 Draft King's 2008 NFL Mock Draft
2008 NFL Mock Draft Last Updated: November 21, 2007 Quote:
If the Miami Dolphins lose five of their final six games, they will have the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. They have three homes games (NY Jets, Baltimore, and Cincinnati) and three road games remaining (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and New England.) Perhaps the most intriguing sub-plot among the top spots is what pick the New England Patriots might end up with, thanks to the trade made this past April where they obtained San Francisco's 2008 first round pick in the deal where the 49ers traded up to get OT Joe Staley.
With the 49ers struggling, the Patriots could end up with a top five pick. The striking irony is that, due to Cameragate, the Pats have had to forfeit their 2008 first round pick, but thanks to sound trading and a little luck, they are in line to land an elite player.
This draft order reflects the NFL Opponent Win Percentage tiebreakers among teams with identical records, though there are two sets of two teams that would have identical records and opponent win percentages at the moment.
A slight update has been made to reflect that the Chargers not only traded away their 2008 2nd and 3rd round picks, they also used their 2008 4th round pick to nab CB Paul Oliver in the 2007 NFL supplemental draft. Who do they think they are, the Washington Redskins? (I kid, I kid.)
2008 NFL Mock Draft
1. Miami Dolphins - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Ronnie Brown only has two years left on his contract and he has a torn ACL, but the need that exists on Miami's defensive line will probably keep them from seriously considering Darren McFadden at this spot. Probably. Dorsey is a game-changing force at defensive tackle, a rare type of player who has earned Heisman talk with his ability to stuff the run, pass rush, and split double-teams. The Dolphins opted to ignore the DT position in the first round last year, passing on Amobi Okoye to draft Ted Ginn, Jr., and now is their opportunity to give Jason Taylor some help on the interior D-line.
2. New England Patriots (from San Francisco) - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
The Patriots have a few choices here. It's funny that the most dominant team of the past 20+ years will likely have a top five pick in the draft, and while there are personnel issues that will have to be dealt with in the off-season (such as securing new contracts for Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth), this is a very interesting development for the Pats. They have ended up in the position that many thought Dallas might be in with Cleveland's pick.
So what is the team of the decade to do here? Trading down is an obvious move, but it would have to be just a few spots, since trading into and out of the top five is a difficult, if not impossible, thing.
Linebacker may be the team's biggest need, but there simply is not justification for taking an LB at the #2 spot. Darren McFadden would be a consideration, if for nothing else to keep him away from the rest of the league (and to create a frightening young RB combo that would make Tom Brady even more effective), but the chance to bring in a top-tier OT makes the most sense from a practicality standpoint relative to the position. A bookend left offensive tackle could allow Tom Brady to have that much more protection in the backfield, and in turn give him the time he needs to make his pinpoint throws.
3. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Taking back-to-back defensive linemen in consecutive drafts may be surprising to some, but Chris Long has earned his high projected spot with his consistent performances, an uncanny ability to work his way into the backfield on passing plays, and great leadership.
Long makes the players around him better, and not just because he usually draws a double-team; his leadership skills may be the strongest of anyone in the draft. The Rams are 22nd against the run, and the Rams could use a young star to eventually replace aging DE Leonard Little.
4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas *
McFadden would be a wonderful addition to the Raiders. After seeing McFadden play in person, I was even more impressed with him than I was before. LaMont Jordan is serviceable at best and turns 30 next year, and Justin Fargas is best used as a change-of-pace RB.
The little things that McFadden can do make him that much more appealing of a prospect, and having him along with JaMarcus Russell on the same team should strike some fear into the rest of the AFC West. He is the safest bet in this draft as far as living up to his potential goes.
One mitigating factor may be how many members of the stacked junior RB class declare early for the NFL. A large volume of early entrants might entice the Raiders to look elsewhere in this spot and opt to go for a running back in round two. Though, to be sure, McFadden is far and away the strongest RB prospect in this draft, and he is the type of player who should strongly appeal to Raiders owner Al Davis.
5. New York Jets - Calais Campbell, DE, Miami *
The massive Calais Campbell would be a great fit for the Jets defense. Campbell is a huge human being at 6'8" 280 pounds. He had 10 sacks last year, and he has been continually double-teamed this year because of his constant threat at the line. Campbell will cause teams to have to adjust to handle the threat he presents.
