Cincinnati Bengals 7-round NFL mock draft

Our friends at Big Blue View, SB Nation’s New York Giants blog, recently put together a seven round mock draft and it includes many interesting picks for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The mock draft starts out with Reuben Foster being selected by the Bengals in Round 1. That has proven to be the most popular mock draft selection for Cincinnati. In total, the draft nets the Bengals a linebacker, two defensive lineman, a wide receiver, three offensive linemen, three defensive backs and a highly-touted kicker. This mock draft hits on many of the Bengals needs, though it also overdoes it a bit on the defensive back front, giving the Bengals two safeties, which isn’t a position at which the Bengals need to add considerable depth.

Round 1, pick 9: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama

Round 2, pick 41: Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama

Round 3, pick 73: ArDarius Stewart, WR, Alabama

Round 4, pick 116: Will Holden, OT, Vanderbilt

Round 4, pick 138:Jarron Jones, NT, ND

Round 5, pick 153:Jeremy Cutrer, CB, MTSU

Round 5, pick 176: Collin Buchanan, OT, Miami (OH)

Round 6, pick 193: Tedric Thompson, FS, Colorado

Round 6, pick 217: Jon Toth, OL, UK

Round 7, pick 227: Jake Elliott, K, Memphis

Round 7, pick 251: Nathan Gerry, SS, Nebraska

What do you think? Is this a mock draft you’d be happy about? The fact that it starts out with three consecutive Alabama players is a bit much and unlikely when considering how many players there are from hundreds of schools in the draft.

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski also recently completed a seven round mock draft and it hands the Bengals a different group of talent, starting with highly talented defensive end Jonathan Allen, also out of Alabama. About a month ago, no one thought Allen could fall to the Bengals, but, a recently announced shoulder issue could cause him to fall to the Bengals at pick No. 9.

The Pick: DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Jonathan Allen is a top-three prospect in this year's NFL draft class. But concerns about his lack of athleticism and surgically repaired shoulders may force a slight draft-day tumble. Teams weren't the only ones discouraged with his combine workout, though.

"I was pissed off and disappointed," Allen said, per AL.com's Matt Zenitz, "but it's part of the process."

A team like the Cincinnati Bengals should be waiting with open arms to secure a talent of this caliber despite these concerns.

Allen doesn't have the length the Bengals usually prefer in their defensive ends, and he's not a true edge-rusher. However, he can serve as a stout run defender who lines up as a base end on early downs and moves inside alongside Geno Atkins as an interior pass-rusher in sub packages.

Defensive tackles who can rush the passer are rare. Two of them on the same team is unheard of in today's NFL.

Here’s a look at the Bengals’ collection of picks in the full draft, which includes three defensive lineman, two offensive linemen, one linebacker, two wide receivers, one running back, the same kicker as the above mock draft, and a safety.

Round 1, pick 9: DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Round 2, pick 41: C Pat Elflein, Ohio State

Round 3, pick 73: LB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State

Round 4, pick 116: WR Chad Hansen, Cal

Round 4, pick 138: DT Ryan Glasgow, Michigan

Round 5, pick 153: RB Brian Hill, Wyoming

Round 5, pick 176: DE Deatrich Wise, Arkansas

Round 6, pick 193: OT Chad Wheeler, USC

Round 6, pick 217: WR Jehu Chesson, Michigan

Round 7, pick 227: K Jake Elliott, Memphis

Round 7, pick 251: S Mike Tyson, Cincinnati

I didn’t do a full seven round mock draft, but I did do a Bengals-only seven rounder of my own using WalkTheMock.com. For consistencies sake, I included Elliott in my mock draft, too, and started out with an Alabama player. Actually, it just worked out that way, but, I don’t object to either player. This mock is pretty balanced with five offensive, five defensive and one special teams player and seems to hit on all of the Bengals’ needs, other than offensive tackle, which isn’t addressed.

Which Alabama-studded mock draft do you like better? Do you think Memphis’ Jake Elliott could be the Bengals’ long-term answer at kicker, like these mock draft project?