So as some of you know, I yearly make a Mock Draft, but since the Jets were so dismal this year I've had a lot of extra time to spend prepping for the Draft. I already finished version 1.0 which is the first round only. Some of the playoff spots are mixed up and that is because I started it before this weeks play-off games and don't plan on switching the order. This has become an annually unpopular event because most of
RF doesn't care about the NFL Draft or doesn't feel like reading such a long post. However, anyone who wants to talk about the draft, potential draft picks, post your own mock draft or whatever will have this thread to post them in (which will go largely unused). Regardless of it's popularity I will be updating this and hopefully keeping it refreshed. Let's hear what you think.
2006 Draft:
http://www.rapflava.com/forums/stoic...ft-103036.html (Stoic's Mock Draft.)
2007 Draft:
http://www.rapflava.com/forums/2nd-a...ft-123987.html (2nd Annual NFL Mock Draft) NFL Mock Draft 2008 v 1.1 1. Miami Dolphins – Glenn Dorsey
The Dolphins have an aging defensive line and need to inject it with youth and a presence in the middle. The Dolphins could really go in any direction, but I like to assume they aren’t quite ready to give up on Beck yet at QB. McFadden is a legitimate choice here despite the presence of Ronnie Brown. Brown hasn’t proven he can carry the load on his own yet, but the ‘Fins have so many holes they are going to have to assume Brown is a legitimate starter.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jake Long
The Rams are not as bad as they showed this year. However with such pitiful offensive line play, their offense was stifled. Marc Bulger is one of this league’s top QBs and the Rams cannot continue to let him get punished on such a regular basis. This is the first step in re-building that offensive line. Orlando Pace is still serviceable, but at this point in his career he is totally unreliable.
3. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan
I can’t see the Falcons passing up on the premier QB in this year’s draft. Vick’s in Jail, Schaub’s in Houston, Leftwich, Harrington, and Redman have not gotten the job done in their terms at quarterbacks. You need a quarterback to get ahead in this league, they don’t have one. The best QB will fall to #3 and that is a perfect fit.
4. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden
The Raiders certainly don’t need a RB. Jordan and Fargas have been serviceable and there are certainly positions where the Raiders need more help, particularly DT. However, it’s too early to draft Sedrick Ellis and Al Davis is constantly searching for premier athletes. I think Davis wins out and gets his athlete in Darren McFadden. Rashard Mendenhall seems like an Al Davis pick as well with an out of this world size and speed combination, but it is too early for him as well.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Gosder Cherilus
I wouldn’t put it past the Chiefs to draft McFadden if he were available here, even though they have Larry Johnson and claim to like Kolby Smith. However with McFadden gone, the Chiefs are going to need to address the offensive line that has fallen from being one of the teams strong points to a total liability. Otah, Baker and Clady are all potential picks here, but I believe Cherilus to be the best prospect of the bunch. His season tailed off towards the end but he still looks to be the #2 OT on the board. This is clearly a need pick.
6. New York Jets – Chris Long
The Jets need someone to start across from Shawn Ellis to bolster a pitiful pass rush. The Jets D- Line was largely ineffective this year and Long has the talent and experience as a 3-4 DE to be a critical part of this defense. The Jets Defense has a solid nucleus of players but needs to sure up the holes across the D Line. There aren’t any 3-4 NT that deserve to be picked here, but Chris Long would be of good value at the 6th overall pick. If McFadden falls to the Jets, he would also be an option.
7. New England Patriots (from SF) – Malcolm Jenkins
Asante Samuel promised not to play this season, and by the looks of it he won’t be here next season. Cutting ties to their premier cover man will certainly leave a gap at CB. Malcolm Jenkins is only a Jr, but is this years premier CB. You can never have too many Corners in this league. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Pats trade out of this pick.
8. Baltimore Ravens – Andre Woodson
The Ravens biggest problem is that they lack a top notch signal caller. McNair is on his way out and Boller is certainly not the right option. I really think the Ravens could end up trading for Chad Pennington who would be perfect in their run-first attack, but if they don’t acquire a veteran QB they’ll have to find their future in the draft. Woodson is the best QB remaining.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – James Lauranitis
James Lauranitis gives this team the heart of the defense they’ve been searching for. With such a potent offense it’s difficult to believe how bad this team struggled. Acquiring Lauranitis gives the Bengals something to build around and a quarterback for the defense for years to come.
10. New Orleans Saints – Kenny Philips
One of the league’s worst secondaries gets the boost they need. Philips can give a major lift to the Saints Defense. With a secondary in place this could buy time for the pass rush to make plays. The Saints have been ignoring this glaring weakness for a number of years and this draft should finally be the time to address it.
