2012 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-Round Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft

With the frantic end of free agency over, heads will now turn with more scrutiny to the upcoming NFL draft.

In Cincinnati, we have seen the Bengals bolster the defense with Reggie Nelson re-signing and Jason Allen being brought in. Former Panthers guard Travelle Wharton was also added.

Running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis was also added on Wednesday afternoon.

However, the front office has seemed hesitant to make a splash in free agency and build on the team's playoff appearance last season.

This suggests that they may be leaning heavily on the draft instead. With eight picks and two in the first round, they have the opportunity to make some serious improvements.

So who should the Bengals draft? Agree or disagree with my picks? Comment below.

Round 1, Pick 17 (from Oakland)

Cordy Glenn, Offensive Guard, Georgia

While David DeCastro is the guard that many Bengal fans are clamoring for, it is unlikely that the Stanford alum will get past Kansas City or Dallas and fall to No. 17.

So the next best option is to go for Georgia's Cordy Glenn. Glenn is an amazing athlete given that he stands at 6'5" and 345 lbs. Glenn ran an astounding unofficial 4.96 40-yard dash at the combine.

That size makes him a daunting blocker who can then get to the second level fast and cause trouble for linebackers.

He also has versatility and can play at tackle as he did in his senior year, but he's far more effective at left guard.

Round 1, Pick 21

Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State

My instinct here is to go with Lamar Millar, the running back out of Miami. However, with Benjarvus Green-Ellis now a Bengal, the second first-rounder can go to another need.

Enter DT Fletcher Cox.

With Jonathan Fanene now a Patriot, and the secondary less of an issue now that Reggie Nelson has signed, the Bengals' most pressing need is for depth at defensive tackle.

The strongest DT on the board at No. 21 should be Cox. He has great strength, although he is quite a raw prospect. He possesses the agility to get by blockers and collapse the pocket.

He was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week four times and ended the 2011 season with 56 total tackles and five sacks.

Cox is still growing, and with some extra weight he could easily be a strong starter for the Bengals next season if need be.

Round 2, Pick 53

Leonard Johnson, Cornerback, Iowa State

While Johnson's stock was undoubtedly hit by a 4.65 40-yard dash time at the combine, he remains a strong pick at cornerback for the Bengals.

Despite this lack of pace, Johnson played extremely well against two receivers who would appear to be a lot quicker.

Against Oklahoma, Johnson was able to stick with Justin Blackmon, neutralizing him for long periods of the game.

He is also a very strong kick returner, setting an NCAA record by gaining 319 yards from nine kickoff returns against Oklahoma.

Round 3, Pick 85

Bruce Irvin, Outside Linebacker, West Virginia

This pick is a gamble, but one that could pay huge dividends.

Bruce Irvin's stock has gone down drastically since it was revealed that he had been arrested for destruction of property on Saturday night.

This damaged all the work done by Irvin at the combine, where he ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. At 6'3" and 245 lbs, he also has great size for a DE or OLB.

When blitzing, Irvin is awesome. His speed underlines great athleticism, which allows him to get past tackles.

He has good awareness, knowing when to strip the ball, and is also a fine tackler who never gives up on the play.

With the experience of players like Pac-Man, would the Bengals want to take a chance on a player like Irvin?

Round 4, Pick 117

Marvin McNutt, Wide Receiver, Iowa

In the fourth round, Cincinnati should look to provide Andy Dalton with some more weapons to aim at downfield.

Drafting Marvin McNutt would take some of the pressure off of the shoulders of A.J Green. The Iowa receiver has solid speed and is a good route runner who can break coverage.

Most importantly, he has buckets for hands, meaning he rarely drops catches. While Green would remain the more explosive receiver, McNutt can provide good balance, keeping the chain moving.

Round 5, Pick 149

Chris Rainey, Running Back, Florida

There is a chance that Rainey will have already gone by this point, but if he is still on the board, then the Bengals should snap him up.

He has awesome speed and would be an excellent addition to the special teams unit from day one.

He can also play as a slot receiver and could be useful in some trick plays.

There are some doubts surrounding his character after he underwent anger management counseling following a charge of aggravated stalking, but if he is available at this point, he should definitely be taken.

If Rainey has not dropped to this point, then Chris' namesake, Bobby Rainey, would also be a good option on special teams.

Round 5, Pick 159 (from New England)

Audie Cole, Inside Linebacker, North Carolina State

As with Chris Rainey, Cole may be gone by this point in the draft, with projections ranging from the third to the fifth round for the linebacker.

If Cole is taken, then I would take Nevada's Brett Roy here before taking linebacker Jerry Franklin from Arkansas with the sixth-round pick.

However, if Cole does fall to this point, then he would be an awesome pick for the Bengals.

Good in pass-rushing situations and an excellent tackler, Cole would need to build up his strength to challenge Maualuga.

Round 6, Pick 118

Donte Paige-Moss, Defensive End, North Carolina

Paige-Moss was very highly rated in 2010, but interest in him has dropped off over the last season.

He was relegated behind standout Quinton Couples and Kareem Martin, so his stock has fallen.

He would provide much-needed depth and has potential to be a steal in the sixth round.

At 6'3", he has great size, and this doesn't detract from his speed.

A torn ACL in his right knee has to be a worry, but if he can prove his fitness, then he has the potential to be a solid pick in the sixth round.

Another concern would have to be discipline. He has served a suspension for fighting, but this would have to be behind him for teams to take him seriously.

If he is seen as too risky, then West Virginia's Julian Miller could be a better bet. Although, he too struggled with injury last season.