1st Round Mock Draft
by Dave Ryan
With the coin flip done and the first round order now set, Dave Ryan looks at how it may pan out.
1. Miami Dolphins-Chris Long-DE-Virginia
Aside from the gushing that has been going on over Matt Ryan and the controversy that has formed a dark cloud over Darren McFadden, one of the more interesting storylines for this year’s draft has to be Bill Parcells, and his impact on how the rest of the pieces of the 2008 NFL Draft fall into place. We know the Tuna likes tough minded players with a great work ethic, and that in turn helps to point a pretty imposing finger directly at Chris Long, the one guy who seems to epitomize everything Parcells looks for in a prospect. Is it a perfect fit? Maybe so. Does it make sense? You betcha.
2. St. Louis Rams-Jake Long-OT-Michigan
Marc Bulger’s season last year in a nutshell? Horrible. Of course he was injured a good deal of the year, but the guy simply didn’t have any time to sit back and throw the ball. The Rams have been pretty weak in terms of overall drafting success in recent years, but going with the no-brainer and drafting Jake Long could be the starting point for this team climbing back to the postseason.
3. Atlanta Falcons-Darren McFadden-RB-Arkansas
Adrian Peterson was the best player on the board at last year’s draft, and Darren McFadden is poised to have the exact same role come April. D-Mac as he’s referred to by the Hog Nation, has the speed, power, elusiveness, size and overall athletic ability to flourish in the NFL. For a franchise in search of forgetting the past and attempting to uncover the next big time player, this is a match made in heaven.
4. Oakland Raiders-Ryan Clady-OT-Boise State
It might seem a little high for Clady to go fourth overall, but come draft day we always find ourselves scratching our heads a bit when an offensive tackle goes earlier than anticipated. Remember Levi Brown at five last year? Clady is a very nice consolation prize considering that the Raiders were probably hoping for Jake Long to slip to them at this spot.
5. Kansas City Chiefs-Glenn Dorsey-DT-LSU
A little upset that two offensive tackles have already left the board knowing their need for depth, the Chiefs go with the best player available and grab the tenacious Glenn Dorsey out of Louisiana State. The 300lb tackle has recently decided not to participate at the combine, so it will be interesting to see what other players might leapfrog Dorsey on certain team’s draft boards.
6. New York Jets-Vernon Gholston-DE-Ohio State
The third defensive player off the board, Gholston is a freak athlete who is almost a lock to be a major presence at the NFL level. Expect Gholston to go crazy in individual workouts as well, making him a very likely candidate to rise up draft boards come April.
7. New England Patriots-Keith Rivers-OLB-USC
While it’s unfair enough that the Pats even have this pick in their arsenal, adding a monster like Rivers to their talented linebacking stable seems like armed robbery. Bruschi, Seau and Vrabel aren’t getting any younger, so this pick really makes sense when you think about what the Patriots try to employ on defense.
8. Baltimore Ravens-Matt Ryan-QB-Boston College
The Matt Ryan hype train ends here. Say what you will about his surrounding parts at BC, but the guy threw 19 interceptions as a senior and didn’t show up until the fourth quarter in some of his team’s biggest games. Why does it feel like there’s so much pressure on teams to draft a quarterback this early every year? Oh well. The Ravens looked like they were impressed with Troy Smith at quarterback down the stretch, but the potential of taking a highly touted quarterback with lofty NFL comparisons might just be too hard for Baltimore to pass up.
9. Cincinnati Bengals-Derrick Harvey-DE-Florida
Overshadowed last year by first round pick Jarvis Moss, Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey has made vast improvements in his game since Moss left school. Now a more polished pass rusher, Harvey could be the speedy presence the Bengals need rushing from the outside, and would upgrade their defense from day one.
10. New Orleans Saints-Mike Jenkins-CB-South Florida
A tough, physical corner like Jenkins would be a nice addition to a Saints defense that has given up passing yards by the bushel in recent years. Jenkins could start almost immediately, and should develop into a shutdown corner in three years without question.
