myMockDrafts.com

2008 Mock NFL Draft - version 5

1 ) Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE, Virginia
For the first time this year I do not have Glenn Dorsey being picked #1 in the 2008 NFL Draft. Why? Watching the combine and reading the blogs it seems as though many people are concerned that Dorsey is not 100% healed from a 2006 leg injury. With the Dolphins in serious rebuilding mode (and if they do not trade this pick) they want to go with a sure thing - or at least as sure as you can get with the NFL Draft. Chris Long is rated #2 on defense in my book and is NFL ready.

2 ) St. Louis Rams - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
No change here, Jake Long had an amazing NFL Combine and will go top 2 for sure in the 2008 NFL Draft.

3 ) Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
The Falcons have a bunch of options here. They can draft the top rated QB (Ryan) in the 2008 NFL Draft, they can go with the top rated player in the draft (McFadden), they can go with the top rated defensive player in the draft (Dorsey) or they can trade this pick and scoop of a QB later in the first round. My guess is that they will trade but if they stay at the third spot they will go with the new face of the franchise - Matt Ryan.

4 ) Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
McFadden impressed everyone at the NFL combine and should be the top pick in the 2008  NFL Draft. He will not fall past Oakland - however look for another team to trade up (e.g. Dallas).

5 ) Kansas City Chiefs - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
The Chiefs are another team that have tons of options in front of them. I can see them drafting Dorsey because of his talent (putting possible injury aside) however the pick that makes the most sense for them would be someone on the offensive line. With Jake Long gone there are a few really good, highly rated, lineman left..Clady fits their team the best.

6 ) New York Jets - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
The Jets pick is one of the toughest for me. They can go in just about any direction with this pick, but at the end of the day (if they stick with picking here) they will go with what will improve their team the most. Gholston, who will be a top pass rusher, had a great NFL combine and will be able to contribute from day 1.

7 ) New England Patriots (via SF) - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
McKelvin made one of the most impressive showing at the NFL Combine. His stock was on the rise before, but now its sky rocketing - he has overtaken Mike Jenkins as my top rated cornerback.

8 ) Baltimore Ravens - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The Ravens will do one of two things - draft Brohm to try and finally get a franchise QB or go with one of the top defensive prospects this year. This week I am going with Dorsey as long as his injury concerns are behind him - if his injuries becomes an issue look for them to stay with defense and draft Sedrick Ellis.

9 ) Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
The Bengals are in a great spot with the 9th pick. Their biggest need is on defensive and they will have plenty of top prospects to choose from. If the Ravens go with Ellis the Bengals will go with Dorsey

10 ) New Orleans Saints - Mike Jenkins, DB/CB, South Florida
The Saints 2 biggest needs are cornerback and linebacker. Jenkins is a shutdown corner. McKelvin would be the Saints first choice but Jenkins is a great secondary choice.

11 ) Buffalo Bills - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
All of the 2008 Mock NFL Drafts I see have the Bills going with a WR - the problem is no one agrees on which one. Jackson is not a popular pick because of his size but the kid has speed and would be a great complement to Marshawn Lynch

12 ) Denver Broncos - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
The Broncos need to get that running game going again. Otah would make a nice fit in their zone blocking scheme.

13 ) Carolina Panthers - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
If the Panthers didn’t sign Mushin this week I would have put a WR here. Harvey is a nice safe pick who will make their defense better.

14 ) Chicago Bears -Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
When I was watching the NFL Combine very few players blew me away - Johnson was one of them. His speed is unmatched and if you think because he played for a small school that doesn’t make him a top pick you are wrong. Just watch some videos of him and be prepared to be amazed.

15)  Detroit Lions - Aqib Talib, DB, Kansas
Another team that should really only draft one of two positions - cornerback or offensive line. With most of top OT gone Talib is the best fit.

16 ) Arizona Cardinals - Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Ouch, the Cardinals biggest need is at cornerback and the top 3 CB’s are gone. Look for Arizona to make a trade but if they don’t they will try and get some youth on defense.

17 ) Minnesota Vikings - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
The Vikings biggest need is at defensive end, but with DE’s gone I do not think there is one left worth taking at this spot. Groves is a possibility but I doubt they will pass on landing a top wide receiver prospect in Sweed.

18 ) Houston Texans - Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
The Texans need help all over the place but I think that the offensive line is where they could make the biggest improvement with this pick.

19 ) Philadelphia Eagles - Malcom Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
McNabb wants more weapons but you need to improve a o-line that is getting old. With most of the top offensive lineman gone they will go with a top wide receiver.

20 ) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Early Doucet, WR, LSU
The Buccaneers need help in various areas but the most pressing might be getting some youth in their receiving corps. Doucet has the speed this team needs.

