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QB RB FB WR TE OT OG C - DE DT ILB OLB S CB - K P
1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT Michigan
Team Needs: CB
S
DE
DT
OLB
ILB
WR
Unless Bill Parcells decides John Beck isn’t the franchise QB of the future and uses this pick to secure one, the Dolphins are likely to address either the offensive or defensive line.
2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long, DE Virginia
Team Needs:
OT
OLB
CB
DE
OG
QB
James Hall has been released and Leonard Little is 33. A young pass-rushing defensive end is needed to work into the rotation and eventually take over one of the starting spots.
3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
Team Needs: RB
QB
DT
OT
ILB
WR
DE
K
At this point, Chris Redman is penciled in at the top of the depth chart, and he played fairly well toward the end of the 2007 season. But he’s probably nothing more than a bridge to the next guy, who should be Ryan if he’s still available when the Falcons pick.
4. Oakland Raiders - *Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB Ohio State
Team Needs: S
DE
OT
WR
DT
With the retirement of Warren Sapp, the Raiders are in need of a play-making defensive tackle with the quickness to cause disruptions and collapse the pocket up the middle. LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey seems to fit that bill, and is the logical pick, in my opinion. But rumor has it the Raiders are in love with Gholston, who would give the Raiders a pair of legitimate pass rushers when paired with Derrick Burgess.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU
Team Needs: OT
CB
WR
OG
C
K
With Michigan’s Jake Long off the board, the Chiefs are likely to look to fill another position or trade down a few spots for Boise State’s Ryan Clady. Now that Dorsey seems to have put to rest issues about his health, he should be the top defensive tackle off the board.
6. New York Jets - *Darren McFadden, RB Arkansa
Team Needs: DE
CB
ILB
OT
OG
C
Despite trading for Thomas Jones following the 2006 season, the Jets would have a hard time letting McFadden – who has a rare combination of speed, balance, and vision -- fall to the division-rival Patriots.
7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco) - *Ryan Clady, OT Boise State
Team Needs:
ILB
OLB
CB
Most likely the Patriots will try to trade out of this pick, but if they can’t they will probably go with the best available player. Clady is a very athletic tackle who handles speed rushers well and should be a good fit on the left side in the NFL. Some consider him to be a better left tackle prospect than Michigan’s Jake Long.
8. Baltimore Ravens - Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
Team Needs: CB
OLB
ILB
DE
DT
QB
OG
C
A future franchise shutdown corner is needed to play the nickel now, step in when either Chris McAlister or Samari Rolle is hurt, and eventually take over as a starter in the future.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT USC
Team Needs:
DE
DT
OLB
S
TE
WR
The Bengals have no one at defensive tackle that commands much respect from opposing offenses. They need a quick powerful tackle who can create an interior pass rush, collapse the pocket, and stop the run
10. New Orleans Saints - Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy State
Team Needs:
DT
OLB
ILB
CB
The addition of Randall Gay through free agency should be an improvement over Jason David, who was a free-agent disappointment from the 2007 offseason. But the team still needs a youngster who can be groomed into a franchise-type corner.
11. Buffalo Bills - *Devin Thomas, WR Michigan State
Team Needs: CB
WR
OLB
DT
DE
A legitimate threat opposite Lee Evans would really help open up the offense, and give Trent Edwards a nice pair of weapons to work with. Thomas, who is a big, physical receiver, spent just one season in Division I, but has the potential to develop into an elite NFL receiver.
12.Denver Broncos - Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
Team Needs:
DT
OLB
S
DE
OT
Eric Pears and Ryan Harris are penciled in as the starters right now, but the retirement of Lepsis has left the team thin at the tackle position and Williams’ athletic style would be a nice fit for the Broncos zone-blocking scheme.
13. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Harvey, DE/OLB Florida
Team Needs: QB
DE
S
ILB
DT
OT
WR
Having retained both their starting offensive tackles, the Panthers could go after a guy like Harvey, who has potential as either a defensive end or a linebacker. He should make an impact as a situational pass rusher early in his career, but could develop into an every-down player.
14. Chicago Bears - *Branden Albert, OT/OG Virginia
Team Needs: QB
OG
OT
WR
S
OLB
DT
The Bears need some fresh bodies on the offensive line, particularly at right tackle where the aging Fred Miller was released following a down season. Albert, who is shooting up draft charts, has the versatility to play all along the offensive line, and would allow veteran John Tait to move to right tackle, where he is more comfortable.
15. Detroit Lions - *Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
Team Needs: CB
ILB
OT
S
TE
RB
The Lions need to upgrade their offensive line, but with all the top tackles off the board at this point, they’ll have to turn their attention elsewhere. With the release of Kevin Jones, Tatum Bell
is penciled in as the starter, but he’s better suited for a back-up role.
16. Arizona Cardinals - *Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon
Team Needs:
RB
S
OLB
CB
OT
Edgerrin James will be 30-years old this year and hasn't been nearly as effective since coming over from Indianapolis. Also, J.J. Arrington doesn't look like a guy who is going to be a featured back. A young franchise runner is needed to bring the Cardinal offense to the next level.
2008 NFL Draft Discussions by Team
| • Arizona | • Dallas | • Miami | • Pittsburgh |
| • Atlanta | • Denver | • Minnesota | • San Diego |
| • Baltimore | • Detroit | • New England | • San Francisco |
| • Buffalo | • Green Bay | • New Orleans | • Seattle |
| • Carolina | • Houston | • NY Giants | • St. Louis |
| • Chicago | • Indianapolis | • NY Jets | • Tampa Bay |
| • Cincinnati | • Jacksonville | • Oakland | • Tennessee |
| • Cleveland | • Kansas City | • Philadelphia | • Washington |
