By Nolan Nawrocki
April 27, 2008

The fifth round is often when good football players who lack great physical traits begin looking more attractive on draft boards.

Wake Forest WR Kenneth Moore (Lions) lacks great top-end speed and Arizona State LB Robert James (Falcons) does not have great bulk, but both consistently showed up last season and were good football players critical to the success of their teams. They both could make rosters and contribute right away on special teams.

Questions about USC QB John David Booty's intelligence pushed him to the fifth round, but he landed in a good spot with the Vikings, where he will have the chance to compete with Tarvaris Jackson.

Arizona State RB Ryan Torain has the size and cutback ability to fit in the Broncos' running game. He is big, physical and good between the tackles and would be best in a simple offense where he could make one cut and go. His ability to grasp the playbook and stay healthy, after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury as a senior, will determine how much of a contribution he makes.

Grand Valley State CB Brandon Carr worked out very well at his pro day, when he clocked under 4.5 seconds in the 40 after measuring in at 6-0, 205 pounds. He's a three-year starter with upside and can compete for a job with the Chiefs.

Louisville TE Gary Barnidge could help the Panthers in the short passing game and develop into a solid all-around prospect. He may never be more than a No. 2 tight end but he could become a solid role player.

Nebraska CB Zackary Bowman looked like an elite prospect early in his career but has been plagued by multiple knee injuries, an area the Bears seem to be grossly overlooking throughout this draft. No player will help if he cannot stay healthy. Bowman has great size and if he could return to form, he could contribute. However, he is very long-levered and unlikely to stay healthy with the type of hard cuts he makes.

The fifth round is often a safe haven for physically talented players with character concerns and many have begun to come off draft boards midway through the round, including Boise State CB Orlando Scandrick (Cowboys), North Carolina State DT DeMario Pressley (Saints) and Fresno State DT Jason Shirley (Bengals). The Cowboys potentially combining Mike Jenkins, Scandrick and Pacman Jones in the same secondary is a scary proposition, both from a talent perspective and off-the-field perspective. They could match up with any set of receivers in the league physically, but whether they could stay out of trouble is a big question. Pressley was plagued by injuries throughout his career, but in a rotation like he will see in New Orleans, he could be more consistent. Shirley is a very athletic big man who has struggled to stay out of trouble and shows that the Bengals will continue taking the best talent irrelevant of character. 

The Lions made Furman's Jerome Felton the first fullback drafted, showing the value of versatility at the FB position. Felton has good size, hands and athletic ability, but he needs to toughen up if he wants to make it in the pros.

Iowa State OLB Alvin Bowen was a tackling machine in college and could bring a swagger to the Bills' defense. He lacks bulk and take-on strength, but he runs to the ball, could contribute on special-teams coverage readily and develop with time in a strength-and-conditioning program.

There was a run on athletic big man midway through the round, as Virginia Tech DT Carlton Powell (Broncos), Texas DT Frank Okam (Texans) and Florida State DT Letroy Guion (Vikings) all sought to improve inside. Powell and Guion will fit as up-the-field penetrators. Okam will be used to stack the line and clog the middle. Weight issues and the underachiever label affected Okam's stock. Guion should have stayed in school.

After passing on a back in the first round, the Cardinals landed Richmond RB Tim Hightower in the fifth round. He's big, strong, runs hard and fits the Cardinals' smashmouth style.

The Packers landed another great scheme fit with the selection of Louisville OT Breno Giacomini, who is underdeveloped and underpowered but fits well in a zone-blocking scheme.

Bill Belichick is intrigued by NFL lineage and will give UCLA WR Matt Slater, the son of Jackie Slater, a chance to develop. The Patriots have proven that with good coaching they could take any player with some athletic ability and a lot of heart and passion and mold them into productive pro players, and Slater should get a great opportunity to work with the Patriots.

Kroy Biermann lined up at end at Montana but projects to outside linebacker for the Falcons. He could have a shot to compete for a job and help on special teams.

Former USC LB and Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio should know how deep the talent is at USC and why Thomas Williams struggled to get on the field in his career. Williams has versatility despite limited playing experience and could help on special teams.

The Steelers like to take chances on athletic quarterbacks, having had great success getting them onto the field at receiver as well. Oregon QB Dennis Dixon slid in the draft because of medical concerns, with some teams believing he will need to have another surgery on his knee to correct it, but he has some intriguing upside and should compete when he gets healthy.

Many evaluators were not sold on the talents of Oregon State OG Roy Schuening, who did not always play big, but he is powerfully built and tough and could compete for a starting job inside for the Rams.

For the second consecutive year, the Bears landed a TE prospect, but after struggling to get the ball into the hands of Greg Olson a year ago, it's difficult to believe Michigan State TE Kellen Davis will get many opportunities. A career underachiever with character concerns, Davis is much more talented than the position in which he was drafted, but it will be a challenge to get him to play up to his ability.

South Florida CB Trae Williams could bring great value late in the fifth round and compete for playing time with the Jaguars. He has good ball skills and instincts.

Jon Gruden will get the chance to prove how good of a developer of quarterbacks he is with the selection of San Diego QB Josh Johnson, who has small hands and needs to improve his mechanics. Johnson does have a lot of ability that cannot be taught and could develop into a solid pro with good coaching. Johnson should be very excited for the chance to work with Gruden, as demanding as the Buccaneers' coach can be.

The Colts love speed and they got plenty of it from Georgia DE Marcus Howard, who was drafted as an outside linebacker. Howard has great burst off the edge, but he has zero instincts and would be best if turned loose to rush the passer.

The Jets still have questions at quarterback and will bring in Tennessee QB Erik Ainge to compete for a job. He is smart and experienced and showed some promise at the Senior Bowl, but he most ideally will stick as a backup with little upside.

West Virginia FB Owen Schmitt was exposed at the Senior Bowl, but he is big, fast and passionate about the game and could compete for a job as a hammer for the Seahawks.

If the Saints can properly manage Nebraska OT Carl Nicks, they could have a Pro Bowl player at either guard or tackle. Nicks is one of the most naturally gifted linemen in the draft, if not the most. However, he slid to the back of the fifth round because of major concerns about his character, which knocked him off many draft boards.

Vanderbilt LB Jonathan Goff has great size and productivity, but he is very stiff and robotic and could be challenged to make it with the Super Bowl champion Giants.

UTEP RB Marcus Thomas has good size, strength and vision and could contend for a job as a No. 3 back for the Chargers.

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