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| 2008 NFL Mock Draft |
| April 26, 2008 |
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Paul Baitinger
Senior Editor
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There's good news for teams in need of RB help as this draft is stocked with quality RBs that should contribute in the NFL. Based on Adrian Peterson's success this year I can see a few RBs hearing their names called in the first round of this year's draft.
If your favorite team is not interested in a RB, perhaps they need a OT to protect the QB or pressure the QB? If so, the OT and DL positions offer a good number of first round prospects.
If
you're interested to know what your teams needs are and who they
may draft, check out my 2008 NFL Mock Draft below. Be sure to come back and check out our 7 round Computer
Generated Mock Draft, my blog, and Al's blog as well.
Round
One |
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| 1 | Dolphins (1-15), Player: OT Jake Long (Michigan) | Team Needs: WR, OL, DE, LB, QB, DB
There's no suspense here. The Dolphins already locked up their #1 pick which should help keep their QB upright (whomever that may be) and open holes for their running game. Long is as good of a LT as you can expect to come out of the draft. |
| | | | 2 | Rams (3-13), Player: DE Chris Long (Virginia) | Team Needs: OL, DL, LB, CB, S
Here is where the real suspense begins. The Rams could do a number of things with this pick -- and all are fair game. They could draft Dorsey to help shore up the interior of their DL. They could bring in Chris Long to improve their pressure from the outside. Or, they could trade down. The latest rumors are that the Falcons might want to move up one spot or that the Saints have supposedly offered their starting LT Jamaal Brown plus the #10 pick to move up here. If that is the case, it would allow the Rams to kill two birds with one stone by acquiring capable OL help -- and still being able to land a serviceable DE (Harvey?) in the draft. Assuming they sit tight, it appears that the Rams have a divided war room. Their Head Coach wants Dorsey, but there are many people in the organization that want the talented DE. I have to expect that they will want to improve their pass rush by going after Long, since the Dorsey acquisition would require that they move Adam Carriker to the outside. |
| | | | 3 | Falcons (4-12), Player: DT Glenn Dorsey (LSU) | Team Needs: QB, DL, CB, WR, OL
Conventional wisdom is that the Falcons are a lock to draft Matt Ryan. However, many folks figure that if Dorsey gets past the Rams, he will wind up with the Falcons. That could be, but I am not so sure. I mean really, can the Falcons expect to start Chris Redman AND Joey Harrington? Perhaps being that the Falcons have three second-round picks they feel that they can draft Dorsey and drop to the second-tier of QBs (Henne, Brohm, and Flacco) and still come out looking like winners. |
| | | | 4 | Raiders (4-12), Player: RB *Darren McFadden (Arkansas) | Team Needs: OL, DL, WR, TE, LB
The Raiders have spent much of their off-season upgrading their defense. That means that McFadden's speed and playmaking will likely beckon Al Davis to call his name. McFadden is the type of homerun threat that should help Russell have a better chance at success. |
| | | | 5 | Chiefs (4-12), Player: DE *Vernon Gholston (Ohio State) | Team Needs: DL, OL, WR, DB, QB
The recent trade of Jared Allen makes DE a big need. The Chiefs are hoping that Chris Long may somehow fall to them at pick number 5, but Gholston's pass rushing skills are exceptional and if he's available the Chiefs will likely not hesitate to snatch him up here at the 5th pick. |
| | | | 6 | Jets (4-12), Player: QB Matt Ryan (Boston College) | Team Needs: WR, DL, LB, QB, TE
The Jets have made a big splash through free agency by signing one of the best OGs in the league, adding a big RT, and adding a pass-rushing LB. They would love to add another very talented player on defense to the mix, but with Kellen Clemens nor Chad Pennington looking like a future start QB they may be eyeing Matt Ryan. If Matt Ryan is available, the Jets will likely feel a lot of pressure to find their franchise QB right here with the sixth pick. |
| | | | 7 | Patriots (16-0), Player: LB Keith Rivers (USC) | From SF -- Team Needs: CB, OLB, ILB, S, OL
The Patriots need to replace Asante Samuel and need to find help at LB in this draft as their LB unit is getting quite long in the tooth. Leodis McKelvin may be worth a nice long look here, but I suspect that the Patriots will feel that Keith Rivers offers them more value as a can't miss LB prospect. |
