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Mel Kiper Mock Draft 2.0: Bengals Select A Cornerback And Offensive Guard

TUSCALOOSA AL - OCTOBER 02:  Dre Kirkpatrick #21 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass intended for Trey Burton #8 of the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2 2010 in Tuscaloosa Alabama.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Last month when Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of the NFL draft season, he projected Cincinnati selecting Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard and University of Miami running back Lamar Miller. Makes sense. Cedric Benson is leaving (for the love of God), so the team needs a running back -- despite my complete objection of using a first round selection for a running back. Yet the true caveat is that a running back is only as good as his offensive line and if they're not very good, then it won't matter who the team selects. That running back simply won't be effective.

Cornerback is an absolute given. Not only is there a chance that Leon Hall's rehabilitation could lead into the regular season after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury, there's absolutely no depth on this roster. And even if the Bengals successfully convinced cornerback Stanford Routt to bring his slight-above-average talents (though valuable due to the lack of overall demand) to Cincinnati, the Bengals are hardly finished rebuilding their secondary. In today's NFL you need three good cornerbacks to counter the multiple wide receiver formations.

Star-divide

All that being said if Mel Kiper Jr.'s February Mock Draft were any indication of what the team may do in late April, those needs will be addressed. With the 17th selection, Kiper has the Bengals selecting Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. He writes:

The Bengals held up pretty well against the pass last year, but should look for the heir to Johnathan Joseph, whom they lost to Houston before the 2011 season. Kirkpatrick fits the bill as a big, physical corner who doesn't give up much in coverage given his size (nearly 6-foot-3), which makes him particularly good inside the red zone. He's also not one to shy away from run support. The Bengals need a running back, too, but they can find value at that position much later. Glenn is also an option if the Jets don't make that pick.

And with the 21st selection, Kiper has Cincinnati selecting Stanford guard David DeCastro.

I have guard as one of the top needs for the Bengals, and they won't do any better than DeCastro at this spot. A player who plays with exceptional awareness, DeCastro is the kind of guard who helps you crack off bigger gains in the run and screen game because he gets a great initial punch, but will also get to the second level and throw great blocks out in space. Again, I don't think Cincy gets enough value here at running back, but DeCastro helps the run game, too.

I think we can accept those.

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I would agree

We’d be really lucky if we land those two players. I would love Doug Martin in the 2nd.

by sgiridharan1982 on Feb 15, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions  

+1

that would be the best draft we could have ever!
That is my dream scenario, though I predict that it goes Decastro and the Kirkpatrick!

with Doug Martin in the second round (who have been compared to Ray Rice) the Bengals would have an offense that could be explosive in the passing game to go with an effective running game!

“Play-Action from Dalton, bootlegs to the right and throws it deep to AJ Green for the TD”

by Christian Gaarde Nielsen on Feb 15, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions  

+100 That's what I've been saying for weeks.

"Assuredly those impressions which longest haunt recollection are the most transitory..." - Lafcadio Hearn

by mightwhales on Feb 15, 2012 7:22 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes please!

I couldn’t be more excited than if the draft fell this way

by The Dealio on Feb 15, 2012 3:10 PM EST reply actions  

Perfect mock

However, I highly doubt are both there at pick 17.

by Mexal on Feb 15, 2012 3:11 PM EST reply actions  

Holy crap

Yeah, can’t ask for any better than this

by steve henderson on Feb 15, 2012 3:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

WOW Speechless!!

All I Gotta Say This WOuld MAKE THE BENGALS TEAM VERY HAPPY
Just finish it like this then i would be happy!!
2nd Round Brandon Thompson DT
3rd Isaiah Pead RB
4th Marvin Jones WR
5th Janzen Jackson FS
5th Keenan Robinson OLB
6th Asa “Ace” Jackson DB
7th Landon Walker OT

by Touhue Cha on Feb 15, 2012 3:18 PM EST reply actions  

thanks bro

imma gonna make a more in-depth post later on tonight when im done with school,hopefully you and everyone else can join the conversation and the topic im going to talk about later on tonight

by Touhue Cha on Feb 15, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions  

As much as I hate Mel Kiper... I will sing his praises if the draft goes this way

"He stood in there like an old riverboat gambler and gunned that ball right on the money"

by ItsAlwaysSunnyInDayton on Feb 15, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions  

Dennard is a senior right? Played in the Senior Bowl?

