draft2012charlie_5

Last update: Thursday, April 26, 2012. – Round 5 added.
2012 NFL MOCK DRAFT – WALT’S | CHARLIE’S ROUND 1 | CHARLIE’S ROUND: 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Charlie Campbell was a senior writer at PewterReport.com.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
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Indianapolis Colts: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
The Colts grab a running back to work with Andrew Luck.

Gray (5-10, 200) is a smaller back, but he is a hard runner with speed. Gray totaled 1,155 yards (5.3 average) with 12 touchdowns in 2010. He also offers strong receiving skills with 72 career receptions for 537 yards and three touchdowns. Gray ran for 951 yards (5.0 yard average) with nine touchdowns this season, while catching 31 passes for 239 yards and two scores. In his first game not splitting carries with Christine Michael, against Kansas State, Gray ran for 218 yards and two scores.

The senior would offer a good change-of-pace option to a lot of teams. Furthermore, he is a good teammate who was willing to share carries with Michael. Michael was out for the season with a torn ACL, so Gray had a big opportunity to be the lead back for the Aggies for the remainder of the year.

Denver Broncos: Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
The Broncos add a speedy slot receiver for Peyton Manning to work with.

Adams had a strong senior season with 54 receptions for 652 yards and three touchdowns. He is quick receiver and a good route-runner. The 5-foot-10, 174-pounder projects to being a good slot receiver in the NFL.

At the Senior Bowl, Adams showed the skill set to be a dangerous weapon. His quickness gave defensive backs fits as he consistently got separation. Adams demonstrated the elusiveness to avoid tackles and rip off yards in chunks.

It would be beneficial for him to gain 10-15 pounds of muscle in order to help him withstand the hitting in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings: Senio Kelemete, OT/G, Washington
The Vikings need tons of help on their offensive line. Kelemete has received a lot of interest from Minnesota.

The 6-foot-4, 301-pound Kelemete was a good blocker for running back Chris Polk the past couple of seasons. Kelemete was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Huskies. He needs to improve his pass blocking.

Kelemete may be better off adding weight and moving inside to guard or to right tackle in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns: Lucas Nix, G/T, Pittsburgh
The Browns could use some help at guard.

Nix put together a strong senior season, including blocking for Ray Graham before the star back went down with a knee injury. The Panthers had some prolific games on the ground, and Nix was one of their best blockers. Pittsburgh moved him from guard to right tackle to left tackle, so he has some flexibility heading into the the next level.

The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder would probably fit best as a guard in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Taylor Thompson, TE, SMU
The Buccaneers want to add a backup tight end. They’ve brought Thompson in for a pre-draft visit and are interested. With Kellen Winslow and Luke Stocker in house, Tampa Bay can develop Thompson behind them.

Thompson (6-5, 259) was a defensive end in college but is switching to tight end. At his pro day, he ran a 4.59 and a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash. He has the skill set to be a powerful blocker and could develop as a receiver with his athletic ability. Some believe that Thompson could go in the third or fourth with NFL.com’s Gil Brandt placing Thompson in his top-100 prospects.

Washington Redskins: Philip Thomas, S, Syracuse
After signing Tanard Jackson, the Redskins add their second troubled Syracuse product. Washington has had Thomas in for a visit.

Thomas had a rough final collegiate season in 2011. He started out with a broken jaw in the preseason, but returned to action for Week 1. He totaled 82 tackles, six interceptions, 4.5 tackles for a loss, three passes broken up and a forced fumble in 10 games.

Head coach Doug Marrone suspended Thomas for the final two games for violating athletic department rules. His suspension was said to be for a year. As a result, Thomas decided to enter the 2012 draft.

The 5-foot-11, 198-pounder had a quality sophomore season in 2010 with 92 tackles, four tackles for a loss, three passes broken up and one interception. Thomas is a versatile safety type, but he disappointed at the Combine with a slower than expected 40 and an average performance in the field drills.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Vick Ballard, RB, Mississippi State
The Jaguars could use some running back depth behind Maurice Jones-Drew. Ballard would provide a nice change of pace, and a backup in case Jones-Drew has an extended holdout.

Ballard (5-10, 219) is a sleeper running back who could surprise at the next level. He is a physical runner who has some quickness to be a downhill runner. In 2011, Ballard totaled 1,189 yards and 10 touchdowns for an average of 6.1 yards per carry. To end the year, he ran for 180 yards against Wake Forest after totaling 144 yards against Ole Miss.

