2012 NFL Mock Draft Round 4:
4 16 111 Chicago Bears-Jake Bequette, DE, Arkansas
previous picks: Coby Fleener TE, Devon Still DL, Casey Hayward CB
The Bears finally get their complementary pass rusher and at good value. I imagine in the real draft they will go DE in the first round, but if they don’t they might wait until the middle rounds to get the value they want out of a pass rusher.
4 17 112 Arizona Cardinals-Kyle Wilber, OLB, Wake Forest
previous picks: Michael Floyd WR; Donald Stephenson OT
Kyle Wilber is very well thought of in scouting circles. Wilber projects as a 34 OLB pass rusher who could also put his hands in the dirt at times. The Cardinals have three big needs heading into the draft. They have to decide if they have a #2 WR, they need more talent at tackle, and they need, desperately a pass rusher. The value (Wilber is a 3rd round value in PFW’s chart) just happens to be present for all of their picks.
4 18 113 Dallas Cowboys-Billy Winn, DL, Boise State
previous picks: Fletcher Cox DL, Trumaine Johnson CB/FS; Ben Jones C
The Cowboys add another good player to their DL rotation with Billy Winn. At one point Billy Winn was a fringe first round prospect on Rob Rang’s board. He has been surpassed by his own teammates Tyrone Crawford and Shea McClellin as the best DL on the team. Still mid fourth round is good value for Winn and bolsters a position of weakness as it stands now.
4 19 114 Philadelphia Eagles-Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous picks: Michael Brockers DL, Mike Adams T, Brock Osweiler QB, George Iloka S
He’s not exactly the speedy Maclin or DeSean Jackson,but Mcnutt was the highest player available on our big board. The Eagles like to collect WR as well.
4 20 115 Tennessee Titans-Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona
Wade is a guy that most readers will go huh? But he’s well thought off in the league and he’s a top 100 player on our board. Wade has a lot of upside. The Titans need cornerbacks and they could do much worse than adding Wade in the fourth round.
4 21 116 Cincinnati Bengals-Brandon Washington, OL, Miami Hurricanes
Previous picks: Stephon Gilmore CB, Courtney Upshaw LB, A.J. Jenkins WR, Cyrus Gray RB
And the Bengals finally add a guard. It’s weird to watch how much people like players during December and than in April you never hear about those players anymore. Washington is one of those guys. Washington was a 2nd round guy in most December mock drafts, but has since disappeared into the abyss. The Bengals could end up with a steal two years from now with Washington in the fourth.
4 22 117 Detroit Lions-Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State University
Previous picks: Jon Martin OL, Lamar Miller RB, Dwight Bentley CB,
The Lions add maybe the most physically gifted linebacker prospect in the draft and hope they can harness all of his physical ability. Bradham was pretty good at Florida State, but he had the ability to be great there, which is why he is still available in the fourth round.
4 23 118 Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)-Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
previous picks: Justin Blackmon WR; Nick Perry DE; Doug Martin RB; Brandon Weeden QB, Josh Norman CB
Lewis was projected as a late first rounder had he entered the 2011 NFL Draft. Now he’s a mid round prospect. Lewis has battled numerous injuries to stay on the field at Oklahoma and then timed much worse than people thought he would. Add in a decrease in production three straight years and you get a guy who has his stock tail spin. Lewis can play a number of different positions for the Browns 43 defense.
4 24 119 Pittsburgh Steelers- Brandon Hardin, S, Oregon State
Previous picks:Dont’a Hightower LB; LaMichael James RB; Brandon Mosley OT
The Steelers safety depth is scary and they should be adding one at some point during the draft. In a weak safety class Hardin is going to see his stock soar. He’s got great size and athletic ability, a former cornerback convert, Hardin offers unique abilities in coverage.
4 25 120 Denver Broncos-Adam Gettis OL, Iowa
Previous picks: Kendall Wright WR; Kendall Reyes DL; Chase Minnifield CB; Ronnie Hillman RB
According to Matt Miller of New Era Scouting and Bleacherreport, the Broncos had one of, if not, the worst offensive line in the league last year. They should add talent to the offensive line, and they might do it even earlier than this.
4 26 121 Houston Texans-Trevor Guyton, DL, California
previous picks: Rueben Randle WR; Mychal Kendricks LB; Brandon Brooks G
Guyton is a guy I’ve always considered under-appreciated. I’d be comfortable drafting him in the third round. He has a lot of versatility and good functional strength. He might not ever be a great starter, but he’s a guy who will consistently help a football team.
