Bengals take Dre Kirkpatrick with 1st pick

CINCINNATI - The Bengals took cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama with the 17th overall pick in the draft, trying to fill one of their two most glaring needs.

The Bengals had one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL in Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall, but Joseph left for Houston after the 2010 season and Hall tore an Achilles tendon last year.

Cincinnati got the pick from Oakland as part of the deal for quarterback Carson Palmer, which didn't turn out so well for the Raiders, who failed to reach the playoffs last season. Cincinnati also had its own pick, at No. 21, in the round.

The Bengals also need to get a receiver to complement A.J. Green, their top pick last year who reached made the Pro Bowl.

Cincinnati was slated to pick at number 21, but traded that pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for their 27th pick and their third-round pick (no. 93). The Bengals selected former Wisconsin offensive guard Kevin Zeitler with their second first-round pick.