All I saw in that game was wide open receivers who couldn’t catch the ball.
Dennard is exactly the type of reach we don’t need in the first round.

DeCastro is good value at our draft spot.

by BENGALS69 on Feb 15, 2012 3:20 PM EST reply actions  

No complaints here........

man, what a first round!

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 15, 2012 3:21 PM EST reply actions  

I agree, love this mock....

Please make it happen,
Please make it happen,
Please make it happen.

by pemci on Feb 15, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions  

When I first starting doing research ont he draft

I wanted Dre and Glenn.

After further research I found out Dre might not be there and Glenn might be a reach with the amount of good OG’s in the draft this year.

I would love this first round. Would be awesome!

by TCfromDubVee on Feb 15, 2012 3:34 PM EST reply actions  

Believe it or not, Kiper has Glenn going at #16 to the Jets

DeCastro at #21 to us and Konz at #29 to the Ravens (which I’ve heard the Ravens were really interested in Konz)

by Oregonbengalsfan on Feb 15, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions  

we can only hope our draft turns out this well

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 15, 2012 3:44 PM EST reply actions  

Listen guys & maybe girlz

we should consider D. Posey from Ohio State. Maybe 4th or 5th round. He had a monster year as a junior but f—cked up as a senior. If he would have played full season last year he could have easily been in the 1st round. He’s big, fast and has good hands. Anyone else in on this idea?

by sofakingood on Feb 15, 2012 3:46 PM EST reply actions  

i still like Ryan Broyles

he’s fast and only slides to the 3rd/4th because of his injury. would have been a 1st/2nd rounder otherwise.

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 15, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions  

true

but DeCastro is a much better player. falling to 21 will not happen

Cincy Jungle Contributor

by Brennen Warner on Feb 15, 2012 6:56 PM EST up reply actions  

ahem..

he’s a guard.

A guard hasn’t gone higher than 15 in the last decade. Only twice has one gone before 17. DeCastro is a very good prospect, but he doesn’t have the hype Pouncey did.

by indesignkat on Feb 15, 2012 7:21 PM EST up reply actions  

Exactly why that mock probably had Glenn before DeCastro

Glenn is a tackle who can play guard, DeCastro is a good right guard but we don’t know if he could also back up at left guard or the tackles.

Paul Brown Stadium, where everyone's hopes go to die.

by DTFCPDX on Feb 15, 2012 8:16 PM EST up reply actions  

Daltons Thought.

I am throwing off my back foot. Where is my front foot? Lost in the sand? I want to dance my feet! I have two feet. I want to use both. Help? Even Brady and Brees cant throw off the back leg. Im no different., I want Protection.
Kiper got it right! Andy needs room. QB Starts with free feet.

by Chili Dog on Feb 15, 2012 3:59 PM EST reply actions  

Ideal first round

CincyJungle.com Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Feb 15, 2012 4:39 PM EST reply actions  

i'll take it

For me it’s a toss up with Kirkpatrick or Jenkins, overall i think Jenkins is the second best corner in the draft period, but Kirkpatrick is right there with him and is also 6 foot 3. And i even think that you take DeCastro with the 17th pick then draft a corner with the 21st i think DeCastro is going to be that good. And could you imagine if they sign Carl Nicks to a big deal in free agency, our o-line is instantly top 10 in the nfl easy.

by thegrassisGREENer18 on Feb 15, 2012 5:15 PM EST reply actions  

Loving the Kirkpatrick pick...

