Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft and Free Agency Moves

The Cincinnati Bengals are heading into the offseason with very high hopes for next year. They were able to be one of the pleasant surprises in the NFL last season by making the playoffs despite being ranked last in ESPN’s NFL Preseason Power Rankings.

In order for the Bengals to continue last season’s success into 2012, they will need to make several moves this offseason. They will need to make key free-agent pickups and choose wisely in the draft.

The Bengals have several positions that need to be addressed. They need a corner to play opposite Leon Hall, and they need a couple of guards on the offensive side of the ball to replace aging veterans who will more than likely not be returning next season.

They also need a No. 2 receiver to take some pressure off of A.J. Green and a new face at running back since Cedric Benson seems to be on his way out. Adding another safety to compete with Taylor Mays and Chris Crocker probably would not be a bad thing, either.

With all of these positions needing attention, the Bengals front office will have some difficult decisions to make. Which of these needs will be addressed in free agency, and what will they look for in the draft?

I have put together my dream offseason for the Bengals. This is what I would like to see happen:

Free Agency

There are several teams with cap issues and contract issues that will be forced to let some very talented players hit free agency this offseason. Since the Bengals have $60 million in cap space, they should be waiting to snatch these players off the market.

The first player they should go after is Robert Meachem. He would be a perfect candidate to play in the No. 2 receiver spot and draw some attention away from A.J. Green. Meachem will not demand No. 1 receiver money since he was overshadowed in New Orleans by Marques Colston, which is good since the Bengals are not looking for a No. 1 receiver.

Meachem is also only 27, so he should sustain a high level of production for years to come. Receivers like Colston will be overpaid by someone this offseason, which should allow a team like the Bengals to sign Meachem to a contract for substantially less money that he will undoubtedly outperform. He could be the steal of the year.

The next player that the Bengals should go after in free agency is Michael Bush. Bush was the Raiders' leading rusher last season due to the injury of Darren McFadden.

Bush proved he could carry the load in the NFL. Now he wants to be the featured back in an NFL offense. He knows that will not happen in Oakland with McFadden already claiming that role, so that means Bush will likely hit the market this offseason.

The Bengals need a back like Bush to carry the load. This should be a no-brainer for Cincinnati.

The final player that the Bengals should take in free agency is Carl Nicks. Nicks is an elite guard in the NFL. He is a two-time Pro Bowler who could immediately establish the Bengals' line as one of the best in the NFL.

The Saints have not started discussing a contract with Nicks at this point due to the Drew Brees situation, so it appears that he will hit the market. If and when this happens, the Bengals need to make their move.

The First Few Rounds of the Draft

Round 1: The Bengals have two first-round draft picks this year (17 and 21). This means that they can bring in two highly talented individuals to make immediate impacts.

At pick 17 I have the Bengals taking David DeCastro. DeCastro is the best guard in the draft, and if he falls to 17 the Bengals would be crazy to pass on him. He is a physical and fundamentally sound lineman that could start immediately. Can you imagine an offensive line with Andrew Whitworth, Carl Nicks, David DeCastro, and Andre Smith? That is a scary thought for the rest of the teams in the NFL.

At pick 21 I have the Bengals taking Dre Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick is one of the best corners in the draft. He is 6’3” and weighs in at around 190 pounds. He is a lockdown corner that is not afraid to make the big hit. He would be a perfect fit for a Mike Zimmer defense. Pairing him with Leon Hall could create one of the best duos in the league.

Obviously DeCastro and Kirkpatrick may not be there when the Bengals pick, so I have a couple of backups. If DeCastro is gone I would take Cordy Glenn. Glenn is another top prospect that could be a potential starter at guard right away. I would wait until the 21st pick to take him and snatch Kirkpatrick at 17.

If Kirkpatrick is gone I would take Janoris Jenkins. He is a guy that would probably be a top-10 pick if he had stayed out of trouble. Jenkins might be the most talented corner in the draft, so he would be worth the risk if Kirkpatrick comes off the board early.

Round 2: With their second-round pick I have the Bengals taking Mark Barron. I know most people believe that he will be gone at this point in the draft, but I think his injuries and not participating in the combine will hurt his stock more than most people think.

Barron is a strong, physical safety from Alabama, and he would be a perfect fit in the AFC North. Even if he doesn't beat out Taylor Mays as the starter, he would be very beneficial on special teams.

Round 3: I have a couple of options for the Bengals here. They should go with either Isaiah Pead of Cincinnati or LaMichael James of Oregon. Both of these backs have the ability to be stars in the NFL. They are dropping to the third round due to size, but they will make up for that with quickness and vision.

They are both perfect fits for the Bengals' West Coast offense. They can both break runs to the outside and catch passes from the backfield. Either of these guys would make a perfect one-two punch combination with Michael Bush.

If the Bengals make these moves in the offseason, they will not only fill all of the holes they currently have but will also put their team in a position to make a serious run next season. Let me know in the comments section if you agree or disagree with my picks.