Cincinnati Bengals: Full 7-Round Mock Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals finished the 2011 season with a surprising 9-7 record in the tough AFC North, earning a Wild Card bid in the NFL playoffs.

They'll have a big opportunity to continue improving their young, yet talented roster this April, with nine picks in the NFL draft.

This list is based on Cincy's team needs and player scouting, along with coach and front office tendencies.

Round 1, Pick 17 (via Oakland)

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Leon Hall can’t do it all, Nate Clements is 32 and Pacman Jones may have played his final game in the NFL after his latest run-in with the law.

Cornerback is a big need for the Bengals, and Jenkins is an outstanding athlete with great potential. However, he has "red flag" issues with an unsteady background after making multiple poor life decisions.

Nevertheless, Cincinnati has never been the type of organization to pass on a player based on his past.

Round 1, Pick 21

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (FL)

Cedric Benson has underachieved the last two seasons with Cincinnati and will become a free agent. If the Bengals were going to keep him, they likely would have applied a franchise tag to his name, but it looks like the two will part ways.

This leaves Cincy with a big problem at running back. Lamar Miller is an easy answer to that problem.

Miller possesses ridiculous speed and agility (4.30 second 40-yard dash), something that the Bengals have lacked at RB for quite some time. If the offensive line can live up to expectations, the college star could be a Top 10 rusher at the end of the season, hands down.

Round 2, Pick 53

Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State

Left guard Nate Livings is a free agent and will likely not be resigned. The Bengals offensive line played extremely well in 2011 but needs an upgrade and replacement at this position.

Osemele is an experienced lineman with very long arms, considerable strength and is an outstanding run blocker. At 6'5", 330 pounds, he's very durable and could be a long-term answer at left guard.

Round 3, Pick 84

Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina

Chris Crocker has taken a lot of criticism from Cincinnati fans and media for his lack of production and effort, specifically with regards to his "tackle" of Arian Foster on a 42-yard touchdown run in the Bengals Wild Card game loss to the Texans. 2011 was the first season he did not miss a game due to injury, and he will become a free agent next season.

Allen is a quality safety that had an outstanding collegiate career. He could contend for the starting position immediately, instead of having to wait a year for Crocker to fall to free agency.

Round 4, Pick 117

DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

Once considered a second-round selection, Posey caught just 12 balls for 162 yards and two touchdowns in 2011 (three games) with Ohio State. However, he had a good week at the Senior Bowl and a solid outing in the NFL combine. 

The Bengals are in need of another receiver to complement A.J. Green for several reasons: WRs Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson are free agents—Simpson is in the middle of a law dispute—Jordan Shipley has been plagued with injuries, Andrew Hawkins is too small to play every down and Ryan Whalen is a backup.

Posey could be a steal at this point in the draft and could contribute to Jay Gruden's West Coast offense as a rookie.

Round 5, Pick 148

Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State

Crawford flashed greatness and inconsistency throughout his senior season with Penn State. The 6'5", 275-pounder recorded 40 tackles (7.5 TFL) and 6.5 sacks in 2011 and had a decent Senior Bowl.

The former all-Big Ten honorable mention ran an impressive 4.76-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and could be a potential surprise on Mike Zimmer's defense in the near future.

Round 5, Pick 158 (via New England)

Jerry Franklin, ILB, Arkansas

The Bengals get another extra pick here thanks to the Chad Ochocinco trade to New England.

It is likely that Cincinnati will resign Rey Maualuga, but even if it does, it needs more depth at the inside linebacker position.

Jerry Franklin broke out with 101 tackles (10 TFL) and four passes broken up with Arkansas in 2011. He did not receive a combine invitation, but has been recorded with a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and had a good outing at the East-West Shrine game.

Round 6, Pick 180

Steven Johnson, OLB, Kansas

At this point in the draft, you pick the best available player. In this case it'll be former Jayhawk Steven Johnson, who tallied 120 tackles (6 TFL) and an interception his senior year. 

Round 7, Pick 211

Charles Brown, CB, North Carolina

As I stated earlier, Cincinnati has an obvious need at cornerback and drafting two in April is not out of the question by any means.

Brown is somewhat of a risk after having a subpar senior season with the Tar Heels. He'll be a role player in the early parts of his career and will have to be coached up if the Bengals intend on making him a starter at any point in time.