1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
The Fins build a foundation; now word is they’re trying to trade back into the bottom of the first round to pair Long with Wolverines teammate Chad Henne. Now if they can get Mario Manningham in the third, Mike Hart in the fourth…
2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Sounds like the Rams are debating between Howie’s kid and Glenn Dorsey. Long fills the bigger need, as St. Louis ends produced a paltry 5.5 sacks last season. But if the Saints make an offer they can’t refuse, the Rams could move down a few spots and settle for someone else.
3. Atlanta Falcons - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
If Dorsey is off the board, this pick quickly becomes Matt Ryan. If both are still available, the debate will rage within Atlanta’s war room. Ultimately the Falcons’ five picks in the next two rounds should allow them to trade back into the first round and get Brian Brohm, breaking the tie in Dorsey’s favor.
4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Vernon Gholston might fill a bigger need - after all, the Raiders were sixth in the NFL in rushing without McFadden and still expect to get something out of Michael Bush - but Al Davis loves to make a splash. Taking McFadden here would most certainly accomplish that.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
It’s a best - case scenario for the Chiefs if a pass - rusher falls here: they can replace Jared Allen, then use the Vikings’ pick later on to fill a hole on their offensive line. With Jake Long off the board there’s no offensive lineman who warrants this high a pick, but if Gholston and Chris Long are both gone the Chiefs will reach for Branden Albert or Ryan Clady - or trade back and let the Saints go after Sedrick Ellis.
6. New York Jets - Keith Rivers, LB, USC
It’s a worst - case scenario for the Jets: there’s no rush end, McFadden is gone, and the Jets filled most of the rest of their needs via free agency. Again, they’d love to field a call from the Ravens (for Ryan), Bengals (for Ellis), or Saints (Ellis also), trading down and still finding a quality cornerback available. Taking Rivers here, however, allows them to move Bryan Thomas back to defensive end and screws over the Patriots.
7. New England Patriots (from 49ers) - Branden Albert, G/T, Virginia
Rivers is the guy the Patriots want, and there are some cornerbacks (Leodis McKelvin tops the list) who could step in and help New England immediately. But Albert is likely the name that tops Bill Belichick’s draft board, and if you happened to catch the Super Bowl you know Tom Brady’s metaphors could use a little freshening.
8. Baltimore Ravens - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
If Ryan’s gone the Ravens will likely go with a cornerback. However, there’s no question a Baltimore representative will be sprinting towards the podium the moment the Patriots make their selection. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Baltimore tossed a late - round pick at the Patriots to move up just to ensure another team doesn’t swoop in and steal Matty Ice.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
The Bengals tried to make some noise about looking at a running back here, but if Ellis slides to No. 9 there’s no question they’ll snap him up. He fills not only a void along the defensive line but also brings a much - needed dose of character to the locker room. Of course, if the Saints find a way to leapfrog Cincy it could spell the end of Rudi Johnson’s run as the lead dog in the Bengals backfield; Rashard Mendenhall already has experience wearing orange.
10. New Orleans Saints - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
Taking the first corner off the board is a pretty nice consolation prize for the Saints, who are expected to throw everything and the kitchen sink at the Rams for a shot at Dorsey or, failing that, everything and a smaller household fixture at the Chiefs, Jets, and/or Patriots in order to grab Ellis.
11. Buffalo Bills - Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
Derrick Harvey is the best player available, and if there’s a team who really wants him the Bills would gladly move down and still have a shot at a big receiver. But it’s tough to see anyone moving up here, leaving Buffalo to do something they’ve done before: reach down the board a little to fill a need - in this case, a wide receiver who’ll stand out in a crowd of jockeys.
12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
With plenty invested in Jay Cutler, it makes sense to add a nimble - footed lineman to protect his backside. If Mike Shanahan sticks to his tradition of waiting until the later rounds to address his offensive line, the alternative would be reaching down the board a bit for Jerod Mayo, a move that would allow D.J. Williams to switch back to the weak side.
13. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
The Class of 2008 is deep along the offensive line, a need Carolina can address with three picks in the next two rounds. Harvey, on the other hand, is the best pass rusher still on the board, and that itch - which became bigger with Mike Rucker’s retirement - will be much more difficult to scratch next round. Given the way the Panthers went after DeAngelo Williams a couple years back it wouldn’t’ be surprising to see them go after Jonathan Stewart here.
14. Chicago Bears - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
It will be difficult for Da Bears to pass on Rashard Mendenhall here, and even harder to blame them if they don’t. But Chicago has an aging offensive line and an opportunity to add a mauler in the finest tradition of the Bruise Brothers. They can pick up a complement/replacement for Cedric Benson next round.
15. Detroit Lions - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
Matt Millen will have three more opportunities over the next two rounds to upgrade his offensive line; Mendenhall had better hope he does, because otherwise this pick will be wasted. Mendenhall is a talented back and a good fit for the Lions’ new emphasis on the ground game, but ask Barry Sanders what it was like to run behind shay offensive lines.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Arizona actually has options here. With a couple quality cornerbacks still on the board the Cards could address depth at that position. They could reach down the board a bit and fortify their defensive line with Kentwan Balmer. Ultimately, however, the opportunity to add Stewart and let him learn alongside Edgerrin James for a year before taking over is just too good to pass up.
17. Kansas City Chiefs (from Vikings) - Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
This is exactly how the Chiefs hope Saturday plays out, as they’re able to address one of their multiple needs along the offensive line with the selection picked up from Minnesota. If the offensive tackles are tapped out, which isn’t a far - fetched scenario, KC could go with a cornerback (Mike Jenkins or Dominique Rodgers - Cromartie) or start looking to trade down; this may be the point where Atlanta starts looking to get back into the first round for a shot at Brian Brohm.