The Jets are 24th against the pass and dead last against the rush. Campbell would help with both stats, creating blocking nightmares for running attacks and bringing the heat against the pass with an outstanding blitz skill that you might not expect out of a player of his size.
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
The Bengals are in a tailspin, and their problems are connected with the team's inability to stop the run. To date, Cincinnati has given up a whopping 4.7 yards per carry. That won't cut it in the NFL, and the Bengals need to add some talent to the interior defensive line. Glenn Dorsey would be an ideal pick, but with him off the board, Ellis is the next best option.
Ellis is strong (with a reported bench press max of 510 pounds), and while at 6'1" he's shorter than normal for the position, he would immediately improve Cincy's run defense. And, for the Bengals, that is critical.
7. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
I'm sticking with my gut on the concept that Falcons coach (and former University of Louisville head man) Bobby Petrino is not only going to lobby for a QB at this spot, he'll push for the Falcons to take a player who knows his system in Brohm. Andre Woodson and Matt Ryan have had impressive seasons, and both have Brohm beaten in the height department, though at 6'3" Brohm is tall enough to be a quality NFL QB.
The Falcons need a new face to push in the post-Michael Vick era (he's only still technically part of the team as part of the effort to recoup bonus money), and Brohm could fill that role nicely. I wouldn't be floored if Ryan or Woodson went here, since sometimes seemingly logical links like this are passed on, but if Atlanta drafts in the top five, or even perhaps the top ten, I think they are most likely going to take a quarterback, in most likelihood Brohm.
8. New Orleans Saints - James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State *
While the Saints have needs in their secondary, at this spot there is too much talent at linebacker to make it worthwhile to stretch to take a corner at this position. Laurinaitis is an incredible playmaker, someone who reads plays very well and provides great coverage against the rush and the pass. He brings it on every play, his athletic pedigree is well-documented (he is the son of pro wrestler Road Warrior Animal), and he would provide a huge boost for a Saints defense that needs the re-energizing.
9. Baltimore Ravens - Quentin Groves, DE/OLB, Auburn
Groves is a true game-changer, with the ability to come from multiple spots on the blitz or cover the middle from the OLB spot. Groves' injury (three dislocated toes) in the Florida game has taken him out of the spotlight, but he is a difference maker who disrupts the passing game while stuffing the run. I personally consider him to be a Top 5 prospect, though he may settle into this range, if not lower. He is the real deal.
10. Kansas City Chiefs - Sam Baker, OT, USC
The Chiefs have been able to establish the run this year; to date, their 78.1 yards per game average is 31st in the NFL, behind only the pass-happy Green Bay Packers. Larry Johnson's problems (holdout, injury) haven't helped things, but the lack of a top level offensive tackle has played a large part in the team's rushing difficulties. Baker is a versatile talent who could fill a number of offensive line spots, though left tackle would make the most sense for him.
11. Carolina Panthers - Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami *
In a draft that is light at the safety position, Phillips stands out as a top-tier prospect. The Panthers have a strong need at safety that dates back to at least last year. Phillips is not an interception machine, but he is a skilled tackler and has great athleticism that would be very useful for the Panthers.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky
With Adrian Peterson suffering an LCL (lateral collateral ligament) tear in his right knee, the likelihood of the Vikings being able to draft a high-end QB has increased tremendously, the win over Oakland this past week notwithstanding.
The three top-tier QB prospects are Andre Woodson, Matt Ryan, and Brian Brohm, not necessarily in that order. With Brohm off the board, there would stll be two high-end prospects remaining. There is a chance that the Vikings would make a play to get a veteran QB; rumors about them having interest in Donovan McNabb are swirling, and that could free them up to take a top-flight corner at this spot.
13. Chicago Bears - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
The Bears are struggling, in large part because of injuries on defense, but also because of problems at the quarterback position. Ryan would be a great selection for the Bears; some think Ryan is the best QB prospect of them all, and he could learn behind Brian Griese before taking the job. Rex Grossman is entering free agency this off-season, and he'll almost for sure will be playing elsewhere in 2008.
14. Arizona Cardinals - Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State *
Gholston has had a huge November, with great performances against Wisconsin and Michigan. His ability to shed blocks, reach the QB, and blow up running plays makes him a very compelling prospect who could have a huge impact for the Cardinals.
