- Joined
- Sep 2, 2006
- Messages
- 8,679
- Reaction score
- 7,981
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3291055
1. Miami Dolphins -- Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Record: 1-15 | Needs: CB, OT, QB, WR, DE, S, LB
Previous mock selection: Same
Yes, I'm well aware that DE Chris Long has become the trendy selection for the Dolphins at No. 1 overall. Although Chris Long is certainly worthy -- as is OT Jake Long -- I'm sticking with Matt Ryan until more definitive information becomes available regarding Miami's assessment of John Beck as its potential franchise quarterback moving forward.
2. St. Louis Rams -- Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Record: 3-13 | Needs: DE, WR, C/G, OLB, CB
Previous mock selection: Same
Chris Long has to be the Rams' best-case scenario at No. 2 overall. Long is not a prototypical edge-rusher, but he's a disruptive force in all facets of the game. He possesses rare versatility and a motor that never quits. Long would be an excellent complement at left end opposite the speedy Leonard Little, who recently reworked his contract.
3. Atlanta Falcons -- Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Record: 4-12 | Needs: QB, DT, OT, G, TE
Previous mock selection: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Ryan should be the Falcons' selection if he's available. If not, it will be a difficult decision between Dorsey and Jake Long. The team has needs at both positions, as well as many others, so it really can't go wrong in that regard. Assuming Dorsey gets a clean bill of health, he seems to be the direction the team is headed. Dorsey is the type of impact defender the Falcons are looking to build their defense around.
4. Oakland Raiders -- Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Record: 4-12 | Needs: DT/DE, WR, OT, G/C, OLB
Previous mock selection: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The re-signing of Tommy Kelly gives the Raiders two good defensive linemen -- with Derrick Burgess being the other -- but the ideal plan is to play Kelly at end. Retaining Kelly certainly frees the team up to go in a different direction with this pick (RB Darren McFadden), but it does not eliminate Ellis (or Dorsey, if available) from the discussion. Ellis, who notched 58 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior at USC, could solve many problems for this unit.
5. Kansas City Chiefs -- Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Record: 4-12 | Needs: OT, CB, QB, G/C, WR, RB
Previous mock selection: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
The Chiefs' 2008 draft pretty much hinges on Long's availability at No. 5. Needless to say, this is the dream scenario for Executive VP/Assistant GM Carl Peterson, head coach Herm Edwards and the rest of Kansas City front office.
6. New York Jets -- Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Record: 4-12 | Needs: DE, CB, WR, LB, RB
Projected pick: Same
The Jets have spent a bundle of cash targeting needs in free agency, which frees the organization from being handcuffed to any particular position with this pick. Arguments can be made for and against both McFadden and DE/OLB Vernon Gholston. From my perspective, Gholston's recent workout times might have sent his draft stock soaring but on film he disappears in too many games. He flashes elite talent and belongs in the top 10, but I could not rationalize taking him ahead of McFadden if needs are not a driving force in the equation.
7. N.E. Patriots (from 5-11 S.F.) -- Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
Record: 16-0 | Needs: ILB, CB, OLB, ROT/G, S
Previous mock selection: Same
Gholston would seem like a natural fit as an outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 scheme. Assuming Gholston is ready to contribute immediately, Mike Vrabel could move back to inside linebacker in order to stabilize the interior.
8. Baltimore Ravens -- Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Record: 5-11 | Needs: QB, CB, OT, OLB/DE, WR
Previous mock selection: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
The Ravens are one of the wild cards in the top 10. They will take the best available talent even if he doesn't fit a need, and odds are none of the available players at their need positions will be worthy of the eighth overall pick. An argument could be made for one of the top cornerback prospects here, but Clady carries a better grade, in my opinion, than any corner in this class, and he possesses the combination of size and feet to potentially take over for perennial Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden.
9. Cincinnati Bengals -- Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
Record: 7-9 | Needs: DT, TE, LB, S, DE
Previous mock selection: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
The team is starving for defensive playmakers. Defensive tackle is the Bengals' biggest need, but there's no DT prospect worth selecting here if Dorsey and Ellis are off the board. The Bengals are unsettled at outside linebacker and Rivers has emerged as far-and-away the top prospect at that position in the 2008 class. He is a complete linebacker with a very good combination of size, quickness, power and toughness. He also plays with an excellent motor and could quickly emerge as a much-needed leader for this unit.
10. New Orleans Saints -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn. St.
Record: 6-9 | Needs: CB, DT, TE, LB, WR
Previous mock selection: Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the fastest rising prospects in the 2008 class right now. The small-school product stood up to the big boys at the Senior Bowl, and then wowed scouts a few weeks later with one of the smoothest workouts of any DB at the combine.
