NFL Mock Draft: Who's Going No. 1?

I couldn't resist writing about my personal take on the NFL draft. I don't want to waste time, so here we go.

1. Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia

I think this pick is between Jake and Chris Long. The reason I am going with Chris Long is because the Dolphins are now a defensive team. They are searching for a 3-4 rushing linebacker, and this Long fits the bill.

Granted, the Dolphins do need a quarterback rather badly, but I think that they can nab somebody like Flacco or Henne in the next few rounds.

2. St. Louis Rams - Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State

I will be the first to admit that I wasn't too impressed with Gholston prior to the Combine. I thought that he lacked the consistency and size needed to succeed in the NFL. Then he went berserk in Indianapolis.

He recorded a 4.58 40, and delivered an outstanding 42-inch vertical.

The reason I think the Rams will bypass their need at defensive tackle in the first round is because if they don't, they will be forced to go with Adam Carriker. Carriker has just lost 20-plus pounds, and is coming off shoulder surgery. He will most likely not be very effecitve.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Jake Long, OT, Michigan

This is a race between Matt Ryan, Jake Long, and Glenn Dorsey. I think Long edges the other two because of the money Atlanta has spent addressing the defensive tackle need this offseason. They signed Rashad Moore, Kindal Moorehead, and Simon Fraser, and they will not draft a player who will take all their places.

The reason they won't draft Matt Ryan is because there are many other decent, if not better, options available to them in the second round. They can go with Long with the third pick, and still draft someone like Flacco or Henne.

4. Oakland Raiders - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

I'm actually going to predict that Al Davis doesn't go for the flashiest player available this year! I think he will address the legitimate need for his ball club as he drafts Dorsey.

Right now the Raiders have Terdell Sands and Gerard Warren as their primary defensive tackles. Nothing against them, but they could use some help from the best defensive tackle available.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

Chiefs GM Carl Peterson has had his fair share of screwed-up drafts. According to WalterFootball, of all the drafts from 2000 to 2005, only six of those players are currently on the roster.

Larry Johnson is getting old and is slowing down. I think Peterson goes the wrong route yet again as he picks up a running back to re-build his franchise around.

6. New York Jets - Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

The Jets would absolutely love to grab Darren McFadden with their first round pick, and they might just have to trade up in order to do so.

If they stay where they are, I think that they are in a position to draft the best player available because they need help almost everywhere. Ryan Clady, the second rated offensive tackle, is the best available. He will bolster a relatively weak spot on the Jet's team, currently held by D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Anthony Clement.

The reason they will take Clady and not Matt Ryan is because I don't think they will give up so easily on Kellen Clemens. Actually, Ryan isn't too much better than Clemens, he is just rated so high because of a draft that isn't top-heavy in the quarterback section.

7. New England Patriots - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State

With the departure of Asante Samuel and Randall Gay, cornereback is a huge need for these Patriots.

I still can't get over the fact that they are drafting seventh. Somebody has to have cheated, right?

8. Baltimore Ravens - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

This year's Brady Quinn will be Matt Ryan, but he won't drop as far. People have Ryan projected in the top five, but I don't think that he is all that great of a prospect. This year is just lacking the elite quarterbacks at the top of the draft.

The Ravens are currently relying on Troy Smith, who they haven't really invested in. He was grabbed with a fifth-round pick last year.

This pick is really a choice between Ryan and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Ravens need to draft a cornerback in 2008, but I think they go with Ryan in the first round.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

The Bengals were ranked 24th last year stopping the run, and they need the huge presence of Ellis to slow down the runners.

If Ellis isn't availble, I think they may go with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Rashard Mendenhall. DRC because of the horrible pass defense of the Bengals last year, and Mendenhall because Rudi Johnson leaves something to be desired.

10. New Orleans Saints - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida

Despite signing a cornerback this off-season, Randall Gay, they still have a huge hole at that position. Once Jenkins is ready to play, he and Gay will be an elite cornerbacking tandem.

Another option here would be Keith Rivers of USC. The Saints have two very mediocre outside linebackers right now, but I think that they will address the cornerback issue first.

11. Buffalo Bills - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

I'm sure the Bills would love to draft somebody like Mike Jenkins with this pick, but I have him going to the Saints. Another option is Keith Rivers, but I think they leave the secondary alone for the most part this draft.

The defensive end position in Buffalo is in need of serious help. They currently have Aaron Schobel, who is decent, and Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney, who are mediocre, playing at end. A guy like Harvey would instantly bring up the sack total of the Bills.

The Bills also need a big receiver to complement Lee Evans. They could wait until the second round and grab somebody like Earl Bennett or even James Hardy.

12. Denver Broncos - Chris Williams, OT, Boise State

Mike Shanahan rarely drafts offensive tackles in the first round, but there are no other defensive players worthy of his pick. He will be forced to upgrade his poor offensive tackle position by drafting the number two prospect in this category.

Denver currently has Ryan Harris and Erik Pears guarding Jay Cutler, and that is not going to be enough to keep him healthy. The Broncos need somebody like Williams to protect their gunslinger.

13. Carolina Panthers - Branden Albert, G, Virginia

With the last of the top-tier offensive tackles off the board, the Panthers are forced to go with plan B. They will draft Albert, who can play tackle.

Carolina wants to move Travelle Wharton inside to left guard, and they can have Albert play at tackle. Another option here would be Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but I don't think the Panthers need to address the corner back position anytime soon. They can wait to add depth to that slot.

14. Chicago Bears - Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh

It will be difficult for Chicago to pass up on both Mendenhall and Brohm, but they need to fix their front five before anything else can happen. They can still grab a solid running back in the second or third round, and Flacco and Henne both should be availble to them in the second round.

