Composing a mock draft is no easy task. There is plenty of time between now and the end of April for players stock to fluctuate. During this time of year everyone is a draft expert and knows exactly what players their team needs in order to take them to the next level. When compiling a mock draft list, if you don't project the right player for some guy's team there is bound to be backlash.
I have studied tapes of college games I TiVoed over the course of the 2007 college football season. I have watched the college All-Star games and scrutinized NFL teams' depth charts to try and provide fair and balanced analysis for draftniks across the country.
I am sure there will be many out there who will disagree with my projections, but this is the way I see it as of Feb. 21, 2008.
Note that this mock draft is written on the first day of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, so I am sure there are some players on this list that will see their stock rise or fall over the next few months.
1. Miami Dolphins—Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
With Bill Parcells first draft at the helm of the Miami Dolphins, he will look to take a franchise quarterback that the 'Fins have lacked since Dan Marino was setting records in Miami.
Watching tape of Ryan last season, I feel he lacks the arm strength to make all of the NFL throws. He is also interception prone. The Dolphins selected John Beck last year in the second round as their quarterback of the future. Parcells pick here will tell us exactly what he thinks of Beck's talent.
I personally believe that if the Dolphins end up selecting Ryan, he will go down as another quarterback who was picked first overall who never lived up to his lofty draft status. A better move here would be Chris Long, but all signs point to the Dolphins selecting Ryan.
2. St. Louis Rams—Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Fans in St. Louis will rejoice if Miami selects Ryan No. 1 overall. This will give the Rams the option of selecting the best defensive player in the draft. As a lifelong fan of the Rams, draft day has not been very memorable, but the Rams will have a hard time screwing this one up.
The pick is either Long or Glenn Dorsey (rumor has it the Rams brass are very high on him). Long is a once-in-a-generation type player who can change the course of a franchise with his ability to dominate games, ala Reggie White.
I hope to be celebrating after this Rams selection, instead of crying as I do most years.
3.* Atlanta Falcons—Jake Long, OT, Michigan
Atlanta is a franchise that has had a well publicized run of bad luck. With the selection of Jake Long from Michigan, Arthur Blank and company hope to reverse their fortune.
24 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
If you're not going to proofread your articles, at least run them through a grammar checker.
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James Gowentine about 1 year ago
I was curious which signs you were referring to that leads you to believe the Dolphins would select Ryan? Since they cut a bunch of defensive and offensive lineman, I would think that's where they would head. Plus, Parcells isn't a big proponent of drafting risks in the first round. He likes picking positions history has taught him have a longer career ahead of them. It's part of building of team.
And I am aware of Drew Bledsoe, but I am also aware of the rest of his drafts.
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Rod Smart about 1 year ago
NFL Network has run a few clips about where Ryan will go.
Though I disagree with the opinion that Ryan will go 1st (League opinons think that it is highly unlikely that any QB's will be taken higher than 20th - nobody wants to draft the next David Carr)... the one exception is the Falcons, because apparently Arthur Blank is smitten with Ryan.
Parcells likes big Quarterbacks, specifically he wants them over 6"3.
At 6"5, Matt Ryan fits the bill, and he also happens to be the best prospect at QB in this draft.
But it is far more likely that parcells will take Long 1st overall, as he is widely considered the "safest" of the top tier draft picks, and an outside chance that it will be Glenn Dorsey.
Atlanta is not interested in McFadden, neither are their fans.
Smith has stated that the focus will be a "power running game".
McFadden is not a smash mouth back, and the Falcon's already have to capable slippery-receiving-type backs in Warrick Dunn and Furious Jurious.
Look for Atlanta's pick to either be Matt Ryan at QB, or Glenn Dorsey at DT to anchor the defense.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
DeSean Jackson? I am really sick and tired of hearing how the Vikings will draft DeSean. WE don't want another Troy Williamson. Maybe DeSean can catch a little better, and is a good return man. The speed and the return factor turns me off of him. I don't think a return specialist should be drafted in the 1st round. I also don't want us to draft him because of his 40 time. We all know how Troy Williamson turned out.