Arizona has a number of options at this spot, but Gholston may represent the best player available for the Cardinals.
15. Houston Texans - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon *
The Texans haven't had a strong option at running back since the injury and subsequent retirement of Domanick Davis (a.k.a. Domanick Williams) in 2005. Ahman Green has proven to be yet another example of the low-end payoff of bringing in a 30-year-old running back to carry the load, and with the RB talent that should be present in this draft, there should be many players from which to choose for the Texans.
The four-year contract Green signed is going to haunt the Texans; the $5 million signing bonus was tough, the $3 million earned in salary and roster bonus in 2007 was stiff, and the large salaries lined up for the next three years will make it difficult to justify retaining him, particularly in years three and four.
Despite that reality, the Texans need a young, high-end RB, and Stewart would be an outstanding addition to the team, bringing a rare mix of size and speed to the table.
16. Buffalo Bills - Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
This feels awfully low for Connor to go in the draft, but he would be a great value pick for the Bills at this position. Through ten games, no linebacker has more than one sack for Buffalo. Connor is a versatile LB who could either play MLB or OLB and would be a likely day one starter for the Bills.
17. Denver Broncos - Keith Rivers, LB, USC
The Broncos need help on defense, and a talented linebacker like Keith Rivers could provide a great boost to the team. The Broncos are 31st against the run, something that Rivers would be able to remedy right away. With Marcus Thomas developing at DT (no surprise to anyone who knew his play at Florida), and Elvis Dumervil turning into a sack machine at DE, the addition of Rivers could take the Broncos to another level.
18. San Diego Chargers - Erin Henderson, OLB, Maryland *
The Chargers have traded away their 2008 second round pick (for Chris Chambers) and third round pick (part of the trade up to get Eric Weddle in last year's draft), and they burned their 2008 fourth round pick to obtain CB Paul Oliver in the 2007 supplemental draft, so they *really* need to make this pick count. Fortunately for San Diego, their team is solid from a roster standpoint, and they have a number of options from which to choose.
Henderson has been a defensive stalwart for Maryland, and he would be a great choice for the Chargers to bring in and have develop into a new LB threat for the team.
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State *
There is little separation between many of the high-end corner talents in the draft, but there is a strong argument to be made for Jenkins being the first of the group to go. Jenkins has started at CB at Ohio State since he was a true freshman in 2005; he has good height and elite speed. The Eagles would be well-served to consider adding a defensive end as well, but a talent like Jenkins could help improve a defense that is 23rd against the pass this year.
20. Washington Redskins - Ali Highsmith, OLB, LSU
Defensive line is a need that many anticipate the Redskins will look to fill, but I think that, relative to the talent on the board and the draft position, Washington would go linebacker. MLB London Fletcher is playing well this year, but adding a young, athletic playmaker like Highsmith would be an excellent decision. Adding Highsmith would help the Redskins better defend the intermediate passing game (along with having injured players from the secondary recover and return healthy next year.)
21. Seattle Seahawks - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas *
Shaun Alexander's base contract numbers beyond 2008 (where he stands to make $4.475 million) are $5.562 million for 2009, $6.65 million for 2010, $7.7375 million for 2011, $8.825 million for 2012, and $9.9125 million for 2013. Combine that with his struggles this year and the fact that he'll turn 31 next August, and clearly Seattle will need to plan for life after Alexander.
While overshadowed by Darren McFadden, Felix Jones is a talented RB in his own right, and he should be able to impress any skeptics in off-season workouts and at the combine, should be opt to come out early. A number of RBs could be considered for this spot, including Steve Slaton, Ray Rice, Mike Hart, and Rashard Mendenhall.
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) - Early Doucet, WR, LSU
The Cowboys have had strong production from Patrick Clayton in place of the injured Terry Glenn, but Glenn is 33 and Terrell Owens turns 34 next month, and some youth would be most useful at the position. When not injured, Doucet has stood out in the LSU offense, and he would be a great target for Tony Romo. Yes, Owens is playing out of his mind football as of late, but the clock is ticking.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal *
The inconsistency in Jackson's receiving performance this year has dropped his stock in some people's eyes (after early returns had him as a potential top five pick), but his blazing speed cannot be ignored. Imagine the excitement with the Bucs bringing in a player who could potentially return any given kickoff back for a TD, something that has amazingly never happened in franchise history.
