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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...

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

by Andrew Kneeland (Senior Writer)

48

4485 reads

Preview/Prediction

April 13, 2008


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.

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48 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Chris D'Aniello about 1 year ago

    interesting, different take. i haven't done the research on any of the teams' needs(except of course for the eagles) and i'm curious as to why you have them going cornerback with Limas Sweed, DeSean Jackson, and Devin Thomas all still on the board. my pick for who they take is Devin Thomas. he fits the system very well. as you state in your breakdown, the have Asante and Lito, they have no recievers other than white lightning, Kevin Curtis.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      They could very possibly trade down to get a good receiver like Sweed or Jackson. I just can't see them reaching down that far with the 19th pick.

      They really don't have any other extreme needs. Like I said, they are in a position to draft the best player available. I think that Carson is the best available. Besides, one can never have too many cornerbacks, right?

      Thanks for the comment, Chris!

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    • Tom Dillard about 1 year ago

      Hey Chris & Andrew, I'm from Philly and I do agree that the Eagles need to go with the best player available. If they do that then I feel the best player (according to your board) is a WR: either Limas Sweed or DeSean Jackson. They need to bolster that receiving core. They had a 1,000 yrd receiver for the first time in a long time. What I feel that they need is that big receiver. Who jumps out is Sweed at 6'5"...219. He's a huge back who would play great if Donovan is kept around. We saw what #5 could do with good/great receivers like Stallworth & Owens and now Curtis. Imagine him with a huge built receiver how great #5 can be!!! Oh and if you're going to go with a CB, gotta be either Rogers-Cromartie or Talib! I would trade up for Rogers-Cromartie or trade down for Talib. But I would go for Sweed before trading down to Talib. So I would either trade up for Rogers-Cromartie or just take Sweed at #19.

      In Conclusion, My pick for the Philadelphia Eagles is Limas Sweed, WR, Texas!!!

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the comment, Tom. I agree, Cason isn't the best pick the Eagles could make. I made this assuming that no one traded out of any picks, so of course this won't be completely accurate.

      Limas Sweed or DRC would look great in a Eagles uni!

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    • Chris D'Aniello about 1 year ago

      As much as we philly fans hate to admit it, McNabb is probably going to start on his way out of the league soon. With all the love and respect I have for 5, I still gotta look a little into the future—you can't ask Kolb to step in(whenever it is he does) without a someone solid, reliable receiving core. Just another angle of looking at their needs.

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  2. Max Iascone about 1 year ago

    Brandon Flowers is better than Tracy Porter, as is Patrick Lee, other than that, not bad.
    just a little heads up, the dude's name is Cason not Carson I only remember this because he is Aveion Cason's cousin
    Also, Carl Nicks is exponentially better than Anthony Collins as a draft prospect and as a player so I doubt the chargers will reach for Collins, I had 'em going with Pat Sims but that's just me... than again I also had Desean Jackson falling to 29... they can't all be winners i guess lol
    As I said before... good stuff, that anonymous poster has no idea what he's talkin' about (they seldom ever do) *parentheses within the parentheses* (no offense to anonymous posters but most of the ones who feel the need to comment on an article have something bad to say speaking strictly from experience)
    did ya consider my comment on Merling in Minnesota or was that one a foregone conclusion?
    Peace,
    Max

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the feedback, Max.

      I appreciate the heads-up on the name. I'll change that.

      As to your comment about Merling in Minnesota...I'm not too sure we discussed that. Might have been another conversation.

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  3. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    This guy obiously did not do his homework...YOUR AN IDIOT......the Raiders have Tyler Brayton and Gerrard Warren as their DT's....LOL did you just pick names out of a hat never mind we just paid Tommy Kelly over 50 Mil and Terdell Sands is still a Raider but you only mention these two and one isn't even a Raider anymore and he never played DT I stopped reading after that....This is a joke right late April fools joke...

