2012 Bengals Mock Draft

What is the NFL Draft besides another excuse to hang out in front of the television while drinking a cold beverage and eating buffalo wings with your buddies on a Thursday night?

To the common sports fan or even more, the non-sports fan, the NFL Draft is just three days of guys talking about football for hours and hours without one spectacular catch or one jaw dropping hit on the field. But for this guy, it's the greatest sporting event that really isn't a sporting event, in the entire world.

Radio City Music Hall in NYC will be buzzing
Thursday night for the 77th annual NFL Draft.
(Photo Courtesy of NFL.com)

Yes, we won't actually see football being played Thursday night when the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft gets under way at 8 PM EST, but if there is one thing I like more than watching sports, it's talking about sports.

That's what makes the draft so great.

Listening to former players, draft gurus like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, and even the players themselves talk about football on ESPN for hours upon hours gets my adrenaline pumping.

From the analysis of every draft prospect, predicting whether or not they have the potential to become the next NFL superstar, to seeing guys get their named called by the commissioner and posing for pictures with their families after finally making it to the NFL. It's great television to this sports addict.

Now everyone from Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, SI's Peter King, The Enquirer's Joe Reedy, to Frank the hard working plumber, comes up with their own mock draft of where they think players will go in the first round. I decided that rather than getting mocked with my own mock draft, I'll stick with the team I know best, the Cincinnati Bengals, and come up who I think they could possibly take with their first round selections.

I'll go into detail about who the Bengals picked up in free agency thus far and talk a little about who I think they will take with their first round picks below. But if you want the short and sweet version, scroll to the bottom and you'll see who I think the Bengals will ultimately take. My Bengals Mock Draft, if you will. You'll miss out on some outstanding analysis from a college student, just saying.

BENGALS DRAFT OUTLOOK

The Cincinnati Bengals hold the 17th overall pick, which was acquired in the Carson Palmer trade with the Raiders, and the 21st overall pick on Thursday night. They have a variety of needs from guard, wide receiver, safety, corner and may also be looking to add some depth at linebacker, defensive line and running back.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis should provide an upgrade at
running back for the Bengals in 2012.
(Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Bengals have already addressed some of these needs in free agency, however. New to the Bengals this season are: cornerbacks Jason Allen (Houston) and Terence Newman (Cowboys), defensive ends Jamaal Anderson (Colts) and Derrick Harvey (Broncos), guards Jacob Bell (Rams) and Travelle Wharton (Panthers), and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Patriots).

Most of these guys will probably play in backup roles this season, but there are two of these signings that I really like. "The Law Firm," aka BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Terence Newman.

Cedric Benson had a nice run in Cincinnati, but with him sulking on the sidelines last year having to split carries with Bernard Scott, it was time for him to go. Green-Ellis will most likely split carries with Scott, but "The Law Firm" has a nose for the end zone with 24 TD in the past two seasons while in New England. I look for him to get the bulk of the carries in the red zone and in short yardage. "The Law Firm" is a solid running back in my book and certainly tough enough to carry the load in the physical AFC North.

As for Newman, he adds some much needed depth at the cornerback spot. Starter Leon Hall is coming off an Achilles injury that ended his season last year and Nate Clements, who also started last year, is in the last year of his contract. Additionally on the roster are Adam Jones, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, Brandon Ghee, former Cincinnati Bearcat Brandon Underwood and Moeller alum Rico Murray. Newman did struggle some last year, but the guy can flat out play and I think he'll bounce back and maybe even start for the Bengals at some point in the season.

Even with eight cornerbacks on the roster, I still expect the Bengals to take a corner at some point in the draft. The three corners that I can possibly see them taking are Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore and North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins.

CB Dre Kirkpatrick could very well find himself in a
Bengals' uniform this season if he is still available when
Cincinnati is on the clock. (Getty Images)

ESPN The Magazine, The Enquirer's Joe Reedy, and Sports Illustrated's Peter King, all at some point have had the Bengals taking Kirkpatrick with one of their two first round draft picks. If he's still available when the Bengals get on the clock, I expect them to take him.