| | | | 8 | Ravens (5-11), Player: OT *Ryan Clady (Boise State) | Team Needs: QB, OL, DB, WR, LB
The Ravens desperately need help at QB and would love to see Matt Ryan fall to them at the 8th pick. I can see them getting very excited under this scenario after the Falcons pass on Ryan, but the Jets may be sitting in the right spot to ruin their plans. Sitting with the 8th pick could mean that they go for a DT (Sedrick Ellis) or help along the OL. Ryan Clady is a top-flight OT prospect that could be the heir apparent to Ogden. |
| | | | 9 | Bengals (7-9), Player: DT Sedrick Ellis (USC) | Team Needs: DT, OL, LB, DE, DB
The Bengals need to shore up their defense in a bad way and especially against the run. While Ellis is definitely a top-flight DT in this draft class, his measurables don't pop off the sheet at you. The reason why he is so highly coveted is that he causes disruption in the opposing team's backfield. If somehow Sedrick Ellis falls this far, he would be too good for the Bengals to pass up. |
| | | | 10 | Saints (7-9), Player: CB Leodis McKelvin (Troy) | Team Needs: CB, S, DL, WR, OL
The Saints drew a lot of criticism last year for ignoring their CB and LB needs early in the draft. This year they addressed both needs via free agency, but I bet they draft defensive help early this year as well. The Saints are reportedly in love with the top two DTs in this draft class and would like to move up as they must find a way to get their defense off the field after third down. McKelvin is a talented CB prospect that offers good speed and dangerous return skills, so he could hear his name called in the top 10 of this draft class. |
| | | | 11 | Bills (7-9), Player: WR *Devin Thomas (Michigan State) | Team Needs: WR, CB, TE, OL, LB
The Bills would love for either Keith Rivers or Leodis McKelvin to fall to them at this pick. If this scenario happens, they would love to move down and draft a WR, but if they get stuck here at pick number 11, the Bills might fall back to need as they are desperately seeking help at WR opposite Lee Evans. The problem is that drafting at the #11 spot may not offer great value at WR being that there are questions about each WR. While Devin Thomas has only turned in one good year of major college football, he looked like the real deal last year at Michigan State. Being that he is a big, strong, and fast WR that may remind some of a young T.O. and the Bills reportedly are seriously eyeing him as an option to improve their WR position. |
| | | | 12 | Broncos (7-9), Player: OT Chris Williams (Vanderbilt) | Team Needs: WR, S, OL, LB, DE
The Broncos will certainly be tempted to look for help at WR in this draft class, but there isn't good value here. Therefore, the Broncos could address some concerns along their OL. Branden Albert and Chris Williams would both be solid options. Williams is the more ready prospect for playing LT right now as he is sound technically and offers good mobility for an offensive tackle. He doesn't offer great name recognition or isn't overly flashy so he looks like a great fit for the Broncos offensive line. |
| | | | 13 | Panthers (7-9), Player: DE *Derrick Harvey (Florida) | Team Needs: OL, DL, QB, DB, LB
The Panthers could really use help at DE and OT. The good news is that both of these positions offer a number of first round prospects. Branden Albert might get a good long look here, but DE is harder to find than an OT. Therefore, I have the Panthers looking to go that route with Harvey being a solid prospect that can get after the passer and help free Julius Peppers up from double-teams. |
| | | | 14 | Bears (7-9), Player: OG *Branden Albert (Virginia) | Team Needs: WR, QB, OL, S, DT
The Bears brought Rex Grossman back for another year, but who will he throw too? Chicago doesn't have either starting WR from last year around so they'll likely be seeking help from the draft. If Malcolm Kelly checks out fine, then being that he is a good-sized WR prospect that offers good athleticism he could be the first WR drafted. At this point he is certainly in the argument of the top WRs in this draft class, but WR just isn't great value here so I have the Bears looking to Branden Albert who is an exceptional blocker that could wind up as a Pro Bowl caliber OG or OT. |
| | | | 15 | Lions (7-9), Player: RB Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) | Team Needs: LB, DL, RB, OT, CB
