| Published:
Apr 22, 2008 8:32 PM EST |
Untitled Document
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2008
NFL Mock Draft by Matt Chase |
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| This mock draft has a total score of
11885 from
2257 users for an average of
5.3
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| Picks 1-16
| 17-31
| 32-47
| 48-63
| 64-95
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| With the NFL Draft just around the corner, NFL team’s boards are set as they look to improve their current rosters so that they can be playing for the ultimate prize. Miami holds the first pick after dubiously completing arguably the worst NFL season ever. The speculation is over as the Dolphins have chosen Jake Long to fortify ther O Line and have already agreed to a contract. As far as need is concerned the Fins made the pick that made the most sense in drafting Jake Long who will at worse be a dominant R OT in the NFL and has the potential to be a real good L OT. This obviously fills a HUGE void for Miami where their O Line is arguably the weakest in the NFL. Currently they employ Vernon Carey on the left side, who is better suited to play OG. Due to the Dolphin’s lack of options at OT, they could certainly put Carey at R OT, and let Jake Long hold down the blind side for their QB and be their cornerstone as they rebuild. Jake Long is the best O Line prospect in this draft class, as he is powerful at the point of attack (namely at run blocking) with great strength. He isn’t as good as last years #1 OT and Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, but he is not that far away from him either and would have been a top 5 pick last year had he come out early (#5 to Arizona over Levi Brown). Long may not be an ideal L OT because his feet aren’t as quick as you would like, but as mentioned above, a worse case scenario is that he will be a dominant R OT for the next decade. The traditional blueprint for rebuilding is to start from the line of scrimmage and I think a purest like Parcells chose to adhere to that. In Miami’s case this makes more sense than drafting a pass rusher like Chris Long and Vernon Gholston. The Dolphins couldnt trade down, and if they did they would most likely have not been abe to get their guy. It is strange to sign someone soo early prior to draft day, but I can appreciate how both sides came together so there is no holdout (a la JaMarcus Russell). |
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| This is ideal for the Rams, who I believe have DE on the brain with this pick regardless of what Miami does at #1. Ideally, they want Chris Long to fall as he is the one they covet most. Long is generally considered the #1 DE prospect in this draft as he is a big time player who is extremely talented and is an Elite prospect. The son of Raider great and HOF’er Howie Long, he is a gifted athlete with ideal measurables (height, weight, speed, and strength) and also a fundamentally sound player (great feet, hand technique, burst). He is powerful at the point of attack and plays the rush just as good as he rushes the passer. Maybe most importantly, Chris Long is a high character leader with a high motor who gets after it on the field. The Rams would like to add talent to their DE rotation and pair Long opposite of Leonard Little to solidify what would be a very imposing D Line this coming fall. Glen DOrsey is also a popular choice here, but I think the Rams like Adam Carriker at DT and would be wise to get younger on the otuside of their D Line. |
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| I think the Falcons secretly hope Matt Ryan is drafted by Miami as new head coach Mike Smith and GM Tom Dimitroff are defensive-minded fellas, and I believe they would rather grab a talent like Glenn Dorsey and catch a QB in early round 2, where a handful (Brohm, Flacco & Henne) should be available. Dorsey is a smart player who has a great blend of size (6’2, 300) and athleticism. He is an absolute beast of a player who could play multiple spots on a D Line and be successful at occupying blockers and infiltrating the backfield. He would be a major upgrade at a spot where they need real help as their DT rotation is really lackluster. One of the better collegiate stars the past 2 seasons, Dorsey is a difference maker at DT and reminds many of Warren Sapp. DT is arguably the biggest need area for Atlanta and they would be getting an elite upgrade by taking Dorsey here. In my mock Matt Ryan is still on the board, but I think owner Arthur Blank is going to put his trust in Dimitroff, and allow him to go for the guy they really covet. |