11. Buffalo Bills-Limas Sweed-WR-Texas
Somebody needs to start making big plays in Buffalo, so why not let that person be Limas Sweed? The first receiver off the board due to his dominating size, Sweed would give the Bills a much needed red-zone presence, along with giving new quarterback Trent Edwards another weapon to build upon.
12. Denver Broncos-Sedrick Ellis-DT-USC
From all accounts, Sedrick Ellis made people stop in awe at what they were seeing at the Senior Bowl. While that may not have completely influenced his stock considering he was already an elite prospect, Ellis is probably still a lock to be the second defensive tackle off the board. Denver is looking for a big presence to stop the run and get to the quarterback, and Ellis can do a great deal of both with ease.
13. Carolina Panthers-Brian Brohm-QB-Louisville
Jake Delhomme looks to be nearing the end of his run, meaning it’s time for the Panthers to go shopping for a quarterback this offseason. Brohm should definitely be on the board at this slot considering not many teams are in the market for a quarterback this early. A running back could make sense here also, but Brohm’s arm strength and poise make him the choice here.
14. Chicago Bears-Branden Albert-G-Virginia
When Cedric Benson wasn’t busy crying last season, he was churning out a putrid 3.4 yards per carry as the feature back on a team with no feature back. If the Bears are as committed to Benson as they seem to be, then they’ll shore up their line with a massive interior blocker like Branden Albert with their first round pick. Albert is every bit of 6′7 and 310+ pounds, and could be an immediate starter on a line that has struggled to protect anyone, let alone a quarterback.
15. Detroit Lions-Antoine Cason-CB-Arizona
As much as it would be a huge addition to draft a stud runner like Jonathan Stewart, the Lions are every bit of a laughingstock on the defensive side of the ball. Matt Millen will probably go another way with this pick (as he always does), but a potential shutdown corner like Cason is an immediate upgrade in the Detroit secondary.
16. Arizona Cardinals-Rashard Mendenhall-RB-Illinois
Even though cornerback is clearly an area of need, the Cardinals might find it just too hard to pass up on the versatile Mendenhall at the midpoint of the first round. With Edgerrin James’ future in the desert in being questioned by some, it would make perfect sense for the Cardinals to add another playmaker with star written all over him.
17. Minnesota Vikings-Kenny Phillips-S-Miami
With safety being the most pressing need for the Vikings, drafting the best safety in the draft has to make the Vikings’ brass happy here. Phillips has a nose for the ball much like the late, great Sean Taylor, and should contend right away for a starting role in the Minnesota secondary.
18. Houston Texans-Jonathan Stewart-RB-Oregon
It might seem a little far fetched to see Stewart slip this far, especially since we’re all anxiously awaiting him to go crazy and post ridiculous number at the combine, but after McFadden at three, you can honestly make a case that every team up to this pick already has a running back situation they are content with. Stewart can really fit into any running scheme, but the zone blocking that Houston uses suits him very well and could turn him into a popular choice for rookie of the year.
19. Philadelphia Eagles-Malcolm Kelly-WR-Oklahoma
Clamoring for playmakers, Donovan McNabb clearly has to be intrigued with the possibilities of having a guy Malcolm Kelly lined up at receiver. At 6′4 and 217lbs, Kelly makes for one heck of a redzone target, and should be somebody to look out for as a rookie of the year candidate.
20. Tampa Bay Bucs-Jeff Otah-OT-Pittsburgh
As a team that is surely set to compete for a few more years, the Bucs are desperately seeking a left tackle to protect Jeff Garcia. Pittsburgh’s big tackle Jeff Otah should be an intriguing option at this spot. Otah is almost a consensus #3 offensive tackle in this class, so grabbing him and setting their O-line up for the future is a great move here.
21. Washington Redskins-Calais Campbell-DE-Miami
Philip Daniels and Andre Carter have both had a nice run at defensive end, but for the Redskins to take the next step as a playoff team they simply need to take a look at what one of their rivals is doing. The hated New York Giants just won the Super Bowl with a stable of freakish defensive ends that they employ in a rotation. Now this doesn’t mean the Redskins need to use the same strategy, but when a guy like Calais Campbell is on the board and you need a defensive end, then there’s really nothing else left to say. The 6′8, 280 pound Campbell is every bit a freak, and could instantly be another dominating force rushing the quarterback in the NFC East.