11. Buffalo Bills – Sedrick Ellis
The BAP at this point in the draft can help bolster a defense that was decimated by injuries this off-season. Laurnaitis would have been ideal, but they missed Patrick Willis last year and will miss Lauranitis this year. Ellis will team with McCargo for a defense tackle combination that will prove prosperous. If McCargo continues to falter in his development, then Ellis becomes even more essential of a draft pick.
12. Denver Broncos – Vernon Gholston
If Gholston falls this far in the draft I’d be very surprised. Denver’s pass rush has been absolutely anemic and Gholston could be used as a DE or OLB. Either way he’d be an effective pass rusher and is one of the best players available at this point. The Broncos have been making an effort to improve the Defensive Line and pass rush linebackers
13. Carolina Panthers – Ryan Clady
This pick-up will bolster the offensive line, and he can team with Jordan Gross to create a solid long term pair of bookend tackles. Clady has looked good, especially over the last two years in which Boise State has risen to become a well known program. He’s been an effective blocker and had a great season. I don’t think the Panthers are ready to give up on Delhomme yet, but he will need protection.
14. Chicago Bears – Brian Brohm
I think Brohm has limited upside, and it would be wise for the Bears to try to acquire a veteran QB and use the first round pick to help out another aspect of the team, but it’s very clear Rex Grossman is not the answer. Grossman was looking alright before he got injured, but he’s so inconsistent that it’s hard to rely on him. I think Brohm can be the kind of QB the Bears need even though he will never be an all-star.
15. Detroit Lions – Aqib Talib
The Lions need to do something in their secondary. They didn’t do much to replace the loss of Dre Bly and it came back to bite them. Kitna had a good season, but a young QB to raise as his heir-apparent would be a good move, but I don’t think there are any remaining QBs worthy of a first round pick. If Brohm or Woodson fall, perhaps the Lions could snag them. The defense of this team was pretty bad last season and the secondary was the biggest mistake of it all.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Sam Baker
The Cardinals offensive line still could use upgrades to become one of the better units in this league. Antoine Cason would fit well here based on need, value, and the fact that he is an Arizona alum, but the Cards still can't keep Leinart healthy and htat is a problem that will be needed to be dealt with immediatly.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Limas Sweed
Limas Sweed reminds me a lot of Anquan Boldin, and he’ll be the perfect compliment to Sidney Rice. The books are closed on Williamson, and he can be jettisoned. Jackson didn’t do a terrible job as a QB and with Peterson running the ball they don’t need a monster of a QB. Two solid WRs would definitely help the diversity of their offense. I believe Sweed to be the best WR in this draft, even though his stock was hurt by a season-ending injury. That could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Vikings.
18. Houston Texans – Rashard Mendenhall
The Texans offense has finally found their QB after ending the David Carr experiment. I think they could look to bolster the O Line in later rounds, but a stud running back would be very helpful in taking this team to the next level. The WRs managed to step up without Johnson in the lineup and although Green wasn’t terrible he’s getting old and the Texans. Mendenhall and Stewart are dog-fighting for the #2 RB in this years draft.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – Thomas DeCloud
The Safety position has been questionable without Dawkins in the lineup. Mikell and Constine haven’t been able to get the job done. The secondary has always been a strength of Philadelphia’s defense and with the declining play in the backfield I expect Reid to address it. DeCloud isn’t particularly well known yet, but he had a solid year at California, and should be one of the top safeties drafted outside of Philips.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keith Rivers
I’d like to toss the Bucs a RB to officially terminate the stay of Cadillac, but Ernest Graham’s solid season probably kept that from happening. The Linebackers played well this year, but Rivers is such great value here, and Brooks is 34. Rivers could be the #4 LB this year, and next year emerge as a star. I see Rivers developing into a less physical Shawn Merriman. Big Time playmaker, that when paired with a developing Gaines Adams could be a threatening pass rush in the years to come.
21. Washington Redskins – Calais Campbell
They clearly need to replace Shawn Taylor, but with DeCloud and Philips missing I don’t see them getting value at the position. The Defensive Line needs to improve the pass rush, because the rest of this defense is developing into a dangerous unit. Calais Campbell is one of the best players available and has outrageous value this late in the draft.
