We're just under three months away from the NFL Draft and the mock drafts are in full swing. Now that the Senior Bowl has been played, the draftnicks all have a little bit of a better grasp on the prospects and where they may land. This will probably change again in the coming weeks with the Scouting Combine and Pro Days.
Most of us know the Bengals' biggest needs this offseason and many mock drafts we've posted on Cincy Jungle have a similar feel to them. SB Nation's draft site, Mocking the Draft, has just released their latest first-round mock draft and they have the Bengals taking two high-profile players with their two first round picks.
At pick No. 17, Mocking the Draft has the Bengals taking South Carolina cornerback, Stephon Gilmore.
Stephon Gilmore | Cornerback | South Carolina: The Bengals struggled to find a good replacement for Jonathan Joseph this season and Gilmore is a good replacement. He's a big cornerback with good quickness and tackling ability.
In their mock, Gilmore is the fourth cornerback taken in the first round with Morris Claibourne, Dre Kirkpatrick and Janoris Jenkins all being picked in front of him. The more I hear about this kid, the more I like. It also sounds like he's an ideal Mike Zimmer cornerback.
With their second pick, No. 21, Mocking the Draft has the Bengals taking Miami running back, Lamar Miller.
Lamar Miller | Running back | Miami: Cedric Benson's production has dropped and he's averaged less than four yards per carry the last two seasons. He's also 28. His backup Bernard Scott has never shown the ability to take over the top spot. Miller, who is entering the draft following his redshirt sophomore year, could start for the Bengals for years. He's quick and has great cut and burst ability.
Miller is an exciting player with a lot of big play capability. The Bengals need this type of explosiveness from the position, as they haven't had it in quite a few years. Miller is the second running back to come off of the board in the first round of this mock draft.
The team could go a variety of different ways with their two picks, but these two positions (and these specific players) make a lot of sense. It's becoming more and more of a popular opinion that this is the way that they will look. We'll know more in the coming weeks and months.