Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft: Second-Round Running Backs to Keep an Eye on

One of the most pressing needs facing the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason is upgrading a rushing attack that ranked 19th in the National Football League last year, and luckily for team owner Mike Brown and company, there are a number of backs who could be available in the second round of April's NFL draft and could more than fit the bill.

Starter Cedric Benson did rush for more than 1,000 yards for the third time in his four seasons in the Queen City, but he also failed to top four yards a carry for the third time during that stretch. And, at this point in Benson's career, the seven-year pro has all the pop of a wet bottle rocket, making him a somewhat less than appealing option to retain before he hits free agency on March 13.

That puts the Bengals in the market for an upgrade at the position, and should Cincinnati decide to use both their first-round choices in the 2012 draft to address other areas, the team would be well-served to begin their search in the second round, beginning with running back David Wilson of Virginia Tech.

The 5'10", 206-pound junior rolled for over 1,700 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Hokies en route to being named a first-team All-ACC performer. Wilson is coming off a very strong showing at the NFL Combine and is looking to continue his momentum into Virginia Tech's Pro Day, as he recently told the Washington Post:

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"'Since I was six or seven years old, I wanted to play in the NFL, or play football at least. I'm just blessed to be here. Scouts have me ranked pretty high. It's right in front of me just to grab it, take advantage here at the combine, just up my stock and perform at my Pro Day.'"

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Wilson is a powerful runner with a solid combination of size and speed, and while it's uncertain if he'll still be on the board when the Bengals pick in Round 2, Cincinnati would be wise to consider selecting Wilson if he is.

Should Wilson be gone, the Bengals could then turn to a pair of backs who should be available and are screaming up draft boards after outstanding outings at the combine.

Boise State's Doug Martin turned in a very respectable 4.55-second 40-yard dash time, while also finishing among the top performers in several events, including the bench press and three-cone drill. This put the 5'9", 223-pound senior among the combine's big risers at his position.

Martin, who picked up more than 1,500 yards and scored 18 touchdowns for the Broncos last year, is a bit undersized height-wise, but he's a versatile back who does everything well. He also appears to be on a mission to disprove the notion that he can't be an effective feature back in the NFL.

As good a combine as Martin had in Indianapolis, it pales in comparison to the show put on by Robert Turbin of Utah State, who tied Martin for the lead in the bench press among running backs, peeled off a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and scattered his name all over the leaderboard in many of the drills at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Tubin's jaw-dropping performance at the combine has been one of the big topics of discussion among the media in Indy, but as Turbin recently told the San Jose Mercury News, he's become accustomed to having to prove himself as a player:

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"'I've been proving myself my entire life. I'm very used to it and I'm very open to it. It doesn't get me down or bother me or get me angry. I love playing football. The opportunity is here. They liked something about me to invite me to this event. I'm going to do the best I can.'"

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Durability is a concern with the 5'10", 222-pound Turbin after he missed almost two full seasons with the Aggies due to foot and knee injuries. But, as Turbin showed both at the combine and in rushing for more than 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior, he certainly seems to possess the physical tools necessary to be a feature back in the National Football League.

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