January 29, 2008

*Denotes teams that will decide draft order by coin flip.

1) Miami Dolphins-Glenn Dorsey (DT) LSU: Good pick for the Dolphins who need immediate help and youth along the defensive line. Miami may look to deal this pick if they can as it is hard to invest #1 overall money to an interior lineman.

2) St. Louis Rams-Jake Long (OT) Michigan: The Rams will be torn between both Jake and Chris Long as they need help on both sides of the line. St. Louis will take the big left tackle as Orlando Pace’s heir apparent for the future.

*3) Atlanta Falcons-Matt Ryan (QB) Boston College: Another tough pick as the Falcons will have to decide between franchise QB Matt Ryan or the top prospect in this years draft Darren McFadden. In the end Atlanta will take the QB the franchise desperately needs after last off-seasons mess of trading away Matt Schaub and then dealing with the Vick scandal shortly after.

*4) Oakland Raiders-Darren McFadden (RB) Arkansas: McFadden would be a gift for JaMarcus Russell if he is available for the Raiders to take. Could pull an encore of what Adrian Peterson did in ’07.

*5) Kansas City Chiefs-Sedrick Ellis (DT) USC: The Chiefs go with need here and take Ellis over DE Chris Long. Ellis may be just as good and ready for the NFL as Dorsey is, but lacks the name recognition. Making him a better value at #5, than Dorsey at #1. If Matt Ryan is available here, look for the Chiefs to take him instead.

6) New York Jets-Chris Long (DE) Virginia: If Long is still available at this pick it should be a no brainer for the Jets. Long has everything you look for in an end and has the motor and intensity to go with it. If Long is not here at #6, look for the Jets to strongly consider DE Vernon Gohlston the Junior out of Ohio State.

7) New England Patriots-Aqib Talib (CB) Kansas: The Patriots upgrade their secondary with arguably the best corner in the draft. Talib has the size (6’1 195) and speed to play man-to-man. A good 40 time at the combine will solidify him as the top corner in the ’08 class.

8) Baltimore Ravens-Vernon Gholston (DE) Ohio State: Gholston will be this years Vernon Davis at the combine. He will add some youth and talent to an aging Baltimore Defense. Compares to Shawn Merriman in his ability to get after the QB. Had 14 sacks his junior year.

9) Cincinnati Bengals-Dan Conner (LB) Penn State: In the hopes of Sedrick Ellis not falling, the Bengals take the next best available defensive player Dan Conner. Conner is Penn States all-time leader in tackles, which says something for all the linebackers to come through Happy Valley.

10) New Orleans Saints-Keith Rivers (LB) USC: The Saints need as much help as they can get on defense. Rivers is a blue chip prospect who moves well for 6’3 235 pounds. Should make an immediate impact from Day 1.

11) Buffalo Bills-Leodis McKelvin (DB) Troy: The Bills take the fast rising corner out of Troy as they look to improve their weak secondary. They could consider a wide-out here but having a greater need in the secondary.

12) Denver Broncos-Kenny-Phillips (FS) Miami: The 6’2 211 pound junior standout is by far the best safey prospect in this year’s draft. The Broncos take Phillips to eventually replace the aging John Lynch.

13) Carolina Panthers-Ryan Clady (OT) Boise St.: Carolina has many needs, especially on offense. They have expiring contracts of both Left and Right Tackles and probably won’t be able to re-sign both.

14) Chicago Bears-Brian Brohm (QB) Louisville: This pick almost makes too much sense for the Bears. They could also go with Kentucky QB Andre Woodson, but Brohm is more NFL ready now.

15) Detroit Lions-Jonathan Stewart (RB) Oregon: The Lions are thin at RB expecially now that Kevin Jones is rehabbing for the second straight off-season with a torn ACL this time. Stewart is the second best RB prospect on most boards and is a big and strong back at 5’10 235 lbs.

16) Arizona Cardinals-Calais Campbell (DE) Miami: Campbell is a freak at 6’8 280 pounds and stock will probably rise after individual workouts at the combine. His stock did drop somewhat after a disappointing senior season.

17) Minnesota Vikings-Sam Baker (OT) USC: Baker is a good pass blocker who returned for his senior season to move up the draft boards. Should make for one of the better O-lines in the league.

18) Houston Texans-Jeff Otah (OT) Pittsburgh: Otah is still developing as a football player, having only played one year of high school football. Big time athlete who is quick on his feet and has huge upside.

19) Philadelphia Eagles-DeSean Jackson (WR) California: Jackson is too talented and explosive for the Eagles to pass on. Will take some pressure of Westbrook and is an electric return man. Needs to put on some weight for the NFL pounding he will take.

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Malcolm Kelly (WR) Oklahoma: Will be interesting to see where the Bucs go with this pick with an aging QB in Jeff Garcia. Garcia seems to have a few years left, so they pass on Andre Woodson and take the 6’4 220 pound Kelly. May go earlier in the draft, Kelly is rated the #1 or #2 receiver on most draft boards.

21) Washington Redskins-Derrick Harvey (DE) Florida: The Redskins have needed somebody to get to the QB for years now. Harvey can do that with excellent speed coming off the edge.

22) Dallas Cowboys-Mike Jenkins (DB) USF: The Cowboys need another corner opposite Terrance Newman. Jenkins has all the tools to develop into a #1 shutdown corner and is a great value at #22.

23) Pittsburgh Steelers-Chris Williams (OT) Vanderbilt: The Steelers grab the last available first round talent tackle. Williams is a good prospect at 6’5 320 pounds with good feet and above average athleticism for and offensive lineman.

24) Tennessee Titans-Limas Sweed (WR) Texas: The Titans need to upgrade their sub-par receiving core and take Vince Young’s former college teammate Limas Sweed. Sweed was a potential top-10 pick before until wrist injury slowed his senior season. If he runs well at the combine he may not last this late at #24. With his size at 6’5 220 pounds, teams will be too tempted to let him pass.

25) Seattle Seahawks-Chilo Rachal (OG) USC: The Seahawks run game has not been the same ever since Steve Hutchinson bolted two seasons ago. Rachal is a mammoth at 6’6 340 pounds and moves well for his size. Has a lot of upside and plays with a mean streak you want in an interior lineman.

26) Jacksonville Jaguars-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (DB) Tennessee State: The Jags need another DB and go with BPA here. ‘DRC’ is another fast rising corner who didn’t get a lot of attention at Tennessee State. You can be sure you will hear his name rising all the way up to draft day.

27) San Diego Chargers-Kentwan Balmer (DT/DE) North Carolina: Would be surprised to see Balmer fall this far. If he does this is a good pick for the Chargers who could use some depth along their defensive line.

28) Dallas Cowboys-Mario Manningham (WR) Michigan: Dallas would have an excellent draft if the could land both Mike Jenkins and Mario Manningham. Manningham has a knack for making the play and should be available for when Dallas selects at 28.

29) San Francisco 49ers-Phillip Merling (DE) Clemson: Merling is another guy whose stock is rising now. Merling is good against the run and had 17 tackles for loss in 2007 with Clemson.

30) Green Bay Packers-Reggie Smith (DB) Oklahoma: Versatile big corner who can play safety as well at 6’1 200 lbs. Al Harris and Charles Woodson form one of the best corner duos in the league but they aren’t getting any younger.

31) New York Giants-Erin Henderson (LB) Maryland: The two-time all-ACC standout from Maryland should give the Giants some much needed help and depth at linebacker. Henderson has good size at 6’3 242 lbs. If one of the top corners fall they may go there for the second year in a row in the first round.

32) New England Patriots-Forfeited pick