24. Tennessee Titans - Adarius Bowman, WR, Oklahoma State
I've been saying for two years now that the Titans desperately need to bring in a top flight wide receiver for Vince Young. And after the embarrassing number of drops by the Titans receivers on national television against Denver, now others are jumping on the bandwagon. The regulars at LP Field know all about this, but it's becoming a much more obvious problem. Vince Young makes a medicore receiving corps look much better than it is.
Bowman is huge (6'4" 220) and will cause matchup problems for whatever defense he faces. He suffered a knee injury against Kansas that will keep him out for the rest of the year, but expectations are that he'll be able to recover in time for pre-draft workouts.
I'm convinced that the Titans will do whatever they have to do to keep Albert Haynesworth after seeing the defense play at a much lower level without him in person against the Jaguars and then on TV against Denver on Monday night. Who would have thought that would happen just 13 months ago, when he stomped on Andre Gurode and received a five game suspension?
25. Detroit Lions - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas *
Talib is a superstar for undefeated Kansas, and his shutdown talent in the secondary has played a large role in that. The Lions could use a boost at corner; they are 30th in passing yards relinquished to this point in the year, and they have missed having the talent of Dre Bly out there. And, after years of spending first round picks on offense, using one on the defensive side makes a great deal of sense.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers - Tyson Jackson, DL, LSU *
Offensive guard will almost for sure be a need for the Steelers with the likely impending departure of disenchanted OG Alan Faneca. If Oklahoma OG Duke Robinson comes out early (not impossible considering the weak OG class with Eric Young's injury further limiting the guard options in the draft), it is not outside the realm of possibility that the Steelers would take him here.
Alternately, at 6'5" 290 pounds, Tyson Jackson would be a solid fit with Mike Tomlin's defense. He is a great player who at times is overshadowed on the star-studded LSU defense, but he is a solid performer in his own right and would be a wonderful addition to the Steelers. Jackson would seem to fit better here than Florida DE Derrick Harvey, who is a strong prospect but who might be better in another system.
27. New York Giants - Terrell Thomas, CB, USC
A nice mix of size and speed, the 6'1" Thomas would be a useful addition to the Giants' secondary. While an offensive tackle like Gosder Cherilus or Ryan Clady would be a great pickup, my expectation is that the Giants won't go for an offensive tackle in round one. Thomas rarely is beaten deep, has wonderful quickness, and would be a boost for the Giants secondary.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars - Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech *
Adibi is a very athletic linebacker, speedy enough to play OLB but big enough to play MLB. Adding him to the Jaguars defense that already has the underrated Mike Peterson would make a strong Jags defense that much better, plus Adibi may be more effective in the NFL at OLB and with Peterson in the middle, that wouldn't be a problem.
29. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis) - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
A wrist injury prematurely ended Sweed's season, but with time to recover, Sweed still has great potential to be a first round pick. At 6'5", Sweed has the size to gain separation on high passes and bring them in over shorter defenders, and with good workouts and a strong combine performance, Sweed could easily work his way into the mix toward the end of round one. The 49ers desperately need improvement at wide receiver, and Sweed would be a wonderful addition to the team.
30. Green Bay Packers - Mike Hart, RB, Michigan
What is remarkable about the Packers' 9-1 start is that the team has done it with a pathetic rushing game. If not for the amazing Patriots, Brett Favre would be a strong MVP contender. Fortunately for Green Bay, there should be a strong crop of running backs available in the draft, to the point where a talented player like Hart may be on the board at this slot.
31. Dallas Cowboys - Frank Okam, DT, Texas *
The Cowboys need a force at DT to make the 3-4 work as effectively as possible. Tank Johnson is now filling the role, but he is on thin ice with the league due to past problems with the law, and Okam would provide Dallas with a long-term solution at that spot.
32. New England Patriots - FORFEITED
If the Pats somehow miss the playoffs after an 10-0 start, they will retain this pick but lose their 2008 second and third round selections. It would also be the most improbable collapse in sports history. According to the NFL, the Patriots have not yet clinched a playoff spot. That won't last much longer.
* indicates player with NCAA eligibility for 2008 who may opt to enter the 2008 NFL Draft | |
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