Paul Dehner Jr.

pdehnerjr@enquirer.com

What seems like the longest draft lead-up season in history is finally over and we can focus on what the Bengals will

come away with this weekend. It’s a crucial three days as the franchise looks to stop the bleeding of the team which slid in the wrong direction last year and must find impact players not only Thursday but especially with eight picks on Saturday.

The Bengals will be looking for teams to trade up to grab quarterbacks in order to slide one of the better prospects down the draft to them.

Here’s a look at my mock draft of all the Bengals picks – including a mock trade – to give a view of what I think will happen early and how the picks could divvy up by once the selections come fast in furious on the final day.

Let’s start with the unfolding of Thursday’s first hour-plus.

1. Cleveland: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M. The Browns want Trubisky, but they will find a way to trade up from 12 to secure his services.

2. San Francisco: Jamal Adams, S, LSU. John Lynch’s first pick as GM fittingly is a safety. Adams is a difference-maker for the next decade.

3. Chicago: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State. Bears keep building their secondary. They consider Trubisky, but pass.

4. Jacksonville: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville. They need to take pressure off coach-killer Blake Bortles immediately.

5. Cleveland (TRADE): Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina. Browns make an aggressive trade up with Tennessee, piling on multiple Day 2 picks to get their much-needed QB.

6. New York Jets: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama. They just wish there were a quarterback worth taking here. Bengals would absolutely love for them to reach for Deshaun Watson and push a prospect down a notch.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State. New coordinator in need of a playmaker on the back end.

8. Carolina: Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford. The Panthers need to replenish running back, but can't believe they land Thomas.

9. Cincinnati (9): Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama. Bengals sprint to the podium. Arguably the most productive defensive lineman in this draft considering his versatility. He wrecked game plans for the Tide and could slot as a starter next to Geno Atkins in the nickel defense. He could also pop out and play the edge if necessary. He slides down the board over concerns surrounding his shoulder issues. Cincinnati won’t pass on the instant talent infusion. Allen could easily go in the top three while others think he slides to the teens. Hard to see him cascading past the Bengals here.

Bengals at 9: Which top defender could slip to Bengals?

Bengals draft strategy: Defensive line

Second Round (41): Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee. They’ll be looking hard at running back these next two rounds and Kamara hits them just right. He’s elusive, explosive and can catch the ball well out of the backfield. Keep an eye on Tampa Bay trying to move into position to steal Kamara in the late first or early second. Still, a best-player-available scenario for the Bengals if a player they hold a first-round grade on surprisingly falls.

Bengals draft strategy: Running backs

Insider: Why the Bengals could draft Joe Mixon

Doc: Bengals should say ‘no’ to Joe

Third round (73): Sidney Jones, CB, Washington. An ideal opportunity to snatch a first-round talent in the third. Jones was lauded a first-round pick but popped his Achilles during his Pro Day and will miss the majority of this season. But Jones has the same agent as Leon Hall, so the Bengals and Jones know how well that recovery can go. A letter was also sent to every team from his medical team this week saying he’s in great shape in his rehab. He’d start this year on PUP, maybe see some time, but be ready to rock just when the Bengals need him next year as Darqueze Dennard may be gone and with Adam Jones a year older.

Third round (100 -- TRADE): Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova. Bengals the 116 for the 100 and give up their first fifth-round pick this year and an expected compensatory fifth next year (received for Andrew Whitworth) in order to move up from 116 to 100 and take the specimen from Villanova. At 6-foot-7, 289 pounds and a chiseled defensive end body, he fits in perfectly with the big Bengals linemen. Cincinnati hopes to coach him up and get the production out of this project they never did from Margus Hunt. Wondering where to put all these picks this year and next on the roster, they take a chance to dish a couple assets for a player they have a much higher grade on.

Fourth round (138): Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State. Probably not ready for snaps immediately, but has massive reach, wingspan and is a tremendous athlete after three years starting for the Seminoles at left tackle. Could be a future backup if Cedric Ogbuehi succeeds, or if Johnson develops he'll be there as an insurance policy to take over in a year or two.

Fifth round (176): George Kittle, TE, Iowa. Taking advantage of tight end depth here they land Kittle, coming out of the Hawkeyes tight end factory. He blocked well – as you must in order to play – at Iowa, but never really got to show off his offensive game. Still, he ran a great time at the Combine at 6-4, 247 pounds so projects to a better pro than college player.

Sixth round (193): Jordan Evans, LB, Oklahoma. Bengals would have liked to grab an inside linebacker sooner in this draft, but in this case they take the productive Sooners backer now to bring depth to a room in need of it.

Sixth round (217): Zane Gonzalez, K, Arizona State. The first kicker drafted by Marvin Lewis. Gonzalez is among three kicking options at this point and in need of competition for Randy Bullock, Cincinnati pulls the trigger on the ASU product with a dispensable pick.

Seventh round (227): Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU. In looking for a replacement for James Wright, an underused former Tigers receiver, they find the latest underused former Tigers receiver in Dupre.

Seventh round (251): Sean Harlow, OL, Oregon State. Filling depth in interior offensive line. A strong project who played tackle in college, but could make a successful move to guard or center.