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| This selection boils down to Al Davis’s desire and his logic. Desire has me putting Darren McFadden here because he is arguably the best player in the draft and his speed/playmaking ability is something that cannot be denied. Logic has me upgrading their pass rush at DE with another top tremendous talent in Vernon Gholston. Logic also tell us that the Raiders problem is not their ground game, as they have a solid RB stable that is deep with Justin Fargas (new contract), Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and Michael Bush. Also, I have always contended that RB is the easiest position to fill in the NFL. Therefore, if I were Al Davis I would grab Vernon Gholston here where he can play opposite Derrick Burgess and form a formidable pass rush tandem. However, with Al Davis logic doesn’t always win out, and I think he will ultimately not be able to pass up on RUN DMC if he is available at #4, which he most certainly will be. His 4.33 40 time quieted most of his skeptics and showed that he has all of the tools to be a big time playmaker. Throughout his career at Arkansas he has shown that he was the elite RB at the collegiate level, and he accomplished this in the toughest conference in football. Darren McFadden does have some off the field issues, but that probably makes him more welcome in Oakland. He is a home run hitter, has the speed Al Davis grovels over and is a tremendous talent. I don’t think he gets past the Silver and Black. |
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| *TRADE - Kansas City Trades pick to Baltimore for Matt Ryan; Kansas City takes OT Ryan Clady*
The dream situation for Kansas City has passed, as it is no secret they want Jake Long. A month ago it appeared they may have a shot, but that is no longer a reality. The Offensive Line of the Chiefs was traditionally their strength, but in recent years due to the retirements of Willie Roaf and Will Shields the Offensive Line has become a liability for this team. Given that Long is gone, the Chiefs are in a dilemma; do they take Matt Ryan or do they reach? Matt Ryan makes some sense as he is a definite upgrade over Brodie Croyle, and would be welcomed by the Arrowhead faithful with open arms. However, Carl Peterson and Herman Edwards don’t want to throw in the towel early on Croyle, and grabbing Ryan here would signify that their rebuilding is just beginning. With that notion in play, I think they are going to entice the Ravens to jump up 3 spots to grab their guy in Matt Ryan where the Chiefs can then grab Ryan Clady (who will be available) at L OT. The Chiefs do not have a L OT on their roster and need to solidify that position to protect the blindside of Brodie Croyle. Widely considered the second best O Line prospect in this draft, Clady has great size at 6’6, 315 with long arms and a nice frame. His strength is his athleticism and feet, as he has the right combination of agility and ability to be a true L OT in this league. Many people believe that Clady doesn’t have enough of a mean streak, and in turn is not enough of a run-blocking OT to play in the KC system. Although he isn’t a “pound it out” OT like Jeff Otah, he is by far the better value because he has tremendous athleticism and feet, plus L OT's are a premium in the NFL. And even though he isn’t known to grind it out, I think his value as an athlete at L OT is worthy of top 10 consideration. This trade only works because the Jets would be hard pressed not to grab Matt Ryan at #6 as the Pennington/Clemens duo doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of Defensive Coordinators, and it is rumored that the staff there loves him. Playing off of that fear, I think the Chiefs can strike a deal to move back with Baltimore, who is a team that has not had a young QB to build around since moving the franchise. This addresses KC’s biggest need, dissipates any QB controversy this off season and saves them money while in return will add another pick or two as they need to add more young players to their roster. |
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| The New York Jets would love the opportunity to cherry pick Vernon Gholston away from the likes of New England at #6, and finally have that pass rushing dimension they have lacked in the Mangini Era. Gholston is a pass rushing menace who is probably the most physically gifted athlete in the entire draft. His measurables are off the charts (6’3, 265lbs, sub 4.7 40, 37 reps on the bench press) and unlike a lot of workout warriors we actually know this guy can play as he was one of the better Defensive players in College football last season. He is aggressive as a pass rusher, but is much underrated for how good he is against the run and in pursuit. To me he is the perfect player for the 3-4 schemes, where his pass rushing strengths will be utilized perfectly. New York is finally getting the personnel in place to deploy a true 3-4 this season and an addition like Vernon Gholston opposite their new free agent signing in Calvin Pace will be quite an upgrade and very formidable. If the Jets are ever going to leap frog New England in that division they need to take a page out the Giants playbook and get after Tom Brady, this is definitely a good step in that direction. There is going to be some enticement in Matt Ryan here because Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens are looking like they are not the answer, but I think Gholston grades out higher and schematically is a dream for their 3-4. |
