Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft: Building the Perfect 7-Round Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals have the ammo in the first round to add to their young core and make a run at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens this year. How could the draft unfold to give them the best chance at overtaking them in 2012?

Goals: Get a corner, guard, and wide receiver who can start sooner than later. Build depth at running back and on the defensive line. Grab a pass rusher to develop. Don't get wedded to any one position at any pick, three in the top 50 plus an extra fifth allows the Bengals to be value hunters on all three days of the draft.

Round 1, No. 17

Plan A: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford - The Bengals can get by with Travelle Wharton and either Clint Boling or Otis Hudson at guard, but DeCastro would be an answer for the next 10 years, with versatility to play center or right tackle in a snap too.

Plan B: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College - Kuechly is just as elite and rare at his position as DeCastro. The Bengals would happily move Rey Maualuga back to strong-side linebacker if Kuechly falls to No. 17.

Round 1, No. 21

Plan A: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor - Just like with their first pick, there are a lot of players that represent perfect intersections of need and value for the Bengals in the first round. Wright would be the perfect complement to AJ Green with his speed and run after catch game.

Plan B: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina - Gilmore is physically gifted and very aggressive, which makes him a perfect fit in a young and talented Bengals defense. The list of Plan A and Plan B players for No. 17 and 21 could be very long, including guys like OG/OT Cordy Glenn (Georgia), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama), and DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina).

Round 2, No. 53

Plan A: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech - In this mock, the Bengals have gone offense-offense, so it's time to get another feisty corner who can hang in man-to-man coverage.

Plan B: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State - The opposite of Plan A, and showing just how flexible the Bengals can be to grab the best values. Plan B was defense-defense, so the second round is a great place to take advantage of the deep class of guards.

Round 3, No. 83

Plan A: Cam Johnson, DE/OLB, Virginia - The Bengals have one excellent pass rusher in Carlos Dunlap, but they should try to develop a second in case Michael Johnson doesn't break out soon.

Plan B: Marvin Jones, WR, California - Perhaps Jones should be their Plan A at wide receiver as the best value and definitely a perfect No. 2 receiver, although he isn't quite the deep threat and big-play receiver that Wright is.

Round 4, No. 116

Plan A: Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina - Like Gilmore, Allen plays with an aggressive streak, and his blitz ability and comfort in the box would be a nice fit in Mike Zimmer's defense.

Plan B: Jonathan Massaquoi, DE/OLB, Troy - The mid-rounds represent solid value in the pass rusher specialist category. Massaquoi is a tweener, but he can bulk up a little and provide situational pressure from the edge in the meantime.

Round 5, No. 156

Plan A: Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati - The Bengals have an excellent, youthful DT rotation that can stop the run and generate pressure. Wolfe could be extra depth with the ability to keep Geno Atkins, pat Sims, and Domato Peko even fresher.

Plan B: Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State - Yes, the Bengals signed Benjarvus Green-Ellis, but Bernard Scott will be a free agent in 2013, and depth is always important at RB. Turbin's power running style would work as a backup to the Law Firm.

Round 5, No. 166

Plan A: Tauren Poole, RB, Tennessee - Whether it's with their natural pick or one of the picks they got from New England for Chad Ochocinco, another young back with fresh legs and penchant for running between the tackles is a good fifth round target.

Plan B: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois - The Bengals might need more than one new body in the WR corps if they don't re-sign Jerome Simpson on the cheap or Armon Binns doesn't develop in the offseason. Jenkins is fast and versatile, and he'll mesh well with Andy Dalton.

Round 6, No. 191

Plan A: Aaron Corp, QB, Richmond - Bruce Gradkowski is a solid backup and Zac Robinson is in the incubator, but it's always a good idea for a team to grab another late round QB to develop, even if they are set at the position at current.

Plan B: Duke Ihenacho, SS, San Jose State - Ihenacho had a terrific pro day. Like cast-off Nedu Ndukwe, he's a big play waiting to happen who needs to play with more discipline.