NFL Mock Draft: Before Free Agency Strikes

1. Miami Dolphins: Gosder Cherilus   OT  Boston College. Instant starter from day one.  Battle tested and a cornerstone for the line to build around.
   
   
2. St. Louis Rams:  Lawrence Jackson  DE  USC..Perfect player to line up next to last year’s #1 pick to give the defense some teeth.
   
   
3. Atlanta Falcons: Martellus Bennett   TE  Texas A&M….With Crumpler gone Martellus will be a starter from day 1.
   
   
4. Oakland Raiders:  Mario Manningham  WR  Michigan….HR threat Al Davis loves.
   
   
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Aqib Talib  CB  Kansas…Mix reports on Talib some have higher than this spot but will start for KC.
   
   
6. NY Jets:  Dan Connor  ILB  Penn State…Perfect addition to the Jets LB core.  Smart player who won’t be caught out of position.
   
   
7. Baltimore Ravens: Quentin Groves  OLB   Auburn…Steal at this spot but because of injury history should be there when he selects.
   
   
8. San Francisco 49’ers: Carl Nicks  OT  Nebraska….Entire offense needs overhaul and Nicks is nearly starter ready level having had Callahan as his coach at Nebraska.
   
   
9. New Orleans Saints: Ali Highsmith   OLB   LSU..Great motor who will be a fan favorite.
   
   
10. Buffalo Bills:  Reggie Smith  CB Oklahoma…Buffalo just needs to stay the course and continue to add best available athletes with each pick.  Smith should start in 2008.
    
    
11. Denver Broncos: Pat Sims  DT  Auburn…It’s about time the Broncos start to draft defensive lineman rather than continue to take from the scrap heap.
    
    
12. Carolina Panthers: Chad Henne   QB   Michigan….Will contend with Matt Moore as QB of the future.
    
    
13. Chicago Bears: Andre Woodson  QB  Kentucky..If they can get a good vet to sit in front for two years Woodson could be the answer for the next 12.
    
    
14. Detroit Lions: Chris Johnson  RB  East Carolina…Need a back to either replace or compliment Kevin Jones depending on his health.
    
    
15. Cincinnati Bengals: Fred Davis  TE  USC….Need to improve the “quality” of people on this roster and Davis is finally legit threat at TE for Carson Palmer.
    
    
16. Minnesota Vikings: Darrell Robertson  DE  Georgia Tech….With the reports of Kenechi Udeze situation this becomes a need pick.  Robertson is a solid player who benefited from terrific coaching at Georgia Tech.
    
    
17. Atlanta Falcons: Red Bryant  DT  Texas A&M…Coach Smith gets him a man that will remind him of the big boys he left behind in Jacksonville.
    
    
18. Philadelphia Eagles: Charles Godfrey  CB  Iowa…Philly always seems to draft replacements a year before needed.  Godfrey will be a nickel this year and take over one of the spots next season.
    
    
19. Arizona Cardinals: Cliff Avril  OLB/DE  Purdue….Avril is another young LB who would be perfect for the current regime to mold into a Pro Bowler in Arizona.
    
    
20. Washington Redskins: Devin Thomas  WR  Michigan State…The big WR they desperately need.
    
    
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Adibi  OLB  Virginia Tech…The defense is get old and Adibi could replace Derrick Brooks as the new ringleader for the unit.
    
    
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jamaal Charles  RB  Texas..Everyone knew when Willie Parker went down the Steelers where done.  Charles would be a legit #2 threat and eventual starter.
    
    

1. Tennessee Titans: Terrell Thomas  CB   USC…Anytime Coach Fisher gets to add a USC player it’s a good day for him.
   
   
2. Seattle Seahawks: John Carlson TE  Notre Dame…Another great addition to revamping the Seahawks offense.  Carlson has had two years of NFL caliber coaching now at ND and should be a starter from day 1.
   
   
3. Cleveland Browns: Erin Henderson OLB  Maryland…Browns need to get adding talent to the defense so every game doesn’t end up a shoot out.
   
   
4. Miami Dolphins: Trevor Laws DT  Notre Dame…Another clog in the middle for the revamped Miami defense.
   
   
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Limas Sweed  WR  Texas…With Wilford leaving via free agency and Matt Jones possibly being cut the Jags need to add another big target.  Sweed fits that role and just needs to stay healthy.
   
   
6. Indianapolis Colts: Brandon Albert  OG  Virginia…Appears the Colts will have an opening at one of the guard position and Albert is a nice prospect who can be groomed into an eventual starter.
   
   
7. Green Bay Packers: Tracy Porter  CB   Indiana…Porter will be a nice player to groom to replace Al Harris.
   
   
8. Dallas Cowboys:  Donnie Avery  WR  Houston…Terry Glenn’s career may be over and Avery is that threat the team missed last year.  Steal at this point.
   
   
9. New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo  ILB  Tennessee…Pats need to improve the linebackers on this team.  Mayo should be a contributor to both the defense and special teams.
   