Kirkpatrick was a star for the past two seasons on the best defense in the country at Alabama and was a 2nd team All-American last season. He's an excellent player, but Kirkpatrick has had some off the field issues. He was arrested earlier this year on marijuana charges, but those charges were later dropped. If he's off the board at 17 or 21, then Stephon Gilmore from South Carolina, another very good SEC corner, might get the call from the Bengals. But so might Janoris Jenkins.

Jenkins arguably is the most talented defensive back in the draft, but he has had some off the field issues as well, from fighting and resisting arrest, to two different drug related charges that ultimately got him kicked off the Florida Gators football team. Mike Brown has been known for giving guys a second chance, i.e. the late Chris Henry, so the Bengals might take a shot on Kirkpatrick or Jenkins if one of them is available.

I know that all the Bengals need is another player whose has had off the field issues, but they also need a talented defensive back in the secondary. Kirkpatrick, Jenkins and Gilmore all played in the toughest conference in college football, the SEC, and have the skills needed to cover wide receivers in the NFL. I think Gilmore will be gone when the Bengals get on the clock, so if I'm Mike Brown or Marvin Lewis, I take Kirkpatrick or Jenkins in the first round.

The other major areas of need that I expect the Bengals to address in the first round are either guard or wide receiver. However, that depends largely on who is available. Let's start with guard.

Hands down the best guard in this year's draft is David DeCastro out of Stanford. The fact of the matter is that several teams like Seattle, Dallas, or Arizona, who are ahead of the Bengals, could take DeCastro. Without question though, if DeCastro is still available at 17, I think the Bengals need to take him.

Michael Floyd would be a great compliment to
A.J. Green at wide receiver for the Bengals.
(Matt Cashore/US Presswire)

Cincinnati did sign guards Jacob Bell and Tarvelle Wharton in the offseason and the Bengals still have Clint Boling and Otis Hudson. However, Boling is only going into his second season in the NFL, even though I thought he played well at times in his rookie year, and Otis Hudson is still unproven after two seasons. The Bengals need to protect Andy Dalton and I think DeCastro can come in and start right away on September 10th against Baltimore to kick off Monday Night Football. He will greatly improve an offensive line that struggled at times last season in both pass protection and run blocking.

Now for wide receiver. Andre Caldwell is headed to Denver to play with Peyton Manning and Jerome Simpson is headed to Minnesota, with a short 15 day jail term and three game suspension in between for charges brought on him for marijuana possession. So, the Bengals desperately need a receiver to compliment A.J. Green and there are four receivers that should go in the first round.

I can 100% guarantee that Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon will be off the board by the time the Bengals pick at 17, so that leaves Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), Kendall Wright (Baylor), Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech) and  Rueben Randle (LSU) as possible options.

I think Floyd is the second best receiver in the draft behind Blackmon, but I would be surprised if he is still around by the time the Bengals get on the clock. Teams like Buffalo, Miami and Jacksonville need a big time receiver and could take him earlier in the draft. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have said in the past that they don't think Wright or Hill fit well into the Bengals West Coast system, so maybe the Bengals take Randle. It's a bit of a stretch though, and ESPN's John Clayton has said this is a deep receiver draft, so I would be surprised if the Bengals take a receiver in the first round unless it's Michael Floyd.

Two more positions that I could see the Bengals upgrading in the first round are defensive line and, although unlikely in my opinion, running back. The Bengals lost defensive ends Jonathan Fanene and Frostee "The Snowman" Rucker to free agency and will be looking to add some depth at the position. North Carolina's Quinton Coples is a possibility, but SI's Peter King said in his mock draft that the Bengals should take LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers with their 21st overall pick to reinforce the defensive line. He also has the Bengals taking DE/LB Courtney Upshaw with the 17th overall pick. Upshaw is another Alabama All-American in this year's draft and he is according to Peter King, "A true three-down ends who not only rushed the passer in college but also dropped into coverage effectively."

