2012 NFL Draft: Bengals' First-Round Odds

The Bengals are ready to make their move on the Ravens and Steelers, and possessing the Raiders' No. 17 overall pick is a big part of that. The players available at the 10th pick are roughly worth the same as plenty of players that will available at No. 17 (and No. 21, more on that later), so the Bengals have maximum flexibility to fill their long-term needs, which happen to match up with the likely talent available very well. Who will be added to this young team on the rise?

15%—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College—Kuechly could play the middle and move Rey Maualuga back to the strong side. He's likely to be the best player available on a lot of boards, which matches Mike Brown's first-round MO. The Chiefs, Seahawks and Eagles are main teams he'll need to get past.

15%—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama—Kirkpatrick would be a welcome addition to this aggressive, young defense and as the likely third corner off of the board, there's a good chance he'll be there at No. 17. If Stephon Gilmore goes in the top 10, Kirkpatrick should be a top 15 pick, but if Gilmore falls to Dallas or Philadelphia, the Bengals should have a shot at him.

15%—Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama—Upshaw could fit on the strong side and rush the passer as a defensive end in some packages. His attitude on the field matches the Bengals to a tee. The Seahawks, Cowboys and Jets are the obstacles between him and the Bengals.

15% —Mark Barron, S, Alabama—Strong safety has been a problem position for a long time for the Bengals, and Barron would be an instant solution—if he doesn't get taken by the Cowboys or Jets first.

10%—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame—Floyd on the other side of the field from AJ Green is a potential nightmare for opposing defenses, but he would have to get past the Jaguars, Bills, Cardinals and Jets.

10%—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford—Probably No. 1 on a board of ideal picks, DeCastro is another easy best player available if he is indeed available. The Chiefs, Seahawks, Cardinals or Cowboys could have something to say about that.

5%—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia—Glenn could be an outstanding guard, and his size/athleticism combo should appeal to the Bengals. The top six players on this list would have to be taken in quick succession for him to be the pick at No. 17—the odds will be higher at 21.

5%—Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina—Like DeCastro, Gilmore would be very high on the Bengals' list of desired picks at No. 17, but even lower on the list of players likely to be there. It's hard to see both Dallas and Philadelphia passing on him, but it is possible.

5%—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina—If Coples can leak through to the Bengals' pick, he would have to be a very strong consideration as a best player available and outstanding pass rush partner for Carlos Dunlap. The team took a similar player—Michael Johnson—in the third round three years ago.

2.5%—Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois—If the Bengals are really set on improving their pass rush and Upshaw and Coples are gone, the focus could turn to Mercilus, but like Glenn, he might be more likely at 21.

2.5%—Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis—Buzz on Poe continues to cool. While DT is not the need that other positions represented on this list are, the possibility of him being a best player available on potential alone is there. You can't completely rule him out.