   
10. NY Giants: Simeon Castille  FS  Alabama…While the Giants caught fire in the playoffs they were still a team that got beat during the season by the Packers, Patriots and twice by Dallas due to an average secondary.  Castile will be the new QB of the secondary. 
    
    

Round 3

1. Miami Dolphins: Earl Bennett   WR  Vanderbilt..Parcells likes smart players who will do their job and not embarrass him or the franchise.  Bennett is a player who has yet to reach his potential but could be a starter by the end of the season. 
   
   
2. St. Louis Rams: Mike Pollak  C   Arizona St.....The Rams could to built up the depleted offensive line.
   
   
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Roy Schuening   OG  Oregon State…Similar to the Rams, KC needs new bodies on the 0-line.
   
   
4. New England Patriots: Bruce Davis  OLB  UCLA…Time to stock pile some replacements for the aging LBs.
   
   
5. Atlanta Falcons:  Steve Slaton  RB  West Virginia…Warrick Dunn’s eventual replacement.
   
   
6. NY Jets:  Ray Rice  RB  Rutgers….Should work well with Thomas Jones to create a two headed monster in NY.  Popular pick with the Jets faithful.
   
   
7. San Francisco 49’ers: Marcus Howard   OLB  Georgia…Need to improve talent base and with the cutting of Derek Smith, linebacker now because a bigger need.
   
   
8. Buffalo Bills:  Martin Rucker  TE  Missouri….Smart, talent player who shared the spotlight with Coffman at Missouri but should flourish in the NFL.  Mike Rucker’s brother.
   
   
9. Buffalo Bills: Dre Moore   DT   Maryland…Big guy to fill up the middle on the defense.
   
   
10. Minnesota Vikings:  Joe Flacco  QB  Delaware…Won’t push to start year 1 but may be the long term answer at QB.
    
    
11. Carolina Panthers:  Eddie Royal  WR  Virginia Tech..Dual threat that has great speed but had only average senior season.
    
    
12. Chicago Bears:  Heath Newberry  OT  Newberry…Small school prospect that could develop into something special.
    
    
13. Detroit Lions: Kendall Langford   DE  Hampton…Another small school talent that would be a nice fit for the Lions defensive scheme.
    
    
14. Cincinnati Bengals: Shawn Crable  OLB  Michigan…This team needs linebackers and a big time Big Ten LB is a nice addition.
    
    
15. New Orleans Saints: Tavares Gooden   ILB  Miami…Very under-rated prospect who will work well for Coach Payton.
    
    
16. Houston Texans:  Brandon Flowers   CB  Virginia Tech….A player who should be starting by 2009 but will be a great addition to nickel packages and certainly special teams.
    
    
17. Philadelphia Eagles: Johnny Dingle   DE   West Virginia…Need Defensive Ends with Kearse and Howard leaving.  Dingle has great skills and should adapt quickly to Jim Johnson’s scheme.
    
    
18. Arizona Cardinals:  DeJuan Tribble   CB  Boston College…Up and down senior season but should become a starter early in his career.
    
    
19. Minnesota Vikings: Jermichael Finley   TE   Texas…Vikings need better weapons to be able to get a fair assessment of any QB and Finley gives them a legit TE target.
    
    
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Forte’   RB  Tulane….Nice pick for Tampa.  Replace Mike Alstott in a lot of sets.
    
    
21. Washington Redskins:  Oniel Cousins   OT   UTEP…Skins need some youth on the offensive line.   Cousins can be groomed to replace Jansen down the road.
    
    
22. Tennessee Titans:  Kevin Smith   RB   Central Florida..Steal this late but should become a dependable starter for the Titans.   Could be a special player.
    
    
23. Seattle Seahawks: Frank Okam   DT   Texas…Need that big guy up the middle.  Just need to make sure he’s motivated.
    
    
24. Cleveland Browns:  Chris Ellis   DE  Virginia Tech..Keep adding to the defense.  Ellis has a great motor and should play quite a bit his rookie season.
    
    
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: John Sullivan   C  Notre Dame.. As noted before Steelers need to improve the offensive line.   Sullivan had the advantage of top coaching and should start early.
    
    
26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dwight Lowery   CB  San Jose State..Always need depth at CB.
    
    
27. Chicago Bears: Phillip Wheeler  ILB   Georgia Tech…With Briggs moving on the Bears will need to add another LB to their core group.
    
    
28. Green Bay Packers: John Greco  OT  Toledo…Can play guard and should see action often in his rookie season.
    
    

1. Dallas Cowboys:  Marcus Griffin  FS   Texas…Great addition at this point and should replace Keith Davis in a lot sets and on special teams.
   
   
2. Indianapolis Colts: Geno Hayes  OLB   Florida State…Colts always looking to upgrade defense and Hayes is the perfect fit for Dungy’s system.
   
   
3. New England Patriots:  Jamar Adams  SS  Michigan…Eventual replacement for Rodney Harrison.
   
   
4. NY Giants: Mike Hart  RB   Michigan…Reuben Droughns is moving on and Hart is the tough runner that should work great in their system. 
   
   

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