21 ) Washington Redskins - Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Yes, the biggest need for the Redskins is a playmaking wide receiver. However Rivers showed he is a top talent and the Redskins wont pass on him.

22 ) Dallas Cowboys (via Cle) - Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
The Cowboys have two first round picks in the 2008 NFL Draft so they can take some risks. Looking at the talent on the board they will go with a wide receiver or running back in this spot. Manningham would be a nice complement to Owens. However, bank on Dallas making a move with these picks, possibly to draft McFadden.

23 ) Pittsburgh Steelers - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
The Steelers are yet another team would could use a top offensive lineman, however most of them are gone. Drafting Cherilus here is a stretch but it fits their biggest need.

24 )  Tennessee Titans - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
If only they lost a few more games they would be in a better spot to draft a top WR. Without one left they will go with Balmer who will at least help on the other side of the ball

25 ) Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Funny thing is I just watched Shaun Alexander on ESPN this morning talking about how he will be in the best shape of his life for the 2008 NFL season…while he had a cast on his arm. Even if Alexander comes back and runs like he used to he is 30 so how many more years does he really have? Drafting Stewart will give the Seahawks either a insurance policy on Alexander for next season or his replacement in a couple years.

26 ) Jacksonville Jaguars - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
Well the Jaguars took care of their immediate wide receiver need this off-season (so far at least). With that out of the way it is time to focus on defense. Groves was a steal before the NFL combine and did you see him run the 40 yard dash? He is fast and will draw the attention of a lot of teams.

27 ) San Diego Chargers - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
How many times can I say that a team needs help on the o-line but their isn’t anyone worth taking? The Chargers wont take a risk when they can get a possible Pro Bowl safety.

28 ) Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Why not? With two picks in the first round the Cowboys can take some risks. If the ‘Boys can’t get McFadden why not get his backup?

29 )  San Francisco (via Ind) - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
Remember when Brohm was a possible #1 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft? His stock has taken a hit but it is more about other players stocks going up. Plus not many teams need a starting QB. The 49ers could go with someone else but I like Brohm going here because the 49ers would be intrigued by his talent and come on is Alex Smith really the solution?

30 ) Green Bay Packers - Fred Davis, TE, USC
I am sticking with Davis going here. The Packers need a solid tight end to complement all of those wide receivers.

31 )  New York Giants - Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
What do the Giants really need? Not much since they just won the Super Bowl and they are a young team. The only thing they need is some depth and youth on defense. Merling is a great talent that could push some veterans for the starting position.

Now that we officially know which underclassman declared for the NFL Draft and what the official draft order of the NFL Draft will be it was time to do our latest Mock NFL Draft. The biggest change will be taking Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker, and top NFL prospect, James Laurinaitis out of the mix. Who will move up? Who will be added to the first round? Check out our 2008 Mock NFL Draft - Version 3 below and expect the next version sometime in February after the NFL combine. Be sure to check out the NFL Draft homepage and the 2008 Mock NFL Draft - Version 1 and 2008 Mock NFL Draft - Version 2 over at FrontRowSportsReport.com Sports Blog.

2008 Mock NFL Draft - Version 3

1) Miami Dolphins - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Nothing changes here, even with a new coach and Bill Parcells running the show. The Dolphins have a lot of needs with an aging defense being one of them. So, since there is no QB worth taking at this position Glenn Dorsey is the obvious choice. Again, since the Dolphins have so many needs I would not be surprised to see the them make a move or two.

2) St. Louis Rams - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
No change here as well, the Rams could could go in many directions but with Pro Bowl Orlando Pace getting old (and injured) the offensive line is the one area that needs the biggest upgrade.

3) Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Vick in Jail + no starting QB worth building a team around + a franchise that needs a solid character player to be the face of the team = Boston College QB Matt Ryan.

4) Oakland Raiders - Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Raiders might go with the top talent in the NFL Draft, Darren McFadden, but there biggest need is on defense. Chris Long has the talent, and name, to come in and help the Raiders bring some energery back to the men in black.

5) Kansas City Chiefs - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
The two biggest needs for the Chiefs are quarterback and offensive line. If Jake Long slips this far expect the Chiefs to draft him, if not they will go with the top QB on the board and that is Brohm.

6) New York Jets - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
I am going back and forth with the Jets on what they should do with this pick. In previous versions of my Mock NFL Draft I had them going with OL, now I am thinking defense. If Laurinaitis didn’t go back to Ohio State for his senior year I would put him but Ellis would be a great fit.

7) New England Patriots (via SF) - Sam Baker, OT, USC
How do you improve a team that went undeafeted and is well on their way to the Super Bowl? Again, I could go in many different ways with this pick, Darren McFadden is the top prospect in the 2008 NFL Draft and will be hard for any team to pass up. However, one need that I have seen in the playoffs is some depth in their OL. Sam Baker is a versatile OL who dealt with a injured plagued season at USC but is ranked only behind Jake Long at his position.

8 ) Baltimore Ravens - Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
Another team that has a glaring need for a starting QB that can win games for years to come. Woodson has some work to do but has the size and strength to be a great NFL QB. However, thje more I think about it McFadden might look really good to the Ravens at this spot.

9) Cincinnati Bengals - Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Defense, Defense, Defense. The Bengals need a lot of work with their D and have a chance to upgrade with the 9th pick of the draft.

10) New Orleans Saints - Mike Jenkins, DB, South Florida
Both Laurinaitis and fellow Buckeye Malcom Jenkins could have went to the New Orleans Saints in this sport. But, with them both heading back to Ohio State Mike Jenkins jumps up to the top 10.

11) Buffalo Bills - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
The Bills could go with a WR like DeSean Jackon, matching him up with his former CAL teammate Marshawn Lynch. However, their bigger need is on defense. Harvey isnt the top defensive talent on the board but fits well into the Bills defensive system.

12) Denver Broncos - Keith Rivers, LB, USC
The Broncos need help on defense, especially stopping the run. Rivers is the best available who can help on all fronts and start plugging holes right away.

13) Carolina Panthers - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Panthers could use some depth on their defense but there bigger need is on their offensive line. Otah or Ryan Clady would make the most sense for the Panthers.

14) Chicago Bears - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
The Bears could use help at QB, DT, G, OT, and RB. Ryan Clady would do wonders to help upgrade their offensive line however the Bears will not be able to pass on the top RB and offensive talent in the draft.

15) Detroit Lions - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
The Lions will have to turn down drafting another WR with the 15th pick and go with someone who will add immediate value to their team. The Lions biggest need are in the secondary or on the OL. Since Clady is still available I think he is the best choice.

16) Arizona Cardinals - Aqib Talib, DB, Kansas
The Cardinals could go with a RB with this pick, Jonathan Stewart would be a great choice, however Talib win add some serious size and ball skills to a secondary that needs the help.

17) Minnesota Vikings - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Vikings need help on both sides of the ball, I can see them going with a big DE like Vernon Gholston but more likely they will add a game-breaking WR to go along side Peterson…now if they only had a QB.

18) Houston Texans - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
The Texans are only a couple of players from being a really good team. The best choice for the Texans would be to go with someone who can help in the secondary. Kenny Phillips has some work to do but has all the skills and potential to be a top NFL safety for a long time.

19) Philadelphia Eagles - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
When your QB basically demands more weapons to throw to it would be hard to pass on a top WR like either Early Doucet or Limas Sweed. I am going with Sweed only because he not only has great hands but runs sold routes.

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
The Buccaneers need some help on the OL but could also go with a big-time wide receiver to help with their aging receiving corps.

21) Washington Redskins - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
The Redskins need a big-time wide receiver more then anything else, but with most of the top talent gone they will add a much needed DE to shore up their defense.

22) Dallas Cowboys (via Cle) - Early Doucet, WR, LSU
Some of those wide receivers are getting old…and slow. Early will give the Cowboys a huge burst of speed and draw attention away from Owens.

23) Pittsburgh Steelers - John Sullivan, OT, Notre Dame
The Steelers biggest need is on the offensive line, Otah would be the Steelers first choice but Sullivan is a solid player who would very little training to become a starter.

24) Tennessee Titans - Malcom Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
Getting Vince Young a legitamate weopan should be the Titans first prioirty - Kelly is that weopon Young needs.

25) Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
I think this season showed that Shaun Alexander is not going to last and the Seahawks need immediate help. Stewart will be the steal of the 2008 NFL Draft.

26) Jacksonville Jaguars - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
Jaguars could go with a WR in this spot but they would be better off with a top level pass rusher. Groves did have an injury prone season but you can’t pass on his abilities.

27) San Diego Chargers - Chilo Rachel, G, USC
Rachel is a monster and will fill the Chargers biggest need.

28) Dallas Cowboys - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
The Cowboys two biggest needs are WR and CB, with their earlier pick they got a WR - now it is time for a CB.

29) San Francisco (via Ind) - Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
Manningham is a bit underrated and could be one of those players that could be a star or a bust in the NFL. San Francisco taking him might be a bit of a risk but the upside is to great to ignore.

30) Green Bay Packers - Fred Davis, TE, USC
The playoffs this year showed that the Packers really need an all-pro TE. Davis is a big play-making athelete who has the hands of a WR.

31) New York Giants - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Giants are showing this year that they are better then advertised - most of it is due to their stellar draft picks last year. They could use some youth on their defensive line.