Scout.com: 2008 NFL Draft Analysis

1

136

Detroit (from trade) Kenneth Moore, WR Wake Forest
The former running back turned into an ultra-productive receiver in a non-passing offense. Despite being the focus of every secondary, he still caught 98 passes for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns with a few monster games when he caught everything in sight. He still needs some work to be a pro level route runner and he could use some overall fine-tuning, but he could become a very nice possession receiver who keeps the chains moving.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN Position Rank: 19

2

137

Minnesota (from trade) John David Booty, QB USC
When he first came to USC as a 17-year-old he was expected to be the next big thing following in the footsteps of Carson Palmer. He got hurt and was never able to overtake some guy named Leinart, who went on to become one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all-time. He turned into a nice passer, but not a special one, and he struggled way too much when the line wasn't giving him 12 days to throw. He's not mobile, doesn't have the most accurate deep arm, and has a rock-hard ceiling on his talent level. Even so, he'll be a 12-year pro as a solid No. 2 quarterback who can come in from time to time and keep the ship from sinking.
CFN Projection: Late Third Round CFN Position Rank: 10

3

138

Atlanta Robert James, OLB Arizona State
With safety athleticism and excellent pop, he's an intimidating player who can blow up a ball-carrier and he isn't afraid to get his uniform dirty. The big question is his durability. Banged up throughout his career, he finally broke through as a senior. He has the strength, but at only 5-11 and 225 pounds, he's purely a weakside prospect.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 24

4

139

Denver Ryan Torain, RB Arizona State
Patience is a virtue. Torain could be a fantastic mid-round investment with a big payoff down the road. At 6-0 and 213 pounds with nice speed, he has the measurables. They might not be first round skills, but they're more than good enough to be an NFL starter. He's a hard runner who can catch the ball and will do whatever is asked of him. But he's hurt. A foot injury, needing to undergo Lisfranc surgery in the middle of last season, he likely won't be the player he should become by 2009 at the earliest. When he's right, he'll be an excellent No. 2 back.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 13

5

140

Kansas City Brandon Carr, CB Grand Valley State
He'll be a chance on greatness. At 6-1 and 206 pounds, he has the size and good speed, but he played for Grand Valley State. He'll be a project, but he has plenty of production, starting all four years, and was tremendously productive, but he'll be a reach, at best.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

6

141

Carolina Gary Barnridge, TE Louisville
After a good three years, Barnridge emerged as Brian Brohm's main man as a senior with a tremendous 53-catch season with seven touchdowns. He really helped himself by timing far better than expected, and while he's not a natural route runner, he could fit in well as a second tight end who moves the chains. Not that big on a 6-5 frame, there's a ceiling on what he can do.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 12

7

142

Chicago Zach Bowman, CB Nebraska
Speed, speed, speed. A 4.4 defender with decent size, he has good measurables and has the all-around athleticism to stay with just about anyone. However, he's not a very good football player. Out all of 2006 knee injury and after struggling last year. partially because he started out with a hamstring problem, he's not going to stay healthy.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

8

143

Dallas (from trade) Orlando Scandrick, CB Boise State
Blazing fast, running a 4.36 at the Combine, Scandrick upped his stock after a good but not great three-year career. He has decent size, but he doesn't use it enough and isn't too physical and has a major question mark about his toughness. On speed alone he'll be worth playing around with in the secondary at several spots, but he needed to stay in school another year to up his stock.
CFN Projection: Late Fifth Round to Early Sixth CFN Position Rank: 19

9

144

New Orleans (from trade) DeMario Pressley, DT NC State
A total underachiever, he has all the tools to be phenomenal. Big, fast, athletic, and a good tackler, he was a good player for NC State, but he never became an interior pass rusher and he didn't dominate like he should've. He got dinged up with a variety of problems and didn't always play through the injuries. The upside is there, but he needs to be shoved by the coaches.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN Position Rank: 11

10

145

Cincinnati Jason Shirley, DT Fresno State
A massive space-eater at 6-6 and close to 340 pounds, he'll clog things up on the inside. He's a surprising athlete for a player of his bulk and isn't bad at getting into the backfield. However, he has no fire whatsoever. He should've been much, much better than he was, but the light was never turned on and was a career underachiever.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

11

146

Detroit (from trade) Jerome Felton, FB Furman
A good big-sized running back at 240 pounds, he can thump a little bit in short-yardage situations. While he's not fast, he's quick enough to get through the hole and crank out a few big runs. The problem is his blocking. He's not an NFL runner and he has to prove he can be physical enough to make a difference.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round CFN Position Rank: NR