4 27 122 New Orleans Saints-Tom Compton, OL, South Dakota
Previous pick: Josh Chapman, DL
Tom Compton has really showed off during the pre-draft process causing draftniks to scramble to find tape of him. Once they had they liked what they saw. Compton should be drafted before the end of the fourth round.
4 28 123 Green Bay Packers-Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State
Previous pick: LB Luke Kuechly; DL Brandon Thompson, Robert Turbin RB;
Johnson was at one of Mayock’s top five cornerbacks, but that time has long since passed. No one doubts his production at Iowa State, but there are questions about how he will consisntently hold up in coverage in the N.F.L. because he’s not big and he’s not really fast. He plays really physical, and uses the sideline very well. A technician. Definitely worth the game in the late fourth round.
4 29 124 Buffalo Bills (from Baltimore)-Darius Fleming, OLB, Norte Dame
Dre Kirkpatrick CB; Amini Silatalou G, Mitchell Schwartz, OL; Ty. Hilton WR
The Bills have to find someone they think can play 43 SAM linebacker right now because they don’t have one. Fleming is generally considered a 34 OLB, but those kind of guys are getting used as 43 SAM’s all over the league.
4 30 125 San Francisco 49ers-Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas
previous picks: Kevin Zeitler OL; Jamel Fleming CB, Zebrie Sanders
The 49ers don’t really have a need at WR anymore after their free agency spending spree, but they don’t want to pass up on the electrifying Jarius Wright.
4 31 126 New England Patriots-Dequan Menzie, S, Alabama
previous picks: Andre Branch OLB/DE; Lavonte David LB; Alfrono Dennard CB; Chris Givens WR
The Patriots will look to add talent to their secondary at some point in the draft, and possibly with multiple picks.
4 32 127 New York Giants-Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
previous picks: Stephen Hill WR; Kelechi Osmele OL; Tyrone Crawford DE
Baker isn’t my favorite running back prospect, but he is well regarded and I could see the Giants allure in him.
4 33 128 Minnesota Vikings (Compensatory Selection)-Rishard Matthews, WR, Nevada
previous selections: Matt Kalil T, Alshon Jeffery WR, Jayron Hosley CB, Sean Spence LB
The Vikings depth at WR is not very good. They could look to add two WR before the 5th round in the draft, though they have issues all over their depth chart.
4 34 129 Oakland (Compensatory Selection)-Tony Bergstrom, OL, Utah
Previous pick: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma,
My philosophy is a team can never have too many cornerbacks or offensive linemen.
4 35 130 Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory Selection)-Senior Kelemete, G, Washington
Previous picks: Cordy Glenn OL; Bernard Pierce RB, Brian Quick WR
Kelemete has a lot of physical ability and with his intriguing skill set, Kelemete could develop into a very good starting guard after he sits for a year or two. I also think the Ravens will be looking to add youth to their secondary, but I don’t see the great value available right here.
4 36 131 New York Giants (Compensatory Selection)-Audie Cole, LB, North Carolina State
previous picks: Stephen Hill WR; Kelechi Osmele OL; Tyrone Crawford DE, Edwin Baker RB
Audie Cole is another player like James Michael Johnson that I like a lot more than his ranking by PFW. I think cole is one of the best options to play 43 SAM linebacker, especially for the Giants. Cole has some pass rush ability and is a good tackler. He lacks sideline to sideline range, but he should be good in run support and as a blitzer.
4 37 132 Green Bay (Compensatory Selection)- Philip Blake, C, Baylor
Previous pick: LB Luke Kuechly; DL Brandon Thompson, Robert Turbin RB; Leonard Johnson CB;
The Packers added Jeff Saturday, but could be looking for their future center. Blake is one of the few draftable centers in this weak class for centers. Blake could also be considered Best player available here.
4 38 133 Green Bay (Compensatory Selection)-Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina
I know the MO for the Packers is usually to add talented small school players at this point in the draft, but they dip into the S.E.C. to get the best remaining safety prospects.
4 39 134 Minnesota (Compensatory Selection) Vick Ballard, RB, Mississippi State
previous selections: Matt Kalil T, Alshon Jeffery WR, Jayron Hosley CB, Sean Spence LB; Rishard Matthews WR;
With the injury to Adrian Peterson the Vikings could be looking for a running back option on day three. Vick Ballard is a tough physical running back who has some speed as well.
4 40 135 Dallas (Compensatory Selection)-Joe Looney, G, Wake Forest
previous picks: Fletcher Cox DL, Trumaine Johnson CB/FS; Ben Jones C; Bill Winn DL;
Joe Looney is a third round value according to the profootballweekly draft value chart, which would make him the best available player according to the league.
Follow us on twitter @NFLmocks