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| The Patriots have this pick through a steal…I mean trade….they had with San Francisco last year. The Pats lost the Super Bowl, but let’s not forget that they went 18-0 prior to that game and blew teams out for the most part of the year. The Super Bowl did expose the Pats to a degree, showing that they were getting old in their back 7 on Defense. With the recent departures of Asante Samuel, Randall Gay and Eugene Wilson CB is definitely their glaring need. To me the best CB prospect in this class is Leodis McKelvin from Troy. McKelvin has nice timed speed at 4.38, but more importantly he has fluid speed and can really turn his hips and run, showing that he has the potential to be a true man-on-man CB. He also is a terrific return man and is a playmaker. He doesn’t have a lot of experience against top level competition as he hails from Troy, but so did DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umeniyora, and they turned out just fine. This infusion of youth and talent is an imperative pick up for a Pats secondary that has been depleted by Free Agency. Branden Albert makes some sense as well, as New England is a team that puts a premium on versatile O Linemen. New York pushed them around upfront in the Super Bowl, and I am sure that feeling still stings. Also, don’t be surprised if this pick is Keith Rivers who can play inside or outside in the New England 3-4. |
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| *TRADE - Kansas City Trades pick to Baltimore for Matt Ryan; Kansas City takes OT Ryan Clady*
Conventional thought is that Baltimore will grab the best player available here and hope that Matt Ryan falls to them, as their biggest need is obviously at QB. In my mock they go against conventional wisdom and trade up to grab Ryan. Matt Ryan is hands down the best QB in this class, and the only one who deserves top selection billing. He has good size at over 6’4 and is pretty athletic for a QB. His arm is not to be mistaken with Brett Favre’s, but he has a nice zip he puts on the ball and is very accurate with a career 60% completion ratio. He has tremendous intangibles and leadership as he is a poised QB, accustomed to playing under a spotlight. His game reminds of Phillip Rivers who was essentially selected 1st several years back in a very good QB class. He is definitely not the best player in the draft, but he is also no Alex Smith and I think he is a top 5-10 pick. If KC keeps Ryan, I have the Ravens going with Clady anyways, as the inevitable future retirement of Jonathan Ogden is something this team is going to have eventually address, as he will leave a major hole at L OT. I think the Ravens will get Ryan one way or the other as they need to get their franchise QB. |
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| This would be a dream scenario for Cincinnati who would love to get a shot at a player like Ellis here at #9 and not have to trade up for him. Many think that they will have to move up to get him as he has a good chance of going as high as #4 to the Raiders, but as the board plays out now he falls into their laps. Ellis is a true beast and is a force at DT as he is a great athlete for his 6 foot, 315 lb size. He is incredibly strong (38 reps on the bench press) and plays with tremendous leverage and a high motor. His explosiveness and burst is as good as it gets and makes him a top 10 talent in this class. The Bengals need to, once again, revamp their Defense and would love to get their hands on one of the top 2 DT’s. Ellis would be an instant impact starter for the Bengals who currently have one of the worst Defensive Lines in football. |
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| The Saints will use this pick for defense and I am really torn between Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Keith Rivers. I give the nod to Rivers because his body of work is better and I think he is less risky than DRC. Although the Saints signed Jon Vilma and Dan Morgan, they still need help at OLB opposite Scott Shanle. Keith Rivers is one of the most overshadowed prospects in this class and will translate to the Pro Game seamlessly. He is an ideal 4-3 Will OLB with the size, speed and natural athleticism for the speed of the NFL. He hails from USC, a school rich in LB tradition, and is a big time hitter who plays sideline to sideline. He is hands down the best LB in the entire draft class and would be a nice addition for a Saints team that just flat out needs to get better on D.
