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With the NFL Draft just around the corner, we gathered some of our resident football experts to do Bleacher Report's very own official NFL mock draft...

Bleacher Report's Official 2008 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-16

by Sean Crowe (Senior Writer)

43

5863 reads

Preview/Prediction

April 19, 2008


With the NFL Draft just around the corner, we gathered some of our resident football experts to do Bleacher Report's very own official NFL mock draft.

Participating in the draft are David Williams, Kevan Lee, John Fennelly, Andrew Kneeland, Scott Serles, Rob Cologne, James Christensen, and myself.

The Miami Dolphins are on the clock!

 

Pick No. 1, Miami Dolphins.  Picking for the Dolphins, David Williams.

The Pick:  Jake Long, OT, Michigan

 

David W:  With the first selection, we pick Jake Long, the senior tackle out of the University of Michigan.

Andrew K: Why would Jake Long take less money and go to Miami, when he could take more money and go to the Rams or the Falcons?

Kevan L: He'll look good blocking for Ronnie Brown.  And Cleveland was successful last year in part because of Joe Thomas stabilizing the line. I think going with Long makes sense for a team with so many needs.

David W:  I'm not a huge fan of Long, but it's who they want.  Long got dominated by Gholston when they went head to head.

Scott S: That's true, he did.

James C: He is a pretty safe pick, and you CAN'T mess up the No. 1.  His floor is pretty high.

David W:  It's just...Robert Gallery and D'Brickashaw Ferguson haven't worked out for their teams.

John F:  Raiders and Jets?  What did you expect?

 

Pick No. 2, St. Louis Rams.  Picking for the Rams, Scott Serles.

The Pick: Glen Dorsey, DT, LSU

 

Scott S:  This may come as a surprise but the Rams select LSU DT Glen Dorsey.  You can't pass up the next Warren Sapp.

SeanMC:  I love Dorsey. I think he's the best player in the draft. A few months ago, I had him going No. 1 to the Dolphins.

David W: I think he'll be a GREAT NFL player.  His injury made him an unattractive candidate for No. 1, but he might be the best in this class.

SeanMC:  That's true, but even playing with injuries he's a beast.

Rob C:  Great pick! Great pick. Now Carriker can play where he should.

James C:  Carriker and Little can rush and Dorsey can eat guards.

Andrew K: 

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

  1. david nicholas about 1 year ago

    if jake long and chris long are gone the atlanta falcons need tr tradw down to 8,8,10,or11. they do not need to waste a firast round on matt ryan

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  2. Matt Tolours about 1 year ago

    Cason is the man -- not too many mocks have him in the 1st.

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  3. David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

    Carolina will not take a receiver. John Fox in his heart likes to win with defense and the running game, and he'll be coaching for his job this year. The consensus among the local experts in Charlotte is that they either will trade up to get Clady or stay at 13 and get a defender.

    They simply have to get Julius Peppers some help in this draft, so if they don't trade up I'd expect them to go after a defensive lineman at 13. Given the guys you already have taken by then, that probably means Derrick Harvey.

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    • Rob Calonge about 1 year ago

      I don't disagree with you at all David. Carolina has quite a few holes to fill. My thinking was that Jarret and Muhammad, while each having their positives, wouldn't be as good as having 2 Steve Smiths, and also this would strengthen their return game. If I were the GM of the Panthers, I would've figured out a way to dispose of Carr, signed Culpepper, and then drafted defense in the first round. With 5 linemen already picked, I went for best value with this pick.

      In my personal mock draft, over at http://mvn.com/nfl-raiders/2008/04/19/no-frock-on-this-mockdraft/ I ended up having McFadden dropping to them.

      I think that no matter what, the Panthers need to either trade up or trade down. Their position in the draft is not conducive to their needs.

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    • David Wunderlich about 1 year ago

      I should also add that I think 13 is far to high for DeSean Jackson. He's basically a smaller Ted Ginn. Then again, the actual Ted Ginn went at 9 last year, and no one in this city trusts the Panthers not to mess the pick up. He might be a good pro, but not 13th overall pick good.

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  4. Brendan Majev about 1 year ago

    What the hell are the Ravens doing passing on Clady in this situation?

    Andrew, McKelvin is about the dumbest pick they could make... CBs are so deep in this draft and there's no consensus #1 CB...

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      True, this year has a deep corner back class. They could easily pick up players like Tracy Porter, Terrell Thomas, or Dwight Lowery in the second round.

      I said that if Ryan was off the board, Baltimore would almost certainly trade their pick for more second rounders. I cannot see them picking anybody but Ryan with the eighth pick.

      But McKelvin would be the pick if they did stay put and Ryan was gone. They desperately need corner back help, and it ranks second on their off season needs list behind quarterback.