One thing is for certain: the Lions won't be drafting a WR in the first round this year. They will likely be targeting either a RB, LB, or DE in round one this year. With that said, it appears that Detroit is gearing up to draft a RB early this year after cutting the oft-injured Kevin Jones loose. That means that Mendenhall would be a nice addition to take pressure off of Kitna. The issue with drafting a RB in the first round is that there are plenty of quality RBs that could be available in the second or third round if Detroit would prefer to draft a LB, DE, or OT in round one. |
| | | | 16 | Cardinals (8-8), Player: CB Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie (Ten St) | Team Needs: CB, OL, LB, DL, RB
The Cardinals would likely be very happy to land some help in the secondary with Mad Mike Martz re-joining the division. Rodgers-Cromartie is a tall, fast, and talented CB with good size and playmaking skills. Of course, the Cardinals also could lean towards drafting LB or RB help as Mayo or Stewart might be worth a good long look. |
| | | | 17 | Chiefs (4-12), Player: OT Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) |
Jeff Otah would be a logical choice here, since (by my account) the Chiefs already addressed the DL with their fist pick. Otah would give KC a big OT prospect that can help them play some smash mouth football (think Willie Roaf here) and open some holes for their running game in addition to helping their QBs stay upright. |
| | | | 18 | Texans (8-8), Player: LB *Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) | Team Needs: OL, DB, WR, LB, RB
The Texans' RB situation was a mess last year, but they signed Chris Brown to add another threat to the backfield and the RB position might be the deepest position of this draft class. This means that the Texans might actually focus on drafting some OL help to keep Schaub healthy and open up holes for their RBs, but if the draft falls this way the top-tier OT prospects would all be gone. That means that the Texans could be a surprise team to call Jerod Mayo's name. Mayo is a very talented LB that could play in the middle or on the strong side at the NFL level. |
| | | | 19 | Eagles (8-8), Player: DE *Phillip Merling (Clemson) | Team Needs: WR, DL, LB, DB, OT
The Eagles really need to find help at WR and could use some help at DE too after releasing bust free agent Jevon Kearse. Under this scenario Phillip Merling would be a nice addition to the Eagles DL as he has the look of an edge rusher that can hold up well against the run. |
| | | | 20 | Buccaneers (9-7), Player: WR *Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) | Team Needs: WR, CB, DL, S, QB
The Bucs have plenty of needs, but foremost, they really could use an upgrade at WR as Galloway is quite long in the tooth. Malcolm Kelly is a big, talented WR that could really help the Bucs keep the chains moving. He hasn't been able to show what he can truly do in pre-draft workouts due to an injury, but many teams had him rated as the #1 WR prospect at the end of the college football season. |
| | | | 21 | Redskins (9-7), Player: WR Limas Sweed (Texas) | Team Needs: S, WR, DE, LB, CB
I could easily see the Redskins calling a DE's name in the first round as there are a number of talented players that should be available at that position, but WR help would be tough to pass on considering that the Redskins struggled horribly at that position last year. The Redskins reportedly love Malcolm Kelly and it may not shock me too much to see them try to move up ahead of the Bucs to get him. Instead, in this scenario, I have them falling back on Limas Sweed, another, big, talented WR. |
| | | | 22 | Cowboys (13-3), Player: RB *Felix Jones (Arkansas) | From CLE -- Team Needs: WR, OL, LB, DL, RB
The Cowboys can't count on seeing much of Terry Glenn at this stage of his career and T.O. is not getting any younger, however it would be a bit of a reach taking a WR here, especially with Jones and Stewart still on the board. Therefore, they will likely be looking to draft a WR later on day one. That means that the Cowboys will have to choose between Felix Jones and Jonathan Stewart. Stewart figures to be the better NFL prospect, but he is injured and possible too similar to what the Cowboys have already in Marion Barber, so Felix Jones could be the pick. NOTE: this is the way I am figuring that Jerry Jones will justify taking his Arkansas RB here. |
| | | | 23 | Steelers (10-6), Player: RB *Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) | Team Needs: OL, CB, S, DL, RB
