clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

SB Nation Draft Profile: Alabama Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama gets ready to run the 40-yard dash during the 2012 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama gets ready to run the 40-yard dash during the 2012 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Getty Images

It's without a question that the Cincinnati Bengals identified the cornerback position as one of need during free agency. The question is if the team feels comfortable with those players to push onto other talent-rich positions during the draft, or if the activity signing free agent cornerbacks was nothing more than building the roster's depth (as a backup plan), in case they're unable to select the cornerback that they want.

Yet if there's a cornerback available that they've placed near the top of their draft board, we have little doubt Cincinnati pulls the trigger -- for the countless reasons we've argued since Cincinnati's depressing wild card loss to the Houston Texans in January. Likely tagging it as a need, the Bengals have a fragile foundation at the position beyond Leon Hall (and some would even argue he's not that much of a foundation in the first place).

Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, who visited with the Cincinnati Bengals last week, is one. Counting down towards the NFL draft, SB Nation offers up their draft profile on one of the top cornerbacks during this year's draft class.