Ballard had a breakout junior season when he ran for 968 yards on 186 carries (5.3 average) with 19 touchdowns. Ballard was instrumental in sealing Mississippi State’s 10-7 road victory over Florida.

Carolina Panthers: James-Michael Johnson, ILB, Nevada
The Panthers land a backup linebacker in Johnson. Carolina has shown interest in him.

Johnson is a great value in the fifth round. He totaled 100 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble this season. That’s much better than his 88 tackles from 2010.

Johnson is at his best when he is attacking the line of scrimmage and would be a quality fit on the inside of a 3-4 defense. For the next level, the 6-foot-2, 249-pounder is a sleeper prospect who could use some development. He recorded a 4.60 time in the 40 at the Combine.

Pick change; previously Dwight Jones, WR

Buffalo Bills: Malik Jackson, DE, Tennessee
The Bills select a backup defensive end to go behind their veteran free agents.

Jackson (6-5, 284) flashed at times for Tennessee. He performed well at the Combine and is a good athlete. Jackson had 56 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks this year. He had five sacks as a junior.

Miami Dolphins: Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami
The Dolphins could use more help at wide receiver, and Streeter is a nice value in the fifth round.

Streeter enjoyed a breakout year in 2011. Entering the season, he had six receptions for 156 yards in 2009 and 2010 combined. With Leonard Hankerson in the NFL, Streeter led the Hurricanes in receiving. He caught 46 passes for 811 yards with eight touchdowns. His average of 17.6 yards per catch led the ACC.

The 6-foot-5, 219-pounder has deep speed with the size to operate in the short to intermediate part of the field. He showed off his straight-line speed with an unofficial 4.40 sprint in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. Streeter is a raw prospect who really needs to develop his route running.

Kansas City Chiefs: Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina
Here, the Chiefs get some receiver depth.

Jones hurt his stock with an underwhelming performance at the Senior Bowl. His poor route running triggered a negative buzz among some NFL coaches. Jones wasn’t overly impressive at the Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.55. It is very possible that he could be a boom-or-bust pick.

Jones (6-3, 230) has good hands and body control. For North Carolina, he produced as a possession receiver and has the ability to stretch a defense with plays downfield. Jones had 85 receptions for 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. He produced despite inconsistent play from his quarterback. Jones caught 62 passes for 946 yards and four scores in 2010.

Pick change; previously James-Michael Johnson, ILB

Buffalo Bills: Jaye Howard, DT, Florida
The Bills get a defensive tackle to fortify their depth.

Howard flashed at times for the Gators, but he was not consistent. Howard had 65 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and two passes batted away this year. He did not have an impact against some of the better opponents like Alabama, LSU and Auburn.

Howard is a good athlete with speed, but he did not turned his potential into production. Though Howard was relatively quiet at the Senior Bowl, he performed well at the Combine.

Oakland Raiders: Frank Alexander, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
The Raiders need more youth on their defensive line on both the edge and the interior. Alexander and Chapman are good values for Oakland in the mid-rounds.

Alexander had 54 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, eight passes broken up, three forced fumbles and one interception in 2011. Early in the season, he put constant heat on the quarterback and demonstrated a relentless motor.

Alexander was having a superb senior year, but fell very quiet at the end of the season. Midway through 2011, he was on pace for 15 sacks, but recorded only one sack in the final six games. The senior is a speed rusher who has a nice repertoire of moves.

Alexander had a poor showing against Oklahoma State and tackle Levy Adcock in the regular-season finale. Earlier in the year, Alexander performed well versus Florida State offensive tackle Andrew Datko, and that improved Alexander’s stock. Against Texas, he had a massive game with three sacks and a forced fumble.

In 2010, the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder had 39 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, three passes batted and one forced fumble.

San Diego Chargers: Nate Potter, OT, Boise State
The Chargers could use some offensive tackle help. If Potter is healthy, he could be a nice value pick.

Potter did a fabulous job protecting Kellen Moore over the past two seasons. The 6-foot-6, 303-pounder made his way into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman. As a sophomore, he locked down the left tackle position, and from then on was the leader of a Boise State line that yielded, on average, fewer than one sack per game.

Potter has very good feet and the strength to keep edge rushers at bay, while also being a quality run blocker. He also has good recoverability, and performed well against Georgia’s defensive ends in the first game of the 2011 season.

