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1st Round |
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1. Miami Dolphins - DE Chris Long, Virgina
The Tuna wasn’t at Matt Ryan’s personal workouts and he loves drafting defensive playmakers. Chris Long is the most proven defensive talent in this draft.
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2. St. Louis Rams - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio St.
I have said all along that the Rams will want to protect their investments on the offensive side of the football. Today, I have changed my mind. The Rams have signed some free agent OL and think they feel the unit was just beat up last season. The Rams will go with defense and will go with the guy sky rocketing up the draft boards.
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3. Atlanta Falcons - OT Jake Long, Michigan
The Falcons finally found a running back to replace Warrick Dunn with Michael Turner. Now they need a big run blocker and Jake Long will bring that to the offensive line. The Falcons can take a QB in round two.
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4. Oakland Raiders - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
The Raiders need to desperately need to rebuild their defensive line after Sapp’s retirement. Ellis doesn’t have the injury concerns that Dorsey has right now and is a local So-Cal boy.
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5. Kansas City Chiefs - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
The entire Chiefs’ brass flew out to Boston to attend Ryan’s Pro Day, so with Ellis and Jake Long off the board this is an easy pick. Dorsey is a possibility, but his injuries prevent him from being the pick. The smokescreen isn’t their interest in Ryan, but their confidence in Brodie Croyle.
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6. New York Jets - HB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Sure the Jets have Thomas Jones, but they still don’t have Darren McFadden. Both backs have been spectacular when in a two-back system and the Jets would love to add McFadden to their offseason acquisitions.
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7. New England Patriots (From 49ers) - CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Tenn. St.
The Patriots have so much talent that this is essentially a luxury pick. They take DRC to offset the loss of Asante Samuel.
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8. Baltimore Ravens - DT Glen Dorsey, LSU
Ozzie Newsome knows defensive talent when he sees it. He also knows if he passes on the big fella here, Dorsey will end up donning stripes for the divisional rival Bengals.
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9. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
The Bengals need to keep adding to their secondary until they stop bungling coverage. McKelvin is the best of the bunch left.
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10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins, USF
The Saints added Randall Gay, but their secondary was so bad that they’ll want to hedge that bet here. The Saints don’t have a ton of holes after free agency, so they can afford to go this way.
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11. Buffalo Bills - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
This pick might be the most likely of all to happen. Kelly gives the Bills another gamebreaker to add to Evans and Lynch.
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12. Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady, Boise St.
The Broncos are thrilled that Clady is still available. They take him and plug him into their zone-blocking scheme.
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13. Carolina Panthers - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
The Panthers have long needed a go-to running back. Ever since Stephen Davis wore down, really. Mendenhall was a low-mileage college player, a la Larry Johnson, and he’s a physical runner with an extra gear.
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14. Chicago Bears - OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
Williams is a rangy, athletic tackle who can help Da Bears offense immediately.
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15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
The Lions needed OL help last season and now veteran tackle Woody has left the team. Otah is another tackle in a deep draft class.
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16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
The Cardinals need help in their secondary and the corner market is going fast. Talib is one of the best players left on the board.
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17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
Adding him to the Williams Sisters tackles will give them one of the top defensive lines in the league.
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18. Houston Texans - RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
Even with his injury concerns I still like this kid, but not as much as Mendenhall. The Texans will try and finally find a running back.
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19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR DeSean Jackson, Cal
The Eagles have had a rough time trying to find a receiver after losing Owens and Stallworth. Brown has yet to show he is a number one and Curtis is more of a second or third option. Jackson will give them the big play maker that Donavan McNabb is looking for.
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20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR James Hardy, Indiana
Jon Gruden loves big receivers and Hardy fits that bill. Hardy has impressed more scouts of late, but I have always liked this kid for some reason.
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21. Washington Redskins - WR Limas Sweed, Texas
The Redskins really had their eyes on Hardy, but will settle with Sweed, who will immediately improve the WR corps.
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22. Dallas Cowboys (From Browns) - CB Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech
Dallas might have been thinking receiver, but that group is kind of depleted after the last three picks. They fill another void with Flowers.
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23. Pittsburgh Steelers - G Branden Albert, Virginia
The Steelers find Alan Faneca’s replacement in Albert, the best guard in the draft.
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24. Tennessee Titans - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
The Titans get a steal in Thomas, who they feel could end up being the best WR in this draft.
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25. Seattle Seahawks - OT Sam Baker, USC
If Albert was still available, then he’d be the pick. That being said, the Seahawks take the best offensive lineman out there.
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26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Phillip Merling, Clemson
Jacksonville is thrilled to nab Merling this late.
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27. San Diego Chargers - FS Kenny Phillips, Miami
Phillips hurt his stock by not participating at Miami’s pro day, but is still the best safety in this draft. A.J. Smith loves picking the best player available and he gets a good one in Phillips.
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28. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
Jerry doesn’t get his guy in Run DMC, but instead the next best thing in Felix Jones.
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29. San Francisco 49ers (From Colts) - DE/OLB Quentin Groves, Auburn
Groves will instantly bolster a pass rush that was lethargic at best in ‘07.
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30. Green Bay Packers - CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
Al and Chuck are about to join Brett on the sofa, so the Pack uses this pick to replenish at CB.
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FORFEITED |
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31. New York Giants - OLB Keith Rivers, USC
When you win it all you can afford to pick the best player on the board. Plus, Rivers plays a need position.
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The Lions have not even had Otah in for a visit, and since I have been covering them I can’t tell you how far from reality that pick is. The Lions based on your draft will take Harvey, Stewart, and Albert. All three players they have had in for visits. Otah is not even on their visit calender.
Overall the mock is solid, I could definitely see the Rams adding Gholston if they don’t go with Jake Long. Additionally, I don’t think you really can put too much stock into teams going to visit with players at pro-days or going public interviewing prospects. That being said, the reasoning behind the Matt Ryan pick to the Chiefs is a little questionable. The pick that really bothers me is the ninth pick, I can’t see the Bengals taking a cornerback for the third straight year in a row. Ryan Clady definitely seems like a more of an option given their offensive tackle situation.
There’s a few other picks that I disagree with, mainly because I’ll have the player ranked differently at his position. Good job overall though, can’t really rate a mock draft because nobody really does know.
I truly beleive the Chiefs sent the whole office to give the deception they are looking at Ryan. With Baltimore at 8th they could move down and take Clady and not be reaching. This will enable them to get more picks because they need to get at least 5 starters in this draft.