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thanks for catching this. I was referring to NFL.com, and they haven't updated their depth charts. Tommy Kelly is a defensive end, and I was talking about tackles.

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  4. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Another crazy post by Andrew...

    Everything is pretty much wrong, except for the Raiders...at least you got one thing right

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  5. Brendan Majev about 1 year ago

    Very interesting take... I would understand if there were one or two curveballs, but you actually have several to work with here.

    The first one is at #2, Vernon Gholston to the Rams. As you say, Carriker won't be that effective... IMO drafting Glenn Dorsey with that pick will help them win both NOW with them both playing together and also in eight years with them both STILL playing together on the same roster. Dorsey (or Sedrick Ellis, if they like him more) seems to make more sense to me there. But Gholston is a freak... that pick does make some sense. I just disagree.

    The next is at #5, Darren McFadden to the Chiefs... unless their front office really screws up royally, they will not make this pick UNLESS they are looking to trade him (possible). Given that you have J.Long off the board Clady makes a lot more sense here.

    The next is at #8, Matt Ryan to my beloved Ravens. I know that they haven't invested in Troy Smith, so this pick does make sense. For the record, though, I really hope they don't pick another QB. In this situation I would root for them to take Chris Williams... on Troy Smith's first possession as an NFL QB he marched down the field for a tying FG with less than 2 minutes to play. He then beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of last season. I, for one, am very high on Smith and think he's earned a shot to lead the team... a famous ex-Michigan QB, Tom Brady, was drafted in the 6th round. I think we're looking at a similar situation. (Mind you, I'm not saying Troy Smith is the next Tom Brady, but I am saying that Smith will be a good, though maybe not elite, QB.)

    At #15, Keith Rivers to Detriot. I'm not so sure... Antoine Cason is still there. He's a huge playmaker and the Lions need that in their back 4. What he lacks is elite speed... but that is okay in Detroit's Tampa-2 defense. Cason is really a perfect fit for the Lions; IMO he's worth way more to them than to anyone else and the Lions should take him.

    At #22, Jonathan Stewart to Dallas. I strongly disagree. The 'boys need another RB to with Marion Barber, true. However, Barber is a pounder... just like J.Stewart. I think the Cowboys will take Felix Jones with this pick... he's the exact opposite of Stewart and brings a thunder-lightning combination to the Dallas backfield.

    At #28, Aquib Talib to Dallas. It doesn't matter WHO the guy is... but he HAS to be a WR to work some youth behind Owens and Glenn.

    At #29, Quentin Groves to San Fran. Same deal... they should reach to get their guy. Try Malcolm Kelly or Early Doucet here for Dallas and SF, even if it's a reach, with these two picks.

    A final note: why is Sweed above D. Jackson? Everything else makes sense, even that you have the 'skins picking Sweed because he's their guy. But Jackson is way better than where you have him. Try top 15, he's too fast to fall so far.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thank you for the in-depth comment.

      I don't see Felix Jones being taken in the first round. I don't think it matters that Stewart is a pounder.

      For Dallas' second pick, I see them taking a wide receiver. I don't think they can sacrifice Talib's talent (which is more that a low-first rounder) for Jackson or Sweed.

      With any other team but the Redskins I would probably have Jackson higher than Sweed. Jackson isn't very big at all, and size is the one thing that Washington is looking for in their receivers.

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  6. Devlan Sheahan about 1 year ago

    Boy some people sure do get bitchy when you give them your opinion. I don't know enough about college football and team needs of anybody but the Packers...it seems like an interesting list though, and conventional wisdom would say the packers will go with a DB...we'll see though cuz Thompson's strategy is to take thebest player available...which u stated that Porter would be the best available.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Yeah, Porter is the best available, and a DB. It works out great for them!

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    • Devlan Sheahan about 1 year ago

      lol yeah, so it would seem. What style of corner does he play? is he a bump and run kinda guy...cuz obviously that's how we roll in GB

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      He will have some trouble jamming receivers at the line because of his small size, (5'11, 188 lbs), but he is extremely quick and can stay with almost any receiver step-for-step.