12

147

Buffalo Alvin Bowen, OLB Iowa State
"Ace" was a tremendously productive all-around playmaker for the Cyclones for the last two seasons making 254 stops, and while he has excellent athleticism and is a great tackler, he times really, really slow. Like 4.89 slow. Considering he's 6-0 and 223 pounds, that's not good. He can get pushed round too much and he needs to get a lot stronger to make a team.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round to Free Agent CFN Position Rank: 33

13

148

Denver Carlton Powell, DT Virginia Tech
He was fine over the last few years, but he didn't dominate like he should've. At 6-2 and 288 pounds he doesn't have the space-eater body to be a must-have prospect, and he's not in good enough shape to be the type of athlete who'll make a push into the backfield. He might be good in short bursts, but he can't be used for more than a few plays in a row.
CFN Projection: Late Sixth Round to Early Seventh CFN Position Rank: 20

14

149

Arizona Timothy Hightower, RB Richmond
At six-feet and 225 pounds with a good combination of power and quickness, he can pound inside and can bounce to the outside equally well. A good receiver, he could be used in a variety of ways. However, even though he has decent measurables, he's not an NFL athlete and never did anything special. He'll have to be a special teamer to make it.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

15

150

Green Bay (from trade) Breno Giacomini, OT Louisville
The former tight end is a tall (6-7) athletic 305 pounds, but he's not going to pound anyone on a consistent basks and is still learning the ins and outs of playing tackle. He was only a regular starter for a year and is still developing. Even though he's not a finished product by any stretch he has the upside to grow into a possible pass protector.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round CFN Position Rank: 17

16

151

Houston Frank Okam, DT Texas
He should've been a lot better than he actually was. A three-years starter for the Longhorns, Okam was fine, but nothing special even though he came up with a really nice senior season. At 6-4 and 335 pounds he's the biggest of the top tackles by far and he knows how to use it. even though he needs to play stronger. The question will be how he plays when the lights go on. Terrific in the off-season circuit, it left many wondering where that player was for four years.
CFN Projection: Late Third Round to Early Fourth CFN Position Rank: 10

17

152

Minnesota (from trade) Letroy Guion, DT Florida State
For a player who's supposed to get by on his athleticism, he didn't do a whole bunch at FSU to show it off. He looks more like a big end than a tackle and will likely be more useful in a 3-4 scheme. Because of his lateral quickness and because of his ability to clean things up when they come to him, he'll be a decent backup. He was one of the players suspended from the bowl game for academic issues.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN Position Rank: 14

18

153

New England (from trade) Matt Slater, S/WR UCLA
Purely a special teamer, but a special one. While he was a receiver and defensive back in name, his career quickly changed after suffering a broken leg and he became a tremendous playmaker in kick coverage. A luxury pick; there's no reason to draft him and it's asking a lot to make room on a roster for him.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

19

154

Atlanta (from trade) Kory Biermann, LB Montana
Not fast enough to play on the outside and not big enough to play inside, he's a classic tweener linebacker who'll have a hard time finding a niche in a defense. Very strong, cranking out a lineman-like 29 reps at the Combine, he can play bigger than his 246-pound size. He won't do anything in pass coverage.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

20

155

Jacksonville (from trade) Thomas Williams, LB USC
Considering he was a superstar, five-star recruit, he never played up to his expectations. A part-time player for the Trojans, he was never able to grab a starting spot by the horns even though he was productive when he got his chance. Even though he's athletic, he's not fast and he's not very big. He needs to make it on special teams.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: NR

21

156

Pittsburgh Dennis Dixon, QB Oregon
Had it not been for a torn ACL late last year he'd have won the Heisman. With tremendous athleticism, good smarts and excellent toughness, Dixon become a tremendous leader who took his game to another level with a jaw-dropping senior season. While he's not going to bomb away, he has a good short-range arm and makes plays on the move everywhere on the field. Of course, the knee injury will be a major problem considering his game is all about quickness, and if he's not moving around he can't play in the NFL; he's not a pro pocket passer. Everyone tried to compare him to Vince Young as last year went on, but he's not as big, doesn't have nearly the same arm, and doesn't have close to the same upside. He'll be in the league for a long time, but he won't start for anyone any time soon.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 11

22

157

St. Louis (from trade) Roy Schuening, OG Oregon State
An excellent four-year starter for the Beavers, Schuening is excellent when he has to open a hole and get the ground game moving. If he has to get moving and if he has to pass protect on a regular basis, there will be problems. He's a strong player who'll be tough to leave on the bench and tougher to cut because of his toughness, durability and versatility, he spent some time at tackle, but he'll have find the right offense and the right style to be a steady NFL starter.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN Position Rank: 3

