February 15, 2008

1. Miami Dolphins (1-15) - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
The Dolphins beat the Ravens in 2007 and that was about the only positive to take from the season. The offense was starting to come around as they were utilizing Booker better and perhaps John Beck is who they believe will be their future, doubtful but who knows. The defense that was the one constant for the Fins has aged and last season allowed 2,456 yards on the ground. Jason Taylor needs help and if he gets it, the defense could once again be a turnover machine.
07 Draft Standouts; Ted Ginn Jr. WR, Ohio State; Lorenzo Booker RB, Florida State

2. St. Louis Rams (3-13) - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
The Rams were heavily stricken by the injury bug last year so stats cannot tell the whole story, but allowing 5,457 yards on defense and allowing 48 sacks on offense are stats that injury just can't explain away. The defense needs help but the loss of all world tackle Orlando Pace was a crippling loss that cost the running game as well as the pass. The Rams could go BPA in this spot and shore up a sore spot either on the O-line or the defense, it's a great place to be for Rams fans.
07 Draft Standouts; Brian Leonard RB, Rutgers; Adam Carriker DT, Nebraska

3. Atlanta Falcons (4-12) (coin flip) - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
The Falcons finally found themselves a coach in Mike Smith from the Jags (D-coordinator) and can start to settle down a bit and prepare for a 2008 season that begins for them in late April. The team is really in a BPA position with a defense that was allowed over 5,600 yards, an O-line that gave up 47 sacks and an offense that has no true starter at quarterback or tailback. The pick order for the number 3, 4 and 5 picks will be determined by a coin flip and the direction the Falcons go with this pick is a coin toss as well.
07 Draft Standouts; Jamaal Anderson DE, Justin Blalock G, Texas; Martrez Milner TE, Georgia

4. Oakland Raiders (4-12) (coin flip) - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Rumors are not fact... so the retirement party is not yet booked for Warren Sapp but where there's smoke there's fire so if the rumors are true you can expect the Raiders to look to replace him. Regardless of Sapp, the Raiders run defense sucked out loud, and needs to be addressed. The defense allowed over 2,300 yards at 4.8 yards a carry, wow.
07 Draft Standouts; Zach Miller TE, Arizona

5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) (coin flip) - Jeff Otah OT, Pittsburgh
The Chiefs hired Chan Gailey to run their offense so you can expect them to focus on the offense early in the draft, in particular a line that yielded 55 sacks last season and only had 3.3 yards/rush. They had some success with Brodie Croyle but I am not sure they are sold on him yet, after all he was given a real chance in last years training camp and was beat out. They may be looking to replace Damien McIntosh as well. Chuck Cook (Director of College Scouting) said " "Everybody knows we're focusing on the offensive line and the cornerback situations, but we'd like to get another power wide receiver, a guy who we can go get it to help Bowe out." Look for the Chiefs to find that WR in the early rounds and perhaps look ILB in the middle rounds.
07 Draft Standouts; Dwayne Bowe WR, LSU; Kolby Smith RB, Louisville

6. New York Jets (4-12) - Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Jets had an awful campaign in 2007 but may have found out that they have some good young talent in Clemens and Leon Washington. The defense allowed 5.2 yards per play so they are in need of a difference maker on the defense. They can take the BPA in this draft but defense should be the focus of the Jets early. They allowed 18 touchdown passes so getting help for Reevis should be a first day concern for the Jets if it's not handled through free agency.
07 Draft Standouts; Darell Reevis CB, Pitt; David Harris LB, Michigan

7. New England Patriots (from 49ers) (5-11) - Keith Rivers, LB, USC
The Patriots need youth and they need it quickly or they will see the window slowly close. The defense played very well and the offense set record after record but free agency could be a killer for the Pats. The defense in particular with both Seau and Brewski possibly done and Assante Samuel a free agent so the draft will largely be affected by the Pats choices about their free agents. Either way they need to get younger and can watch which defensive stalwart falls to them.
07 Draft Standouts; Brandon Merriweather S, Miami

8. Baltimore Ravens (5-11) - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
There are a lot of people that have the Ravens taking a QB at this pick but I personally believe that Troy Smith will get a year to sink or swim before they go for a QB with their 1st round pick. They hired John Harbaugh as head coach and quickly signed Cam Cameron. Johnathan Ogden is most likely gone off to stud and he will be missed greatly as they try and rebuild an offense that struggled mightily last year. Look for them to go offensive line in the first and perhaps corner in the second after a year where they allowed 3,500 yards passing.. Re-signing Ryan as defensive coordinator is huge for a team that is in this much flux.
07 Draft Standouts; Marshal Yanda OT, Iowa; Ben Grubbs OG, Auburn; Troy Smith QB, Ohio State

