2012 NFL Mock Draft: Round 4

Last update: Thursday, April 26, 2012, 3:30 p.m. Changes in all 7 rounds.
Next updates: Final (barring major trade in next couple of hours).
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2012 NFL Mock Draft is based on the real 2012 NFL Draft Order.

96. St. Louis Rams: Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
    The Rams are really thin at linebacker, so they'll probably spend multiple draft picks replenishing depth and/or finding future starters.
    
    
    
97. Indianapolis Colts: Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
    The Colts will be begging for Andrew Luck to get injured if they don't find an upgrade over Winston Justice at right tackle.
    
    
98. Minnesota Vikings: Senio Kelemete, G/OT, Washington
    For Christian Ponder's sake, I hope Rick Spielman knows that he needs to make two upgrades to the offensive line.
    
    
99. Houston Texans: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
    The Texans lost Joel Dresseen. Tight end isn't a big need, but they may spend a mid-round pick on some competition for Garrett Graham.
    
    
100. Cleveland Browns: Chase Minnifield, CB/KR, Virginia
     It's safe to say that Cleveland fans would love this pick, as Chase Minnifield's father, Frank, was a four-time Pro Bowler for the team in the 80s.
     
     The Browns spent a mid-round pick on Buster Skrine, but he didn't play much as a rookie. With Sheldon Brown turning 33 soon, they'll need another talented cornerback to compete for the starting job across from Joe Haden. You can never have enough talented defensive backs in the NFL.
     
     
101. Jacksonville Jaguars: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
     The Jaguars will either spend a first-round pick on a receiver or they'll use multiple selections in Rounds 2-5 on the position. I can't say it enough - Gene Smith needs to find help for Blaine Gabbert.
     
     Pick change; previously Tyrone Crawford, DE
     
     
102. Washington Redskins: Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State
     Robert Turbin is a great fit for Mike Shanahan's offense. Shanahan loves using mid-round picks on running backs.
     
     
103. Miami Dolphins: Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina
     Yeremiah Bell was a cap casualty this offseason, so the Dolphins will need a replacement. Unfortunately, this safety class is so thin that they can only hope that someone like Markelle Martin works out.
     
     
     
     
     
104. Carolina Panthers: Jaye Howard, DT, Florida
     The Panthers have a huge need in the interior of their defensive line. They spent a pair of third-round picks last year on defensive tackles Sione Fua and Terrell McClain. Fua wasn't that bad as a rookie, but McClain was awful, constantly getting abused against the run.
     
     
105. Buffalo Bills: James Brown, OT, Troy
     The Bills want a left tackle with length, so here they go. Buddy Nix needs to find someone who can provide competition for Chris Hairston.
     
     Pick change; previously Olivier Vernon, DE
     
     
106. Seattle Seahawks: Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple
     If the Vikings can use a second-round pick on Toby Gerhart with Adrian Peterson on the roster, then Seattle sure as hell can draft a runner here even though Marshawn Lynch has been re-signed. Lynch's running style makes him vulnerable to injury, so the Seahawks need depth at the position.
     
     Pick change; previously Tony Bergstrom, OT
     
     
107. Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Steed, CB, Furman
     Even when the Chiefs signed Stanford Routt, they reportedly were trying to retain Brandon Carr. They could spend a mid-round pick on a cornerback for depth/future purposes.
     
     
108. Denver Broncos: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati
     John Fox loves utilizing multiple running backs. Knowshon Moreno can't stay healthy and isn't very good anyway. Willis McGahee is nearing the end of his career, and he wore down at the end of the year.
     
     
109. Washington Redskins: Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia
     Depending on where they plan on using newly signed Cedric Griffin, the Redskins will need depth at either cornerback or safety.
     
     
110. San Diego Chargers: Tavon Wilson, S, Illinois
     The Chargers had a huge hole at strong safety last offseason, and they decided to take a chance on Bob Sanders. That didn't pan out too well, so A.J. Smith will have to find another upgrade to his beleaguered secondary.
     
     
111. Chicago Bears: Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas
     The Bears have a couple of aging linebackers who need successors. Keenan Robinson projects as a great fit into Lovie Smith's defense.
     
     
112. Arizona Cardinals: Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State
     The 49ers added a bunch of receivers this offseason, so the Cardinals could counter with a mid-round cornerback. Arizona has shown lots of interest in local product Omar Bolden.
     
     
113. Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Broyles, WR/PR, Oklahoma
     Laurent Robinson signed with the Jaguars, so the Cowboys have some room at the receiver position.
     
     
114. Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
     It's very possible that the Eagles will spend a Day 2 (or early Day 3) selection on a quarterback despite the recent addition of Trent Edwards. Go to my 2012 NFL Free Agents Recap page for more.
     
