Cincy Jungle Writer's mock draft: Cincinnati Bengals on the clock

The latest edition of the Cincy Jungle Writer's Mock Draft is here. Be sure to keep up with all of the picks in a out stream page.

Next up are the Cincinnati Bengals, who despite having one of the league's best defenses, probably will address that side of the ball with their first pick.

Anthony: Bengals take Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

If the board fell this way, I see this pick coming down to one of five players: Ryan Shazier, C.J. Moseley, Jason Verrett, Dee Ford or Timmy Jernigan. By most accounts, Shazier and Moseley are either No.2 or No.3 at their position in this year's draft (Anthony Barr No.1), Jernigan is No.2 (Aaron Donald is No.1), Ford is No.2 and Verrett is No.4. Any would be good picks given the value and need combination.

Because of the depth at corner in the draft, the ability to get a good prospect as low as the third round and the fact that the defensive end depth completely drops off after the top-three prospects in this year's class, Ford is the pick.

Margus Hunt is an unknown and another rotational player in the mix would be helpful. The Bengals' defense thrives on pressure from the front four without blitzing, if possible, and Ford would undoubtedly help in that regard.

Jason: Bengals take Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

It appears surprising to see Dennard fall this far, but if you watch him play, you'll see a very physical corner who frequently comes close to committing pass inference on the receiver he's covering. In college - particularly the Big 10 - that's accepted more.

That's not the case in today's pass-happy NFL though, as the rules have been altered to strongly favor receivers and keep DBs off them in coverage.

Still, he's a great prospect who probably needs a year to refine his technique and become a solid NFL corner. The Bengals are happy take him and let him sit and adjust to the NFL game as a rookie.

Learning from the likes of Leon Hall, Terence Newman and Adam Jones ensures he doesn't get thrown into the fire before he's ready, and this pick pays bigger dividends in future seasons than it will in Dennard's rookie year.

Mickey: Bengals take Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

It is hard to pass on cornerback here, but I do. With Ealy on the board I think the Bengals like to build upon the strengths of their team. Cincinnati boasted the number 1 defense in the AFC last season and lost a major playmaker in Michael Johnson.

Ealy could come in and lessen the blow of that loss. An outside rusher that could excel with the players the Bengals already have to surround him, Ealy could impress from day one in Cincinnati.