NFL Mock Draft 7.4: Round 5 of the 2018 NFL Draft

Picks 150-153

150. Cleveland Browns (via GB): LB Jack Cichy, Wisconsin

Once a fringe first-round pick, a devastating season-ending knee injury sent Jack Cichy’s NFL Draft stock tumbling. Cichy was an active defender for the Wisconsin Badgers, possessing the adequate size and athleticism to compete and succeed at the next level. That said, his injury is concerning, in terms of his future mobility. The Cleveland Browns, however, who filled many key needs earlier in the NFL Draft, they can take a chance on him here, with hopes that he recovers and provides quality play in the future.

151. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Riley Ferguson, Memphis

Pressure’s on, Andy Dalton.

The Cincinnati Bengals are a team with many holes. And it’s hard to imagine that Andy Dalton benefited from those shortcomings. But Dalton himself has a fair amount of flaws, and it’s easy to wonder if Dalton, now 30 years old, has anything left to offer, in terms of success.

Dalton’s career is far from over. Per modern standards, he’s only halfway there. But his lack of game-changing ability for a Bengals team that has been competitive until 2017 could be worrisome for the front office. They could look to implement the same strategy that sparked a career season for Alex Smith. Find Dalton some competition.

In Round 5, Memphis’ Riley Ferguson is a clear-cut favorite to serve this role. Ferguson has a big arm, but he’s showcased his accuracy as well. He’s widely viewed as a gunslinger, and he draws some comparisons to Brett Favre. No one is saying Ferguson will be in the Hall of Fame, but Ferguson can function as a quality backup behind Dalton and Matt Barkley while learning the system. And if Dalton fails to pick up the pace over the next couple years, or if he regresses, then Ferguson can easily pick up the reins.

152. Arizona Cardinals: C Coleman Shelton, Washington

The Arizona Cardinals, in case we haven’t said it before, need to bolster their offensive line in the NFL Draft this year. Although the center position is relatively deep, Coleman Shelton could still serve a purpose as a depth interior lineman for the team. He has very good fundamentals, and although he isn’t physically gifted, he’ll provide value as a reserve right away, and he could grow as a player down the road.

153. Detroit Lions: S Marcus Allen, Penn State

Penn State’s Marcus Allen is primarily a box safety, but there’s a chance he could grow to fill other roles with some tutelage from Detroit’s Glover Quin, whose career inevitably won’t last forever. With this pick in the NFL Draft, the Lions snag Allen, planting him next to Miles Killebrew as another defender in the next wave of contributors to join the Lions’ unheralded defense.