Here we are just one month away from the real deal. Mock drafts are starting to come into focus and become closer to reality. In the Cincy Jungle community, I think we've pretty much narrowed the potential Bengals picks to about 10 players. I'm about to throw another prospect into the mix. I know, like you didn't have enough players to think about. You're welcome.
Previous Mocks:
1/14/12: Stephon Gilmore (17), Mark Barron (21)
2/23/12: David DeCastro (17), Stephon Gilmore (21), Chris Polk (53)
FIRST ROUND
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
9. Carolina Panthers: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
10. Buffalo Bills: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
13. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina
14. Dallas Cowboys: Michael Brockers, DE, LSU
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Miss State
16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Riley Reiff, T/G, Iowa
What if a player falls unexpectedly? What if that player is at a position of need? The Bengals jump on it, right? Riley Reiff has dropped on many boards after some teams/draftniks were disappointed by his short arm length. He's now projected to play OG instead of OT because of his short arms and inability to re-direct in space. So maybe he will be an NFL guard, that's perfectly fine with us. Reiff is the no.11 player on my board and would be an instant starter for Cincinnati. Not only does he upgrade the guard position, Reiff also provides backup depth at OT and possible insurance to Andre Smith who's entering his final year of his rookie deal.
18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, T/G, Georgia
19. Chicago Bears: Kendall Wright, WR, Iowa
20. Tennessee Titans: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
With Gilmore gone in the top 10 and the WRs (Floyd & Wright) gone before this pick, the options were pretty slim. Dre Kirkpatrick is the no.16 player on my board and he'll have the opportunity to be a starter for the Bengals by 2013. As of now, he'll sit behind a few veterans and work on his trade. Maybe he can find some time at safety in nickel packages where he can cover those new-aged freak tight ends.
22. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
23. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State
26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
27. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois
28. Green Bay Packers: Doug Martin, RB, Boise State
29. Baltimore Ravens: Shea McLellin, OLB, Boise State
30. San Francisco 49ers: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
31. New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
SECOND ROUND
33. St. Louis Rams: Peter Konz, C/G, Wisconsin
34. Indianapolis Colts: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
35. Minnesota Vikings: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
37. Cleveland Browns: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC
38. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
39. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
40. Carolina Panthers: Kendall Reyes, DT, UConn
41. Buffalo Bills: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
42. Miami Dolphins: Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern state
43. Seattle Seahawks: Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson
44. Kansas City Chiefs: Alameda Ta'amu, NT, Washington
45. Dallas Cowboys: Kelechi Osemele, T/G, Iowa State
46. Philadelphia Eagles: Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State
47. New York Jets: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
48. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame
49. San Diego Chargers: Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska
50. Chicago Bears: Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
51. Philadelphia Eagles: Mitchell Schwartz, T/G, California
52. Tennessee Titans: Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma
53. Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Jones, WR, California
After we went OG and CB in round one, the biggest needs were clearly WR and RB. When Marvin Jones, who's no.48 on my board was available it was an easy choice. I figured with David Wilson and Chris Polk still available, one good RB should be available in round three. Marvin Jones has: wait for it: Chad Johnson-like skills. He's extremely quick and agile, displays great body control and can make some crazy catches. As far as I know his head is screwed on straight. Jones is one of my favorite prospects and I feel like he's ready to contribute today.
54. Detroit Lions: Alfonzo Dennard, CB/S, Nebraska
55. Atlanta Falcons: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
56. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
57. Denver Broncos: Josh Robinson, CB, UCF
58. Houston Texans: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
59. Green Bay Packers: Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia
60. Baltimore Ravens: Philip Blake, C/G, Baylor
61. San Francisco 49ers: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
62. New England Patriots: David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
63. New York Giants: Chris Polk, RB, Washington
THIRD ROUND
64. Indianapolis Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
65. St. Louis Rams: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
66. Minnesota Vikings: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
67. Cleveland Browns: Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple
68. Tampa Bay Bucs: Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska
69. Washington Redskins: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dwight "Bill" Bentley, CB, La-Lafayette
71. Buffalo Bills: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
72. Miami Dolphins: Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State
73. Miami Dolphins: Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State
74. Kansas City Chiefs: Devon Wylie, WR, Fresno state
75. Seattle Seahawks: LaMichael James, RB , Oregon
76. Houston Texans: Derek Wolfe, DE, Cincinnati
77. New York Jets: Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss
78. San Diego Chargers: Josh Chapman, NT, Alabama
79. Chicago Bears: Brandon Brooks, G, Ohio
80. Arizona Cardinals: Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami
81. Dallas Cowboys: Trumaine Johnson, CB/S, Montana
82. Tennessee Titans: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
83. Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
I promised some of you I didn't hate Pead just because he played at Cincinnati. Just because I think Pead (no. 75) is a 3rd-4th round value and only a change-of-pace back at this point, doesn't mean I don't like him. He's extremely explosive vertically and laterally. He displays good wiggle and enough strength to break arm tackles. I'd love to bulk him up and teach him how to pass block. His vision needs work but in this offense he'll have the ability to carry the ball only 5-8 times a game while helping as a return man as a rookie. He's a developmental project as of right now but he could pay large dividends in another year.