      He should be fun to watch.

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    • Devlan Sheahan about 1 year ago

      Don't spose you know off the top of your head his arm length? Cuz sposedly Harris has particulariy long arms which helps him out for jamming (obviously) but he's also tall for a corner 6'1" so it stands to reason. Is porter a good return man btw?

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      I couldn't find his arm length anywhere...but I found out that he is as return specialist. As a junior he averaged an incredible 18.6 yards/punt return, and he averaged 11 yards/punt return as a senior.

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    • Devlan Sheahan about 1 year ago

      That is an incredible average, hopefully if he's a good playmaker in the return game we could use him, and he'd fill two needs, nickelback and return.

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  7. Chris Radez about 1 year ago

    Nice writeup Andrew. You've contributed some good stuff on this site. Keep up the good work.

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  8. josh yates about 1 year ago

    I like your view of the draft but i will have to disagree that if the dolphins take chris long and i don't think they will, then the rams would take Jake Long because of thier need on the O line. I mean Orlando pace is getting old and Alex barron is a bust. It would be better for them to take a Long in the first round.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      So you're saying that Chris Long won't go first...and then the Rams would also pass him up? I'm sorry, but I just don't see Chris Long dropping to the third spot.

      The Rams need help across the board. They shouldn't focus on one position if they can find a talent like Gholston.

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  9. greg pitsch about 1 year ago

    Nice job, I don't see the Raiders picking a defensive Tackle in the first round unless Dallas trades with Atlanta, which is still in the air, or St. Louis for that Matter.

    The rest of the board can make sense, but I don't know about Tracy Porter, I think that is a stretch.

    Overall, it was fun to read. Good job.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Who do you see them going with? I just think that Oakland can't allow Terdell Sands and Gerard Warren to be the primary run-stoppers.

      They'd get creamed.

      Thanks for the comment, though!

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  10. MJ Kasprzak about 1 year ago

    Davis do something smart? Whaddya smokin' up dare in Mean-ah-SO-tah? No way he does that! Also, if the Rams pick Gholston, who was inconsistent against the less athletic Big Ten, they are dumber than Davis.
    All that being said, I am impressed with anyone with enough knowledge of college to make logical cases for the entire first round.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Lol, thanks for the comment and the laugh.

      I gotta say though, Gholston is a beast. I was afraid of his consistency and size, but he proved me wrong on Pro Day and at the Combine.

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    • MJ Kasprzak about 1 year ago

      Guys don't PROVE themselves in non-game situations. He has the talent, and with the right coaching he might make it big. I go back to James Hardy and Simeon Rice, both from Illinois. Rice only had a few good years and never did learn to stuff the run. Hardy was less celebrated but a solid pro his entire career.
      By the way, I loved your balance of pride below when you took the compliment about how informed your mock draft was and humility by letting them know about Sean's great analysis.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the feedback, MJ.

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  11. Rod Smart about 1 year ago

    This is probably the most informed Mock Draft I have come across on this site to date.

    Well done.

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  12. Brandon Young about 1 year ago

    As far as the lions with the fifteenth pick they will draft a running back secondly they don't have Boss Bailey anymore he is now in Denver with his brother. Read up on your Lions before you make predictions!

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      I think the Lions will fill their running back hole in the second round with someone like Felix Jones.

      As to Boss Baily, as I said before, I used NFL.com for my "research", and they haven't updated their depth charts yet. Of all the sites I could've used...I thought I could rely on NFL.com.

      Thanks for the catch!

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  13. Joshua Carey about 1 year ago

    Matt Ryan is off the board way before the Ravens pick.
    McFadden to Oakland unless a GM trades up.
    Vernon Gholston to the Jets.

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  14. Jeremy Kaufman about 1 year ago

    While I believe that Chris Long would be a better fit for the Dolophins, Miami has reportedly already begun contract negotiations with Jake Long. That would seem to indicate that he will be selected by Miami.

