NFL Mock Draft – Round 5
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
144. Bears: DE Cassius Marsh, UCLA (6’4, 268) – Three year starter at UCLA who was versatile enough to play DE, DT, & OLB for the Bruins. Marsh is a max-effort player with a very quick first step and good speed and athleticism. Marsh should be able to contribute right away as a 3rd down pass rusher and with a little more strength should develop into a 3-down DE who can move inside to DT in passing sub packages.
145. Steelers: OT Justin Britt, Missouri (6’6, 315) – Good feet and athleticism. Britt doesn’t have quite the size or strength to play LT in the NFL, but could play RT or be an excellent guard prospect. The Steelers need depth everywhere across the O-line.
146. Cowboys: Aaron Lynch, South Florida (6’5, 244) – Lynch has plummeted on draft boards and for good reason. Lynch looked like a future top 15 pick as a freshman at Notre Dame in 2011, but Lynch didn’t look anything like that player at South Florida last season. His effort level was awful. He gave up on plays that weren’t run to his side, blatantly took plays off, and just didn’t seem to care at all about the game or his teammates. Some of his former teammates at Notre Dame have come out and said he is “selfish”, a “me-first” player, and a guy with a very high opinion of himself. Lynch also lost almost 20 pounds from his days at Notre Dame and some of the power that made him such a good pass rusher was lost as well. Lynch did turn it on at the end of last season with 4 sacks in his last 3 games, but it’s impossible to know if that was a fluke or the lights had gone on. He has too much talent not to be drafted, but it’s a very risky pick as he could be out of the league in a year or two if he doesn’t start caring about his profession. Seems like a guy that Jerry Jones would roll the dice on.
147. Jaguars: CB Dontae Johnson, NC State (6’2, 199) – Tall, versatile defensive back who played safety, corner, and even linebacker in college. Johnson has the size that teams are looking for right now, but lacks top-end speed. His best fit would be in a press coverage scheme where he can use his size/strength effectively or a Cover 2 where he won’t be isolated on an island against receivers. Johnson is very strong against the run and could play safety at the next level as well. The Jags need depth in the defensive backfield and Johnson can give them that at a few positions.
148. Cardinals: CB Ross Cockrell, Duke (6’0, 183) – Underrated because he played at a non-traditional football school, but Duke was a pretty darn good football team last tear. Cockrell is a three-year starter with good speed and solid coverage skills. He’s not a big time play-maker but he has the fluidity to stick with receivers and the height to match up with the taller ones. Cockrell should have value right away as a 3rd or 4th corner in sub packages and could eventually develop into a #2 CB.
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149. Packers: S Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (6’0, 210) – Borderline athleticism for an NFL player, but Sunseri makes up for it with great instincts. Sunseri is a sure tackler who is very aggressive against the run and is basically a coach on the field. I think he has enough intangibles to make up for his lack of athleticism and be an effective safety in the league.
150. Eagles: WR Robert Herron, Wyoming (5’9, 193) – Quick, sure-handed slot receiver who can go take a big hit over the middle and hold on to the ball. Herron is small and not a burner, but there is a place for his skill-set in the NFL. The Eagles need all the help they can get at WR.
151. Chiefs: ILB Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky (6’1, 259) – One of my favorite players in the draft, Jackson is a throw-back MLB who is a big–time hitter and play-maker. He’s a step slow for most NFL defensive schemes, but his best fit is as a 3-4 ILB. His instincts are so good that he plays faster than you would expect from his recorded 40 times. Jackson could line up next to Derrick Johnson and give the Chiefs another tough hard-hitting defender.