Final 2008 NFL Mock Draft

So after all that you think I'm crazy, I think I'm crazy, and the results undeniably are that I am. However, that was a lot of fun. It's almost as much fun as watching the thing actually unfold on draft day (since I have control in my mind of where these guys go). Most of the First Round selections I made my selections by who I think will go where and same with many of the Second Round picks, but after that, it more or less became where I want guys to go. That being said, I had a personal fav, Kevin O'Connell, going to the Saints until I realized there's no way he could possibly get past the Jaguars, who sent their Offensive Coordinator out here to San Diego to watch the guy at his Pro Day and seem to be in love with the guy. One final note is about Notable players who weren't drafted. They are: Wait there are none. That's a first. It also means my Mock is probably horrible b/c there are always at least 10 notable players who are not drafted. Oh well, like I said the last four rounds were my baby.

Friends' Teams' Picks:

For Matthew Patrick (Eagles):
Jerod Mayo LB
Brandon Flowers CB
Tom Zbikowski Safety
Martin O'Donnell OL
Adam Kraus OG
Tommy Blake DE
Durant Brooks P
Jonathan Hefney S/Ret
Marcus Monk WR
Michael Marquardt DL
Cole Bennett TE

For Bruce Miller (J-E-T-S):
Chris Long DE/OLB (Best Player in the Draft)
Jonathan Stewart RB (Best RB in the Draft)
Shawn Crable OLB
Drew Radovich OT
Mario Urrutia WR
Anthony Morelli QB

For Josh Deanne (Rams):
Vernon Gholston DE/OLB
Chris Williams OT
Jordy Nelson WR
Cliff Avril OLB
Mike Hart RB
Marcus Walker CB
David Roach Safety
Mike Gibson OT
Patrick Lee DB

For Stephen (Broncos):
Jake Long OT
Early Doucett WR
Oniel Cousins DT
Thomas DeCoud Safety
Steve Slaton RB
Jeremy Leman LB
Walace Gilberry DL
Jamey Richard OL
Dennis Keyes Safety


And My Teams (Saints first):
Glenn Dorsey DT
Martellus Bennett TE
Mike Pollak C
Jack Ikegwonu CB
Alexis Serna K
Maurice Murray DT

Chargers:
Kentwan Balmer DT
Owen Schmitt FB
Jamie Silva Safety
Nick Hayden DE

My 5 Favorite Players in this Draft:
5. Bruce Davis DE/OLB UCLA
Unreal pass-rush skills and shows athleticism to stand up and play in space. Plus, I got to watch him get better for the last 4 years.
4. Chase Ortiz DE/OLB TCU
Got to watch the guy on film and he reminds me a lot of Davis but w/ maybe even more ability to play the linebacker spot and more of a motor. Not as natural an athlete, but the tendency is for me to root hard for him being from a MWC Conference School.
3. Ray Rice RB Rutgers
Actually I could put about 5 different backs here (Kevin Smith: the next LT, Jonathan Stewart, Chris Johnson, and/or Jacob Hester who will most likely play FB). They're all grinders w/ at least one other good skill. Rice though reminds me some of Mo Drew and that isn't a bad thing at all.
2. Chris Long DE/OLB Virginia
As I said before, I think he is the best player in the draft (while Darren McFadden is the most talented). And it isn't so much who is dad is, although that's cool also, but I think just the fact he came from Virginia and is playing a little different position than his father and the opportunity to see if he can follow in his father's footsteps in a sense. I can't wait to watch him at the Pro Level.
1. Tie: Brian Brohm/Kevin O'Connell QB Louisville/SDSU: Okay, so I'm saying this about a guy who comes from my school and a guy a lot of other people like. Here's my defense on both of those. Brohm is the most NFL-ready QB not only this year, but I would say since Matt Leinart (although certainly the jury is still out on how that's going to work out). The knock on him is arm-strength, which I've never seen as a problem and I've watched a lot of him. The other is his injury history, which is a bit of a concern, but I believe everyone is at equal risk (unlike many of my compatriots who take the stance of it being like a habit. That's the reason many of them aren't very high on Jonathan Stewart either, although they do like Brohm, go figure). Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Brohm becomes a Super Bowl- winning QB w/ a couple of Pro Bowls and the possibility of being a Hall of Famer. In my opinion he's got all the tools. As for O'Connnell, in my Scouting Report on him, which I watched 3 games plus watched play in several others, I said he is going to either be a boom or bust kind of guy. He's as good an athlete as you will find at the QB position short of a Vince Young and with coaching can become a very good passer. I'm rooting for both of them to prove me right. I believe in the right system, they each can be tremendous QBs.

So, there is my Mock Draft w/ some extra information added in for your benefit. Starting in May, I will begin the process of evaluating next year's class, in addition to a lot of other football-related stuff. I already know who my favorite player of next year's draft is going to be, and there is almost nothing, short of his death or him going ape-s***, that could change my mind. But, I will do my best to evaluate him fairly and put him in a realistic place. I will say this about him, he reminds me a lot of my current favorite player in the NFL. But don't think he'll take that guy's place, only he reminds me a lot of him. We shall see.

Oh yeah, and how about CP3 and the Hornets last night? That was incredible 2nd Half performance by my man. Let's hope that's a sign of things to come. Go Hornets!

Enjoy the Draft everyone!

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