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  15. Raider D Richardson about 1 year ago

    You don't start a franchise w/ a DE retard. Matt Ryan's #1 pick. Therefore, lil Howie's wearing silver/black in his rookie year!:)

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    • Jeremy Kaufman about 1 year ago

      That may be the most uninformed comment I have ever heard on this sight. Defensive end is critical to the success of a team. Look at the Giants, they wouldn't have gotten anywhere without there ends. Matt Ryan is an unproven QB who is only so highly regarded to the weakness of this year's draft class. Not to say that he can't be a good pro, but in last year's draft he may have fallen as low as the 2nd round. Logically speaking, Chris Long would probably be the best pick for the Dolphins.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Parcells starts franchises on the defensive side of the ball.

      When he became the coach of the New York Giants in 1983, the first thing he did was draft safety Terry Kinard.

      When he became the head coach of the Patriots in 1993, the first thing he did was to draft Drew Bledsoe. He then drafted DE Chris Slade in the second round.

      When he became the Jet's coach in 1997, he started his tenure by drafting linebacker James Farrior in the first round.

      When he became the head coach of the Cowboys in 2003, he drafted cornerback Terence Newman in the first round.

      Parcells likes to start rebuilding with defense players, and I don't think this year will be any different.

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  1. Archie Adams about 1 year ago

    You said that the Texans may swap picks with Seattle, so if they do, who do you see them getting with that pick?

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Houston need to find depth, but it is kind of early for them to grab the players I think they need the most.

      Sam Baker obviously comes to mind, and it would be crazy to draft him with the 18th pick. He could potentially fall to the 25th slot and the Texans could nab him there.

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  2. John Fennelly about 1 year ago

    Nice going Andrew..

    You have a good handle on things.....just remember who has the first pick....Bill Parcells - and he is looking to get away cheaply..

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thanks, John.

      It seems that he is very actively shopping that first pick, but nobody has really given him any feedback. I would be extremely surprised if someone other that Miami makes the first pick.

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  3. john thomas about 1 year ago

    I was not aware that at the age of 27 Larry Johnson was considered "getting old" and "slowing down." He had an injury issue last year and while Peterson is inept they would never select Mcfadden, offensive line at this pick.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Maybe he's not getting old, but he is slowing down. In the eight games he did play in 2007, he only scored three times, and only ran for 559 yards. He averaged only 3.5 yards a carry, and had only one receiving touchdown.

      Like I said, I don't think Kansas City should go with McFadden, only that they will.

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  4. Colin Linneweber about 1 year ago

    Man,

    I would never bash a writer, espescially one on this site, because you are showing care and determination just by giving time to something you like. But, it is horrible how little you know about the Jets and I find it poor that you would write about them when you don't know what you're talking about...

    "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."

    D'Brickashaw was NY's first round pick just two years ago and they spent like Eliot Spitzer on whore's this offseason buyinh linemen....Just do better research next time....We all f* up sometimes...But, you did here

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      Thank you for the comment, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the New York Jet's number one fan.

      As I said twice before, NFL.com hasn't updated their depth charts, and that is what I used primarily for my research. Here's a link:

      http://www.nfl.com/teams/newyorkjets/depthchart?team=NYJ

      I'll be sure to do my research elsewhere from now on. I knew that they had added Faneca at guard, but Clady is a tackle.

      Now I know that the offensive tackles for the Jet's in 2008 should be Ferguson and Woody. Ferguson is a good tackle, but Woody has trouble keeping a handle on his weight. He is listed at 325 lbs, and will greatly struggle if he doesn't get in shape. Clady would come in and get a handle on things, and eventually replace Woody.

      I'm sorry my lack of knowledge of your favorite team offended you.

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  5. O Shiri about 1 year ago

    Sorry to say it will be a Long going to Maimi but it won't be Chris. He will go to the Raiders and yes Al eye will light up...

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