2012 NFL Mock Draft Round 4:

This is the 4th round of a full 7 Round 2012 NFL Mock draft. I’ve been basing the picks on my own perceptions of team needs, our big board, and the profootballweekly draft value chart. Feel free to leave comments and I’ll get back to them.

Round Pick Overall

4 1 96 St. Louis Rams-Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas

Previous picks:  Trent Richardson RB; Jerel Worthy DT; Whitney Merciuls DE; Zach Brown LB

Greg Childs is a very hard player to mock. He was a potential first round pick, and has first round abilities, before last season in which he was hurt all the time and didn’t look right when he played. Childs stock will be directly impacted by how well he does on his medical check.

4 2 97 Indianapolis-Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati

previous picks: Andrew Luck QB; Peter Konz C, Mohamed Sanu WR

Wolfe has some versatilty to play whatever defenses looks the Colts want to use next year. The Colts really need a lot of personnel to make the transition from an undersized Tampa 2 team to a big physical 34 team that their head coach prefers. Wolfe is liked a lot by Mel Kiper Jr who thinks he could be worth a late first round pick, I’m not that high on him, but I agree that early fourth round would be tremendous value for Wolfe.
4 3 98 Minnesota Vikings-Sean Spence, LB, Miami Hurricanes

previous picks: Matt Kalil T, Alshon Jeffery WR, Jayron Hosley CB

The Vikings get a player who had a rough pre-draft process. Sean Spence was an early 2nd round prospect before the combine where he rans an abysmal forty yard dash (for him). Spence is a guy who plays very fast, and has really plus instincts. Spence would fit in well with the Vikings defense and provide depth at LB, and eventually I believe he becomes a starter.

4 4 99 Houston (from Tampa Bay through Philadelphia) Ladarius green TE

previous picks: Rueben Ranndle WR; Mychal Kendricks LB; Brandon Brooks OL

The Texans might not need LaDarius Green, but he has such promise as a pass receiver they might not be able to pass on him in the early part of the fourth round.
4 5 100 Cleveland Browns-Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina

Previous picks: Justin Blackmon WR; Nick Perry DE; Doug Martin RB; Brandon Weeden QB

The Browns at one point were pinpointed as a possible destination for Morris Claiborne indicating there is a need there for cornerbacks. The Browns have a lack of depth at cornerback and also some age. Norman is a better football player than he is an underwear olympian (combine performer). Norman would be a nice complement to Claiborne and once he figures out the jump in the level of competition will be a starter for the Browns.

4 6 101 Jacksonville Jaguars-David Molk, C, Michigan

Previous picks: Melvin Ingram DE, Harrison Smith S, Marvin Jones WR

Trying to figure out what Gene Smith will do in the draft, one needs a big dart board to hold a lot of N.F.L. prospects on it. David Molk offers good positional value. He’s one of the best players in his draft class at his position, one of a very few draftable ones. That’s why I have him mocked here. Every team can always use OL depth.

4 7 102 Washington Redskins-James Michael Johnson, LB, Nevada

Previous picks: RGIII, Jeff Allen OL

James Michael Johnson is one of the picks I said I was going to make irregardless of the PFW draft value chart. Johnson is a player I like for the Redskins in round four. They need a future replacement for London Fletcher and just overall more talent at the middlelinebacker position. JMJ doesn’t wow in shorts, but is just a good solid football player.
4 8 103 Miami Dolphins-Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas

previous picks: Ryan Tannehill QB; Shea McClellin OLB; Orson Charles TE; Brandon Boykin CB

Joe Adams can create yards after the catch which will intrigue the Dolphins and he can also work with Ryan Tannehill. Adams could go higher than this because he creates his own yardage whether it’s in the return game or running after the catch, the Dolphins might need more of a big bodied X type WR, but Adams is the best WR available here for me.

4 9 104 Carolina Panthers-Kennan Robinson, LB, Texas

previous picks: Coples DE; Janoris Jenkins CB;

The Panthers continue to pick defensive players. Their offense has a lot of young play-makers while their defense has holes on all three levels. Kennan Robinson can play a few positions on defense. The issue here though is if the Panthers plan on moving to a 34 (which I’ve speculated, but not seen reported) they could definitely go in another direction. Robinson is more of a 43 LB.

4 10 105 Buffalo Bills-T.Y. Hilton, WR, Florida International

Dre Kirkpatrick CB; Amini Silatalou G, Mitchell Schwartz, OL

The Bills finally add their deep threat. The Bills have always been drawn to guys who had versatility to the team because of special teams ability. That seems to be true under Buddy Nix as well who drafted C.J. Spiller. Hilton is very undersized, but extremely explosive and could be the Bills new version of Lee Evans, and is also a guy who could take a little slant pass and run for miles.
4 11 106 Seattle Seahawks-Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa

previous picks: Dontari Poe DL, Ronnell Lewis LB, Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati

Not the prototypical big bodied cornerback that Seattle has taken over the last couple of years, but just because most of the players are big bodied press coverage guys doesn’t mean the Seahawks won’t consider a more athletic fluid guy to cover the smaller slot type wide receivers. The offense has a lot weapons the only question is whether or not Matt Flynn can take advantage of them. I also expect them to consider an OL some-point in the draft and could definitely take one here if they don’t feel comfortable that their RT is on their roster.
4 12 107 Kansas City Chiefs-Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri

Previous picks: David Decastro OL, David Wilson RB; Kirk Cousins, QB

I think the Chiefs will consider moving down and drafting Fleener in the first so if they can get Egnew here they will. The Chiefs are hoping Moeaki returns from injury to 100 percent, but even if he doesn’t they could upgrade their number two tight end.
4 13 108 Denver from New York Jets-Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State

Previous picks: Kendall Wright WR, Kendall Reyes DL, Chase Minnifeld CB

Ronnie Hillman is one of my favorite running back prospects in the draft. He’s one of those guys who you get in the fourth round and he makes an immediate impact. The Broncos have some good running backs, but could use another quality running back. Hillman was insanely productive in college and is still young without much wear and tear. He has a good size/speed combination as well.
4 14 109 Washington Redskins  (from Oakland)-Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State

Previous picks: RGIII QB;  Jeff Allen OL; James Michael Johnson LB

The Redskins could be looking for safety depth because of the loss of Laron Landry in the off-season. Martin at one point was considered a second rounder during the college football season. He’s a guy who has pretty good measurables and was also productive. Fourth round is good value for him.

4 15 110 San Diego Chargers-Chris Rainey, Athlete

previous picks: Mark Barron S, Vinny Curry OLB; Mike Martin DL

The Chargers miss Darren Sproles. I think this is about a round early for Rainey, but the Chargers should reach and grab him to give Rivers another offensive weapon. Rivers has sat in the off-season the past two years and watch the team lose Darren Sproles, Vincent Jackson, Diehlman, McNeil. How much can one guy take? The Chargers have to give him an explosive weapon at some point.