For the next level, Potter should add some strength to help him in the ground game. Defensive linemen and linebackers can get physical with him in run blocking. He should be able to add some bulk and power in an NFL strength and conditioning program to become a more well-rounded player. Potter’s stock has fallen since he was downgraded over some alleged injury concerns.

Chicago Bears: Matt Reynolds, OT/G, BYU
The Bears grab some offensive line depth.

Reynolds looks like a right tackle or guard prospect for the mid-rounds of the draft. One negative is that he will be a 25-year old rookie, but as a player, he had a quality career for BYU. At the East-West Shrine Game, Reynolds had some good practices and some bad practices. He also weighed in smaller than expected at 6-foot-4, 310-pounds.

Reynolds has the potential to improve as he matures in a strength and conditioning program. Reynolds was a left tackle at BYU, but may be best off moving inside to guard for the NFL.

Arizona Cardinals: Kheeston Randall, DE/DT, Texas
The Cardinals could use a better backup behind Dan Williams.

Randall was a starter for his third season in 2011. He is strong at the point of attack. Randall had 39 tackles, one sack, 13 tackles for a loss, three passes broken up and two blocked kicks in 2010.

Randall didn’t play well as a senior. He caused some disruption, but struggled to finish plays. Randall totaled 31 tackles with one sack and four tackles for a loss in 2011. The quiet senior season hurts his draft stock, but he looked better at the Senior Bowl than he did all year for Texas.

Dallas Cowboys: Ronald Leary, G, Memphis
Sources have indicated that the Cowboys have a serious interest in Leary. He’s went to Dallas for a pre-draft visit.

Leary (6-3, 325) is a heavy guard who was tested daily in practice by going against Dontari Poe. Leary started out his senior season at left tackle before moving inside to guard because of injuries. He projects as a guard at the next level. Leary had a quality showing at the Combine.

Philadelphia Eagles: Janzen Jackson, S, McNeese State
The Eagles get some safety help and have shown interest in Jackson in the form of a pre-draft visit.

Jackson (5-11, 188) had 31 tackles with five passes broken up, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 2011. He was hit or miss at the Scouting Combine. There were times where Jackson looked excellent, but in other drills, he was completely lost. Jackson has some physical talent, but he will be a project at the pro level.

Before the start of the 2011 season, Jackson was kicked out of Tennessee after some quality production in past years. His issues were related to drugs and alcohol. The season before his dismissal, 2010, he notched five interceptions with 69 tackles and six passes broken up for the Volunteers. Jackson started as a freshman the year before next to Eric Berry and recorded 37 tackles with three passes broken up and an interception.

New York Jets: Terrance Ganaway, RB/FB, Baylor
The Jets grab a running back to help their power-rushing attack.

Ganaway (6-0, 240) has a nice mix of size and quickness to run between tackles and churn out some tough yards. For the Bears, he played running back and had a good senior season. Ganaway ran against weak fronts because teams played the deep part of the field to try to limit quarterback Robert Griffin III and wide receiver Kendall Wright. Ganaway ran for 1,547 yards (6.2 average) and 21 touchdowns. He finished 2011 well, gaining 200 yards in the Alamo Bowl against Washington.

Some teams in the NFL could look at Ganaway as a fullback.

Tennessee Titans: Tim Fugger, DE, Vanderbilt
The Titans are interested in Fugger and are having him visit before the draft.

Fugger (6-3, 248) flashed some pass-rush ability as a senior. He has quickness around the edge and rushes with good leverage. Fugger also has a relentless motor that never quits. He totaled 33 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes broken up. Fugger was a Second-Team SEC selection. He had 22 tackles with five tackles for a loss, three sacks and four forced fumbles as a junior. Fugger saw his first playing time for Vanderbilt in 2009, notching 21 tackles with two tackles for a loss and one sack.

Fugger will need to add some weight for the NFL. It would probably be best to groom him as a backup for a season or two while he gets bigger and adjusts to the NFL. Fugger should be a good special teams contributor immediately, and possibly a situational pass rusher.

Cincinnati Bengals: Demario Davis, OLB, Arkansas State
Cincinnati may need some depth at linebacker after trading away Keith Rivers.

With the pick they got for Keith Rivers, the Bengals go with the best player available. They grab a sleeper linebacker who could surprise.