9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9) - Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
The Bengals are a team with far too much inner turmoil right now and need some character guys and leadership from within. Expect them to take the BPA on their board because the defense is in need of complete plastic surgery, face lift.... the whole nine. They hired Mike Zimmer from Atlanta to run the defense but the Falcons defense was just as bad as Bresnahan's. The defense allowed 5,580 yards last season and when you do the math that equals...well, a (expletive)-load of yards. If the Bengals go DT in the 1st they are likely to go DE in the second or vice-versa, they should look O-line in the first day.
07 Draft Standouts; Leon Hall CB, Michigan; Nedu Ndukwe SS, Notre Dame

10. New Orleans Saints (7-9) - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
The Saints drafted defensive backs Usama Young (Kent State) and David Jones (Wingate) in last years draft and neither are near the top of the Saints depth charts. The defense allowed over 3,900 yards passing at 8 yds/pass. If not for McKenzie, the secondary would be barren even with Jason David playing opposite McKenzie. The defense as a whole needs to become the focus of the draft as the Saints have used plenty of picks on the offense. Linebacker and defensive line are needs in the first day but the first pick should be corner. They are drafting high enough to get one of the drafts best, and this draft has some sick talent at corner.
07 Draft Standouts; Andy Alleman G, Akron; Pierre Thomas RB, Illinois (un-drafted)

11. Buffalo Bills (7-9) - Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech
The Bills defense allowed 5,807 yards last season, 1,993 on the ground and over 3,800 through the air, so they need too much help on the defense to draft a wide receiver in the first. They could use an OLB and corner help to go with Youboty but any kind of help will be welcomed with open arms in Buffalo. The receiver position is in need of a big receiver to compliment Evans so you can look for a WR in the first day but the first round seems to be a stretch, as they have a few more pressing needs right now.
07 Draft Standouts; Marshawn Lynch RB, Cal; Trent Edwards QB, Stanford; Ashton Youboty CB, Ohio State

12. Denver Broncos (7-9) - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
The Broncos still need someone to fill the middle linebacker role and get D.J. Williams back on the edges but with the retirement of TE turned Left Tackle Matt Lepsis, the Broncos have a more urgent need on the O-line. Look for the Broncos to test the free agent waters again, they seem to really love free agency around here, for better or worse. They need a more efficient ground game, whether that is a bigger back or help in the trenches, the Broncos no longer have the running game the country thinks they do, just ask any fan in Denver and they would be happy to elaborate. There may even be a receiver/kick returner drafted this year...fingers crossed.
07 Draft Standouts; Marcus Thomas DT, Florida, Selvin Young RB, Texas (un-drafted)

13. Carolina Panthers (7-9) - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
The Panthers need a lot of help on the defense and the situation at quarterback is a mess. Matt Moore, is he the future, is Delhomme going to return to form or is Carr the answer....no on all three. There are a lot of people that doubt that there is a franchise QB in this draft but there are at least a couple, so this pick could stun many people. Look for lots of attention to the offense in the early rounds as they also need someone to take some targets away from Steve Smith and ease the double coverage on him.
07 Draft Standouts; John Beason LB, Miami; Ryan Kalil G, USC; Charles Johnson DE, Ryne Robinson KR, Miami(Ohio); Matt Moore QB, Oregon State

14. Chicago Bears (7-9) - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
The Bears have a lot of needs and the list could get longer after free agency. They need an offensive tackle if they are going to get the running game started, they need a franchise quarterback A.S.A.P. and they need some help at safety. That is the short list if Briggs stays, if he's gone the list, as I said, gets even longer. I thinks the bears need to be very active in free agency this year and they should only take a QB in the first round if one of the top guys falls to them which is the case in this version. There are many Bears fans who believe they need a guard but Beekman is a stud and it's only a short time before he shows it to the fans of Chicago.
07 Draft Standouts; Greg Olsen TE, Miami; Garrett Wolfe RB, Northern Illinois

15. Detroit Lions (7-9) - Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
The Lions fires Mark Martz early this year and the ground game of the Lions could not be happier. The Lions have great receivers but now perhaps a healthy ground game could add up to some winning seasons for a change. The entire Millen era has focused around getting offensive weapons and the line on both sides has been ignored. Going offensive or defensive line in the early rounds is paramount but after allowing over 7 yards a pass play in '07, they really need to look corner in the first round.
07 Draft Standouts; Calvin Johnson WR, Georgia Tech

