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We have been saying for months in our 2008 Mock NFL Draft’s that a Long will be drafted #1 overall in this years NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Today we found out that the Dolphins signed Michigan Wolverines offensive tackle Jake Long to a 5 year deal worth $57.75 million - not the exact Long we picked but close enough.

Rumors have been flying around about what the Dolphins and head of football operations Bill Parcells would do to right the Dolphins 1-15 ship.  The Dolphins could have easily drafted Chris Long or even taken a flyer on Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan (even though we thought this would have been moronic) . However, in the end the Dolphins will greatly improve their front-line with the addition of Jake Long.

Long who is 6 foot 7 and weighs 313 pounds was the top offensive lineman prospect in the draft and is considered to be NFL ready - which is important considering the Dolphins do not want a project. Long was the Big Ten lineman of the year the last two seasons. The last offensive lineman to be drafted #1 overall in the NFL Draft was former Ohio State tackle Orlando Pace, who the St. Louis rams drafts in 1997.

The Rams are now on the clock…look for them to draft defense with either Chris Long or  Vernon Gholston being the top choices.

2008 Mock NFL Draft - Version 6

1) Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Looking at all of the Mock NFL Draft’s out there it seems as though Chris Long is a lock to go #1. Only a couple people have the Dolphins taking Matt Ryan - which I don’t see happening at all. Yes, John Beck is not the future QB in Miami but it does not make sense to draft Ryan here. So if the Dolphins biggest need is at QB what do they do then? My guess is that they will trade this draft pick for a lower pick and get in return a solid QB or then draft Ryan or Brohm. Drafting a quarterback in the 2nd round will not solve their issues.

2) St. Louis Rams - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
The Rams might be in the best position of the 2008 NFL Draft as they can go in almost any direction to immediately improve their team. I have the Rams going in 2 directions, either draft the top offensive lineman (Jake Long) or the top Defensive End (Gholston). After Gholston’s combine workout and the moves the Rams have made in the offseason he is now my pick to go #2 in our 2008 Mock NFL Draft. But the Rams cant go wrong with any pick in this spot.

3) Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
The Falcons have a tough decision in front of them, they can go with the top RB (McFadden), the top offensive tackle (Long) or a top defensive end (Dorsey) or they can trade this pick. Personally I hope and think they will trade this pick since there are some top talent later on in the draft, but if they stay here I still think they will go with Ryan if only to help rebuild their franchise image.

4) Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
How can Al Davis pass on the top offensive talent in the draft? He cant and he wont. Yes, the rumors are probably true that he will then send McFadden to the Cowboys but hey whatever works for the men in black.

5) Kansas City Chiefs - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Well not much changes for the Chiefs in this version of our 2008 Mock NFL Draft - they still will go with an offensive lineman, but instead of Ryan Clady, Jake Long just dropped into their laps.

6) New York Jets - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The Jets would have loved Gholston at this spot, but since he is gone they will take a risk in drafting Glenn Dorsey. Dorsey’s stock has taken a hit due to rumors of an injury - but if those rumors aren’t true and Dorsey is 100% at the start of the NFL season this could be the steal of the draft.

7) New England Patriots (via SF) - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
Same pick for the Patriots - they need a cornerback and will get the top one in the draft. Poor Patriots.

8) Baltimore Ravens - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Ravens need a QB bad but this is to early to draft Brohm. So, they will go with a man who can protect whatever QB is in their pocket.

9) Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Same as the last 2008 Mock NFL Draft version we posted. The Bengals only focus in this years draft should be defense. Ellis will be able to start right away and that is the most important part of who the Bengals pick up.

10) New Orleans Saints - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
With the Saints signing CB Randall Gay I don’t think they will pick up another corner this early in the NFL Draft. With the CB situation somewhat set they can now draft another defensive need at DE. Harvey is a great fit for the Saints and will bring much needed speed and size.

11) Buffalo Bills - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
Everyone seems to agree that the Bills will take a WR in the 2008 NFL, however people disagree on which one. I don’t buy Malcom Kelly going here because his stock has slipped a bit and actually so has DeSean Jackson, that leaves Limas Sweed.

12) Denver Broncos - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
No change here in our latest 2008 Mock NFL Draft - the Broncos will take the best OT available and that is Otah.

13) Carolina Panthers - Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
With most of the top DE’s taken at this point the Panthers will go for their other top need - help on the offensive line. The Panthers would prefer Otah but Williams is a good choice.

14) Chicago Bears -Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
The Bears could go in many directions, they obviously would love to draft a QB but Brohm isn’t worth taking here. The Bears biggest need is at RB and I believe that Chris Johnson is going to be the steal of the draft.

15) Detroit Lions - Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Why do people keep saying that the Lions should draft a RB? Didn’t they sign Tatum Bell? Naa, after taking care of the their DB situation they would ideally like to shore up their offensive line but I am not sure there is a talent that is worth taking with the 15th pick, therefore the Lions will go after another big need - Defensive End.

16) Arizona Cardinals - Mike Jenkins, DB/CB, South Florida
Funny how things change once a few players drop or fall. A couple months ago the Cardinals were looking at all the top CB being taken - well not anymore.

17) Minnesota Vikings - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB/DE Tennessee State
Yeah I am going with the trendy pick here Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is everyone favorite CB all of a sudden. The Vikings need help so this is where he falls in my mock draft.

18) Houston Texans - Aqib Talib, CB/DB, Kansas
Another team that lost out on a top offensive tackle - they could take a “risk” and draft Gosder Cherilus but I think they will go with help at the corner.