Davis (6-3, 231) recorded 69 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss, three sacks and one interception this season. He was a late addition to the Senior Bowl, and he held his own against the better competition. Davis also performed well at the Combine. He is fast and has some physicality.

Davis made 82 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown in 2009. As a junior in 2010, his tackle production dipped to 63 stops, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Atlanta Falcons: Michael Egnew , TE, Missouri
The Falcons could use some a backup tight end.

With quarterback Blaine Gabbert, Egnew had a massive 2010 season with 90 catches for 762 yards with five touchdowns. He had just 50 receptions for 523 yards and three touchdowns this season. The 6-foot-5, 252-pound Egnew has good hands, but he is slow and struggles to get separation.

Detroit Lions: Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
The Lions need linebacker help and are bringing in Lewis for a pre-draft visit.

Before the start of this season, Lewis was sidelined with a foot injury and was expected to be out until October. He surprised everyone by playing against Florida State in the second game of the season, making eight tackles with a tackle for a loss and a pass broken up. Lewis recorded 84 tackles with four tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, one sack and an interception in 2011. Overall though, he was banged up and didn’t look like himself against numerous opponents.

Lewis (6-1, 246) looked as if he was on his way to an epic college football career after notching 144 tackles as a freshman with 12 tackles for a loss, four interceptions, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. However, his production declined as a sophomore and a junior. Lewis had 109 tackles in 2009 and 2010. As a junior, he also recorded three interceptions, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and zero forced fumbles.

Entering the NFL, Lewis is a good run defender who plays well in space. He has decent instincts and is very experienced. Sources around the Oklahoma program have told WalterFootball.com that Lewis is a prima donna. According to these sources, the senior thinks that he should get big money and endorsements immediately when entering the NFL. Lewis also believes he should be a high first-round pick. That attitude could turn off a lot of teams off and push him down draft boards.

Lewis hurt himself at the Combine with a 40-yard dash of 4.81 seconds, the second-to-last time among all the linebackers.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Akeem Hicks, DT, University of Regina (Canada)
Here, the Steelers get some depth for their defensive line in Hicks, who they hosted before the draft. If Hicks puts on more weight, he could be a nose tackle in Pittsburgh’s 3-4.

The Canada product Hicks caught scouts attention when he flashed at the East-West Shrine practices. The 6-foot-5, 318-pounder is a large man who has some quickness and athleticism. Hicks was at LSU before leaving the program in January of 2010. He was signed out of community college ranks prior to that. Hicks has physical tools, but teams will need to do research into his background.

Cleveland Browns: Travian Robertson, DE/DT, South Carolina
The Browns get some a backup for the inside of their defensive line.

Robertson was on a tear at the East-West Shrine. He destroyed many offensive linemen in the one-on-one line battles. Robertson was beating those linemen with a combination of quickness off the snap and a nice repertoire of pass-rushing moves. He has a good rip move to go along with a speed rush. All three days, Robertson showed well as a penetrator in run defense and pass rush.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder did not look like the same player during the 2011 season. He had 2.5 sacks and eight tackles for a loss as a senior. NFL teams are going to have to decide whether Robertson can consistently play like he did at the East-West Shrine practices.

Houston Texans: Tim Benford, WR, Tennessee Tech
The Texans go with a speedy receiving threat.

Benford had a breakout performance at the East-West practices. The first practice of the week saw him give a lot of defensive backs problems with his straight-line speed and quickness in route running. The 5-foot-11, 199-pounder has the quality measurements to become a fast, slot receiver-type prospect in the NFL.

Benford totaled 65 receptions for 923 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. He never recorded a 1,000-yard season in college, but his least productive year still surpassed 500 yards.

New Orleans Saints: Deangelo Peterson, TE, LSU
New Orleans wants to improve its backup tight ends, and Peterson could be a nice fit in the team’s offense.

Peterson (6-3, 243) is an underrated athlete. He had 18 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown in 2011.

Green Bay Packers: Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati
Green Bay goes with the best player available and lands a backup end who they hosted on a visit before the draft.

The Bearcats tight end didn’t get invited to the Combine, but he is generating a lot of interest from NFL teams. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Robinson has taken visits to Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Miami, New Orleans and Seattle. He is one of the most active prospects in the interior 2012 draft class.

Robinson projects as a blocking tight end in the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 267-pounder has the strength to win at the point of attack. The senior caught 12 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Robinson totaled just 16 receptions for 239 yards combined in 2009 and 2010.

