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2008 NFL Mock Draft, Version 2.0
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 21st November, 2007 - 3:48 pm
Playoff-bound teams and impersonators alike were able to pad their records at an astounding rate this season against the likes of Detroit, Kansas City, and St. Louis.
Between Lane Kiffin at Tennessee and openings at Clemson, Washington, Syracuse, Mississippi State and Purdue, there are fertile jobs out there.
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Updated for draft position changes and some recent developments and changing impressions. Once again, I do expect this to be an active draft in terms of trades.
1. Miami Dolphins--Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU.
Dorsey is simply too talented for the DL-needy Dolphins to bypass. He commands constant double teams and still has enough strength and agility to make plays in the backfield. Often the best friend of a young QB is a defense that doesn’t force him to play from behind early and often, and Dorsey is that kind of special talent who can make a huge positive impact from Day One.
2. New England Patriots (from SF)--Jake Long, T, Michigan.
I fully expect the Patriots to trade this pick, as they have no major holes and no need to pay such a salary cap figure for what would be a developmental player for them. My money is on a deal to a team looking to move up to get Darren McFadden, perhaps the Bears or Texans. Long separated himself from the tackle class as the season progressed and should make a fine bookend tackle, especially as a run blocker.
RB is pretty far down on their “need” list, but Coach Lane Kiffin also knows he needs a true gamebreaker on offense. McFadden projects very similarly to former Kiffin pupil Reggie Bush, an all-purpose threat who can catch as well as he runs. If McFadden is gone, expect one of the unrelated Longs, T Jake or DE Chris.
4. New York Jets--Chris Long, DE, Virginia.
A multi-gap technique monster who fits perfectly into a 3-4 scheme, Long will help shore up the leaky run defense and tie up blockers to allow the LB's to make more plays. His pedigree and infectious leadership are strong bust insurance, a big selling point to a team that can ill-afford another prominent draft miss.
5. St. Louis Rams--Calais Campbell, DE, Miami FL.
Campbell is a highly productive, freakishly athletic giant (he’s 6’8”, 285) who specializes in precisely what the Rams need--pressuring the QB and disrupting passing lanes. They’ve never had anyone close to his caliber opposite Leonard Little, and Campbell is no slouch against the run, though he has suffered through prolonged stretches of invisibility on the field.
6. Atlanta Falcons--Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville.
Coach Petrino (if he’s still around, not a certainty!) knows all the skills Brohm brings to the table--great accuracy, superlative arm strength, great vision, strong leadership. Many people focus on Brohm’s negatives--he’s a complete statue playing in a shotgun-spread base offense with loads of injury problems. Those folks are not necessarily wrong, but Brohm is the right guy for the offensively rudderless Falcons and the downfield passing attack Petrino favors.
7. Minnesota Vikings--Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College.
His star has fallen a bit thanks to a pair of poor outings, but Ryan has all the qualities the Vikings could want in a QB--arm strength, mobility, accuracy, moxie, a winning attitude. If they address their glaring hole at QB via free agency or trade (a distinct possibility), look for the Vikings to take Kenny Phillips or Malcolm Jenkins and upgrade their secondary.
8. Cincinnati Bengals--Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC.
The Bengals sorely need a bull in the china shop that is their run defense, and Ellis fits the bill. He’s big; he’s physical; he’s quick; he’s relentless; and he’s also a smart, decent kid who will not hurt their ongoing image makeover. If Ellis is gone, look for Ryan Clady here.
9. Chicago Bears--Keith Rivers, LB, USC.
The wonks at AM 670 will hate this pick on the surface because it ignores their QB/RB issues. But Urlacher is starting to show a decline, Lance Briggs is likely to leave, and there is nothing behind them. This is simply too high for Andre Woodson or any RB, and Rivers has the speed and tackling aptitude needed to bolster their suddenly balky defense. I’m of the opinion the starting QB and RB for the 2008 Bears are both playing for other NFL teams in 2007 (rampantly early speculation--Donovan McNabb and Julius Jones).
Playmaking cover man with good size and exceptional instincts, Jenkins fills a major void for the Ravens' aging defense. In the suddenly pass-happy AFC North, having a strong secondary is requisite for success, and the Ravens are a CB like Jenkins away from having a very good defensive backfield. They love the progress of rookie T Jared Gaither, mitigating the need to go OL here.
