The 2012 mock drafts are rolling in and for the most part, they've all been the same when it comes to who the Bengals are taking with their two first-round picks. Most mock drafts have the Bengals shoring up their secondary in the first round along with drafting a running back. Lately, mock drafts have the Bengals grabbing Alabama running back Trent Richardson in the first round, especially the last two mock drafts from SB Nation.
Well SB Nation has released another mock draft now that all draft spots are locked other than the top two teams. SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber's latest mock is similar to the last one in which he had the Bengals grabbing Richardson at No. 17 and Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard at No. 21.
This time, he doesn't have the Bengals drafting a running back, but a wide receiver instead.
With the No. 17 overall pick, Van Bibber has the Bengals selecting Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright.
I honestly think Wright could end up getting picked higher than this. Already, there's talk that he might be as good of a pick as Justin Blackmon, but measuring under six feet hurts him. The Bengals' offense with Wright in the slot and A.J. Green lined up outside, to me, makes them a real contender in the AFC North next year.
Van Bibber is definitely right that the Bengals need help at the wide receiver position. Jerome Simpson is extremely unreliable and now that he's been indicted on the marijuana charges from earlier in the season, he may not be back even if the Bengals wanted him. However, when it comes to the biggest holes on the roster, wide receiver doesn't quite match up to cornerback, safety, linebacker, offensive line or running back. I couldn't see them grabbing a receiver in the first round two years in a row.
Then with the No. 21 overall pick, he has the Bengals selecting Nebraska cornerback Dennard again.
Cincinnati really missed Johnathan Joseph this season. They have a very good defense, but the back of it leaks, which lessens the effectiveness of the talent they have up front. After drafting Wright with their earlier pick, they should be able to score points in bunches. Adding Dennard gives their defense a better backstop to help those points stand.
This pick I can get behind. The Bengals need a new cornerback to replace Joseph to play opposite of Leon Hall. I would be shocked if the Bengals went through the first round without drafting a cornerback or safety.
So, compared with the other mock drafts in which the Bengals grabbed a running back and cornerback, how do you like this one with the Bengals grabbing a wide receiver in the first round of the second year in a row?