since if it comes down to choosing between Jenkins and Kirkpatrick with the 21st I would choose Kirkpatrick in a heartbeat. DeCastro does represent a need as he is a guard and I most certainly would hope he could come in and force Livings out right away. I’m not in love with that pick because it’s not Trent Richardson but a good O-line is the basis for a good offense and the most important thing we need right now is to keep Dalton healthy and on his feet and guard is about the only hole we have left to fill on our O-line. So I can live with the DeCastro pick, especially if we go out and get a solid starting RB like Michael Bush in free agency. I’m still a little iffy about any of the other backs coming out being solid starters in the NFL. Pead is an intriguing option but I feel like the fact that he played in the Big East in college helped out quite a bit and that he simply wouldn’t survive in the AFC North against ferocious defenses like Baltimore and Pittsburgh whereas Richardson has all the intangibles you look for in a back and got a lot of his yardage against some of the best college defenses in the nation.

by dstacify on Feb 15, 2012 5:27 PM EST reply actions  

Awesome!

If this happened, I would cry tears of joy. But how the heck is Cordy Glenn going before DeCastro..and to be honest I would be upset if they took Kirkpatrick over Decastro..but alls well that ends well

by Nick_Crago on Feb 15, 2012 5:49 PM EST reply actions  

Good draft

DeCastro would get us much needed help to finally run the ball !! Love Richardson too ,but without a great line he would be just average.Now if Richardson is still there at 17 then I take him,but only if one or two of these guy’s are still on the board.(DeCastro ,Glenn or konz )This way I’m sure to get a great linemen. GO BENGALS !!

Kenneth Michael Powers

by BengalDude on Feb 15, 2012 6:49 PM EST reply actions  

Great draft

All the Bengals would have to do is get into the mid 2nd and grab Martin or possibly Miller if he is still there. If not Polk could be at the bottom of the 2nd and ready to suit up for us. Man this is going to be an awesome draft and don’t be surprised if Glenn goes before DeCastro because he can play T and G and some teams will want that more than just a G.

by Bigcatdaddy on Feb 15, 2012 6:52 PM EST via Android app reply actions  

Mel quit playing with us!!!

Almost had a heart attack off excitement… Gives us Barring and Pead in 2/3 and I’m buying season tickets…

by pray4gm11 on Feb 15, 2012 9:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

I know the combines have not even started

And it’s way early BUT I WOULD LOVE THIS SCENEREO – Doug Martin in the 2nd and we are set

by biggie22 on Feb 15, 2012 10:48 PM EST reply actions  

Won't happen.

But it would be great if it did.

by dqniel on Feb 16, 2012 12:26 AM EST reply actions  

Well I just went from six to midnight

While this is unlikely that both players are there at 17, let alone having the other available at 21, I could see one or the other falling to 17. Not sure about the Cordy Glen over Decastro, but if teams are looking at Glen as a tackle with versatility to play guard, then maybe. If both Decastro and Kirkpatrick were available at 17, that would be a wonderful problem to have. The real question would be who would you take first?

Bengals fan since day one.

Cardinals fan since I realized I had a choice.

by BengalCards on Feb 16, 2012 7:53 AM EST reply actions  

The real question would be who would you take first?

You’d have to take Decastro 1st.

Cause the depth at CB is deeper than at Guard (especially a Guard of Decastro’s quality).

"What we do in this life echoes in eternity"

Maximus*

by gratefulmax on Feb 16, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions  

CB position might have more depth

But a skill position like CB will have higher value to teams and will get picked over earlier. If they’re both there at 17, you would drafting the #1 OG or the #2 CB. Since the #2 CB will be perceived to have more value and will likely be drafted by another team before the pick at 21, I would probably pick Kirkpatrick. There will be quality, day one starting guards available in the second round.

Like I said, this scenario is a good problem to have if you are the Bengals.

Bengals fan since day one.

Cardinals fan since I realized I had a choice.

by BengalCards on Feb 16, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions  

+1

Definitely Kirkpatrick

by Bigcatdaddy on Feb 16, 2012 2:25 PM EST via Android app up reply actions  

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