      McKelvin is not the dumbest pick they could make...they need an offensive tackle, but they need corner backs, receivers, linebackers and a quarterback first.

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  5. Mike Palmietto about 1 year ago

    I don't agree with the Arizona pick, they have to manny spots to fill and they could get just as good a cornerback in later rounds.

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  6. Gary Lloyd about 1 year ago

    Talib and Laws seem too high to me.

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  7. Brendan Majev about 1 year ago

    Andrew,

    Even if Ryan is there they should STILL take Clady. And they should NOT take a QB this ENTIRE draft. Period. And especially, why waste a 1st-rounder on a QB when we have a proven collegiate Heisman winner in the wings? I would wager my left arm that Troy Smith will be as good or better than Matt Ryan as a pro.

    I did exaggerate. McKelvin is not the dumbest pick they could make. But this pick should be an OT, even if they have to reach for Chris Williams, and they can land a Tracy Porter type in the 2nd round, who's underrated because he had a weak pass rush at Indiana.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      This pick comes down to whether or not you have confidence in Troy Smith. I don't.

      The Ravens have very little invested in him (a fifth rounder?), and I think they should draft a CB (their second biggest need) with this pick if they don't get Ryan.

      I'm not sold on Ryan either, but he is the best option this draft.

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  8. Brendan Majev about 1 year ago

    Andrew,

    Even if Ryan is there they should STILL take Clady. And they should NOT take a QB this ENTIRE draft. Period. And especially, why waste a 1st-rounder on a QB when we have a proven collegiate Heisman winner in the wings? I would wager my left arm that Troy Smith will be as good or better than Matt Ryan as a pro.

    I did exaggerate. McKelvin is not the dumbest pick they could make. But this pick should be an OT, even if they have to reach for Chris Williams, and they can land a Tracy Porter type in the 2nd round, who's underrated because he had a weak pass rush at Indiana.

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  9. Michael Whittenberg about 1 year ago

    This was a great idea here, Sean. Nice way to be different, instead of of the typical mock draft that 50 million people have done.

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    • Sean Crowe about 1 year ago

      Thanks Mike. Couldn't have done it without the help of the other guys. It was a ton of fun, hopefully people enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

      -Sean

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  10. david t about 1 year ago

    I think the ravens should draft a QB. specificly Matt Ryan however could they pass and wait till rd 2 possibly getting Joe Flacco QB. from Delaware who seems to be moving up many draft boards. If I was ranking this years QB class i would have 1-Matt Ryan,2-Chad Henne,3-Brian Brohm,4-Joe Flacco,and 5-Andre Woodson. And after watchin NFL network footage of Joe Flacco I may even have him as high as the number 2 QB available he looks surprisingly poised and has an absolute rocket arm.Brohm has been too injury prone for my liking.Henne is decent and you cant really go wrong with a Michigan QB they seem to adjust well to the pros.As for Matt Ryan I just love his competitivness he simply competes interceptions or not he is a competitor,besides look at Brett Favre he is the all time NFL leader in interceptions and by the way he will be a first ballot hall of famer too you can live with ints. Id rather have a player with heart that competes with all he has to give Matt Ryan will deffinatly give a team that.

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  11. david t about 1 year ago

    Also it has to be considered just hom much more talent Brohm and Henne had to work with as compared to Matt Ryan.Michigan and Louisville are far more talented teams with more talented players than what Matt Ryan had to work with at B.C.

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  12. david t about 1 year ago

    Also I like the Otah pick or Chicage but they need a running back and recievers more,Benson isnt the answer he runs about as hard as a feather and they let all there recievers go.My oppinion the bears arent going to be very good,great defense no offense they have many needs OL,QB,RB,WR there offense is just a mess.

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  13. david t about 1 year ago

    Dont see Carolina going WR in 1st rd not with Smith and with drafting Jarrett last year. Carolina will likely go D-line or LB Keith Rivers would be a nice pick for them.They could go OL as well with both there LTs being unrestricted free agents.

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  14. david t about 1 year ago

    Dont see Carolina going WR in 1st rd not with Smith and with drafting Jarrett last year. Carolina will likely go D-line or LB Keith Rivers would be a nice pick for them.They could go OL as well with both there LTs being unrestricted free agents.

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  15. david t about 1 year ago

    Wow way to high for Trevor Laws he is more of a late 2nd rd or early 3rd rounder Kentwan Balmer is alot better.I think Sedrick Ellis is more likely here he will fall to them K.C. will go OT anyway likely with Ryan Clady.Also lets consider this scenario as well what if Jake Long does not go # 1,he could fall all the way to 5 and the Chiefs would deffinatly take him if he did. I dont think thats likely but it could happen if he doesnt go 1 cause the Rams really like Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey so its not inconsivable that they could pass on J.Long if he didnt go number 1 and the Falcons and Raiders dont really have a OT need.

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  1. Zachary Sheldon about 1 year ago

    If the Bills take Clady I'm gonna eat twice the lethal dose of salt.

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  2. Ray Valles about 1 year ago

    What abou Darren Mcfadden and the oakland raiders??????? Cause i know for a fact the they are not going to go with chris long.

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  3. Rod Smart about 1 year ago

    Do you guys follow sports? Or just read Bleacher Report only?

    Jeff Ireland already let it slip in a Dolphins press conference talking about the "significance of the first overall pick"... that "... you hope that this guy is going to be a pillar of your defence for a long time."

    It has been widely reported that Long isn't interested in the lower offer that Dolphins have put forward to him, and would rather go somewhere else.
    PFT - the best informed NFL source going, has posted numerous articles about how it is becoming pretty clear that the talk of Miami taking Jake Long is nothing but a smoke screen to encourage a top tier defensive player to take a deal for less money to go first overall.... (further rumour from sources say Gholston is the top consideration)

    ... and yet the Dolphins are still taking Jake Long?

    When Atlanta's Head Coach and GM have both said they don't believe in a "first round QB philosophy", when Arthur Blank, Dimitroff, and Smith have all said that they "plan to emphasize the running game", plan on having "a power running game".

    Smith stated in his very first press conference - and re-iterated in subsequent press conferences that "in this league I believe you need to be able to do two things: Run the football, and stop the run."

    And so, with all of this in mind, you have the Falcon's picking..... Matt Ryan?

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    • Sean Crowe about 1 year ago

      I think we can all agree, regardless of what teams you root for, that the two most successful teams in the NFL over the past 8 or 9 years are the Patriots and the Colts. You could throw the Seahawks, Eagles, and Steelers in the mix if you'd like.

      What do all of those teams have in common?

      Quarterbacks and defenses.

      You keep teams from scoring with defense and the running game, and you put points on the board with the passing game. Without putting points on the board, you can't win.

      It's a myth that you win by running the ball and having your quarterback manage the game. When it comes right down to it, you can stop a great running back by loading up. You can only hope to slow down a great quarterback.

      Even when the Giants destroyed Brady, he still drove his team down the field for what should have been the game winning touchdown. His defense let him down.

      Further proving the theory that defense and quarterbacks win in the NFL.

      Therefore, the Falcons took Matt Ryan.

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  4. scott serles about 1 year ago

    Rod,

    When Miami takes Jake Long and another team moves up to the third pick and grabs Matt Ryan u will eat ur words.

    Zachary,

    If u follow our mock draft, u will see that I had no choice but to take the best player available when Clady fell to Buffalo. Clady in my opinion is a Top 5 talent who fell out of the top 10, hence my pick. But in all reality they will probably select Mike Jenkins.

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  5. david t about 1 year ago

    for anyone that cares here is my mock draft Comments welcomed.
    1-Miami-OT Jake Long
    2-ST.Louis-DE- Chris Long
    3-Atlanta-DT- Glenn Dorsey
    4-Oakland-DE/LB-Vernon Gholston
    5-Kansas City-OT Ryan Clady
    6-New York Jets-RB- Darren McFadden
    7-New England-CB- Leodis McKelvin
    8-Baltimore-QB- Matt Ryan
    9-Cincinnati-DT- Sedrick Ellis
    10-New Orleans-CB-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
    11-Buffalo-WR- Devin Thomas
    12-Denver- LB- Keith Rivers
    13- Carolina- DE/DT Calais Campbell
    14-Chicago- WR- Desean Jackson

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  6. david t about 1 year ago

    My Mock Draft continued.
    15-Detroit-RB-Rashard Mendenhall
    16-Arizona-RB-Jonathon Stewart
    17-Minnesota-DE-Derrick Harvey
    18-Houston-CB-Mike Jenkins
    19-Philadelphia-WR-Limas Sweed
    20-Tampa Bay-DT-Kentwan Balmer
    21-Washington-DE-Phillip Merling
    22-Dallas-RB-Felix Jones
    23-Pittsburgh-OG/OT-Branden Albert
    24-Tennessee-WR-Malcolm Kelly
    25-Seattle-OT-Jeff Otah
    26-Jacksonville-OT-Gosder Cherilus
    27-San Diego-S-Kenny Phillips

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  7. david t about 1 year ago

    Conclusion of my mock draft.
    28-Dallas-CB-Brandon Flowers
    29-San Francisco-DE/LB-Lawrence Jackson
    30-Green Bay-QB-Brian Brohm
    31-New England-N/A lost pick due to spygate scandle
    32-New York Giants-WR-Mario Manningham

    Well theres what I think by no means set in stone alot of this likely wont happen but thats why they are called "Mock" Drafts lmao. hope everyone enjoys dissecting this paticular mock draft.

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  8. david t about 1 year ago

    PS. LB-Jerod Mayo for Tennessee will likely go somewhere in RD 1 though I dont have him going in my mock he could go to New Orleans,Carolina,Denver,Jacksonville,or New York Giants if he does go in first round those are the likely fits for him to go.

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  9. david t about 1 year ago

    Also OT- Chris Williams of Vanderbilt and CB-Aquib Talib of Kansas will likely go in first round as well I personally dont like Talib at all I would rank McKelvin,Cromartie,Jenkins,Flowers,and even Reggie Smith of Oklahoma all ahead of Talib.As for Chris Williams I have nothing against him I just think Clady,Otah,and even Cherilus are better.

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  10. Ryan Friday about 1 year ago

    i don't undertsand the whole jake long vs. vernon gholston thing.

    if we make claim that gholston has owned (and will own) long, then in holy heck is chris long number one? if you ask me, you make a #1 overall pick when you believe that the player has at least the potential to dominate the players in their respective positions. If you want to say that long is no match for another player in the draft, then what chance does he have against players already in the nfl who have proven their abilities at DL? Because of Long's great combine numbers? I mean if I knew the perfect counter to Jake Long than I'd pass him off and take a guy that wasn't "made a fool of" by another prospective player...if anything, i'd take the guy who dominated him!

    For example, like Michael Strahan, Osi Umeniyora, Patrick Kerney, or well pretty much any other DL Elite that should go against Chris Long. I mean, to say that Chris Long will get dominated by Gholston implies that he will get dominated by anyone else better than Gholston. Unless the draft experts believe that Gholston is even better than the best DL's of the NFL. Than that's just...well doesn't make any sense.

    Overall reasoning is everything, and I can't agree with the reasoning said about those picks.

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  11. ANTON MATA about 1 year ago

    I'm still happy the giants won.hahahaha.

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  12. david t about 1 year ago

    Well now you dont have to wonder about Jake Long going to the dolphins its official he is signed sealed and delivered as the number 1 pick overall.

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  13. david t about 1 year ago

    This may not be the exact place to post my gripe on this but what in the hell are the vikings thinking giving up there 1st rd pick and two 3rd rd picks for Jared Allen??? He isnt even the best DE on the chiefs and not to mention was suspended 4 games last year for violating the substance abuse policy,not exactly the kind of guy I would wager nearly my whole draft to get.Boy I bet Herm Edwards is doing cartwheels in happiness somewhere right now. The chiefs now have the 5th pick overall the 17th pick overall in the first round and picks 66,73,and 82 in the third round talk about hitting the nfl jackpot and dont forget they have the 35th pick in the second round as well.This gives them six picks in the top 85 overall in this years draft talk about good fortunes.

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  14. david t about 1 year ago

    And yes I know all about Jared Allens sack totals and him leading the AFC in sacks last year in only 12 games yada yada yada. I still dont think he is worth what the Vikings gave up for him,besides did his high sack totals really help the Chiefs any did they win more games because of it? The answer is no they did not.And I dont think the Vikings will be any more better off giving up there draft to get him than the Chiefs were when they had him.Good player?yes,worth a first round pick and two 3rds? No I think not.

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  15. david t about 1 year ago

    I still think the Ravens should take Ryan Im just not sold on Troy Smith,though he did look quite good what times he got to play. Im just afraid of his size or lack thereof Im not sure he could stand up to the beating an NFL starting QB takes.Also I look at what both men did in college,Troy Smith was on a top notch team and played great but then got pounded in the national championship game by Florida.Matt Ryan however was on a lackluster team void of talent and yet he managed to win games against top notch compitition.If the Ravens were to draft Ryan I feel he would fair well with talent like McGahee,Heap,and Mason ect. far better than his supporting cast at BC.

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    • Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

      I agree. I'm not convinced of Smith's ability, but I don't trust Ryan's either. I would hate to be a Raven's fan right now.

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  1. david t about 1 year ago

    I think the phins made the right choice in drafting Jake Long. I think with pro coaching he will improve in time and be a great player.Also you have to look at it both ways Ryan you said that if Long was dominated by Gholston in college and at the combine then therefor he will be dominated by Gholston and any other D-Linemen better or equal to his talent level,well then who is to say that Gholston wont be dominated by the larger and faster Offensive Linemen he will face in the NFL? Think about it it can go both ways.

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