18. Houston Texans - Dominique Rodgers - Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
You’d think in a draft this deep in offensive line help the Texans would finally address their most glaring need. Unfortunately, the well runs dry just before their selection and they don’t have a second - round pick. Help in the secondary is almost as big a need as tackle, so instead of reaching for Gosder Cherilus here they’ll opt for DRC or possibly South Florida’s Mike Jenkins.
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
While Philly still needs help at wide receiver, it’s a slot they should be able to fill in the second round - though if Devin Thomas were still on the board they’d be hard pressed to pass him up. Taking Merling helps the Eagles on multiple levels: they replace Jevon Kearse, plus they keep Merling from winding up in the division as the Redskins would most certainly snap him up two picks later.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
The Bucs won’t be averse to fielding calls from teams looking to move back into Round One; actually, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if noted quarterback collector Jon Gruden snapped up Brohm here himself. The more logical options would be a wideout like DeSean Jackson or corner depth, with Jenkins the highest - rated player still on the board.
21. Washington Redskins - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
The Skins so rarely have draft picks they may not know what to do with them. A safety would certainly be an option here, but it might be too much to ask Miami’s Kenny Phillips to follow the legacy of Sean Taylor. With Merling off the board Jim Zorn may look for help on the offensive side of the ledger, and his West Coast offense could use a bigger receiver; Sweed gets the nod over James Hardy and Malcolm Kelly.
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Browns) - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
The Cowboys would have loved either Jenkins or Sweed here; now they’ll opt to wait until their other first - round pick to address wideout and corner and snap up a complement to (and eventual replacement for?) Marion Barber in Jones. It’s not the Razorback Jerry Jones covets, and it wouldn’t be unexpected if he packaged Dallas’ first - round picks to move up should McFadden slip down the board a bit.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Kentwan Balmer is tempting here; so is Jerod Mayo. However, the Steelers’ needs along the offensive line are too great to not make a move for Cherilus here. Jonathan Stewart would also be an option if he’s still on the board, but given what the Steelers have invested in Ben Roethlisberger it makes more sense to add a widebody charged with keeping Big Ben’s jersey clean.
24. Tennessee Titans - Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee
For the second draft in a row, the Titans eschew adding a target for Vince Young to beef up their defense. If Sweed is still on the board, Young might get his man; with Sweed gone and the Titans preferring a taller target like James Hardy or Malcolm Kelly over a diminutive one like DeSean Jackson, Mayo gets the call to solidify the middle of Tennessee’s defense.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Sam Baker could fill immediate holes at guard or tackle and eventually supplant Walter Jones at left tackle. However, given Rocky Bernard’s recent off - field transgressions and the depth of the offensive line talent pool, Balmer gets the call. Speaking of calls, the Seahawks would certainly be open to any inquiries about trading down from this spot if a team is looking to get back into round one for a quarterback. And don’t put it past Mike Holmgren to add Matt Hasselbeck’s heir apparent as the Walrus wraps up his tenure in Seattle.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
The Jaguars’ defensive line was once its defining strength; now, while it’s not exactly in shambles, it could use an infusion of pass - rush. Enter Groves, who’ll pick up where Bobby McCrary left off and also give Jack Del Rio some flexibility at the rush end/outside linebacker position.
27. San Diego Chargers - Sam Baker, OT, USC
If this is truly the way the board plays out, the Chargers will trade out of this pick. Their primary areas of need - offensive line help, a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson, a playmaking safety - can all be addressed later, and the Bolts don’t have another selection until No. 160 so they’d certainly be agreeable to a package of picks from the Dolphins, Falcons, or Chiefs. If forced to choose a player, San Diego can’t go wrong adding a layer of protection for Philip Rivers and LT.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
The Cowboys aren’t foolish enough to bank on Pacman Jones staying clean… are they? In any event, in today’s NFL you can never have too many cornerbacks. The alternative would be a wide receiver, and Jerry Jones could reach for James Hardy or take a chance or the mercurial Malcolm Kelly. As an added bonus, Flowers is likely headed for Green Bay if he doesn’t go here; Dallas certainly doesn’t want an NFC rival loading up on ways to stop Tony Romo.
29. San Francisco 49ers (from Colts) - DeSean Jackson, WR, California
Mike Martz would prefer a wide receiver with both size and speed, but Jackson has enough speed the Niners can overlook his lack of size. It doesn’t hurt that Jerry Rice has been tutoring Jackson; he knows a little bit about the receiver position. If San Fran can’t get past Jackson’s diminutive stature the options are Kelly and Hardy… or perhaps Brian Brohm or Chad Henne.
30. Green Bay Packers - Aqib Talib, QB, Kansas
Nobody trades down quite like the Packers, so if they’re uncomfortable with Talib’s character issues or confident they can get offensive linemen or secondary help later on down the line they’ll have no reservations moving down the board. Another knock on Talib: his shaved head doesn’t appear to be a good fit in the dreadlocked Packer secondary.
31. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
The Super Bowl champs have some options as they look to address their secondary and linebacking corps. Dan Connor and Curtis Lofton could step in at linebacker, while Tyrell Johnson and DaJuan Morgan are alternatives to Phillips. Ultimately, the Hurricane’s body of work should trump Johnson’s dynamic combine performance. A receiver isn’t out of the question either, and James Hardy or Mario Manningham are certainly on the radar.
Falling out of the first round from the last mock draft: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma; James Hardy, WR, Indiana; Dan Connor, LB, Penn State |
