Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft: Who Are the Experts Projecting to the Bengals?

The NFL draft is but two weeks away, which means mock draft season is indeed in full swing.

Experts from all around the NFL universe have released their latest first-round projections in the past days, so let's take a look at who they think the Cincinnati Bengals may pick up and how likely they are to do so.

Curiously enough, NFL.com's Chad Reuter has the Bengals selecting defensive end Quinton Coples with their No. 17 pick, citing the fact that should he still be on the board, he'd be the best available player and too good for the Bengals to pass up.

While the general strategy for many teams is to take the best player still on the board rather than filling needs in the first round, the Bengals are in the enviable position of having two picks in the first round and the chance to add top-tier players at positions of need.

Though an upgrade at defensive end wouldn't be unwelcome, it's simply not what they need to do in the first round this year. I see the Bengals going for a cornerback, receiver or offensive lineman with this pick.

At No. 21, Reuter has the Bengals taking a corner—Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins has serious on-field talent but has off-field red flags that could see him falling out of the first round depending on how risky teams think he is.

While I wouldn't be surprised if Jenkins is the corner the Bengals choose, I doubt they do so if someone who is less of a gamble is still available.

Bleacher Report's Sigmund Bloom has a more realistic (in my estimation) view of what the Bengals do in the first round, with the team taking Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd at No. 17 and offensive guard Cordy Glenn at No. 21.

While it's quite possible that both players are off the board by the time the Bengals' two picks come around, it does reflect positions of need that they're likely to target in the first round.

Glenn is ideal for the Bengals over a number of other offensive linemen considering his versatility, and Floyd, if he's still available, would be a huge addition to their receiving corps.

Don Banks of Sports Illustrated doesn't have the Bengals selecting a receiver in the first round, instead reserving their two picks for the offensive line and the secondary. At No. 17, he has the Bengals taking offensive guard David DeCastro and at No. 21, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.

DeCastro could certainly fall to the Bengals, especially if there's a run on high-caliber defenders and receivers prior to their No. 17 pick (as I mention quite often, Steve Hutchinson fell to 17th in 2001).

DeCastro is the draft's top-rated guard, and it would be somewhat of a steal if the Bengals can land him with this pick.

Going after DeCastro at No. 17 is why Banks has the Bengals waiting until No. 21 to nab their corner. Though the Bengals have spent much of the offseason shoring up their secondary, it's been mainly to add veteran depth.

The team is still searching for the right guy to replace Johnathan Joseph, and Dre Kirkpatrick is among the first-round corners who could successfully do so.

ESPN's Mel Kiper also thinks the Bengals can pick up DeCastro at No. 17, noting that top interior linemen can easily stay on the board until the middle of the first round.

The Bengals would certainly be well-served to snag DeCastro or another guard this year to help their run game, especially as it appears they want their backs to get more carries this season.

Kiper also goes with a cornerback at No. 21, but he has the team selecting South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore rather than Kirkpatrick.

It's all a matter of positioning, really—Banks has Gilmore going one pick earlier to the Tennessee Titans and notes that the Bengals would take whichever top corner the Titans don't select. Kiper has the Titans going with Kirkpatrick, and thus puts Gilmore with Cincy.

Kiper's co-worker, Todd McShay, is in full agreement with Kiper when it comes to the Bengals, with DeCastro being their No. 17 pick and Gilmore their No. 21. McShay still has Jenkins on the board, but says the Bengals are likely to pass him up for the less-risky Gilmore.

So the experts, for the most part, seem to have cooled to the idea of the Bengals selecting a receiver in the first round and have them going for quality offensive guards and cornerbacks in the first round instead.

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