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| No one has done more for themselves in the scouting process than DRC. He came into the process as a sleeper prospect whose only claim to fame was that he is the cousin of Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie. Now after an amazing Combine performance the buzz is that he is a sure fire first rounder and sneaking his way into the top half of the draft. I watched him at the Combine and was enamored by his potential and measurables (6’1, 4.33 40), however, I am still unsure if he is all that he is billed to be because he played at a small school. If he came out of USC or Florida St (like his cousin) he would definitely get more love, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he is going #11 to the Bills. Sure many will have a WR here, but any WR at #11 is a HUGE reach. The Bills need help at CB and with some development DRC can be special. |
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| The Broncos struggled this year and need to work on getting better in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Typically, I would never have the Broncos drafting an O Lineman on the first day of the draft let alone at #12, but it is very apparent that their problems at OT are a major cause of concern. Furthermore, the sudden retirement of Matt Lepsis really puts OT as their primary need. Chris Williams actually is perfect for the Denver Bronco mold as he is a more athletic OT and is not a mauler. He has tremendous feet and is athletic enough to get to the next level in run blocking schemes. Because of his athleticism he has some major upside and he has the added advantage of being former teammates with Jay Cutler (which may not be important at all, but is something to consider). Definitely a solid pick up at #12 if they go in this direction. I have him over the likes of Branden Albert because I think his value for this scheme is better than Albert’s. Admittedly, I think if you are picking in the top 15 it is too much of a gamble to get Albert, a career OG, when a proven & athletic OT like Williams is on the board. |
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| Initially I had Carolina going DE here (Harvey or Merling) as the Panthers have had trouble getting to the QB last year as Julius Pepper’s numbers were down and the production level of the DE group wasn’t as solid as it had been in the past. However, I think the value and also a need pick-up is here at OT/G with Branden Albert. Albert has been rising from relative obscurity 4 months ago to a top 15 pick. What scouts love about Albert is that at his size (6’7, 315 lbs) he moves very well. He has nice (not great) feet, and plays with a nice mean streak. He does an excellent job in Pass Pro and can also get the job done in the run game. He fits a perfect need in Carolina as they have locked up Travelle Wharton, but are tinkering with the idea of moving him inside to OG. If this is the case, they can bounce Albert to OT where many have him projected. If Wharton and Albert fail to make the transition, they could put them both at their old and familiar spots and still boast a much improved and impressive Offensive Line. Albert falls on my board a bit, but he will be a nice value and need addition for Carolina. |
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| Chicago really needs help at QB, but outside of Matt Ryan drafting a QB in this spot doesn’t make much sense from a value perspective. Assuming the Bears don’t trade down, I think they should focus on getting younger at O Line where they are certainly getting long in the tooth at OT and could use an upgrade at that spot. Jeff Otah is a mammoth of a man at 6’6, 340lbs. He is extremely strong and has long arms. He is not the athlete of a Ryan Clady or Chris Williams, but he will engulf rushers at the point of attack. He would be a real nice pick up here at #14. A potential wild card could be Rashard Mendenhall, who definitely is falling on my board and not because of lack of talent. I don’t think the Bears are ready to give up on Cedric Benson (and the investment of money they made in him), but Mendenhall is a definite upgrade and a top 10 talent. |
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| I have Detroit surprising people and going for Offense Skill once again. CB & OT are by far their largest needs, but I just can’t see Mendenhall getting past them with his value. Mendenhall is a 3 down back who some have stated is potentially better than Darren McFadden. His upside is very intriguing as he posted solid numbers at the Combine after a running a 4.45 40, at 5’11 at 225lbs. He is a powerful runner whose legs never stop and he is a fluid athlete that can make you miss. He really is a complete RB and is a top 10 talent. The Lions do not have a featured RB and could afford to keep Defenses more honest as everyone and their mother knows that Detroit will air it out 40 times a game. DE Derrick Harvey will be REAL tempting here. A CB like Mike Jenkins or Aqib Talib make sense as well. I just think that Mendenhall is the best value and will set the pace for the Lions as they look to pound the ball this year under a new Offensive regime. |
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| The Cardinals really lack talent in their CB group, especially since they are moving Antrell Rolle to Free Safety. I think priority number one for this team has to be upgrading the Secondary. At 6 feet tall and around 200 lbs, Talib is a big CB, who runs very well for his size. He is a confident player and could be used well in both man and zone schemes. I like Talib over Jenkins as I think he is a better gamer and I also think that he can be a tremendous upgrade and opening day starter for the Cards. Jonathan Stewart is a definite possibility here as the tread on Edgerrin James’s tires is starting to wear thin. Once again Derrick Harvey will be REAL hard to pass up as they could definitely use a premiere pass rusher, however, the Cards need help at CB far more than they need a pass rusher, and I really like what Talib brings to the table. |
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Picks 1-16
| 17-31
| 32-47
| 48-63
| 64-95
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Untitled Document
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This mock draft has a total score of
11885 from
2257 users for an average of
5.3 |
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