11. Buffalo Bills--Limas Sweed, WR, Texas.
The Bills have a legit deep threat in Lee Evans and the speedy, diminutive slot guy in Roscoe Parrish, but they sorely lack the credible big-guy WR who can do all the other stuff--red zone fades, 12 yard outs, 3rd & 8 square ins, blocking. Sweed lacks elite speed but can do all of those other necessities better than any other WR in this draft class, and he’s not slow either. This might seem lofty for Sweed now, but after he runs a low 4.5 with good splits at the Combine, watch his stock soar.
12. Carolina Panthers--Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College.
Current LT Travelle Wharton is a free agent who will command far more than the Panthers know he’s worth, and the OL needs depth and pass blocking upgrades even if he stays. Cherilus is a premium mirror-type pass blocker with enough quickness and natural technique to handle both speed and power rushers. Sleeper pick: Derrick Harvey.
13. Kansas City Chiefs--Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida.
The more scouts watch him, the more they like Jenkins, who plays a lot like a more physical Terrence Newman, a bit of a gambler with great recovery speed for his size. Like the unrelated Malcolm Jenkins, he is a major asset in run defense and has shown a knack for blitzing as well. The Chiefs need to get younger and more dynamic at CB, and Jenkins fits the bill. Sleeper pick: Ryan Clady.
14. New Orleans Saints--Dan Connor, LB, Penn State.
Connor’s proven ability to excel both inside and outside is mighty attractive to the Saints and their woeful defensive back 7. His ability to fall into coverage just as well as he can make plays in gap support versus the run will help prevent Connor from falling as far as his former PSU LB mate Paul Posluszny did in the last draft. Posluszny’s success before his injury helps Connor’s stock as well.
15. Washington Ethnic Slurs--Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma.
A big-play WR for an offense that desperately needs one, Kelly has a great size/speed combo and plays with a confident fluidity. This being the Skins, a deal to move up and upgrade the OL or DL is not unrealistic, but Kelly should represent a good value here for a team that needs to get young QB Jason Campbell more reliable (and taller) help.
16. Houston Texans--Ryan Clady, T, Boise State.
He’s a junior who admittedly loves college and says very little, so his draft status is a big unknown right now. But if he declares, teams will salivate over his package of athleticism, size, and surliness at LT. The Texans simply cannot count on Charles Spencer ever being healthy again, and Clady could pair with rising talent Eric Winston to give something they’ve never had in Houston: competent bookend tackles. Matt Schaub won’t know what to do, but I bet Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter might have a few ideas…
If you are old enough, watching Laurinaitis ruthlessly hitting and flowing to the ball with a controlled aggression will remind you of Jack Lambert. He fits the Pittsburgh style perfectly, and that’s precisely what Coach Ken Whisenhunt is building in Arizona. He could go much higher if he times well. Sleeper pick: Aqib Talib.
18. Denver Broncos--Reggie Smith, CB, Oklahoma.
Smith is a rangy hitter with good size and better speed and shows great ball skills. His experience playing both S and CB is a plus for a Broncos' defense in need of CB depth, but that could also be looking at replacing John Lynch this summer. He can also run back kicks and was an exceptional HS WR. The Broncos are always among the more active dealers of draft picks, and this pick is likely no exception for a team looking to trade up to get Andre Woodson or someone above who unexpectedly falls.
I’m tired of piling on Roy Williams and his completely hopeless pass coverage skills, and I think Jerry Jones is tired of it too and is ready to finally do something about it. Phillips isn’t quite at the level of former Hurricane greats Ed Reed or Sean Taylor, but he’s more consistently reliable and level-headed than either of them. Just a junior, but Phillips is the cream of a thin safety crop by a wide margin and would be a fool to return to school.
20. Philadelphia Eagles--Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State.
At times the most dominant DE in college football, particularly against the run, Gholston has a lightning-quick first step and enough power to create fits inside and outside. He can pair with Trent Cole to give the Eagles one of the best pairs of DE's in the league and allow Def. Coord. Jim Jones to rest easier turning loose his explosive young LB's.
