offensive linemen already going to the Bengals so I’m going another direction here.

LB Curtis Jacobs of Penn State can be a special teamer that plays immediately.

At 214, another supplemental pick, Shane goes with DB Josh Wallace of Michigan.

In the seventh, at 224, LB Steele Chambers of Ohio State is Shane’s pick but I am going with Erick All of Iowa. If the Bengals don’t get TE Brock Bowers at 18, I think they’ll pass for better options in other rounds. Here, though, All is a steal if he can stay healthy and if not it’s a seventh round pick.

At 237, Shane goes with TE Cam Grandy of Illinois State. With All in the fold, I go with DE Javon Solomon from Troy to round out the Bengals 2024 mock draft.

Though the Bengals lost plenty in trades and free agency (RB Joe Mixon to Houston, DL D.J. Reader to the Lions, CB Chidobe Awuzie to Tennessee and OT Jonah Williams to Arizona) I think they did well with free agent additions (Stone, Moss, Rankins, Bell, Brown and TE Mike Gesicki) and re-signings (WR Tee Higgins, TE Drew Sample, RB Tray’veon Williams, OL Cody Ford, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, TE Tanner Hudson, WR Trenton Irwin, QB Jake Browning) and this mock draft.

End.