2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cincinnati Bengals options

Now that the Bengals have traded away Carson Palmer, their draft situation has changed quite a bit. With two first round picks this year, they could do a number of things to get more talent on both sides of the ball.

Option 1) Trent Richardson. With the way the Bengals and Raiders are playing (4-2), both draft picks are projected to be in the second half of the draft. Most likely Richardson will be gone but if he is there, the Bengals need to take him. Benson has been very pedestrian since 2009 and Richardson is arguably the best RB to come out of college football since Adrian Peterson. His combination of size, speed, and power make him a combination of Adrian Peterson and Maurice Jones Drew. He hits the hole and defenders hard and is a legitimate 3 down back that can add to the young nucleus of Dalton, Green, and Gresham.

Option 2) Morris Clairborne. The defense for the Bengals has been playing very well this year but their secondary is still feeling the effects of the departure of Jonathan Joseph. Leon Hall is locked up for the future and is playing at a very high level however; at the other end is Nate Clements. Clements has been very serviceable at CB this year and is continuing to play at a high level but at age 31, his prime days are behind him. Clements is signed through the 2012 season so he could serve as mentor role for Clairborne. The Bengals have also had a good track record with selecting cornerbacks in the first round.

Option 3) Stephon Gilmore. Another cornerback that the Bengals could select in the event that Clairborne is off the board. Gilmore trumps Clairborne in athleticism and size but has slightly weaker coverage skills. None the less, Gilmore is still one of the top cornerbacks this year and has tremendous upside. He is great at shedding blocks and in run support and with the teaching of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, he could develop into a shut down cornerback. Also, interesting fact, he comes from the same school from Jonathan Joseph so maybe the Bengals will have an affinity for South Carolina CB’s.

Option 3) Dre Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick is an extremely talented athlete and has more upside than the other cornerbacks listed but he is extremely raw and will need at least a year to learn the ropes of the NFL. Kirkpatrick is a big hitter and a ball hawk but can get beat quite frequently with some pretty basic routes.

Option 4) Cordy Glenn. The most pressing need for the Bengals is interior o-line help. Bobbie Williams is getting old, Livings is arguably the worst starter on the team, and Cook is an ok center at best. Cook was recently signed to an extension so it looks unlikely that the Bengals will want to upgrade the center position but both guard positions could use some help. Glenn currently plays tackle for Georgia but is projected to play guard in the NFL. He is a mammoth of a man at 350 pounds and would complement RT Andre Smith perfectly to create an extremely powerful right side of the o-line. With two 1^st round picks, the Bengals should definitely use one to pick up the top guard in the draft, whoever it is.

Option 5) David DeCastro. Another O-lineman that the Bengals could look at. DeCastro has very deceiving size but is very athletic, often going into the second level of the defense. He anchors very well and has protected QB Andrew Luck admirably.

Option 6) Michael Floyd – Currently wide receiver is not a need but with Shipley coming off a blown knee and with the fact that Jerome Simpson may be in different stripes next year due to his pot bust, the Bengals could be looking at a hole at the #2 spot. Floyd fits perfectly as a possession receiver. He has great body control and good speed to run away from defenses. In all honesty, he could be a top 10 pick if it weren’t for his off the field issues (DUI’sss) and his laziness on the field.

Option 7) Janoris Jenkins – Hey! Another cornerback. Jenkins is currently playing for North Alabama and has off the field issues which may push him into the second, or even the third round but his talent displayed at Florida has projected him to be a top 15 pick. He is a little small but has proven that he can go up against the big receivers of the SEC (AJ Green, Julio Jones, Alshon Jeffery) without a problem. His cover skills may be the best in the country and he could immediately be a day 1 starter putting CB Nate Clements in the nickel position. Just have to make sure he and Simpson don’t become best friends.

Option 8) Vontaze Burfict – Burfict is definitely not a need but with Manny Lawson on a  1 year deal, the Bengals may be enticed to jump on Burfict to become their SAM of the future. Burfict projects better as a middle linebacker but he has the athleticism and size to play any linebacker position. Burfict immediately gives the Bengals the intimidating presence that they lack which would solidify their defense. A scout once said “Burfict is what you get when you kick Ray Lewis’s dog”. Nuff’s said.

Option 9) Lamar Miller – Miller is currently a redshirt sophomore so he may end up going back to Miami for another year but in the event that he does declare for the draft, he should be on every team’s big board if they are in need of a RB. In fact, Miller may become a better pro than Richardson. Miller does not have the freakish muscle of Richardson, but he has a lot more speed (some scouts say he could run in the 4.3’s) and hits the hole extremely fast. He is very elusive at 212 pounds and also nearly always makes the first defender miss. His footwork is very good and may end up being a better pick than Richardson if they are looking for more of a home run hitter.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a lot of flexibility with their two first round picks this year. Who knows, maybe they trade up or trade down but in with the addition of any 2 of these players, they can solidify a lot of areas and build to their young core that is already playing at a stellar level.