22. Dallas Cowboys-Jamaal Charles-RB-Texas
With Julius Jones probably headed out of town, the Cowboys have not been shy about their interest in picking up another talented running back. Jerry Jones has said he’s extremely enamored with Darren McFadden, but a speedster like Charles should rise up draft boards and make for a nice replacement.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers-Aqib Talib-CB-Kansas
Although he’s not expected to run a blazing forty time by anyone’s expectations, Talib’s workout numbers might hurt him a bit in some people’s eyes. The Steelers would instantly love his size and ability to play the physical style they love, and he could be a nice addition at this point in the first round.
24. Tennessee Titans-DeSean Jackson-WR-California
Even though a big receiver like Limas Sweed seemed perfect due to his history with Titans quarterback Vince Young, the Titans will have to go with the next best playmaker they can find instead. It would be a difficult decision between DeSean Jackson and Michigan’s Mario Manningham knowing the Titans are determined to upgrade their offense, but Jackson gets the edge because of his ability to contribute on special teams with the future of “returner extroaordinaire” Pacman Jones in question.
25. Seattle Seahawks-Frank Okam-DT-Texas
In terms of an inside presence on defense, the Seattle Seahawks really don’t have much going for them. Stopping the run has been more of a problem for the Seahawks as well, so going with a giant like Frank Okam (6′5, 320) late in the first round is a move that they could soon come to remember as a wise one.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars-Mario Manningham-WR-Michigan
The Jags have tried twice to land a future star at receiver in the first round, and for the most part, both of those attempts have failed. Attempt number three seems more likely to hit a home run, as Mario Manningham would bring more of the big play potential that Jaguars fans have been seeing with stud runner Maurice Jones-Drew for the past two years. “Super Mario” as he’s called at Michigan, Manningham could be a great first round steal when we look back on this draft class down the road.
27. San Diego Chargers-Ali Highsmith-OLB-LSU
Those who watched LSU exclusively over the past season saw a certain #7 running all over the place making tackles and hitting people. That person was linebacker Ali Highsmith, a player whose stock has been both up and down over the past two seasons. He might be a tad undersized to some, but the tenacity and recklessness he brings could make the Chargers that much more difficult to contain on defense.
28. Dallas Cowboys-Reggie Smith-CB-Oklahoma
In the latter of their two first round selections, the Cowboys certainly must look towards the secondary, most notably the cornerback position. With so many talented corners still on the board, Dallas has a laundry list of potential guys to look at here. At the top of that list has to be Oklahoma’s Reggie Smith, a player who some consider the best overall cornerback in the draft.
29. San Francisco 49ers-Sam Baker-OT-USC
Alex Smith should still be the man for now in San Francisco, but his window of opportunity looks to be closing as the fans grow restless. With only a late first round pick to their credit, the 49ers should do the right thing and shore up their offensive line. Sam Baker has been called everything from a top ten pick to a mid second rounder over the past few years, but he makes for solid value at this spot for Mike Nolan’s crew.
30. Green Bay Packers-Dan Connor-OLB-Penn State
The Packers are in search of an outside linebacker, with Big Ten alumnus A.J. Hawk already on staff, it’s fitting that they would look towards the same conference for another linebacker a few years later. Two outside linebackers come to mind, the raw, yet instinctively fast Shawn Crable from Michigan, and the smart, craft leader in Dan Connor from Penn State. Either would make a solid choice, but Connor makes more sense due to his polish and ability to contribute immediately.
31. New England Patriots-Pick Forfeited
32. New York Giants-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie-CB-Tennessee State
Even though a Super Bowl Champion team like the Giants should seemingly have little flaws in retrospect, one place where they severely lack depth is at the cornerback position. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie should gain recognition in the weeks leading up to the draft, but he is every thing NFL teams look for in potential shutdown corners (good size, speed, hips, instincts). He’d make a good addition as a nickel corner right off the bat, and should develop into a very good NFL player.