Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft: Final 6-Round Predictions for Cincinnati

It's here, it's finally (almost) here: The NFL draft begins this Thursday evening, which begins a three-day period of gifts being wrapped and hand-delivered to all 32 teams in the league.

The next few days brings with it a flurry of mock draft activity, and yours truly is indeed part of that process. Here is my final, full mock draft for the Cincinnati Bengals. Again, this is a six-round draft simply because, as of now, the Bengals don't have a pick in Round 7.

Round 1, Pick 17: OG David DeCastro, Stanford

More and more mock drafts have Stanford offensive guard slipping all the way down to 17, which is great news for the Cincinnati Bengals. I also see it as a very good possibility. If so, Cincinnati would be remiss if they passed on the top-rated guard in this draft. Another option at 17 is safety Mark Barron, if he's still on the board.

Round 1, Pick 21: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

As hard as it is for me to skip on a wide receiver at No. 22, the kind of talent the Bengals need at cornerback (i.e. a worthy replacement for Johnathan Joseph, who the team failed to replace last year) makes it a first-round need. If both Dre Kirkpatrick and Stephon Gilmore are still on the board at No. 22, I think it's a no-brainer that the Bengals take Kirkpatrick. However, I also wouldn't be surprised if they went with a receiver at this pick if they thought they could get better cornerback value later on.

Round 2, Pick 53: WR Rueben Randle, LSU

LSU receiver Rueben Randle saw his draft stock slide a bit the past few months, with questions being raised about his ability to separate from defenders and how that might hinder his chances to be a real playmaker in the NFL. However, he is a solid fit for the Bengals as a possession receiver alongside No. 1 A.J. Green. The Bengals' presumed refocus on the run game also makes Randle a good pick here—he's excellent at run blocking. Otherwise, Mohamed Sanu or Brian Quick could be second-round targets at receiver.

Round 3, Pick 83: RB LaMichael James, Oregon

That aforementioned run game will get a boost in the third round when the Bengals select Oregon's LaMichael James. The Bengals already have two powerful backs in their rotation—BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott—but they lack a speedster. That's where James comes in. His pass protection skills only help his case. If James is off the board here and running back is the Bengals' focus, Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead would be their next-best option.

Round 4, Pick 116: DE Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy

The Cincinnati Bengals need to improve their pass rush, and though Jonathan Massaquoi could stand to gain some weight in order to take on an NFL offense, he has the speed to be a situational starter at outside linebacker or defensive end. But if he does put on more weight, he could take on a full-time starting spot.

Round 5, Pick 156: S Duke Ihenacho, San Diego State

Physical, large, athletic and possessing respectable speed, Duke Ihenacho exemplifies the characteristics that the Bengals love in their safeties. He's intense in his pursuit of running backs, tackles extremely well and also has linebacker experience. There are areas in which Ihenacho could improve, and few other teams might rank him this high. But he fits the Bengals' mold perfectly, which makes him a fifth-round pick here.

Round 5, Pick 166: ILB Emmanuel Acho, Texas

Defensive line depth isn't a bad direction for the Bengals to go with their second fifth-round pick. Emmanuel Acho has the football smarts to develop rapidly into an eventual starter. His size is lacking, but could make him useful in zone packages, and his blitzing skills are strong. Nevada's James-Michael Johnson could be another inside backer that the Bengals look at here.

Round 5, Pick 167: TE Nick Provo, Syracuse

Right now, the Bengals have just one tight end who is an in-game impact maker—Jermaine Gresham. While this isn't a deep tight end class and, as such, the Bengals may seek to grab someone at the position sooner, if they do so here, Syracuse's Nick Provo could prove to be quite the value. Provo has great hands and is a talented receiver. Blocking could improve somewhat, but he's been taught by a tight ends coach with NFL experience, so he knows what it takes. If a blocking tight end is more their speed here, Michigan State's Brian Linthicum could be in play.

Round 6, Pick 191: WR T.J. Graham, North Carolina State

How about another receiver for the Bengals? T.J. Graham is a low-risk option who may be able to develop into their go-to slot target in a season or two but, in the meanwhile, could prove useful as a kick and punt returner. There are a number of directions the Bengals could go with their final pick, but I like receiver here most of all.

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