Todd McShay's 2/29/08 Mock ...interesting

[sebman2112]

1. Miami Dolphins -- Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Record: 1-15 | Needs: OL, DT, LB, CB, QB
Previous mock selection: Same

2. St. Louis Rams -- Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Record: 3-13 | Needs: DE, OT/G, CB, OLB, WR
Previous mock selection: Same

3. Atlanta Falcons -- Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Record: 4-12 | Needs: QB, OT, DT, RB, S
Previous mock selection: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

4. Oakland Raiders -- Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Record: 4-12 | Needs: OT, DT, WR, DE, RB
Previous mock selection: Same

5. Kansas City Chiefs -- Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Record: 4-12 | Needs: LOT, G, CB, DE, C
Previous mock selection: Jake Long, OT, Michigan

6. New York Jets -- Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Record: 4-12 | Needs: NT, WR, LB, G, RB
Projected pick: Same

7. N.E. Patriots (from 5-11 San Francisco) -- Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
Record: 18-1 | Needs: LB, CB, DS, OL, RB
Previous mock selection: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
The Patriots would like to inject some youth at linebacker, which is why Gholston makes so much sense with this pick. Gholston is a bit inconsistent, but he also is one of the premier pass-rushers in the 2008 class and fits perfectly as a rush linebacker in the Pats' 3-4 scheme.

If Gholston is off the board and New England can't trade out, the next priority is to find a replacement for Asante Samuel, a free agent who can't be franchised for a second consecutive year.

8. Baltimore Ravens -- Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
Record: 5-11 | Needs: QB, CB, LOT, ILB, DE/OLB
Previous mock selection: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

9. Cincinnati Bengals -- Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Record: 7-9 | Needs: DT, TE, DE, LB, OT
Previous mock selection: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

10. New Orleans Saints -- Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Record: 6-9 | Needs: CB, LB, TE, DT, C
Previous mock selection: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida

11. Buffalo Bills -- Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
Record: 7-9 | Needs: WR, DT, CB, LB, TE
Previous mock selection: Same

12. Denver Broncos -- Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
Record: 7-9 | Needs: DT, OT, MLB, S, WR
Previous mock selection: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

13. Carolina Panthers -- Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
Record: 7-9 | Needs: OT, DE, WR, DS, DT
Previous mock selection: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

14. Chicago Bears -- Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
Record: 7-9 | Needs: QB, OL, RB, DT, S
Previous mock selection: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

15. Detroit Lions -- Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Record: 7-9 | Needs: OT, G, CB, S, DE
Projected pick: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

16. Arizona Cardinals -- Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
Record: 8-8 | Needs: CB, OLB, TE, RB, DE
Previous mock selection: Rahard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois

17. Minnesota Vikings -- Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
Record: 8-8 | Needs: DE, S, WR, QB, TE
Previous mock selection: DeSean Jackson, WR/RS, California

18. Houston Texans -- Jonathan Stewart*, RB, Oregon
Record: 8-8 | Needs: CB, RB, S, LOT, DE
Previous mock selection: Same

19. Philadelphia Eagles -- Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
Record: 8-8 | Needs: WR, DE, S, OT/G, MLB
Previous mock selection: Phillip Merling, DE, Miami

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- DeSean Jackson, WR/RS, California
Record: 9-7 | Needs: WR, CB, RB, QB, C
Previous mock selection: Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

21. Washington Redskins -- Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
Record: 9-7 | Needs: WR, S, DE, OT, CB
Previous mock selection: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson

22. Dallas Cowboys (from 10-6 Cleveland) -- Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Record: 13-3 | Needs: CB, WR, OT, RB, ILB
Previous mock selection: Sam Baker, OT, USC

23. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Branden Albert, G, Virginia
Record: 10-6 | Needs: C, OT, DE (3-4), RB, G
Previous mock selection: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh

24. Tennessee Titans -- Early Doucet, WR, LSU
Record: 10-6 | Needs: WR, DE, DT, CB, C
Previous mock selection: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas

25. Seattle Seahawks -- Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Record: 10-6 | Needs: ROT, DT, RB, TE, G
Previous mock selection: Same

26. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
Record: 11-5 | Needs: DE, WR, CB, SS, OL
Previous mock selection: Early Doucet, WR, LSU