21. Detroit Lions--Ali Highsmith, LB, LSU.
Undersized but has the speed and hitting power that a Cover 2 defensive scheme loves, and his experience playing against top competition is a selling point. If he times poorly he’ll drop like a rock, and the Lions will take Phillip Wheeler here. Matt Millen has already told anyone who will listen the Lions are addressing their defensive back 7 prominently in this draft, and it starts with finding a complement to Ernie Sims at OLB.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--James Hardy, WR, Indiana.
Hardy brings great size, hands, and a big play mentality to a Bucs' offense that sorely needs a complement to an aging Joey Galloway. Hardy has perhaps the best upside of any WR in this draft, and he’s experienced in playing with a mobile, oft-improvisational QB like Jeff Garcia. They would prefer Malcolm Kelly, but Hardy is not a bad consolation prize.
23. San Diego Chargers--Sam Baker, T, USC.
His stock has fallen with the fortunes of his college team, and his seeming reluctance to physically dominate weaker opponents brings to mind Levi Brown from the last draft. Like Brown (who went #5 overall), Baker can shoot his stock way up with strong interviews and postseason workouts. He has enough bulk to move inside and play G if needed, and that’s where Baker would likely start his career in San Diego.
He gets lost in the lost season of Notre Dame this year, but Carlson continues to impress as an all-around TE. Blessed with great strength for his size (6’6”, 270) and a sneaky quickness despite not having great speed, he’s somewhere between former Jag stalwart Kyle Brady and recent 1st rounder Heath Miller in skillset. David Garrard would love a sure-handed big man to bail him out over the middle.
The rapid decline of Shaun Alexander forces the Seahawks’ hand into taking Stewart, an explosive power back with exceptional balance and a fast-moving, low center of gravity (read: large butt). He’s used to the weather; he’s a decent receiver; and Stewart also offers KR ability, another spot the Seahawks need help with.
26. Tennessee Titans--Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn.
Many teams will project him as a 3-4 OLB, but Groves is a little stiff and iffy in tackling in that role. He’s perfectly cast as a speed-rushing 4-3 DE, and with rising star Kyle Vandenbosch on the other side, Groves could thrive with the attention focused off him.
27. New York Giants--Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas.
Talib has great size and a playmaking mentality, but what also stands out is his devotion to winning and making those around him better, simply an outstanding leader and worker. He plays like a bigger, more physical Dre Bly, for better and worse. Sleeper pick: Early Doucet.
Draft board riser shows remarkable agility for such a huge man (6’5”, 340), and his rapid improvement during his short football career indicates he might not be too raw for too long. OL depth and an upgrade in pass protection at RT are the primary needs for the Steelers, and local boy Otah fits both bills.
29. San Francisco 49ers (from IND)--Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky.
Forgive my bluntness, but haven’t they seen enough of Alex Smith to know he’s not the answer and must not stymie the franchise by staying the course with him the way Houston did with disappointing #1 overall pick David Carr who is light-years better than Smith? That leads them to Woodson, a big gunslinger with a very accurate arm and decent mobility, which will be a major asset behind this OL. His slow trigger and propensity for staring down his receiver hurt his stock enough that a fall to here is certainly not unrealistic, though he could go significantly higher.
30. Green Bay Packers--Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana.
The rest of the draftnik world is finally onto Porter, a speedy cover man I’ve been scouting and touting for years. What he lacks in height he makes up for in technique and tenacity, and his PR skills are a major asset for the Packers.
Jackson is apparently required to be compared to Ted Ginn Jr. because they’re both WR/KR with elite speed and better at the latter than the former. But Jackson isn’t quite as fast, and he could hide behind a tetherball pole. He’s had just two games this season where he was more than the 3rd best WR on the field, but people will go gaga over his Devin Hester-like open field ability and potential.
32. New England Patriots (forfeited)
Also considered: Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt
Tony Hills, T, Texas
Adarius Bowman, WR, Oklahoma State
Lavelle Hawkins, WR, California
Early Doucet, WR, LSU
Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt
Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida
Shawn Crable, LB, Michigan
Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech
Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Frank Okam, DT, Texas
DeJuan Tribble, CB, Boston College
Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida
Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia
Fred Davis TE, USC
Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Dropping like a rock:
Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan. 4 official drops vs. OSU, but it could have been 7, and his demeanor and attitude keep getting worse.
Tommy Blake, DE, TCU. Still has not explained his mysterious absence, and his play since he returned has been downright awful.