Isaiah Pead had an outstanding career
up the street from Paul Brown Stadium
at the University of Cincinnati.
(Matt Humphrey/AP)

The Bengals were fifth in the league last year with 45 sacks, even though it sure didn't seem like they got that much pressure on the quarterback in 2011. You can never have too many good pass rushers, so I can see why Peter King likes Brockers and Upshaw going to be Bengals. Both are possibilities in my opinion.

Last but not least, running back. The Bengals have Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard and newly acquired BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but still will be looking to add another back. Alabama's Trent Richardson will be gone within the first five picks, so that leaves Lamar Miller (Miami), Doug Martin (Boise St.) and David Wilson (Virginia Tech).

I personally think that the Bengals have bigger holes to fill on the offensive line and on defense, so I would not draft a running back in round one. It's not a glaring need and I think they could get a very solid back in the second or third round on Friday. Someone like Oregon's LaMichael James or former University of Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead come to mind. I think Pead would be a great fit for the Bengals and I would be lying if I said I did not want to see Isaiah in a Bengals uniform. I still would be surprised though, if Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis take a running back Thursday night.

With that being said, there are a lot of talented players the Bengals could take on Thursday night that can help this football team in 2012. So, who will be the Bengals pick when the commissioner takes the podium and says, "With the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select..." Here's my guess.

BENGALS 1ST ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Before I get to my prediction, here's a recap of the list of players that I think are most likely to be selected by the Bengals in the first round:

CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

LB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

DE/LB Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
Any three of these All-Americans from Alabama would make Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, a very happy man.

G David DeCastro, Stanford
G Cordy Glenn, Georgia
The next best guard after DeCastro is Cordy Glenn out of Georgia and someone who could get a call from the Bengals if they desperately want an offensive lineman and DeCastro is off the board.

CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
Both of these guys have the potential to be very good corners for years to come and I would not mind seeing either of them in a Bengals uniform.

WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

WR Rueben Randle, LSU
WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech
WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
The only receiver I see the Bengals taking is Michael Floyd, but if they feel one of the other guys fits their system, then I could be wrong.

DT Michael Brockers, LSU
DT Quinton Coples, North Carolina
If the Bengals want to add some depth on the defensive line, these two guys fit the bill.

Now will two of these guys be wearing the orange and black for the Bengals in 2012? I'm not in the Bengals draft room and a lot of things can change once the draft gets under way, so anything can happen and Mike Brown has surprised us before. For example, tackle Levi Jones in 2002 and quarterback Akili Smith in 1999, which Grantland's Bill Barnwell ranked as the worst quarterback ever taken in the draft. Those were two head scratchers to say the least and two draft picks that Mike Brown wishes he could have back.

Head coach Marvin Lewis said on Tuesday that the Bengals may be focusing on defense in round one. "We took some guys up high offensively the past two years. I think other than Carlos (Dunlap) we have never neglected the defense." Lewis said. "There are going to be good players on both sides of the ball as there are every year. If we are sitting there looking for certain players offensively you would feel like it is strong there. We like where we are." So, maybe we see two defensive players taken in round one and see the Bengals address offensive line and wide receiver in the later rounds.

The only way to truly find out what gems the Bengals will select this year is to tune in Thursday night and see what Mr. Brown and Marvin have up their sleeve.

After much analysis and taking an in-depth look at the potential candidates, here's who I have the Cincinnati Bengals taking in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft (granted these guys are still on the board of course):

17th overall: G David DeCastro

21st overall: CB Dre Kirkpatrick

If one or both of these guys are off the board when the Bengals get on the clock then things could change. I would be stunned if the Bengals did not take a cornerback with one of their two picks, though. Either Kirkpatrick or Gilmore seem like the best options. The other pick will most likely be a lineman, either guard David DeCastro or a defensive lineman like Courtney Upshaw, Quinton Coples or Michael Brockers.

Whoever the Bengals draft Thursday night and on into the weekend, let's just hope that they will make a solid contribution in 2012 and can help get this team back to the playoffs for the second straight season. 

The Bengals are hoping to hit another home run in this year's draft, much like
they did last year with QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green.
(US Presswire)

Adam Rusche is currently a junior at the University of Cincinnati and is a lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Reds. He has been writing his blog "C'mon Cincinnati" since 2010. Follow him on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.