It is also not fair to say Rice hasn't paid his dividends. He has played one season! A season in which he caught 4 TD's with limited time playing. He will mostly likely be a full time starter this season. Besides I don't consider a 2nd round a that "high" of a draft pick.
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Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
I don't think that Jackson will be another Williamson. If Jackson can eat out a little more, gain a few pounds (166 lbs in unacceptable) he will make a good receiver.
But I would prefer for the Vikings to trade up and draft Phillips.
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scott serles about 1 year ago
He Hate Me-
All the reports that I have been getting from outside sources, tell me that the Dolphins interest in Ryan is real. I don't think Ryan is worthy of the #1 pick, in fact I don't believe he is a top 20 player. I think Chad Henne is the most NFL ready, and I am a Buckeye fan.
As far as DeSean Jackson to the Vikings, they would be lucky if he fell to them at 17. I agree that Rice has only had 1 year and has yet to prove himself, but he was a top 50 selection (#44) overall, so I believe that is a high draft pick.
Top 10 on my board
1. Chris Long-Dominated games in the competitve ACC
2. Darren McFadden-I liken his game to that of Adrian Peterson
3. Vernon Gholston-Explosive outside force
4. Sedrick Ellis-Very athletic DT
5. Glenn Dorsey-Injuries has caused his stock to slip in my eyes
6. DeSean Jackson-The Dominique Wilkins of the NFL, "Human Highlight Reel"
7. Aqib Talib-Elite ball skills and very instinctive
8. Jonathan Stewart-Reminds me a little of LT
9. Ryan Clady-Tremendous upside, solid in the run and passing game
10. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie-The Natural
This analysis is based on game film, which I scoured over for hours, alot of you will notice the absence of Jake Long, after viewing him on film I just don't feel he is athletic enough to select in the Top 10. He will be a solid NFL starter, but at RT, not LT where he is projected currently.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Lucky for DeSean to fall no.17??? I agree with what the person posted above. DeSean is overrated. Me being a Vikings fan, I personally wouldn't like to see DeSean picked 17th overall by us. Basically his top value is his speed and his return abilities. Is that worth no.17? No. The Vikings,and us fans, have learned about when you draft for speed. You get a Troy Williamson. The value for a return specialist in the first round is slim to none. Look how Miami wasted the 9th overall on Ted Gin. He easily should have dropped to the late 1st round if not even the second round. Besides he is undersized, he will have a rough time in the NFL. I really don't see value in the kid until the 2nd round. Why should we waste on a WR in the first round anyway considering we now need a safety (cough Kenny Phillips) and a defensive end. I know we need a WR so if we were to draft one in the 1st,which is highly unlikely, I would take Limas Sweed or Malcolm Kelly over DeSean.
Oh and by the way, if knew Rice was a rookie why say he hasn't paid his "dividends" after only a year?
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scott serles about 1 year ago
Rice hasn't done anything to change my mind that the Vikings are in need of a go to receiver. I am amazed how much sensitivity there is for Sidney. Rice is a #2 receiver, DeSean Jackson can make plays, you call out Ted Ginn, Jr, who was a rookie last season, but I can't call out Sidney Rice. You have the most explosive running back in the game, why not add the most explosive player in the 2008 Draft.
I would take Jackson on the Rams.
.
Kenny Phillips will be gone by pick 17. Grab a safety like BC's Jamie Silva in the 4th round.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I would love it if the Pack got Cromartie.
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scott serles about 1 year ago
I wouldn't, I want him available at pick #34.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Food for Thought to Start Your Day
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
rod makes no sense..
he says the falcons are focusing on a power run game?
where do norwood and dunn come into that?
they dont.
they need to trade hall get that 31st pick and draft mcfadden see how the draft goes and select the best qb available with the 31st just like the browns did last year.
but if there is a much better player available at a different position, then take that player, they only have to wait 5 more picks for a qb
could be lookin at the best draft for the falcons in years.. who knows.