Whatever the Bears do with this pick, it will not most likely make them contenders in the NFC North. This team has to enter a rebuilding mindset so they can make the best decision for the future of their franchise.

15. Detroit Lions - Keith Rivers, OLB, USC

After the loss of Kevin Jones, the Lions are staring right at a huge hole at running back. It will be extremely tempting for them to draft Mendenhall with this pick, but I think they can get another back of slightly less value in the second round like Felix Jones or Jamaal Charles.

The Lions need to upgrade their horrible defense at basically every position. Ernie Sims and Alex Lewis are currently the outside linebacker starters for Detroit, and they need someone like Rivers to help that position.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

This could be a surprising pick. The Cardinals desperately need a cornerback, but they also need a running back to replace James. If Rodgers-Cromartie drops this far, Arizona will jump over themselves to draft him.

The Cardinals will almost certainly draft a running back in the second round if they don't in the first round. Look for them to draft Felix Jones or Jamaal Charles in the second round.

17. Minnesota Vikings - Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson

With the loss of Udeze to leukemia, the Vikings really need help rushing the quarterback. Merling should go right around the middle of the first round because he hasn't been able to work out thanks to injury, so this isn't a huge stretch by any means.

Another possibility could be Brian Brohm, but I don't think that the Vikings want to sacrifice winning now for winning later. They can draft someone like Andre Woodson in the third or even the fourth round.

18. Houston Texans - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois

Houston's secondary is a huge mess right now, but I think running back is the Texans' prime concern. Ahmad Green and Ron Dayne are not the answers the Texans were looking for, and they need a top-tier running back like Mendenhall to lead them.

Another possibility is trading this pick to Seattle. They could swap first-rounders and Houston could also gain Seattle's third-rounder. They need to draft depth at many positions, but it is much too early to draft some of the people they are looking at.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona

The Eagles are in a position to draft the best available player with this pick, and the only options would be Cason or Jonathon Stewart. The Eagles certainly don't need a running back, so Cason will get the nod.

Despite having both Lito Sheppard and Asaunte Samuel as corners, they simply cannot pass up a talent like Cason. He will dominate any receiver to play in the slot.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

Brohm had a great Pro Day at Louisville, and he left many GMs and Managers drooling. When Jeff Garcia is gone in a few years, Brohm should be ready to take his place and lead this team.

Another option could be a receiver like DeSean Jackson. Tampa Bay needs a young, top-tier receiver to replace all the ones they've lost. They can't pass up on Brohm, and I'm sure they can find a decent receiver in the later rounds.

21. Washington Redskins - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas

The Redskins would love to have the chance to draft Harvey or Merling, and they will probably trade out of this pick one way or another. If they choose to stay here, though, they will draft Limas Sweed.

There isn't a receiver in Washington who is taller than 6'1'' or over 200 pounds. They need a big possession receiver like Sweed (6'5'', 219 lbs) to go over the middle and grab passes.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Jonathon Stewart, RB, Oregon

With talk of the Cowboys trading up to grab McFadden, they would be thrilled if they could land Stewart with the 22nd pick. They lost Julius Jones to Seattle this off-season, and would love to return to their two-headed rushing attack.

They could also grab a receiver like DeSean Jackson or Devin Thomas to make up for the old Terry Glenn and ineffective Patrick Crayton.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College

Big Ben was sacked 47 times in 2007. That horrific number probably caused some heads to roll in Pittsburgh. Now with the departure of guard Alan Faneca, the offensive line must be addressed in the first round.

They could also go with a receiver, but they can snag someone in the later rounds who would still be effective.

24. Tennessee Titans - DeSean Jackson, WR, California

Vince Young is really not that bad of a quarterback. He can greatly improve his numbers if he would simply have a better supporting cast of receivers to help him. Jackson isn't very big at all, but is an extremely dynamic playmaker. He will contribute to both offense and special teams.

The Titans could also go with someone like Kentwan Balmer because they really need to help the defensive line.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State

The biggest need for Seattle this off-season was obviously running back. That problem has been addressed and fixed with the signing of Duckett and Jones. Deion Branch may not play in 2008, and Bobby Engram has been ineffective. If they can add a top receiver, they will be set.

Malcom Kelly is another possibility here if Seattle doesn't trade up.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

Jacksonville would love to draft a defensive end, but all the elite ones have been taken. They might just trade up to Buffalo's spot so they could have a chance at Harvey or Merling.

If they stay with the 26th pick, however, I think they will stay focused on the defensive line in order to lighten the load of Marcus Stroad. They could also draft a receiver with this pick.

27. San Diego Chargers - Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas

The Bolts will probably trade down, as they will have to make a reach with this pick. Collins shouldn't really be a first-rounder, but San Diego can't draft anybody else.

Kenny Phillips or Reggie Smith are options, but they are unlikely because of Clinton Hart's extension.

28. Dallas Cowboys - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

The Cowboys' secondary is very old. They would jump at the chance to draft Talib with this 28th pick. Talib's stock has greatly dropped thanks to his weed smoking.

As I said before, Dallas needs a receiver as well. They will grab one in the later rounds.

29. San Francisco 49ers - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn

The 49ers have the worst receivers in the NFL, and it will be tempting for them to dip into second-tier talent with this pick. Early Doucet may be tempting here, but it would be a huge reach.

I think the 49ers will either trade this pick or select Groves.

30. Green Bay Packers - Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana

Green Bay doesn't have very many weaknesses this year, assuming Aaron Rodgers can effectively play at quarterback. Not only is Porter the best available player at this point, but he would fill a hole for the Packers.

Al Harris will be 34, and Charles Woodson will be 32 by December. They need a young corner to help them out.

31. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, FS, Miami

New York needs to find a replacement for Gibril Wilson, who played a huge role in the Giants Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.

They can find their other needs, linebacker and safety, later in the draft.