NFL Draft 2012: 5 Late-Round Gems Who Will Be Game-Changers

Oftentimes, casual NFL fans will put a lot of stock in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, not realizing that in many cases it's the late rounds that are actually the most important for a team.

Sure, Rounds 1 and 2 provide teams with the superstars and big-name players, but a team is built through the later rounds of the draft.

Role players and depth all come from the late rounds, as do those one or two surprise players that every team needs to step up on the way to a Super Bowl.

The late rounds are important, so it's just as vital as an NFL fan to keep your finger on the pulse of Rounds 3 through 7 as it is for Rounds 1 and 2.

These five late-round gems have the ability to be game-changers, so make sure you remember their names:

Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

If it weren't for a torn left ACL that caused Broyles to miss the last three games of the season and Oklahoma's bowl game, he would be much higher on the draft boards.

He finished his college career with 4,586 yards and 45 touchdowns, and he has a knack for making big plays.

He runs very smooth routes and has great hands. Broyles is also very good in the open field, and he can be a very deadly yards-after-the-catch receiver.

Simply put, he's a steal if he can get healthy and stay healthy.

Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas

Jarius Wright is going to be quite a good player in the NFL. Right off the bat, I'd compare him to Green Bay's rookie wideout Randall Cobb.

Wright is quick and small, and he should be an absolute killer in the slot. That said, he's quick enough to be a home-run threat, as he can get behind the defense. My only concern is that, at 5'10" and 180 pounds, he'll get jammed at the line by NFL defenders.

He can also be an impact guy right away as a kick returner.

Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Some lucky NFL team is really going to enjoy having Mike Martin on their squad.

He's got a nonstop motor and has a knack for causing trouble in the backfield. At 6'2" and 299 pounds, he's got great size and can be a game-changer at defensive tackle.

Martin plays low to the ground and gets beneath the pads of the opposing blockers. Then he uses leverage and his strength to break off the blocker.

He had 11 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss during his career at Michigan, and he will be a nice late-round steal.

Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State 

If you're looking for a guy that can be a steal right away in the middle-to-late rounds it's going to be Johnathan Banks out of Mississippi State.

He's a big, very athletic corner at 6'2" and 185 pounds. Banks also excels at finding the ball and causing turnovers—he snagged 12 interceptions in his college career.

This is also a guy you can plug in right away in the kick-return game.

Chris Rainey, RB, Florida

The name of the game is speed and shiftiness for Chris Rainey, who has the potential to be a home-run-hitting third-down back in the NFL.

He's a dual-threat back who can beat you on the ground or through the air. He has great hands and footwork, along with exceptional speed.

Rainey leaves Florida with a total of 3,948 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns. 

The player that Rainey most reminds me of is Darren Sproles, who is a known game-changer in the NFL.

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