2008 NFL Draft
Mock Draft No. 1 -
January 14
By
Pete Fiutak
Fine, so this is way silly considering the actual order hasn't been
determined yet, but it's still goofy fun (and this shouldn't be that
far off as far as needs and rough projections). The mock drafts will
come in more detail after all the early entries have filed and the
Super Bowl has been played, but until then ...
1. Miami Dolphins - Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU
The team needs a foundation to build on. A high-character block in the
middle is a great place to start.
2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long, DE Virginia
The Rams will do everything possible to trade down for more picks.
Someone will try to make a deal to grab McFadden.
3. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
Justin Fargas is a good-looking producer, but he can't stay healthy. Al
Davis takes McFadden and ditches a slew of mediocre backs.
4. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
The Falcons have to wipe the slate clean and begin anew. Getting a
ready-made NFL passer like Ryan is a good start.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Brian Brohm, QB Louisville
Brodie Croyle isn't the answer.
6. New York Jets - Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State
Gholston fits the scheme and could be versatile enough to use in several
spots.
7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco) -
Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
The Patriots need reinforcements in the secondary, especially if
Asante Samuel takes off.
8. Baltimore Ravens - Andre Woodson, QB Kentucky
The franchise is starting over. Kyle Boller and Troy Smith aren't the
players to build an offense around.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
The Bengals will think about a pass rusher just in case there are
problems going into 2008 with injuries, but a running back might
be tempting.
10. New Orleans Saints - Sedrick Ellis, DT USC
Corner and linebacker will be more pressing, but Ellis is too good
to pass up. The Saints will go into the draft hoping Jenkins falls.
11. Buffalo Bills - Kenny Phillips, S Miami
The Bills need a corner or a receiver, but could give the secondary
more of a boost with Phillips, a steal here.
12. Denver Broncos - Jake Long, OT Michigan
While he's not quite the nimble lineman Denver usually goes with,
he's the best tackle in the draft and a big-time find if he lasts this
long.
13. Carolina Panthers - Calais Campbell, DE Miami
Is Julius Peppers going to go through the motions again? The
Panthers could use a safety, but will go with the pass rusher to get
more aggressive.
14. Chicago Bears - Ryan Clady, OT Boise State
The Bears need everything on offense and would love for one of the
top quarterbacks to drop. Fixing up the line is priority one, getting a
receiver is part two.
15. Detroit Lions - Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
Kevin Jones can't stay healthy. With Mike Martz gone, more balance
will be the edict going into 2008.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon
Edge James and Stewart would be a devastating 1-2 punch to take the
heat off Matt Leinart/Kurt Warner. The running game needs more pop.
17. Minnesota Vikings - Early Doucet, WR LSU
Since there isn't a quarterback here, more help to save the Tarvaris
Jackson experiment will arrive.
18. Houston Texans - Felix Jones, RB Arkansas
Ron Dayne, Darius Walker and Ahman Green will all be elsewhere
sooner than later.
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Keith Rivers, LB USC
Will the Eagles finally get the linebacker they need?
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
Boosting the receiving corps has been a need for years. Joey
Galloway can't last forever.
21. Washington Redskins - Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
The best defensive lineman left on the board will go here.
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) - DeSean Jackson, WR
California
Dallas secured Patrick Crayton, but he's not a number one receiver
when T.O. is done. Getting younger at OT might be the call to protect
the franchise.
23. Seattle Seahawks - Sam Baker, OT USC
Seattle needs to get younger with Walter Jones starting to show his
age.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jeff Otah, OT Pitt
The line will be a glaring issue in a big hurry.
25. Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed, WR Texas
Sweed might be a questionable first rounder, but the Titans need
receivers and Vince Young knows how to work with his former Longhorn
teammate.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
A defensive end would be nice, but a top-flight No. 2 corner would
be better.
27. San Francisco 49ers
(from Indianapolis)
- Mario Manningham, WR Michigan
Darrell Jackson is a bust and Arnaz Battle isn't anything special.
The Niners have to give Alex Smith more weapons to work with.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
Offensive tackle or receiver, depending on what happens with the
earlier pick, could be the call, but getting more help on the corners is
a must at some point.
29. New York Giants* - Dan Connor, LB Penn State
Boosting the linebacking corps isn't a big-time must, but it would
certainly help allow the line to keep pinning its ears back to get into
the backfield.
30. San Diego Chargers* - Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
The Chargers could use more of a rotation to keep Phil Rivers
upright.
31. Green Bay Packers* - Fred Davis, TE USC
If Brett Favre is coming back for one more year, he'll want one more
weapon to work with.
32. New England Patriots - No Soup For You
Naughty, naughty. The Pats lose this pick thanks to Spygate.
*Depending on how the playoffs shake out
