Mel Kiper 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Bengals Take Dre Kirkpatrick and David DeCastro

In his second mock draft of the 2012 NFL draft season, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has the Cincinnati Bengals taking Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick at No. 17 overall and Stanford guard David DeCastro at No. 21 overall in the first round. 

With cornerback and interior offensive two of the Bengals' biggest offseason needs, getting players of Kirkpatrick's and DeCastro's caliber at each position would make for a huge first round for the Bengals. 

Kiper had this to say on picking Kirkpatrick at No. 17:

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The Bengals held up pretty well against the pass last year, but should look for the heir to Johnathan Joseph, whom they lost to Houston before the 2011 season. Kirkpatrick fits the bill as a big, physical corner who doesn't give up much in coverage given his size (nearly 6-foot-3), which makes him particularly good inside the red zone.

He's also not one to shy away from run support. The Bengals need a running back, too, but they can find value at that position much later. Glenn is also an option if the Jets don't make that pick.

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As Kiper points out, the Bengals finished well against the pass in 2011, ending ninth in the NFL at just over 210 yards a game. But they are far from set at cornerback, as Nate Clements is past his prime and Pacman Jones is a free agent.

Jones will likely walk, and Clements could be replaced as a starter as his skills diminish. At 31 years old, Clemens can't be counted on as a long-term option. According to Pro Football Focus, Clements graded well against the run but got a negative ranking against the pass. 

National Football Post has Kirkpatrick as the No. 2 cornerback behind Morris Claiborne. 

Here is NFP's scouting report on Kirkpatrick:

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Will be an ideal zone corner at the next level because of his size, instincts and physicality. However, he can also press off the line and consistently re-route receivers.

Isn't a dynamic quick-twitch athlete, but showcases good balance, can keep his feet under him and looks like a "plus" caliber starting cornerback in the NFL. Reminds me some of Chargers cornerback Quinton Jammer physically. 

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Adding Kirkpatrick, who many think can start right away in the NFL, would be a huge upgrade at that position. But the real get in Kiper's first-round mock is DeCastro, who somehow is still on the board with the Bengals' second pick. 

Kiper had this to say on DeCastro at 21:

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I have guard as one of the top needs for the Bengals, and they won't do any better than DeCastro at this spot. A player who plays with exceptional awareness, DeCastro is the kind of guard who helps you crack off bigger gains in the run and screen game because he gets a great initial punch, but will also get to the second level and throw great blocks out in space. Again, I don't think Cincy gets enough value here at running back, but DeCastro helps the run game, too.

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There's no doubting that having DeCastro available at pick 21 would make a great value selection for the Bengals.

The position is a huge need, as Nate Livings, Mike McGlynn and Bobbie Williams could all be replaced at guard. Livings and McGlynn each received poor grades, especially in run blocking, from Pro Football Focus in 2011. 

DeCastro is widely considered the top guard/interior offensive line prospect in the 2012 NFL draft.

National Football Post has DeCastro as its third best prospect overall, behind just Andrew Luck and Morris Claiborne. He also ranks a full point ahead of the next best guard, Georgia's Cordy Glenn.

NFP had this brief scouting report on DeCastro:

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The best offensive line prospect I've evaluated since Maurkice Pouncey in 2010. He showcases the ability to get a push in-line and is a dominant move player as well. He's fluid/natural in pass protection and with a little more power in his base he's got the skill set to become on of the leagues best guards early in his NFL career.

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Many scouting reports on DeCastro will read similarly to the one NFP provides above. He's an elite, Pro Bowl caliber player that the Bengals would be taking with their second pick.

While you can't be sure if the draft will shape up this way for the Bengals, no one could complain with Cincinnati drafting a combination of Kirkpatrick and DeCastro in the first round. Adding both would make the Bengals a sure-fire contender to make it back to the playoffs in 2012.