Baltimore Ravens: Audie Cole, ILB, N.C. State
The Ravens get inside linebacker depth with Cole.

Cole (6-4, 246) had a quality senior season and Senior Bowl. He is an active in-the-box defender who also plays well in space. Cole recorded 108 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four passes broken up in 2011. He had 86 tackles as a junior and 73 tackles as a sophomore.

Cole has the flexibility to play the inside in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. He would be better suited to put on 10 pounds of bulk to play the inside on a 3-4. Cole had a disappointing Combine with a time of 4.72 in the 40-yard dash.

San Francisco 49ers: Cliff Harris, CB/PR, Oregon
San Francisco goes with some cornerback depth. Jim Harbaugh knows Harris well from coaching against him at Stanford. In their matchup in 2010, Harbaugh saw Harris intercept Andrew Luck twice.

Before the start of the 2011 season, Harris was suspended after getting stopped by a cop for driving 118 mph with a suspended license. Midway through the season, he was suspended indefinitely, after being cited for driving with a suspended license, driving while uninsured, and failure to use a seatbelt. His family says Harris had a license and was insured at the time of the incident, so they are fighting the charges. The junior was under suspension until December 6, when he was dismissed from the team after being cited for possession of a controlled substance.

Harris totaled six interceptions, 33 tackles and 17 passes defensed in 2010. He also was a dynamic punt returner, with four punts brought back for touchdowns that year. At 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, Harris needs to add some bulk to his frame for the NFL. He is a very good, man-cover corner who plays the ball well.

Harris recorded his only interception of the season with a 50-yard return and a 23-yard punt return against Arizona State. Even though he only played in only six games this season, Harris had nine tackles and five pass breakups to go along with his interception and punt return.

Cincinnati Bengals: Winston Guy, Jr., S, Kentucky
The Bengals grab a safety since it is a need on the roster.

Guy put together an impressive senior season. Entering the Bowl games (for which Kentucky wasn’t eligible), he was third in the nation in tackles by a defensive back, but not having that postseason exhibition opportunity allowed a few players to sneak by him. Guy had 120 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, two passes broken up, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 2011.

Obviously, the 6-foot-1, 216-pounder is a good run defender who fits well as the eighth man in the box. Guy also patrols the middle of the field and can dish out some big hits.

Pick change; previously Coryell Judie, CB

Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Leribus, G, SMU
Cincinnati adds more depth for its offensive line.

Leribus (6-3, 312) had a nice senior season after being academically ineligible as a junior. He is a quick, mobile blocker who would be best in a zone-blocking scheme.

Oakland Raiders: Terrell Manning, OLB, North Carolina State
The Raiders grab an outside linebacker and continue to add talent to their front seven.

Manning is a good athlete who has the ability to produce some splash plays. He had 76 tackles with 14.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions in 2011. Manning started the year slowly, but he got hot and produced well in the final couple of months. The 6-foot-3, 233-pounder was overshadowed by Audie Cole to a degree, and Manning could have improved his stock by returning for his senior season.

Baltimore Ravens: Gerell Robinson, WR, Arizona State
The Ravens could use some depth at wide receiver.

Gerell Robinson could be a boom-or-bust pick in the mid-rounds. He is tall and has some straight-line speed, but was a one-year wonder.

Robinson ended his career well by torching Boise State’s secondary to the tune of 13 receptions for 241 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t have much production entering this season, but came on strong late in the year for Arizona State. The 6-foot-4, 222-pounder recorded 785 receiving yards in the final five games.

Robinson made 77 receptions in 2011 for a total of 1,397 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a quality week at the Senior Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts: Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia
The Colts get a cornerback for their secondary. They had Tandy in for a visit.

Tandy had six interceptions in 2010 with 11 passes broken up and 57 tackles. That came after he became a starter as a sophmore in 2009, recording three interceptions. The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder would be a good fit in a zone-based defense.

Tandy had 64 tackles (50 solo) with two tackles for a loss, four interceptions and nine passes broken up in 2011. He is a gritty player who scraps and fights. Tandy had a good week at the East-West Shrine Game and looks like a good nickelback to specialize in covering slot receivers.

Go to Charlie Campbell’s 2012 NFL Mock Draft – Round 6

2012 NFL Mock Draft – Walt’s

Go to Charlie Campbell’s 2012 NFL Mock Draft – Round 7

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