USC Trojans linebacker Nick Perry attended the 2012 NFL Combine in Indianapolis with the rest of the top college football players in the country over the past week. He impressed with his on-field workouts and has firmly inserted himself into discussion as a solid first-round draft pick.
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Draft Tek has posted their first post-Combine mock draft. Ethan Hammerman theorizes that Perry could go to a team that hasn't really been linked with him prior to this analysis. Hammerman suggests that the New England Patriots could use their No. 27 overall pick to select Perry in the first round.
After his sensational performance at the NFL Combine, this may be a bit too low for Nick Perry. However, if he falls here, the Patriots would probably have a tough time passing him up. Perry absolutely lit up the meat market, running a 4.5 40 yard dash and an impressive 1.57 second 10 yard split. Perry is an utter beast with great outside pass rush moves and the power and sturdiness to hold up at the point of attack. Perry had 8.5 sacks on the year and was generally stellar at USC. However, he could project to be a better pro than college player, despite his solid statistics. In the Patriots' system, Perry would need to be a bit more nuanced in his game. However, he easily has the frame to adjust, and fits the team's paradigm for outside linebackers.
For all news and information regarding the USC Trojans, please visit Conquest Chronicles. For updates and perspective on the New England Patriots, head on over to Pats Pulpit.. For complete coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft, stay tuned to Mocking the Draft.