The Steelers are desperately seeking OL help, however, I have most of the top OT prospects flying off the draft board. Therefore, I could see them leaning toward the best available player and drafting Jonathan Stewart to pair with Willie Parker. These two RBs would give the Steelers a very dangerous 1, 2 punch at the RB position. A top flight CB like Jenkins or Talib also might draw a look here. |
| | | | 24 | Titans (10-6), Player: CB Mike Jenkins (South Florida) | Team Needs: WR, DB, OL, DL, RB
Remember that the Titans have the most suspect set of WRs in the NFL, yet Vince Young willed them into the playoffs. WR is still their top need with CB next. Under this scenario the Titans might feel as if they would be reaching a bit for a WR, therefore, I have them drafting Mike Jenkins who is a big, talented CB that should help shore up their secondary. |
| | | | 25 | Seahawks (10-6), Player: TE Dustin Keller (Purdue) | Team Needs: TE, WR, OL, DB, DL
The Seahawks reportedly would love to trade down and out of this spot altogether. With that said there are a number of talented players that might be on the board for them here and at a position of need such as Phillips or Balmer. However, after further review it appears that the Seahawks have fallen in love with Dustin Keller who is the fastest TE in this draft class. Keller would give them a dimension of being able to stretch the field and take some pressure off their running game. |
| | | | 26 | Jaguars (11-5), Player: DT Kentwan Balmer (North Carolina) | Team Needs: DT, DE, LB, S, OL
The Jags bid adieu to DT Marcus Stroud and might be looking to find a replacement for him early in this draft. Balmer is a solid DT prospect that is fairly quick for an interior defender so he might be able to step right in and replace Stroud. DB Kenny Phillips or a pass-rushing DE might also be on the Jags radar. |
| | | | 27 | Chargers (11-5), Player: CB *Aqib Talib (Kansas) | Team Needs: CB, S, LB, WR, OL
The Chargers could use some help in the secondary considering that they lost a couple of players at that position. Talib is a good-sized corner that offers good speed and playmaking to merit consideration in the top half of the first round, but an off-field concern could cause his stock to slide a bit. |
| | | | 28 | Cowboys (13-3), Player: WR *DeSean Jackson (California) | Team Needs: WR, OL, LB, DL, RB
The Cowboys can't count on seeing much of Terry Glenn at this stage of his career and T.O. is not getting any younger. Therefore, they will likely be looking to draft a WR with one of their day one picks. That means that a guy like Jackson might be a good fit in Big D being that he offers big play ability to stretch the defense and his return skills would also come in quite handy. The drawback here is that Jackson is a small WR and maybe should really be better suited to being a second round pick. |
| | | | 29 | 49ers (5-11), Player: OT Gosder Cherilus (Boston College) | From IND -- Team Needs: OL, WR, DL, LB, S
In earlier Mock Drafts I pointed out that the 49ers must find some pass-catchers in order to put some points up on the board. Well, they signed Isaac Bruce which is a good start, but they still need help at WR as their anemic offense is in dire need of players that can make plays. Of course, the offense could also use some help along the line, so Cherilus might be a nice addition to open holes for the running game and keep Alex Smith upright. |
| | | | 30 | Packers (13-3), Player: CB *Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) | Team Needs: TE, OL, DT, CB, S
The Packers would do well to add a TE that can stretch the field and take some pressure off of young Aaron Rodgers, RB Ryan Grant and their young WRs. However, the Packers might also be interested in adding more help in their secondary with a player like Flowers who can offer good size, speed, and playmaking ability. |
| | | | 31 | Patriots (16-0), Player: Forfeited | Team Needs: OLB, ILB, CB, S, OL
Pick forfeited |
| | | | 32 | Giants (10-6), Player: S *Kenny Phillips (Miami) | Team Needs: CB, S, LB, DT, OL
The Giants defense came around very well in the playoffs as they held three of the most high-powered offenses down in the post-season. They really need help in their defensive backfield or at LB. Being that I have Kenny Phillips still available, I could see the Giants calling his name as he is a bit of a CB/S tweener that should be able to step in and help the Giants secondary immediately. |
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* Denotes Underclassmen
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| Check out the Second Round of my Mock Draft in my Blog! |
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