2011 NFL Mock Draft: 10 Prospects the Cincinnati Bengals Should Target

It's no secret that the Bengals have a lot of holes to fill on their roster.

Out with the old and in with the new.

Oh wait, Marvin Lewis signed an extension.

As Lewis enters his ninth season with the Bengals, let's take a look at 10 players that will be on the Bengals radar.

A few will be options for the No. 4 pick, but the Bengals have plenty of other picks to worry about too.

1. Nick Fairley

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (

OK, so the odds of him being on the board are slim to none. But Fairley is a can't miss defensive tackle that will be a great NFL player.

The Bengals would love to have a guy that can clog the middle in the running game and attack the passer with ease as well.

Cross your fingers he drops to No. 4.

But if he's gone...

2. Da'Quan Bowers

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Antwan Odom just isn't cutting it. He makes too much money and has been injured in all three seasons as a Bengal.

Fans let one five-sack game against the Packers cloud their vision of the disappointing Odom.

So let him lose, and bank on Bowers as the future QB killer.

The Bengals defense was a lot better in the second half because of the emergence of Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson.

Draft Bowers and have three players that strike fear into the other team's QB.

3. A. J. Green

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 13: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

No I don't think the Bengals should draft a receiver so high in the draft.

Chad Ochocinco and T.O. are great examples of why the wide receiver position is the most interchangeable in the NFL.

But this isn't a regular NFL team. Mike Brown is surely drooling over the explosiveness and raw speed of Green.

Let's all hope he is out voted by the rest of his talent evaluation department. Oh wait, that's Brown.

Crap.

4. Marcell Dareus

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

If Bowers and Fairley are off the board, the Bengals might settle for Marcell Dareus out of Alabama.

A solid penetrator with excellent pass-rush skills, he is the next best DE available on the board.

Let's just hope this top 10 pick out of Alabama fairs better than the one the Bengals selected two years ago.

5. Patrick Peterson

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers nearly intercepts a pass in the final seconds against Markeith Summers #16 and Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels as time expired at Tiger Stadium on November

Peterson is the closest thing to a shutdown corner in the 2011 draft.

He posseses all the physical tools and is great when the ball is in the air.

If the Bengals decide to let Jonathan Joseph go, Peterson would be able to fit in along side Leon Hall and the Bengals secondary would remain it's biggest strength on defense.

6. Allen Bailey

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COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes gets off a pass as Allen Bailey #57 of the Miami Hurricanes applies pressure at Ohio Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Image

The 6'4", 285 pound Bailey is an above average pass rusher that is a solid choice for the Bengals in the second round.

He had 46 tackles and seven sacks his senior season at Miami.

He has great reaction time and can fly from sideline-to-sideline. He is a punishing hitter that has incredible energy and effort.

7. Gabe Carimi

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Offensive lineman Gabe Carimi #68 of the Wisconsin Badgers warms up prior to playing the TCU Horned Frogs in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

He can play either left tackle or right.

Carimi had a outstanding senior season at Wisconsin and is projected to be a late first round pick.

He is very difficult to turn the corner against because of his lateral movement and solid footwork.

His technique have gotten better every year he was in college, but his knees have gotten worse every season.

If he slides to the Bengals in the second round because of his past knee issues, they have to scoop him up.

8. Justin Houston

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 21: Justin Houston #42 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Dhani Jones is getting old, and his speed is beginning to suffer because of it. Drafting his replacement is something the Bengals need to do at some point in the draft.

Houston recorded 11 sacks for the Bulldogs in 2010 and was the anchor of the Bulldog defense. He can play outside linebacker and allow Rey Maualuga to play in his natural position of middle linebacker.

Getting him in the second round would be a great pick-up.

9. Ryan Williams

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 04: Ryan Williams #34 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Get

The red-shirt sophomore Williams recently declared he will be entering the NFL draft. It was a dumb move and his tumble in the draft will prove it.

He only had 477 yards and nine TDs a year after rushing for 1655 yards and 21 TDs.

He has enormous potential though and the Bengals would be getting a steal if he falls to them in the third round.

He 5'10", 202 pound back has the body to handle 15-20 carries a game in the NFL.

10. Marcus Cannon

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Marcus Cannon #61, Kyle Dooley #72 and Alonzo Adams #81 of the TCU Horned Frogs raise the Mountain West Regular Season Championship trophy at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronal

This guy is massive, to the tune of 6'5", 350 pounds.

But it's the combination of size and athleticism that makes him a coveted prospect among NFL scouts.

He can use his large frame, strength and athleticism at the guard position without worrying about getting beat by NFL defensive ends on the edge.

Scoring Cannon in the third round would be huge (literally).