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Steve Peternell about 1 year ago
I agree with some of your picks but I just don't envision McFadden dropping past the Falcons or the Raiders -- like you said, his skills are comparative to Adrian Peterson which will make it near impossible for ATL and OAK to pass him up.
Although I would love to see the Bears pick up a playmaker on the offense, I think Bears GM Jerry Angelo will go after Sam Baker from USC and then Joe "Footsteps" Flacco in the second round.
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Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
People who don't like Matt Ryan's arm strength are reading online scouting reports and not watching actual games. I've never seen him attempt a throw and be thwarted by a lack of arm strength.
Even a BC hater like myself can admit that Ryan's the best pro QB prospect in this draft....
He was made to look worse than he is by a lack of talent around him in college. He never had a single good receiver to throw to or a single decent runningback to hand the ball off to. Yet he still managed to set BC records and get his team up to the #2 ranking in the country (even if it was a fraud ranking).
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Silas Beyman about 1 year ago
I don't think that the Dolphins pick Matt Ryan with Bill Parcells running the show, he believes he can run his offense with the QB's he has at hand. That being said, he'll work on his defensive line because he wants someone that will give an opposing team's offensive lines nightmare, someone that offensive coordinators will have to plan around. His best options are of course Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey, and he'll most likely pick Dorsey for the simple reason that there is basically no middle running game when Dorsey is in the game. Also, Parcells is a smart executive, and I believe he thinks Ryan might be too big a risk, whether he'll be an impact player or a bust is up to Matt Ryan himself.
Also, I think Atlanta will go for a big player instead of taking the smart pick in Jake Long. They need an immediate impact player, and it's either Matt Ryan or possibly even Darren McFadden. Just predicting it right now in advance, I think Felix Jones will have a better and longer career than McFadden.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Why do you have the Steelers getting Chilo. He is not even close to as good a guard as Albert from Virginia and he is still on the board.
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scott serles about 1 year ago
You may indeed be right about Chilo, I like Albert, but Rachal played in pro-like offensive at USC so his initial transistion to the pros maybe smoother at first than Albert. With a team that has Super Bowl ambitions (the Steelers) they need somebody who can step in right away for Faneca. That is why Rachal is the pick.
Atlanta will not take Ryan, I have watched tape of Ryan, most of his INT's came on throws of 20 yards+. He is not the best QB in this draft, if anything he is third.
1. Chad Henne
2. Brian Brohm
3. Matt Ryan
4. Joe Flacco
5. Andre Woodson
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Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
Yes, his interceptions came on throws of 20 yards or more...mostly because he didn't have a receiver that could get open downfield and tried to make plays on 3rd and longs....
Most QBs with bad receivers have that type of stat. In 2006, Tom Brady was like that. Most of his interceptions were on long throws.
Amazing how he all of a sudden grew arm strength in 2007......had nothing to do with upgrading his WRs...
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Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
Chad Henne as the best option available in this draft? I strongly disagree...
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Derek Bolender about 1 year ago
Miami really should trade down in order to get more picks outside the 1st round. They need help in so many areas that I wouldn't be surprised at all if that happens on draft day.
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scott serles about 1 year ago
Mario Mannngham and his slow 40 times has now slipped out of the first round and is now considered a mid 2nd. Dexter Jackson ran 4.27
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brenden west about 1 year ago
i really hope the bears don't reach for a player like manningham when he will probably fall to the second round. they have more important things to address like their aging offensive line and injury prone secondary. wr can be addressed in later rounds and in free agency. 14th overall pick is to good a spot to waste for chicago.
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scott serles about 1 year ago
I now agree with your Manningham assessment, I believed he was going to demonstrate better wheels than he did at the combine. Maybe they should scoop him up in the second, although I think they will look at QB.
How about OT Jeff Otah or possibly even USC OT Sam Baker?
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kay roase 11 months ago
i think the jets need like the BEST possible person out there i love the team and all but they sucked last seaso ((for the most part)) but i think my daughters middle school team coulda played the jets and won
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