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8) - Johnathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
The Cardinals defense had a pretty good season and while the offense ranked high over all and Edge ran for over 1,200 yards, he only scored 7 touchdowns with Warner & Shipp adding one each. The Cardinals offense is prolific through the air and the O-line only gave up 24 sacks so the offense is one key player away and Edge does not seem to be the guy for the job. Rumors abound that Antrel Rolle will make a move from CB to FS and current FS Terrence Holt will be gone, so if that goes down the way it looks it will the Cards will most likely look coner in the first.
07 Draft Standouts; Levi Brown OT, Penn State; Steve Breaston KR, Michigan

17. Minnesota Vikings (8-8) - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
The Vikings had one tremendous draft last season and the rookies really defined their growth this season. The defense remained impossible to run against and the secondary felt the brunt of that fact as teams had no choice but to air the ball out. The O-line did a great job as both backs had great years so if the Vikings don't go secondary in the first it will be because they went defensive end with Erasmus James' problems staying healthy. Look for the Vike's to look for a receiver in the early round to help Tarvaris on offense.
07 Draft Standouts; Adrian Peterson RB, Oklahoma; Sidney Rice WR, South Carolina; Aundrae Allison KR, East Carolina; Marcus McCauley CB, Fresno State

18. Houston Texans (8-8) - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
The Texans can really go B.P.A. here because they have needs but the number one need is a healthy season. The rushing attack was good when healthy, the passing game was effective when healthy and the Texans as a whole were good when healthy so perhaps the Texans should try eating more apples, maybe start with one a day, and move on from there. They do need an offensive tackle or a running back because the ground game needs help one way or another.
07 Draft Standouts; Amobi Okoye DT, Louisville; Jacoby Jones WR, Lane

19. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) - Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The free agency market and a few off-season moves will dictate this pick for Philly but unless they can resolve the QB situation the pick may be moot. The Eagles top priorities are receiver and corner but there is that "lineman" rule the Eagles have and they could draft another lineman and send their fans reeling yet again. The Eagles need a top tier receiver that the QB, whomever it shall be, can rely on to spread the field vertically and allow Westbrook and L.J. Smith to work underneath. They also need a corner badly but I doubt they look corner this early.
07 Draft Standouts;

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) - Early Doucet, WR, LSU
Rumors were circling that the Bucs were looking at a running back in last years draft and after Cadillac's injury plagued career the Bucs may well go that route this season. Earnest Graham played well and Ken Darby is in the mix as well but as of this mock Cadillac is unlikely to make training camp and may not play at all. Should the Bucs look past their running back needs, and in this mock they do (the top guys are off the board) they could easily address the receiving corp and get some youth behind the ageless or is it aged, Joey Galloway.
07 Draft Standouts; Arron Sears G, Tennessee

21. Washington Redskins (9-7) - Ryan Clady, LT, Boise State
The Skins showed tremendous heart at the end of last season and the way you end the season really does matter. What they need from the 2008 draft is a powerful O-lineman who can create some room for Portis and give him a chance to break some runs for the Skins. The Redskins may also look defensive line early to improve the pass rush but it's not their number one need. Portis will always have the good stats (1,262 yds and 11 td's) but he is a great back, and given some room to run he would open up things greatly for the Skins offense.
07 Draft Standouts; LaRon Landry SS, LSU

22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) (10-6) - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
I have all the faith in the world that the Cowboys will have drafted long before the 22nd pick in the draft, all the faith in the world, but as for now they are slated 22 and that's where they will pick. The Cowboys have a few pressing needs on both sides of the ball with their WR's aging daily, Julius Jones unlikely to resign and Roy Williams' inability to cover anyone. If the Cowboys do not package their picks to move up they could solve both the secondary issues and the receiver issues in the first round. Barber proved his worth last season so running back becomes less pressing but in the end I am sure the Cowboys will pick only once in the 1st round but it should be pretty high.
07 Draft Standouts; Nick Folk K, Arizona

23. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
The Steelers had a great year running the ball but really ran Willie Parker into the ground and only got him a few td's. The line can pass protect well but there needs to be an upgrade and they need to open some lanes if Parker is going to return to his "Fast Willie" days. The Steelers fans will love it if the Steelers look at a big defensive name in the 1st round and get some youth as well as depth up front in their 3-4 and the fans get their way in this mock, the O-line will wait. First things first, they need to take care of Alan Faneca because if he goes, so goes the run game.
07 Draft Standouts; Matt Spaeth TE, Minnesota; LaMaar Woodley OLB, Michigan; Daniel Sepulveda P, Baylor