19) Philadelphia Eagles - Malcom Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Eagles will Draft a wide receiver here - nothing else needs to be said.

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Nothing has changed with the Buccaneers except who they will draft. I am telling you that Jackson is a steal with the 20th pick.

21) Washington Redskins - Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
The Redskins have three big needs (as I see it at least) - Safety, Defensive End and Wide Receiver. With the 21st pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Redskins can do plenty, including trading, but looking at who is left on the board and what I believe is their most immediate draft need I am going with the best, play making, wide receiver left. I went with Devin Thomas but Mario Manningham or Early Doucet are a possibility here as well.

22) Dallas Cowboys (via Cle) - Early Doucet, WR, LSU
The Cowboys have 2 first rounds picks and one of them, unless they make a trade, has to be on a Wide Receiver. Doucet is a burner who can add some much needed young speed to the Cowboys. However, my money is that they trade this pick to move up (or is it down) in the draft to pick either a top cornerback or go after McFadden.

23) Pittsburgh Steelers - Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
Oh how things change very quickly. The Steelers fixed their situation at guard and lost wide receiver Cedrick Wilson who was let go by the team and on top of that Big Ben pretty much demanded a big target to throw to…hello Mario.

24) Tennessee Titans - Keith Rivers, LB, USC
The Titans would LOVE to draft a wide receiver here, however looking at the board who is left? If anyone of the wide receivers slip the Titans will snap him up if not they will go with defensive help.

25) Seattle Seahawks - Fred Davis, TE, USC
With the signing of Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett the need for the Seahawks to draft a running back has gone away. With that taken care of the Seahawks biggest need is still on offensive - they need to bring in either a top Tight End or Wide Receiver. With all of the WR gone who I think are 1st round talent the Seahawks can go with the top TE on my draft board.

26) Jacksonville Jaguars - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
The Jaguars took care of the WR need in the off-season, so now they are in a good position to upgrade their defense. The Jags cant go wrong drafting either Quentin Groves or Kentwan Balmer - I lean towards Balmer based on his combine.

27) San Diego Chargers - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
This is going to be interesting - the Chargers could use a young RB since Michael Turner left, they could also use a good Offensive Tackle and Cornerback. However, with Stewart dropping this far the Chargers would be stupid to pass on him.

28) Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Cowboys took a WR with their first pick so now they can draft a RB. However, bank on them trading at least one of these picks.

29) San Francisco 49ers (via Ind) - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
The question for the 49ers is whether or not Alex Smith is their QB of the future. If not they have a chance to draft a “former” top QB NFL prospect in Brohm. His stock has fallen but taking a former projected #1 overall pick at the end of the first round is NOT a bad thing. Yes, I know that they 49ers have much more pressing needs - like at Wide Receiver, Offensive Tackle, Cornerback and Outside Linebacker.

30) Green Bay Packers - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
The Packers would ideally pick up a Cornerback with this pick but none are good enough to draft here - therefore they can upgrade their O-line by drafting Cherilus.

31) New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
The only thing the Giants need is some youth on defense, especially at safety or Linebacker. Phillips is a steal with the 31st pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Have you seen ESPN’s NFL Expert Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft? The guy is a football genius but I am questioning some of this picks. First off there is no way the Rams go with Glenn Dorsey, even if he is healthy Jake Long is going here, if Long does fall all the way to the 5th pick the Chiefs and Larry Johnson just got a miracle. Secondly when did Rodgers-Cromartie become the top rated CB in the draft? Did Kiper not see Leodis McKelvin’s performance at the NFL Combine? Come on, I will give him the 1st round but no way does he go before McKelvin and Jenkins. Speaking on cornerbacks I think Kiper got a bit crazy with the CB’s in the first round. Anyway judge for yourself, below is Mel Kiper’s 2008 Mock NFl Draft first round projections.

1 Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE Virginia
2 St. Louis Rams  - Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU
3 Atlanta Falcons  - Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
4 Oakland Raiders  - Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
5 Kansas City Chiefs  - Jake Long, OT Michigan
6 New York Jets  - Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio St.
7 New England Patriots (from SF)  - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Tennessee St.
8 Baltimore Ravens  - Sedrick Ellis, DT USC
9 Cincinnati Bengals  - Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
10 New Orleans Saints  - Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
11 Buffalo Bills  - Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
12 Denver Broncos  - Ryan Clady, OT Boise St.
13 Carolina Panthers  - Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
14 Chicago Bears  - Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
15 Detroit Lions  - Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
16 Arizona Cardinals  - Keith Rivers, LB USC
17 Minnesota Vikings  - Calais Campbell, DE Miami
18 Houston Texans   - Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon
19 Philadelphia Eagles  - Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh
20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers  - DeSean Jackson, WR California
21 Washington Redskins  - Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
22 Dallas Cowboys (from CLE)  - Felix Jones, RB Arkansas
23 Pittsburgh Steelers  - Branden Albert, OG Virginia
24 Tennessee Titans  - Jerod Mayo, LB Tennessee
25 Seattle Seahawks  - Devin Thomas, WR Michigan State
26 Jacksonville Jaguars  - Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
27 San Diego Chargers  - Justin King, CB Penn State
28 Dallas Cowboys  - Brandon Flowers, CB Virginia Tech
29 San Francisco 49ers (from IND)   - Gosder Cherilus, OT Boston College
30 Green Bay Packers  - Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
31 New England Patriots Forfeited pick
32 New York Giants  - Kenny Phillips, S Miami

Dont forget to check out our latest 2008 Mock NFL Draft.