Mel Kiper Mock Draft: Bengals select Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy

Next week enters a phase in American history that can only be defined as awesome. The NFL draft will kickoff on Thursday, May 8. That alone deserves it's own attention on Mount Awesome, but it won't be the only bust parched on the mountain. The action-packed television series 24 returns to our tubes... and it's going to be epic. The Bengals select No. 24 the same week that 24 returns? There has to be some kind of religious festival.

As we impatiently wait, NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. released his fifth mock draft of the season. South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is all-but-certain as the top-pick, according to his perspective. Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson goes second to the Rams and Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins will head south to Jacksonville. When the Bengals select at No. 24 (tick... tock... tick... tock), Kiper has the Bengals selecting Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy.

The Bengals have a pretty big need in the secondary, particularly at cornerback, at which they have Leon Hall, Adam Jones and Terence Newman all playing roles. None of them is young by NFL standards. They also lost Michael Johnson in free agency and could use an athletic defensive end who fits the system. The Bengals have done a good job developing defensive linemen, and perhaps Ealy is next in line. He's certainly an athlete with upside.

If only Cincinnati could grab Jack Bauer, even in his 50s. But then you were expecting a seriously cheesy reference to both by this point.