2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Cincinnati Bengals Select...

With the twenty-first pick of the 2012 CSC Community Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals (chosen by coldpizza) select...

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

After landing Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill with the seventeenth overall selection, the Bengals look to shore up their secondary with their second first rounder. As it turns out, all four of the CB prospects I was considering at seventeen are still available and Gilmore is, in my humble opinion, the best of that lot. At 6'0½" 190 lbs, Gilmore is commonly considered to be the second best pure cover corner in this draft, behind LSU's Morris Claiborne.

With Leon Hall coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon and not expected to be 100% by opening week, it's imperative that Cincinnati brings in someone that can contribute right away. Gilmore offers exceptional straight line speed and is fluid in and out of his cuts. He also excels in run support, a trait that should serve the team well, with Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall and newcomer Trent Richardson now in the division.

Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins and Nebraska's Alfonzo Dennard were also considered. In the end, however, Gilmore was the lone CB prospect that failed to raise a red flag of some sort, be it due to his personal character or his readiness to make an impact at the professional level. With a playmaking Stephen on offense and a ballhawking Stephon on defense, look for the Bengals to make waves once again in the über competitive AFC North.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2012 CSC Community Mock Draft Section.