Mock Draft: Bengals select Kentucky DE Alvin Dupree

Now that the Cincinnati Bengals season has come to its inevitable and still-depressing conclusion, we're redirecting our focus (and sapped energy) from the 2014 season with a peak into 2015. We'll still look back on the season that was (which was good but without its playoff win... again) with an eye on the season that's yet to come.

And of course one of those upcoming events is the 2015 NFL draft, scheduled between April 30-May 2 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois -- the NFL moved the draft from New York's Radio City Hall for next season.

Cincinnati will be selecting No. 21 overall. Mocking the Draft's Dan Kadar released a mock draft on Monday, selecting defensive end Alvin Dupree:

It was apparent throughout the season the Bengals need to improve their pass rush. Dupree is the best edge player available and someone who could make a difference early as a situational player, at worst.

Without a doubt, the Bengals pass rush was a special kind of awful this season. Was it talent or philosophy? Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther applied the same Mike Zimmer concepts and schemes, but appeared more conservative rather than Mike Zimmer's balls-to-the-wall approach. Cincinnati appears willing to continue development with (entering) third-year defensive end Margus Hunt and second-year end Will Clarke.

Regardless, the Bengals finished the season with a league-worst 20 sacks and the second-worst season during the Marvin Lewis era.