     
115. Tennessee Titans: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
     The Titans just signed Kamerion Wimbley (and drafted Melvin Ingram in this mock), but that doesn't mean they're finished upgrading the defensive line. They still need help on the interior next to Jurrell Casey because Sen'Derrick Marks struggled last year.
     
     Pick change; previously Joe Adams, WR
     
     
     
     
     
116. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
     The Bengals lost two defensive linemen in free agency, so they may look to replenish depth in the middle rounds.
     
     
117. Detroit Lions: Trenton Robinson, S, Michigan State
     Amari Spievey was brutal all year, and he saved his worst performance for the postseason loss at New Orleans.
     
     
118. Cleveland Browns: James-Michael Johnson, LB, Nevada
     The Browns re-signed Chris Gocong and D'Qwell Jackson. That leaves just one more linebacker position to be addressed.
     
     
119. Pittsburgh Steelers: Hebron Fangupo, NT, BYU
     Casey Hampton tore his ACL in January, so the Steelers may think about bringing in a new nose tackle.
     
     
120. Denver Broncos: Marvin Jones, WR, California
     Peyton Manning needs someone to throw to besides Demaryius Thomas. Marvin Jones is great value in the middle of the fourth round.
     
     
121. Houston Texans: George Iloka, S, Boise State
     The Texans haven't selected a defensive back yet. They may think about bringing in competition for Glover Quin.
     
     
122. New Orleans Saints: Jake Bequette, DE, Arkansas
     Will Smith probably won't be around after 2012 unless he has a terrific season (unlikely because he could be suspended for eight games) so the Saints should obtain a possible successor.
     
     
123. Green Bay Packers: Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M
     There aren't many cornerbacks in this draft class who fit Green Bay's system. One of the rare ones who actually does is Coryell Judie.The Packers will have to spend a high selection on a corner soon. Charles Woodson, 36 at some point during the 2012 campaign, isn't going to be around much longer.
     
     
     
     
     
124. Buffalo Bills: Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami
     The Bills should add depth behind newly signed Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. An insurance policy for the sporadic Anderson wouldn't hurt either.
     
     Pick change; previously Tank Carder, LB
     
     
125. San Francisco 49ers: Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami
     It wouldn't hurt to add a receiver in the first few rounds. The 49ers need insurance once the Randy Moss experiment inevitably fails.
     
     
126. New England Patriots: Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona
     You can never have enough talented cornerbacks. Considering the state of the Patriots' secondary, it'll be a surprise if they don't draft one early, especially if they want to use Ras-I Dowling or Devin McCourty at safety - something that may have to happen considering the lack of talent at that position in this class.
     
     
127. New York Giants: Josh LeRibeus, G, SMU
     I would expect the Giants to spend at least two selections on offensive linemen. They need some depth on the interior for the present, and a successor for David Diehl in the near future.
     
     
128. Minnesota Vikings: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
     More secondary help for the Vikings, who really need to concentrate on upgrading this area.
     
     
129. Oakland Raiders: Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri
     Kevin Boss is gone, so the Raiders need a new tight end.
     
     Pick change; previously Chris Greenwood, CB
     
     
130. Baltimore Ravens: Gino Gradkowski, G/C, Delaware
     The Ravens need interior line help because Matt Birk won't be playing much longer, while Ben Grubbs defected for New Orleans in free agency.
     
     
131. New York Giants: Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State
     The Giants lost a couple of cornerbacks in free agency, so they'll have to replenish depth.
     
     
132. Green Bay Packers: Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego State
     The Packers will be losing Matt Flynn this offseason, so they'll have to find a new backup for Aaron Rodgers.
     
     
133. Green Bay Packers: Tom Compton, OT, South Dakota
     Green Bay needs to think about acquiring tackle depth because Derek Sherrod's leg injury is putting his 2012 season in jeopardy. Chad Clifton was also released.
     
     
134. Minnesota Vikings: Rishard Matthews, WR, Nevada
     The Vikings may spend two fairly early selections on receivers considering the lack of talent they have at the position. Jerome Simpson is no lock to stay out of trouble.
     
     
135. Dallas Cowboys: Philip Blake, C, Baylor
     Phil Costa and Kevin Kowalski aren't starting-caliber centers in the NFL. An upgrade is needed here.
     
     
     
     2012 NFL Mock Draft - Round 5
     
     
     2012 NFL Mock Draft - Round 6
     
     
     2012 NFL Mock Draft - Round 7
     
     
     2013 NFL Mock Draft
     
     
     Back to 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1
     
     Back to 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2
     
     Back to 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3