24. Tennessee Titans (10-6) - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
The Titans need a lot of help for Vince and last season drafted two receivers Paul Williams & Chris Davis who have yet to make an impact on the team. Both players have the potential, that dirty little word, and drafting 24th is not a prime location for one of the very best receivers in this class so expect them to try to move up if a WR is their goal. The defense is sound but they must re-sign LaBoy and Odom on the D-line. If a top tier lineman, offensive or defensive falls to them they will no doubt go in that direction before going wide receiver.
07 Draft Standouts; Chris Henry RB, Arizona; Michael Griffin S, Texas

25. Seattle Seahawks (10-6) - Tashard Choice, RB, Georgia Tech
The Seahawks remain oh-so-close in the NFC and with Holmgren coming back for one more ride in the saddle, you can bet this team is willing to sell their soul to get over the hump this season. Free agency will almost certainly be where the Seahawks make most of their improvement on the defensive side of the ball but they will play beyond the Holmgren years and they need a running back that can hit homerun's and open up things for Hasselbeck. Look for Seattle to go offensive line early in this draft as well.
07 Draft Standouts; Brandon MeBane DT, Cal

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) - James Hardy, WR, Indiana
The Jags were just a few playmakers away from making a serious run at New England last year and getting those playmakers has to be their number one priority going into the draft. They have found their quarterback and the defense is scary talented so the only needs come on the offensive side of the ball and in particular some speed and mobility. If the Jags decide not to go WR, they can look at getting a pass rushing end, they have a run stopping defense but can use a better pass rush up front.
07 Draft Standouts; Reggie Nelson S, Florida

27. San Diego Chargers (11-5) - Frank Okam, DT, Texas
The Chargers have a ton of talent but need some glue to bring back together the way it was in '06. The run defense that allowed over 4 yards a carry was hurt badly when they lost DT Jamal Williams, so depth or perhaps a replacement is needed on the D-line. They are better than they have been in a long while at WR but if a talented player falls to them in the early rounds they could take a shot.
07 Draft Standouts; Eric Weddle S, Utah; Craig Davis WR, LSU

28. Dallas Cowboys (13-3) - Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
The Cowboys will not have this pick, count on it. As I said earlier they will no doubt pair this pick with their 22nd and move up to acquire a higher profile player. As it is they have this pick to sure up the secondary team needs and can go safety or wide receiver, whichever they passed on earlier in the round.
07 Draft Standouts; Nick Folk K, Arizona

29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis) (13-3) - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
This pick became almost moot when they inked Mike Martz as O-coordinator. The league and everyone in it can assume that the Niners will pick the best receiver available and they will most likely be right. The Niners need some help along the lines as well and the need is almost as pressing. Okam would make sense in their 3-4 scheme and any help at all on the O-line would be great as Staley is holding down one tackle position the other is in need of an upgrade.
07 Draft Standouts; Patrick Willis LB, Mississippi; Joe Staley OT, Central Michigan

30. Green Bay Packers (13-3) - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
The Packers need one very important team need this season, they must draft youth. I know, oxymoron, but they have players who are still playing very well yet have high mileage on the odometer. The Packers have great corners but they are over 30, they have a good receiving corp but another big target never hurt. The Packers have done a great job at remaining a good team while re-building and hopes are high in Green Bay after their run last season.
07 Draft Standouts; Mason Crosby K, Colorado; Brandon Jackson RB, Nebraska; James Jones WR, San Jose State

31. New England (16-0) -
Ooops my bad, I must have taped over this pick.
07 Draft Standouts; Brandon Merriweather S, Miami

32. New York Giants (10-6) - Dan Conner, LB, Penn State
The Giants need but one thing for the 2008 season, a member of the media. Someone to tell them they have no chance, how awful Eli is and how they are over-achievers. Seriously though, they do have some needs on both sides of the ball but drafting dead last in the first round is a certain B.P.A. situation. They could look corner or offensive line, in particular offensive tackle but they really are in a spot as defending champs to take the highest guy on their charts.
07 Draft Standouts; Ahmad Bradshaw RB, Marshall; Steve Smith WR, USC; Aaron Ross CB, Texas; Kevin Boss TE, Western Oregon