1. Miami Dolphins -- Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Record: 1-15 | Needs: CB, OT, QB, WR, DE, S, LB
Previous mock selection: Same
Yes, I'm well aware that DE Chris Long has become the trendy selection for the Dolphins at No. 1 overall. Although Chris Long is certainly worthy -- as is OT Jake Long -- I'm sticking with Matt Ryan until more definitive information becomes available regarding Miami's assessment of John Beck as its potential franchise quarterback moving forward.
2. St. Louis Rams -- Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Record: 3-13 | Needs: DE, WR, C/G, OLB, CB
Previous mock selection: Same
Chris Long has to be the Rams' best-case scenario at No. 2 overall. Long is not a prototypical edge-rusher, but he's a disruptive force in all facets of the game. He possesses rare versatility and a motor that never quits. Long would be an excellent complement at left end opposite the speedy Leonard Little, who recently reworked his contract.
3. Atlanta Falcons -- Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Record: 4-12 | Needs: QB, DT, OT, G, TE
Previous mock selection: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Ryan should be the Falcons' selection if he's available. If not, it will be a difficult decision between Dorsey and Jake Long. The team has needs at both positions, as well as many others, so it really can't go wrong in that regard. Assuming Dorsey gets a clean bill of health, he seems to be the direction the team is headed. Dorsey is the type of impact defender the Falcons are looking to build their defense around.
4. Oakland Raiders -- Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Record: 4-12 | Needs: DT/DE, WR, OT, G/C, OLB
Previous mock selection: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The re-signing of Tommy Kelly gives the Raiders two good defensive linemen -- with Derrick Burgess being the other -- but the ideal plan is to play Kelly at end. Retaining Kelly certainly frees the team up to go in a different direction with this pick (RB Darren McFadden), but it does not eliminate Ellis (or Dorsey, if available) from the discussion. Ellis, who notched 58 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior at USC, could solve many problems for this unit.
5. Kansas City Chiefs -- Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Record: 4-12 | Needs: OT, CB, QB, G/C, WR, RB
Previous mock selection: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
The Chiefs' 2008 draft pretty much hinges on Long's availability at No. 5. Needless to say, this is the dream scenario for Executive VP/Assistant GM Carl Peterson, head coach Herm Edwards and the rest of Kansas City front office.
6. New York Jets -- Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Record: 4-12 | Needs: DE, CB, WR, LB, RB
Projected pick: Same
The Jets have spent a bundle of cash targeting needs in free agency, which frees the organization from being handcuffed to any particular position with this pick. Arguments can be made for and against both McFadden and DE/OLB Vernon Gholston. From my perspective, Gholston's recent workout times might have sent his draft stock soaring but on film he disappears in too many games. He flashes elite talent and belongs in the top 10, but I could not rationalize taking him ahead of McFadden if needs are not a driving force in the equation.
7. N.E. Patriots (from 5-11 S.F.) -- Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
Record: 16-0 | Needs: ILB, CB, OLB, ROT/G, S
Previous mock selection: Same
Gholston would seem like a natural fit as an outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 scheme. Assuming Gholston is ready to contribute immediately, Mike Vrabel could move back to inside linebacker in order to stabilize the interior.
8. Baltimore Ravens -- Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Record: 5-11 | Needs: QB, CB, OT, OLB/DE, WR
Previous mock selection: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
The Ravens are one of the wild cards in the top 10. They will take the best available talent even if he doesn't fit a need, and odds are none of the available players at their need positions will be worthy of the eighth overall pick. An argument could be made for one of the top cornerback prospects here, but Clady carries a better grade, in my opinion, than any corner in this class, and he possesses the combination of size and feet to potentially take over for perennial Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden.
9. Cincinnati Bengals -- Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
Record: 7-9 | Needs: DT, TE, LB, S, DE
Previous mock selection: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
The team is starving for defensive playmakers. Defensive tackle is the Bengals' biggest need, but there's no DT prospect worth selecting here if Dorsey and Ellis are off the board. The Bengals are unsettled at outside linebacker and Rivers has emerged as far-and-away the top prospect at that position in the 2008 class. He is a complete linebacker with a very good combination of size, quickness, power and toughness. He also plays with an excellent motor and could quickly emerge as a much-needed leader for this unit.
10. New Orleans Saints -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn. St.
Record: 6-9 | Needs: CB, DT, TE, LB, WR
Previous mock selection: Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the fastest rising prospects in the 2008 class right now. The small-school product stood up to the big boys at the Senior Bowl, and then wowed scouts a few weeks later with one of the smoothest workouts of any DB at the combine.