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) – Leodis McKevin
This pick will let Anthony Henry move to Safety, where he is better suited and will give the Cowboys a better tandem of CBs with McKevin and Newman. They also have little depth at the position resorting to Jacques Reeves as their nickle CB. I could see them going for a running back to help Marion Barber because it doesn’t seem as though Julius Jones will be back next year. Their only other needs are aging players all over the field, something the Cowboys could attempt to fix in later rounds with WR and Linemen.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jeff Otah
Big Offensive Linemen that can help play the Right Tackle. This would move Willie Colon to the inside where he is better suited and let Alan Faneca leave in Free Agency. The Steelers gave up a ton of sacks this season, even to the dismal Rams in the season finale. Mike Tomlin may look defense to help make the switch from the Steelers long standing 3-4 to his tradition 4-3. Those personnel discussions could be made in later rounds, but securing offensive linemen in the first would be a wise move.
24. Tennessee Titans – Adarius Bowman
Vince Young’s problem has been a lack of WRs for the last two years. He’s played well, but all good QBs have had their Wide Outs and it’s time for Young to get his. Bowman is 6-4 and can play a Plaxico Buress style of football. A solid #1 wide out could help this offense move to the next level, especially when factoring in the breakout year of Lendale White and the running back by committee that Tennessee has been implementing.
25. Seattle Seahawks – Jonathan Stewart
Shawn Alexander has gone from being the league’s MVP to an aging, lazy, unreliable running back. He was shut down in the Packers game, scoring an early TD and producing little after that. The Seahawks WRs aren’t what they use to be, but a running game helps a passing game and there will be value at WR in later rounds. Stewart gives them the heir to Alexander, the same way Alexander played under Ricky Waters for a few years before starting. He’s a local product from Oregon and seems like the perfect fit if he’s available here.
26. New York Giants – Mike Jenkins
Aaron Ross played well enough to start in his first year for the G-Men but Sam Madison is getting way too old and way too unreliable to be starting at the other spot. Mike Jenkins had a solid year and could pair with Ross to give the Giants a much better secondary. This moves Corey Webster to nickel which helps solidify that position as well. Madison could potentially slide to safety, and the Giants would have greater flexibility in the secondary. Safety is a bigger need, but the value has dropped off at that position and there are no more for the second round.
27. San Diego Chargers – Frank Okam
The last couple of drafts the big need in San Diego was at the WR position, but with Davis last year, the continuing growth of Vincent Jackson, and the acquisition of Chris Chambers the team has put together a pretty solid corps. The Chargers have the chance to take the best player available, or draft a backup NT to protect them if anything happened to Jamal Williams. Frank Okam is big enough to play the spot as long as he gets a few years of experience under Williams to learn the position.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dan Connor
The Jaguars proved that they had their franchise QB when they confidently Jettisoned Leftwich and let Garrard carry them into the playoffs. They have a lot of high draft picks at WR and TE and Garrard did fine with the corps he had. I think they have room in the second and third rounds to find pass catchers. Dan Connor is the best player available here, and should provide a boost to their already strong defense. Connor is too good to have fallen this far. I also thought of DeSean Jackson in the spot but Connor is too good of an overall prospect.
29. Green Bay Packers –Antoine Cason
The Packers defense has looked good, but the one liability is the age at CB. Woodson and Harris are both aging, and although they are still playing great one can only wonder how long they’ll keep it up. The arrival of Ryan Grant has provided a solid running back and although he isn’t stellar he certainly is a threat the defense has to prepare for. Cason is good size at 6’0 and should translate well to the NFL. That defense has been getting younger and needs to continue the trend.
30. San Francisco 49ers (from Ind) – DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson has excellent value here, and the 9ers need value considering they were one of the worst teams in the league last year and will be drafting 30th. Darrell Jackson played terrible this year and should not be considered a #1 WR. Jackson is a quick receiver with good hands and could be a solid piece of this offense that already boasts Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. The Offensive line is in shambles, and there are plenty of obvious holes on defense, but value and need come together in this pick and give Alex Smith a potential premiere WR.
31. Dallas Cowboys – Philip Merling
If the Cowboys don't pick up a CB with there first pick I think they could steal Trae Williams late in the first round. Williams is a skilled corner from South Florida and didn't get much attention because he was the #2 to Mike Jenkins, but Williams has NFL skills as a borderline #1 but probably #2 Corner. A running back is an option as well, if they don't re-sign Jones, but I believe Barber can be a solo back in this league because of his Pro Bowl performance this year. Merling is a big DE, and although Lawrence Jackson is probably better value at the DE position, the Cowboys will be looking for size for the 3-4. Merling will help the pass rush, and help clear even more space for Demarcus Ware and the rest of those pass rushing LBs.
32. New England Patriots - Forfeited
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NFL Draft 2008 - Never too early. 
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