2012 NFL Mock Draft: Who Will the Cincinnati Bengals Pick in First Round?

Thanks to owner Mike Brown's unloading of quarterback Carson Palmer, the Cincinnati Bengals head into the 2012 NFL draft with tremendous capital in the form of two first-round picks. They'll pick at No. 17 thanks to the Oakland Raiders, and again at No. 21 after being bounced in the first round of the playoffs. 

Let's project who the Bengals might take with their two first-rounders in April:

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

2.  St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6.  Washington Redskins—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa  

8.  Carolina Panthers—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford 

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College 

16.  New York Jets—Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

17.  Cincinnati Bengals—Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

The Bengals defense was a big reason why they were able to rebound from a 4-12 season to get into the playoffs with a rookie quarterback. While the Bengals had 45 total sacks, they lack a premier guy off the edge to compliment their vast array of inside pressure. Mercilus can be an impact rookie in his first year as a situational pass rusher, much like Aldon Smith has been for the 49ers in 2011.

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

20.  Tennessee Titans—Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

I love this pick for Cincinnati. While A.J. Green has been as good as advertised, teams were able to key in on him late and keep the Bengals offense in check. Adding a dangerous slot receiver like Wright could help alleviate some of that pressure on Green. Not only could Wright be a 70-80 catch guy, but he'll also make plays down field.  

22.  Cleveland Browns—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State  

23.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia 

25.  Denver Broncos—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

26.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

27.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

28.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB USC 

29.  New York Giants—Dont'a Hightower, LB Alabama  

30.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona State

31.  San Francisco 49ers—Mohamed Sanu, WR Rutgers

32.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama