Way too Premature 2008 Top 10 Mock

[Aqua4Ever04]

While we're mocking, how about a little early top 10 mock. (Without trades.)

1. Rams: Jake Long OT Michigan- With star players at the skill positions on offense and the aging Orlando Pace oft injured at LT, Long is the perfect replacement to protect Bulger who just hit a huge contract.

2. Dolphins: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU- With the Fins defense aging and completely depleted, there is no one else Miami should consider with this pick. Dorsey can single handedly shut down running games and will have an immediate impact in the NFL.

3. NY Jets: RB Darren McFadden Arkansas- Kellen Clemens is in the fold, Thomas Jones looks old, and the Jets went defense twice in last year's first round. This gift will fall to them at #3 and they can't pass it up.

4. Falcons: QB Brian Brohm Lousiville- Match made in heaven assuming Petrino doesn't go running back to the college game. This team is a mess and Brohm is the best QB in the draft plus he played for Petrino at Louisville.

5. Patriots: Keith Rivers LB USC- This is the hardest pick for me to forecast but Rivers is a play making linebacker who can do it all. With dinosaurs (who still produce) across the board for the Pats, they should take Rivers.

6. Raiders: Ryan Clady OT Boise State- Clady dominates each and every defensive end he goes up against. The Raiders need help at WR and OL but I give Clady the nod over LSU WR Early Doucet.

7. Bengals: Kenny Phillips S Miami- The Bengals are downright awful on defense and need to get back to creating turnovers like they did in 2005. No one will help more in this draft then Miami safety Kenny Phillips.

8. Cardinals: Sedric Ellis DT USC- This is also another hard pick to forecast but it's easy to say the Cardinals will go defense. With Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson in the secondary the Cardinals should go up front and Ellis would be the BPA at DT.

9. Broncos: Chris Long DE Virginia- The Broncos pass rush was supposed to have been fixed in the last draft but Tim Crowder and the old Cleveland line isn't producing. Chris Long is a relentless pass rusher and that's what Denver needs.

10. Vikings: QB Andre Woodson- Woodson slips in the draft and falls right into the Vikings lap. Whether they go with Matt Ryan or Andre Woodson I don't know but I'd take Woodson. This would be a nice addition to go with the new superstar Adrian Peterson.

That's my top 10 for now. I'm sure it'll change 100 times by next April.

 

[BelichickFan]

Where's Matt Ryan ? I'm not a BC fan but he's going top ten; ahead of Woodson for sure. But given your mock I think I'll take Phillips, reunite him with Meriweather and enjoy our Safeties for a while.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Where's Matt Ryan ? I'm not a BC fan but he's going top ten; ahead of Woodson for sure. But given your mock I think I'll take Phillips, reunite him with Meriweather and enjoy our Safeties for a while.

I'm not a big Matt Ryan supporter. Have you seen him the last 2 games? Not all that impressive. I think the QBs in this draft are over rated, each has some serious flaws.

Phillips is a line backer my man.

 

[PatsCanada]

Kenny Phillips is my pick so far, now that I am over McFadden since hes not likely to pass the Jets. Phillips is a phenom, and Harrison is not getting any younger.

 

[BelichickFan]

Phillips is a line backer my man.

Phillips, not Rivers, I think you confused them due to Phillip Rivers

 

[mcbee]

While we're mocking, how about a little early top 10 mock. (Without trades.)

1. Rams: Jake Long OT Michigan- With star players at the skill positions on offense and the aging Orlando Pace oft injured at LT, Long is the perfect replacement to protect Bulger who just hit a huge contract.

2. Dolphins: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU- With the Fins defense aging and completely depleted, there is no one else Miami should consider with this pick. Dorsey can single handedly shut down running games and will have an immediate impact in the NFL.

3. NY Jets: RB Darren McFadden Arkansas- Kellen Clemens is in the fold, Thomas Jones looks old, and the Jets went defense twice in last year's first round. This gift will fall to them at #3 and they can't pass it up.

4. Falcons: QB Brian Brohm Lousiville- Match made in heaven assuming Petrino doesn't go running back to the college game. This team is a mess and Brohm is the best QB in the draft plus he played for Petrino at Louisville.

5. Patriots: Keith Rivers LB USC- This is the hardest pick for me to forecast but Rivers is a play making linebacker who can do it all. With dinosaurs (who still produce) across the board for the Pats, they should take Rivers.

6. Raiders: Ryan Clady OT Boise State- Clady dominates each and every defensive end he goes up against. The Raiders need help at WR and OL but I give Clady the nod over LSU WR Early Doucet.

7. Bengals: Kenny Phillips S Miami- The Bengals are downright awful on defense and need to get back to creating turnovers like they did in 2005. No one will help more in this draft then Miami safety Kenny Phillips.

8. Cardinals: Sedric Ellis DT USC- This is also another hard pick to forecast but it's easy to say the Cardinals will go defense. With Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson in the secondary the Cardinals should go up front and Ellis would be the BPA at DT.

9. Broncos: Chris Long DE Virginia- The Broncos pass rush was supposed to have been fixed in the last draft but Tim Crowder and the old Cleveland line isn't producing. Chris Long is a relentless pass rusher and that's what Denver needs.

10. Vikings: QB Andre Woodson- Woodson slips in the draft and falls right into the Vikings lap. Whether they go with Matt Ryan or Andre Woodson I don't know but I'd take Woodson. This would be a nice addition to go with the new superstar Adrian Peterson.

That's my top 10 for now. I'm sure it'll change 100 times by next April.

Undersized LB? Would he play safety? He's too small to take on blockers, and there are only 3 on our DL....plus there's already OLB. It's ILB which needs help.

I think they'd trade down.

 

[PonyExpress]

I watched Ryan vs. FSU. I was extremely impressed despite the loss and the picks. He has a very quick release, is accurate, is 6'5'', is mobile in the pocket, throws a great deep ball with good rotation, has top notch leadership qualities. People forget he was playing in less than ideal conditions with a very mediocre receiving corps and very poor pass protection. From what I've seen he's the best QB in the draft and a potential franchise NFL QB. He reminds me a bit of Phil Simms.

 

[zarakotas5]

I watched Ryan vs. FSU. I was extremely impressed despite the loss and the picks. He has a very quick release, is accurate, is 6'5'', is mobile in the pocket, throws a great deep ball with good rotation, has top notch leadership qualities. People forget he was playing in less than ideal conditions with a very mediocre receiving corps and very poor pass protection. From what I've seen he's the best QB in the draft and a potential franchise NFL QB. He reminds me a bit of Phil Simms.

I usually see your points, Pony, but I have to disagree strongly with this one. His release may be quick, but his velocity is pedestrian. He tends to telegraph his intentions and he locks in even before he makes those intentions known. I see him as an NFL interception machine. I'll grant you he does resemble Simms, but that was 20+ years ago. Simms circa 1986 would be hard pressed to finish a game today.

 

[pats63]

I guess it depends on what FA LBers are out there.....I doubt that we we go that route....SP&BB can suprise everybody...You think we draft safety back to back....

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Kenny Phillips is my pick so far, now that I am over McFadden since hes not likely to pass the Jets. Phillips is a phenom, and Harrison is not getting any younger.

Phillips is amazing but do you want to go safety again after taking Meriweather?

Phillips, not Rivers, I think you confused them due to Phillip Rivers

Man, now my mind is in a complete boggle. LOL, you're right, Kenny Phillips is a safety and Keith Rivers is a linebacker.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Undersized LB? Would he play safety? He's too small to take on blockers, and there are only 3 on our DL....plus there's already OLB. It's ILB which needs help.

I think they'd trade down.

I'm not including trade downs, I think the top 10 could be shaken up quite a bit to trades.

 

[dryheat44]

Out of the players you project at 5 and lower, Chris Long is by far my favorite for the Pats. This may lead to the trading of Mike Wright, which would make me sad, but I'd still do it.

How has the OT from USC, Baker, looked? Is he still a projected first rounder? what about Oher?

Oh, and I may be in the minority, but I'm not sure Phillips is an upgrade over James Sanders.

 

[patchick]

Out of the players you project at 5 and lower, Chris Long is by far my favorite for the Pats. This may lead to the trading of Mike Wright, which would make me sad, but I'd still do it.

Hoo-boy. I'm pretty sure Wright's an FA anyway, but that still leaves Seymour, Warren, Green and Brown signed through at least 2009, and all in their 20's. Add in a top-5 pick and you'd have over $23 million of the cap committed just to the DE position for 2008, and even more for 2009 when you need to think about resigning Wilfork, etc.

Long is a terrific prospect but a luxury, and I can't see how they afford it.

 

[dryheat44]

Hoo-boy. I'm pretty sure Wright's an FA anyway, but that still leaves Seymour, Warren, Green and Brown signed through at least 2009, and all in their 20's. Add in a top-5 pick and you'd have over $23 million of the cap committed just to the DE position for 2008, and even more for 2009 when you need to think about resigning Wilfork, etc.

Long is a terrific prospect but a luxury, and I can't see how they afford it.

I don't have much hope for Brown on the roster. Nice fourth round pick, but....

Your point on cap percentage is well taken, and one I make all the time in my anti-Marshawn Lynch, anti-Darren McFadden posts. Ideally we could move down. My point remains he'd be my choice of the ones listed here, although I admit it's unlikely. Remember I was an adamant Carriker guy back in March and April.

 

[cstjohn17]

Out of the players you project at 5 and lower, Chris Long is by far my favorite for the Pats. This may lead to the trading of Mike Wright, which would make me sad, but I'd still do it.

How has the OT from USC, Baker, looked? Is he still a projected first rounder? what about Oher?

Oh, and I may be in the minority, but I'm not sure Phillips is an upgrade over James Sanders.

For sure BB will get some inside juice from Al Groh on the type of player Chris Long can become. I wouldn't hate the pick but as PC mentions we suddenly have a lot of money at DE.

Subject to change, I see Jake Long, McFadden as the best in the draft, everyone else is a step down. If possible I would really try to trade down and pick up an additional second rounder or 1st rounder in 2009 (groan, not again).

My McFadden argument is the same as with Lynch last year. Lynch and McFadden are better than Maroney, therefor they improve the team. maroney would become the best backup in the league and insurance against injury (instead of an injury risk).

Our best hope is that Brohm, Ryan and Woodson start to really light it up so that one of the QB hungry teams (with a desperate GM) give the Pats a king's ransom (see Dallas and Cleveland in 07).

 

[patchick]

Remember I was an adamant Carriker guy back in March and April.

I do remember indeed! And if Carriker had somehow tumbled to #24 I would have been all for it. Same story if Long could be had in the middle of the round.

Maybe the moral of this story is that I can't picture the Patriots with their current roster exercising a top-5 pick at all. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them trade down for a seeming pittance, with commentators howling about how they got taken to the cleaners in the deal.

 

[cstjohn17]

Our best hope is that Brohm, Ryan and Woodson start to really light it up so that one of the QB hungry teams (with a desperate GM) give the Pats a king's ransom (see Dallas and Cleveland in 07).

Our second best hope is that Atlanta loses every game and finishes last or next to last or they win a couple of games and finish around 7-10 overall...

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Out of the players you project at 5 and lower, Chris Long is by far my favorite for the Pats. This may lead to the trading of Mike Wright, which would make me sad, but I'd still do it.

How has the OT from USC, Baker, looked? Is he still a projected first rounder? what about Oher?

Oh, and I may be in the minority, but I'm not sure Phillips is an upgrade over James Sanders.

Yeah Chris Long is a stud who humilates opposing offensive tackles.

I don't think Baker is as good as advertised. Ryan Claddy has been over looked by some and just might be the best lineman in the draft, I'll take him over Baker.

Phillips is an outstanding talent, but I don't know about the Pats drafting him with Meriweather in the fold.

 

[Ishdul]

While I could see why we'd be hesitant to go safety-safety two years in a row, there are two starting safety spots and Phillips and Meriweather have started together before on Miami. I think the main thing is that we're not confident in Geno's return to the team, Rodney gutting it out for another year and James Sanders being a long term starter. It's not quite the area of concern that ILB is, but it's still something to consider and it would be nice to not worry about our safeties for another 6 years and also have a combination of safeties that could be absolutely dominant. At the least, the safety situation is not going to prevent us from taking Phillips if we think he's a superstar in the making, whereas it's pretty unimaginable that we'll go with a QB or an interior lineman.

 

[cstjohn17]

It wouldn't thrill me but it sounds like Phillips is a pro-bowl caliber player ala Sean Taylor and Ed Reed where as Merriweather appears to be a servicable starter, nothing too special at this point. It is still very early but based on what I have seen I would be happy if Merriweather ended up as a faster version of James Sanders.

As far as interior lineman, if they drafted a player who they thought graded out at the same level as Mankins then it could be crazy enough to work. With Mankins, Koppen and Player X on the inside the O line would be absolutely nasty (ala KC a few years back).

But then again all this cap cost talk has got me convinced it is far better to trade back.