27. San Diego Chargers -- Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Record: 11-5 | Needs: ROT, NT, S, CB, RB
Previous mock selection: Same

28. Dallas Cowboys -- Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Record: 13-3 | Needs: CB, WR, OT, RB, DS
Previous mock selection: Same

29. S.F. 49ers (from 13-3 Indianapolis) -- James Hardy*, WR, Indiana
Record: 5-11 | Needs: WR, OT, OLB, DE, QB
Previous mock selection: Same

30. Green Bay Packers -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn. St.
Record: 13-3 | Needs: CB, OT, S, TE, PT
Previous mock selection: Same

31. N.E. Patriots -- Pick forfeited
Record: 16-0 | Needs: ILB, CB, OLB, OL depth
Previous mock selection: Same

32. New York Giants -- Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
Record: 10-6 | Needs: LB, OT, S, WR, CB
Previous mock selection: Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

Todd McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been evaluating prospects for the NFL draft since 1998.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3270327

 

[The 12th Man]

They say our needs include a Safety and a RB. Not so sure about that. We do need depth at safety to replace Eugene I guess. RB though? We have Maroney, Morris, Faulk, and Evans and those 4 are very likely locks. Plus, BB liked that kid Kyle Eckel for his special teams play so he might be able to make the roster again for that reason. I really don't see us drafting a RB, but if so, then only late in the draft. Now that Kyle Brady has been cut, a much bigger need is a blocking TE, which the Pats have already been looking at closely.

Anyway, back to the mock, I think having a talented young pass rusher would be great, but the fact that the Jets would get McFadden is a little shaky. I'll take it though of course.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

They say our needs include a Safety and a RB. Not so sure about that. We do need depth at safety to replace Eugene I guess. RB though? We have Maroney, Morris, Faulk, and Evans and those 4 are very likely locks. Plus, BB liked that kid Kyle Eckel for his special teams play so he might be able to make the roster again for that reason. I really don't see us drafting a RB, but if so, then only late in the draft. Now that Kyle Brady has been cut, a much bigger need is a blocking TE, which the Pats have already been looking at closely.

Let's face it. Even if Watson and Brady had both made the Pro Bowl, the Pats would still be scouting TEs.

But, seriously, I think Eckel sticks on STs, and it's likely Ventrone will stick for the same reason (esp. if Andrews gets cut over his legal issues).

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I agree, Ventrone's best chance to stick is if the Pats cut Andrews.

And while I personally prefer Groves to Gholston, because Groves has dominated in the SEC; I can not disagree with getting a pass rusher. I think a sudden 3-4 rush OLB is our largest need, even though we only have 1 NFL legitimate CB on the roster as of today.

I would be OK with Gholston or Groves, although I do not want to see McFadden twice a year.

 

[PonyExpress]

My current top 10 mock:

1. Miami: Ryan. P. King's note that Parcells has requested video of every Ryan throw last season from the BC coach suggests he has more than a "passing" interest in this prospect.

2. StL: J. Long. The O-line is a sieve, Pace is coming off injury, Long is a very safe pick to spens a gargantuan sum on. Worst case scenario he's an elite right tackle.

3. Atlanta: Chris Long. Atlanta continues to flaunt its new concern for "character" and can't afford a bust. C. Long is the "safest pick" in the draft, and replaces departed P. Kerney.

4. Oakland: Sedrick Ellis. Al Davis loves USC players. Teaming Ellis with Kelly and Burgess, Morrison and Howard, Huff and Asomugha, gives Oakland elite D talent across the board.

5. KC: Clady. The offensive line, the strength of the team for years, has totally collapsed. it doesn't matter who the Qb is without some protection. Maybe a better LTackle prospect than Long.

6. NYJ trade with Dallas for #22 and #28: McFadden. Arkansas connection.

7. NE: Gholston. 3-4 OLB.

8. Baltimore: DRC. Rolle and McCallister are old and injury prone.

9. Cinci: Dorsey bolsters D-line.

10. NO: Keith Rivers.

 

[VJCPatriot]

DRC falls to #30? Is he considered that raw? I thought he was considered to be neck and neck with Mckelvin.