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Matt’s 2008 NFL Mock Draft
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From: http://www.afraidofedhochuli.com
I am not a Draft “guru” and never have I professed to be. I am, however, good with numbers.
There are too many guys out there that are considered “draftable” for a guy who works in an office and only gets about 3 hours a day (between breaks and home time) to do the research needed.
So, what did I do?
I took 6 different “experts” and averaged their Draft Position.
The 6 are: Sports Illustrated (Don Banks), ESPN (Todd McShay), CBS Sportsline (Sports X-Change and Pete Prisco, NFLDraftdog.com and Rivals.com.
After I averaged these I went through and took a look at need. I figured that a lot of these teams would take talent over need in the first round (which is the usual case). For example: My math said that the Vikings would take a first round RB again…I really have no inkling that that will happen, so I adjusted.
(*- denotes that the order will be decided by a coin-flip)
This is what I came up with.
#1 – Miami Dolphins Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College They NEED a QB and Ryan is the best one in the draft. Don’t be surprised to see the Dolphins trade down, though.
#2 – St. Louis Rams Chris Long - DE – Virginia Their offense disappeared over the last few years, but their defense disappeared a long time ago. It is time for the Rams to get someone who can rush the QB, especially in a division where they will be going up against Walter Jones, Mike Gandy and Jonas Jennings.
#3 – Atlanta Falcons* Glenn Dorsey - DT – LSU This was a good defense a few years ago, but now it is porous and gets little to no pass rush.
#4 – Oakland Raiders* Jake Long - OT – Michigan Robert Gallery was a bust, so they need someone that can come in and compete with him for a starting line job. Some people have Long going first to the Dolphins, and the Raiders are hoping that isn’t the case.
#5 – Kansas City Chiefs* Darren McFadden - RB – Arkansas Can you say steal? If McFadden falls to #5 the Chiefs will take him in an instant. He has the ability to be a star in this league, and if the Chiefs draft him he will have the right line to learn behind.
#6 – New York Jets Sedrick Ellis - DT - USC The Jets were so close a few years ago and a top-tier DT will help them get better and better.
#7 – New England Patriots (From 49ers) Vernon Gholston - DE - Ohio St. I am still mad that they have this pick, but the Pats know what they will take.
#8 – Baltimore Ravens Brian Brohm - QB – Louisville Another team that needs a QB. This might be a reach for them, but Brohm will help out whichever team he goes to.
#9 – Cincinnati Bengals Derrick Harvey - DE – Florida The Bengals need a Defensive star. They have been able to put up points but have NOT been able to stop anyone.
#10 – New Orleans Saints Mike Jenkins - CB - South Florida Two Words: Jason David. ‘Nuff said.
#11 – Buffalo Bills Malcolm Kelly - WR – Oklahoma Lee Evans needs someone to take away the double-team. If they can get a solid #2 in the draft it will help out the entire WR core.
#12 – Denver Broncos Ryan Clady - OT - Boise State Time to rebuild the line.
#13 – Carolina Panthers DeSean Jackson - WR – Cal This is much like the Bills. They need someone who can catch that is NOT named Steve Smith.
#14 – Chicago Bears Rashard Mendenhall - RB – Illinois This might be way off, but Cedrick Benson has yet to show he wa worth the pick they spent on him in 2005.
#15 – Detroit Lions Leodis McKelvin - CB – Troy Just like the Bengals, the Lions have lost it on the Defensive side.
#16 – Arizona Cardinals Jonathan Stewart - RB – Oregon Edge is stilling playing well, but they need to start weaning his replacement. Stewart is that guy.
#17 – Minnesota Vikings Phillip Merling - DE – Clemson My formula said they would take Stewart, but that would be ridiculous. Imagine the Vikings with an even more powerful pass rush!
#18 – Houston Texans Aqib Talib - CB – Kansas Houston needs a RB but at this point it would be a reach to take anyone else. They could take Felix Jones, but it is more likely they take the best available player.
#19 – Philadelphia Eagles Chris Williams - OT – Vanderbilt The tackles are both over 30 and that is the time to start building up their replacements.
#20 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mario Manningham - WR – Michigan Galloway can’t do it on his own anymore. Ike Hilliard is old. They need a #1 WR of the future and Manningham is that guy.
#21 – Washington Redskins Calais Campbell - DE - Miami (Fla.) Andre Carter was solid (10.5 sacks) but Phillip Daniels’ age of 34 has caught up to him. And isn’t that the point of the draft?
#22 – Dallas Cowboys (From Cleveland) Jeff Otah - OT – Pittsburgh I don’t expect the Cowboys to have this position. They have two 1st-rounders and I could see them using them to move up or down. If they are hear the best option is to add some depth and youth to their Offensive Tackles.
#23 – Pittsburgh Steelers Dan Connor - ILB - Penn State Is it just me or has Pittsburgh become for Linebackers what Dallas is for QBs? This guy would be lucky to learn from these guys.
#24 – Tennessee Titans Kentwan Balmer - DT - North Carolina They may go Offense (picking up a WR or lineman) but they need someone to complement Albert Haynesworth. A one-two punch can help any Defense.
#25 – Seattle Seahawks Felix Jones - RB – Arkansas This was hard, because I think they will take Fred Davis from USC. But my math told me that they would take Felix Jones and they need a RB, so…I have to go with it.
#26 – Jacksonville Jaguars Limas Sweed - WR – Texas The Jags didn’t have a WR get over 700 yards last season. It may be time to call a spade a spade and go for an ACTUAL receiver.
#27 – San Diego Chargers Kenny Phillips - S - Miami (Fla.) Think about this: In 5 years they could have a secondary that is based around Eric Weddle, Antonio Cromartie and Kenny Phillips.
#28 – Dallas Cowboys Antoine Cason - CB - Arizona Again, I don’t think they will have this. But it is time to start restocking the secondary.
#29 – San Fransisco 49ers Keith Rivers - OLB – USC The Bay-Area loves this. Willis and Rivers would be a deadly combination.
#30 – Green Bay Packers Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - CB - Tenn. State I love Charles Woodson and Al Harris but they are over 30 and over the next few years will show a lot of dropping off.
#31 – New England Patriots Forfeited
#32 – New York Giants Brandon Flowers - CB - Virginia Tech The Secondary aged before our eyes. They were able to slap a few band-aids on the problem and win the Superbowl, but the secondary WILL be looked at this off-season. Again, I am not a genius, but why couldn’t this happen?
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