2012 NFL Mock Draft Round 5
This is round five of a full 7 round 2012 NFL Mock Draft. Every pick in the mock has explanations.
For scouting reports on nearly every one of these players check out our scouting report page
The first four rounds:
5 1 136 Indianapolis Colts-Oliver Vernon, OLB, Miami Hurricanes
previous picks: Andrew Luck QB; Peter Konz C, Mohamed Sanu WR; Derek Wolfe DL
Oliver Vernon would not be a Bill Polian type pick for sure, but who knows what will happen know that the Colts have a new feel and look. Vernon is athletic and has upside in multiple fronts. Vernon comes with some baggage, but is solid value at the beginning of the fifthr ound.
5 2 137 Denver from St. Louis-Marcus Forston, DT, Miami Hurricanes-
Previous picks: Kendall Wright WR; Kendall Reyes DL; Chase Minnifield CB; Ronnie Hillman RB, Adam Gettis OL;
The Broncos have a big need at defensive tackle and I would expect them to draft at least one defensive linemen if not two. Marcus Forston is another Hurricanes player who has a good amount of upside, but teams will have to decide if they can over look his suspension. Forston is more talented than an early 5th round pick and he fills a position of need for the Broncos so it seems to be a good fit.
5 3 138 Minnesota Vikings-Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma Sooners
Previous picks: Matt Kalil T, Alshon Jeffery WR, Jayron Hosley CB, Sean Spence LB; Rishard Matthews WR
Mike Mayock said that whoever drafts this Sooners defensive end is going to get a steal. The Vikings have Jared Allen who might be the best defensive end in the game, but they could use some more depth like every team. Alexander is a player who didn’t quite live up to his expectations until this year when he was very productive. He’s not particularly dynamic in any phase of his game, but should be a solid contributor and pass rusher in the NFL.
5 4 139 Cleveland Browns-Matt McAnts, OT, UAB
Previous picks: Justin Blackmon WR; Nick Perry DE; Doug Martin RB; Brandon Weeden QB, Josh Norman CB; Travis Lewis LB
The Browns add the athletic offensive linemen prospect. The Browns have so many draft picks that if they don’t trade up in early rounds then they might draft a player at nearly every position, which means they can focus on value every single round.
5 5 140 Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Dwight Jones, WR, UNC
Morris Claiborne CB; Bobby Wagner LB, Chris Polk RB
Dwight Jones seems to be a bit of a knucklehead-he was banned from the North Carolina Proday for using his image to promote a party, but he’s a talented player. Jones had some 1st round buzz about him during the college football season and former scout Russ Lande even had him as a top 10 pick very, very early in the College Football season. He has the talent to develop into a fringe #1 WR and a good #2 WR.
5 6 141 Washington Redskins-Ron Brooks, CB, LSU
previous picks: RGIII QB; Jeff Allen OL; James Michael Johnson LB; Markelle Martin S;
Brooks has terrific speed and played for the LSU Tigers terrific defense which means he’ll have the NFL’s attention. The Redskins need to continue to add talent and youth to the cornerback position.
5 7 142 Jacksonville Jaguars-Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami Hurricanes
previous selections: Melvin Ingram DE, Harrison Smith S, Marvin Jones WR; David Molk C
This is the first pick I’ve made that doesn’t feel like a Gene Smith pick, but perhaps he can’t avoid the temptation of Tommy Streeter’s upside. Streeter is not a “character concern” player, he’s just very unpolished.
5 8 143 Carolina Panthers- Nate Potter, OL, Boise State
Coples DE; Janoris Jenkins CB; Keenan Robinson LB;
The best player available on our board that is not a punter or kicker goes here to the Carolina Panthers. Jeff Otah has had trouble staying healthy and the Panthers could use more depth along the offensive line. WR is a possibility, but they have the terrific Steve Smith and some other very intriguing young WR options on their roster.
5 9 144 Buffalo Bills-Andrew Datko, T, Florida State University
Previous picks: Dre Kirkpatrick CB; Amini Silatalou G, Mitchell Schwartz, OL; Ty. Hilton WR; Darius Fleming OLB/DE
The Bills finally get an Offensive tackle and draft their third offensive linemen. I don’t know if the Bills will actually do that in the draft, but it’s not like they have a lot of depth at the offensive line position. They have some really nice starters, but they need the depth. Plus the Bills preach best player available and that’s what I’ve been doing.
5 10 145 Miami Dolphins-Brandon Taylor, S, LSU
previous picks: Ryan Tannehill QB; Shea McClellin OLB; Orson Charles TE; Brandon Boykin CB; Joe Adams WR;
The Dolphins secondary could also use some depth. Taylor is an athletic safety with good range. A player I’d feel comfortable with at any point in the fourth round. He needs some polish, but he has starting upside.
5 11 146 Kansas City Chiefs-James Brown, OL, Troy
Previous picks: David Decastro OL, David Wilson RB; Kirk Cousins, QB; Michael Egnew TE;
James Brown is a player that was one of the highest rated players on the PFW draft value chart. I’ve said this more than once in the first four rounds, but there are just some positions you can never have too much talent at in the N.F.L and offensive linemen is one of them (cornerback, and DL are another).
5 12 147 Buffalo Bills (from Seattle Seahawks)-Russel Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
previous selections:Dre Kirkpatrick CB; Amini Silatalou G, Mitchell Schwartz, OL; Ty. Hilton WR; Darius Fleming OLB/DE;
The Bills finally get a developmental quarterback, and one I like more than Kirk Cousins. Wilson does not remind me of Drew Brees, but he does remind me of Doug Flutie. And Floutie had a few very successful years in the N.F.L.
5 13 148 Oakland Raiders: Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee
Previous picks: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma; Tony Bergstrom OL;
The Raiders add a big bodied pass rusher who could fit the hybrid defense they ran last year, though I’m not a 100 percent sure what their defense will look like this year it doesn’t matter with this pick because Jackson will fit the mold.
5 14 149 San Diego Chargers-James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma
Previous picks: Mark Barron S, Vinny Curry OLB; Mike Martin DL; Chris Rainey Athlete
The Chargers add another receiving threat for Philip Rivers, after he had one of the worst years in his career last year, in part because the Chargers did not give Rivers enough viable receiving options. Cornerback is the other position the Chargers really should consider addressing.
5 15 150 Chicago Bears- Terell Manning, LB, North Carolina State
Previous picks: Coby Fleener TE, Devon Still DL, Casey Hayward CB; Jake Bequette DE;
The Bears have two terrific linebackers in Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, but nothing else is special. Manning has terrific play speed and can run from sideline to sideline which is an important trait in the Bears defense.
5 16 151 Arizona Cardinals-Kheeston Randall, DL, Texas
Previous picks: Michael Floyd WR; Donald Stephenson OT; Kyle Wilber OLB;
The Cardinals add another defender in an attempt to improve their pass rush. Randall never lived up to expectations in Texas, though he was a solid player.
Continued on page two