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Setting The Stage For The Cincinnati Bengals And The Second Round Of The 2012 NFL Draft

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26:  Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals react after the Bengals selected Dre Kirkpatrick #17 overall during the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2012 in New York City.  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals react after the Bengals selected Dre Kirkpatrick #17 overall during the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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The first-round of the NFL draft is fun, allowing teams to acquire future starters that have the greatest potential to become stars in the league. But that's it. It's a score of individuality and promotion to address positions of great desperation. Truth be told the NFL draft, the core of what makes a team, doesn't start until Friday's second round through Saturday's final selections.

This is where teams like the Bengals acquire and solidify their core with players like Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, Andrew Whitworth, Jordan Shipley, Pat Sims, Domata Peko, Rey Maualuga, Thomas Howard (not drafted by the Bengals), among others who were selected outside of the first round. Are they the sexy maniacs of first round selections that substantiate first-round glory? No. Are they the type of players with great significance that contributes towards a team's success or failures? Hell yes.

Now that the first round is completed and the Cincinnati Bengals have selected their prospect starting guard in Kevin Zeitler and cornerback in Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, it's time that the Bengals shift to the meat and potatoes of every NFL draft.

Positions that we're identifying early for Friday's second and third round includes running back, defensive tackle, wide receiver and defensive end.

Joe Goodberry's current top players available that the Bengals could target on Friday includes:

Courtney Upshaw DE/OLB Alabama
Lamar Miller RB University of Miami
Devon Still DT Penn State
Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech
Andre Branch DE/OLB Clemson
Reuben Randle WR LSU
Jerel Worthy DT Michigan State
Kendall Reyes DT Connecticut
Chris Polk RB Washington
Marvin Jones WR California

The second round is set to begin at 7:00 PM on Friday, followed by the third round.