23

158

Chicago (from trade) Kellen Davis, TE Michigan State
The prototype. At 6-6 and 262 pounds with 4.6 speed, he has the size/speed/athletic ratio that screams Pro Bowl tight end. The problem is his blocking; he doesn't do it. While he had a nice senior season, he was a stunning disappointment for the first three years of his Spartan career and didn't blow up like he should have. If the proper fire is lit, he could be the best tight end in the draft. That's a huge if.
CFN Projection: Late Third Round to Early Fourth CFN Position Rank: 8

24

159

Jacksonville Trae Williams, CB South Florida
Overshadowed by running mate Mike Jenkins, Williams had just as productive a career as a terrific starter for almost four years. He was fantastic whenever anyone stayed away from Jenkins picking off 13 passes in the last two seasons alone and worked his tail off to become a better tackler. He has good speed, but not elite-level wheels, and he's a bit small and isn't too physical, but he's a good, sound defender who'll be good enough to stick around the league for a long time if he's in the right system.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 18

25

160

Tampa Bay (from trade) Josh Johnson, QB San Diego
The underground buzz was deafening after throwing 43 touchdown passes and one interception last year, and 113 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions over the last three years. He dominated the D-IAA (sorry, FCS) level and is among the most creative quarterbacks in the draft. Quick, mobile, and very smart, he'll work to make himself better, but will rely on his athleticism to get by early on. Size is an issue at around 6-2 and 200 pounds, but the biggest problem is overcoming a few horrendous off-season workouts when his passes were all over the place. He has to get better at driving his throws to the outside and he'll need a lot of coaching. However, there is a payoff coming.
CFN Projection: Fourth to Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 9

26

161

Indianapolis Marcus Howard, OLB/DE Georgia
Originally considered poor man's Quentin Groves as an NFL prospect, Howard is an undersized defensive end who has to make the full-time conversion to outside linebacker. At 6-0 and 237 pounds, he's not all that small, and he shocked everyone by tearing off a 4.45 in post-season workouts to get on the radar. While he only did it for one year at Georgia, serving as a backup for the first three seasons, he turned into a tremendous pass rusher. He's a finesse player who'll have to learn to be more than just a pass rusher, the upside is limitless.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN Position Rank: 10

27

162

NY Jets (from trade) Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee
Think a less awkward Bernie Kosar. While he doesn't have the rocket arm the NFL types would like and he's not mechanically sound enough to be a star, he could be the type of backup quarterback who sits on a bench for two years, comes in and has a huge four game stretch, and then cashes in on the free agent market. No, he's not going to throw a pea through a cement wall like a Joe Flacco, but he proved at Tennessee under offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe that he could get the ball in a position for his receivers to do big things. He had a great receiving corps as a junior and was fantastic. He had a developing, young receiving corps as a senior and he was even better. He makes his receivers look better than they actually are.
CFN Projection: Fourth to Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 8

28

163

Seattle (from trade) Owen Schmitt, FB West Virginia
Psychotic, but in a good way. He stunk in the Senior Bowl, but he's a good receiver, phenomenal in the weight room, and will work his tail off to do anything necessary.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round CFN Position Rank: 3

29

164

New Orleans (from trade) Carl Nicks, OT Nebraska
A massive former defensive tackle who at 343 pounds is surprisingly athletic. A killer run blocker, he's been fantastic whenever he's able to get his arms on someone and has enough quickness to get down field and spring big plays. He needs refinement and he need a fire lit under him. He wasn't nearly as good as he should've been for the Husker offense, but when he had a good game, he was really, really good.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN Position Rank: 9

30

165

NY Giants Jonathan Goff, ILB Vanderbilt
He was toying around with the idea of coming out last year but stuck around and had his best year at Vandy with 113 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, He also made himself a much better pass defender. A smart, tough leader with great character, he's the type of player who could be a main man for a corps ... at least from the head up. He's just not fluid and he doesn't play tough enough against the power running teams. He makes a lot of tackles, but he's not necessarily a top hitter.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 23

31

166

San Diego Marcus Thomas, RB UTEP
A tremendous prospect who was the really, really big recruit who was supposed to turn around UTEP, he produced well but never carried the team. He's a big-sized runner with decent hands for the passing game, but he's not a special back by any stretch and isn't going to be more than a decent emergency backup.
CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: 27

Places to go:

Things to do:

Things to buy:

Things to know: