2008 NFL Draft: Mock Draft

Here's an early take on who will go where in April...

1. Miami Dolphins - Matt Ryan (QB - Boston College)

Ryan is a strong-armed, savvy quarterback who knows how to play the game.  He is just the kind of guy the Tuna would like to pick to build his franchise.

2. St. Louis Rams - Glenn Dorsey (DT - LSU)

Dorsey is a strong, exlposive interior defensive lineman. He will immediately improve the Rams poor run defense which gave up 16 touchdowns, 4th worst in the league.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Brohm (QB - Louisville)

The Falcons need a quarterback to help them move on from the Michael Vick era.  Brian Brohm is too experienced to pass up.

4. Oakland Raiders - Chris Long (DE - Virginia)

Seems too perfect that Oakland could pick up the son of Raiders' great Howie Long, but Long is worthy of the selection.  There are a lot of places the Raiders could go with this pick but Long will give them a very good end opposite of Derrick Burgess.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Jake Long (OT - Michigan) - Long is just what the Chiefs need to improve a rushing offense that was dead last in the league.  Not to mention the fact that they gave up fifty five sacks last year, also worst in the NFL.

6. New York Jets - Darren McFadden (RB - Arkansas)

There is just no way the Jets can pass on a talent like McFadden.  He immediately brings an explosive factor to the Jets offense.  A quarterback is also a possibility with this pick.

7. New England Patriots - Kenny Phillips (S - Miami)

New England's aging defense needs some young talent.  Phillips is the next great Miami safety, so expect plenty of success in his future.  Though don't be surprised if the Patriots go for Sedrick Ellis.

8. Baltimore Ravens - Andre Woodson (QB - Kentucky)

They Ravens would love for Brian Brohm to slip to them but Woodson would be a great choice as well.  He is a strong armed, accurate quarterback, but he must work on cutting down his turnovers.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis (DT - USC)

Cincinnati desperately needs help at a lot of defensive positions, and the best place to start is interior linement.  Ellis is quick and will be able to put lots of pressure on the quarterback, something the Bengals were not able to do very much of last year. They finished last in the NFL with 22 sacks.

10. New Orleans Saints - Reggie Smith (CB - Oklahoma)

The Saints need someone to improve their secondary.  Jason David just isn't getting it done at cornerback.  Smith has great size and speed which means a very bright future.

11. Buffalo Bills - Malcolm Kelly (WR - Oklahoma)

Kelly is a big, strong wide receiver with good speed, just what the Bills need to really complete their offense.  They want a playmaker and Kelly is very good after the catch.

12. Denver Broncos - Calais Campbell (DE - Miami)

The Broncos need lots of help on their defense, mainly stopping the run.  Campbell gives them a big lineman to help slow down opposing runners.

13. Carolina Panthers - Vernon Gholston (DE - Ohio St.) - Gholston has played both linebacker and end at Ohio State and would provide the Panthers with an explosive and versatile talent on defense.

14. Chicago Bears - Jonathan Stewart (RB - Oregon)

Stewart is a strong inside runner but he also has the speed to break big runs.  The Bears need someone with a little more speed and Cedric Benson isn't going to be that guy.

15. Detriot Lions - Antoine Cason (CB - Arizona) - The Lions need help on a pass defense that gave up way too many yards (31st in NFL) and touchdowns (32nd).  Cason is a playmaking corner, though there are concerns about his speed.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Ryan Clady (OT - Boise St.)

The Cardinals will gladly take Clady at this point in the draft.  He is a quick tackle who could really help protecting whichever quarterback starts and making holes for Edgerrin James.

17. Minnesota Vikings - DeSean Jackson (WR - Cal)

The Vikings need a playmaker at wide receiver to help their quarterbacks.  Jackson will help not only on offense, but also in the return game.

18. Houston Texans - Keith Rivers (OLB - USC)

Rivers will immediately give the Texans one of those most talented young linebacking corps in the NFL.  Combined with Demeco Ryans he could make this Texans defense very tough.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - Dan Connor (LB - Penn St.)

A lot of people will want the Eagles to pick up a wide receiver, but they need a little help on defense (Plus whose counting out the possibility of Randy Moss?)  Connor is a tough player who could come and play very soon, though he or Omar Gaither would have to move outside.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Early Doucet (WR - LSU)

The Buccanneers need a playmaking wide reciever, because Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard are starting to show their age. Doucet is just that, a playmaker.

21. Washington Redskins - Derrick Harvey (DE - Florida)

Harvey is a monster pass rusher who can put tons of pressure on the quarterback, which is something the Washington defense needs a little more of.  They ranked 16th in the NFL in sacks.  A good pass rush could also lead to more turnovers.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Mike Jenkins (CB - South Florida)

Jenkins is a very athletic corner who will improve the depth of the Cowboys secondary.  But don't be surprised to see the Cowboys go for someone in the front seven here.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Curtis Lofton (LB - Oklahoma)

The Steelers love their linebackers, and in a few years Lofton could be a premier linebacker in the NFL.  He's got good size and speed and was very productive at Oklahoma.

24. Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed (WR - Texas)

Sweed is kind of a wildcard in this draft.  Noone knows what to expect from him because he's been injured this season.  He is a big talented receiver, and getting Vince Young and Sweed back together could be good for Young's development as a passer.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Rashard Mendenhall (RB - Illinois)

The Seahawks may have some talent in the backfield, but they just can't pass on Mendenhall if he drops this far.  He is an explosive running back, and they just aren't getting that type of play from Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Earl Bennett (WR - Vanderbilt)

The Jaguars need another surehanded target for David Garrard to throw to.  You won't find a guy with better hands than Bennett.  He's not exactly slow either.

27. San Diego Chargers - Quentin Groves (DE - Auburn)

Groves could be a great edge rusher in the Chargers' 3-4 defense.  He is that tweener type that doesn't quite fit as an end or a linebacker, but he's too good of a playmaker to keep off of the field.

28. Dallas Cowboys - Sam Baker (OT - USC)

The Cowboys need to pick a tackle to take over in the near future for Flozell Adams.  Baker had an injury filled senior season so he still has to prove he is worth a first round pick.

29. San Francisco 49ers - Aqib Talib (CB - Kansas)

Talib is a talented cornerback with a ton of potential.  He showed in his junior year that he is a playmaker, on offense, defense, and special teams.  If the 49ers offense doesn't improve, they will need some scoring help from their defense and special teams.

30. Green Bay Packers - Felix Jones (RB - Arkansas)

Jones is too talented not to take at this point.  If he runs well at the combine, he may not be available to the Packers here.  Combining Jones with Ryan Grant could make the Packers offense tough to stop.

31. New York Giants - Lawrence Jackson (DE - USC)

Will Strahan be back next year?  Maybe so but the Giants could use a talented end to be ready if he can't go.  Jackson is very athletic and could improve his stock at the combine.