2013 NN NFL mock draft: With the fifty-third pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select ...

We're on to the twenty-first pick of the second round, No. 53 overall in the 2013 Niners Nation NFL mock draft. If you missed parts of the first round, check out our entire rundown.

The Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock, and their Niners Nation GM is rocket0348. With the fifty-third pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Bengals select Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina.

Explanation: The Bengals have already filled their biggest need at linebacker with Arthur Brown. They also filled the need at strong safety with D.J. Swearinger. Cincinnati's next highest need could be one of several positions. It could be a complementary running back, a 4-3 defensive end, a cornerback, a wide receiver, or a center.

Giovani Bernard would make a fantastic RBC and is the highest RB on the board. Both wide receivers Quinton Patton and Terrance Williams are on the board as well as 4-3 defensive end Brandon Jenkins. Cornerbacks Robert Alford and Leon McFadden are both available along with best 2013 center in Travis Frederick. But Frederick doesn't have quite the value of the others so he is eliminated from consideration.

Balancing the highest need with best available is a close call here, but Giovani Bernard is the pick. He does have the highest value of these players mentioned, but only by a fraction. Bernard fills perhaps the biggest need remaining for Cincinnati. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a strong inside runner for the Bengals, but Bernard would give Cincy a quick, pass-catching back to compliment Green-Ellis. Giovani Bernard is arguably the best running back in this draft. The Bengals are getting a late first-rounder at pick 53.

Trevor Woods: I have Bernard ranked as my No. 2 running back in the draft, and the Bengals could certainly use him. While Green-Ellis isn't a liability fumbling the football, he isn't an elite running back; just middle of the pack at best. If the Bengals want to make a serious run at the AFC North crown, they will have to bolster their running back corps. Bernard would push Green-Ellis for the starting job immediately, and would give the Bengals a good one-two punch at RB.

Nick Chiamardas: The Bengals recently re-signed back up RB Bernard Scott so I'm not sure they'll look to add a third RB this early. However, Giovani Bernard is a talented back that could ultimately become a starter. He doesn't have game changing speed but he's quick enough through the hole to be reliable.

Niners Nation Mock Draft, Round 1

1. Kansas City Chiefs -- Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah [Explanation]
2. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia [Explanation]
3. Oakland Raiders -- Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon [Explanation]
4. Philadelphia Eagles -- Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M [Explanation]
5. Detroit Lions -- Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan [Explanation]
6. Cleveland Browns -- Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama [Explanation]
7. Arizona Cardinals -- Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas [Explanation]
8. Buffalo Bills -- Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU [Explanation]
9. New York Jets -- Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama [Explanation]
10. Tennessee Titans -- Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida [Explanation]
11. San Diego Chargers -- Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma [Explanation]
12. Miami Dolphins -- Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina [Explanation]
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State [Explanation]
14. Carolina Panthers -- Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee [Explanation]
15. New Orleans Saints -- Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU [Explanation]
16. St. Louis Rams -- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri [Explanation]
17. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia [Explanation]
18. Dallas Cowboys -- D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama [Explanation]
19. New York Giants -- Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia [Explanation]
20. Chicago Bears -- Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia [Explanation]
21. Cincinnati Bengals -- Arthur Brown, ILB, Kansas State [Explanation]
22. St. Louis Rams -- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson [Explanation]
23. Minnesota Vikings -- Keenan Allen, WR, Cal [Explanation]
24. Indianapolis Colts -- Datone Jones, DE, UCLA [Explanation]
25. Minnesota Vikings -- Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington [Explanation]
26. Green Bay Packers -- Damontre Moore, DE/OLB [Explanation]
27. Houston Texans -- Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee [Explanation]
28. Denver Broncos -- Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State [Explanation]
29. New England Patriots -- Margus Hunt, DE, Southern Methodist [Explanation]
30. Atlanta Falcons -- Tank Carradine, DE/OLB, Florida State [Explanation]
31. San Francisco 49ers -- Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International [Explanation]
32. Baltimore Ravens -- Matt Elam, S, Florida [Explanation]
33. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Alex Okafor, DE, Texas [Explanation]
34. San Francisco 49ers -- Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State [Explanation]
35. Philadelphia Eagles -- Kyle Long, OL, Oregon [Explanation]
36. Detroit Lions -- Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State [Explanation]
37. Cincinnati Bengals -- D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina [Explanation]
38. Arizona Cardinals -- Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame [Explanation]
39. New York Jets -- Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford [Explanation]
40. Tennessee Titans -- Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, Connecticut [Explanation]
41. Buffalo Bills -- Matt Barkley, QB, USC [Explanation]
42. Miami Dolphins -- Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State [Explanation]
43. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State [Explanation]
44. Carolina Panthers -- Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina [Explanation]
45. San Diego Chargers -- Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia [Explanation]
46. St. Louis Rams -- Eric Reid, S, LSU [Explanation]
47. Dallas Cowboys -- Barrett Jones, C, Alabama [Explanation]
48. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama [Explanation]
49. New York Giants -- Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State [Explanation]
50. Chicago Bears -- Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame [Explanation]
51. Washington Redskins -- Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State [Explanation]
52. Minnesota Vikings -- Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama [Explanation]
53. Cincinnati Bengals -- Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina