1) Miami Dolphins – Jake Long, OT University of Michigan – If Bill Parcells likes a guy enough to say that he ‘sees a lot of Jumbo Elliot in him’ and to make the kid the highest paid offensive lineman in the entire NFL four days before the draft is even held, then far be it from me to disagree. He is throwback, a mean blocker who has been quoted as saying that he plays “past the whistle”. He is big, fast, strong, ferocious, and has a genuine dislike for whatever team he lines up against. All signs point to Long starting for 12 years.
2) St. Louis Rams – Chris Long, LB/DE University of Virginia - Howie Long’s kid. ‘Nuff said. Howie raised this kid right – anybody who listens to the people who say he’s too short to make an impact are probably the same people who thought Zach Thomas was too short. Chris Long is a meaner, leaner, faster version of Zach Thomas. Yeah, he probably won’t be very good.
3) Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan, QB Boston College - This one’s tricky; he is very intelligent, but so is Alex Smith and he’s not showing much yet (to be fair, the jury is still out). By all accounts he is a natural leader and unflappable in pressure situations, but that sounds a lot like being a good ‘game manager’ which most view as a back-handed compliment. Trent Dilfer was a ‘game manager’ and he has a ring – Dan Marino was the best passer ever and he doesn’t. See, tricky pick to judge…
4) Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB University of Arkansas - Hey look; Al Davis took another workout wonder, what a shock! After taking JaMarcus Russell last year based solely on one big game and a great workout, The Great White Tracksuit this year picked a kid who can run very, very fast in a straight line. Very fast. He does not have great lateral movement and has not shown the ability to move a pile, even in college. It remains to be seen what will happen when he runs into
5) Kansas City Chiefs – Glenn Dorsey, DE Louisiana State University - Draft Guru Mel Kiper, Jr. just said. “I think Glenn Dorsey is the best football player in this draft.” I just thought, “He’ll be out of the league because of injuries before he’s 27 years old.” Let’s check back in a few years and see how things are progressing.
6) New York Jets – Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State University - Workout Wonder. I mean, off the charts. 37 reps, 35.5 vert, 4.67 seconds in the 40. However, never before have I heard so many homoerotic comments about a professional athlete’s physique. In the past week, Gholston’s physique has been compared to Tarzan, has been called “god-like”, “chiseled” and “perfect”. Every talking head has been just gushing about him. What I’ve not really heard though, is anybody talking about how he dominated games.
7) New Orleans Saints – Sedrick Ellis, DT University of Southern California – It seems to be a trend in the NFL to try and build your team from the lines out, and this pick is no exception. Ellis has had some nagging injuries that haven’t impacted his playing time, but maybe he has just gotten lucky so far. Only time will tell if those injuries take their toll, but his 34 reps at the combine should serve notice to offensive linemen around the NFC South that there is new young bull in the ring.
8) Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Derrick Harvey, University of Florida – Some of the quotes floating around about Harvey include “great character” and “flashes of brilliance” Mel Kiper just said “…his 4.8 40 time is a concern”. Really, Mel? Do you see defensive linemen in the NFL running further than 10 yards very often? While he is not the flashiest defensive lineman in the draft, he is probably the most well-rounded, able to contribute in every facet of the game, being an effective run-stopper (11 tackles for loss in 2007 tells me he has a nose for getting in the backfield) as well as a good pass-rusher (11 sacks in 14 games as a sophomore).
9) Cincinnati Bengals – LB Keith Rivers, University of Southern California - Two players picked in the top 10 from a school that is best known for its offense. Interesting. Everybody says this guy raised no red flags in regards to character. Marvin Lewis better hope so, his job may be riding on that. He’ll be a good player for a while, I can see him becoming a real leader and a catalyst if the Bungles do somehow manage to ‘right the ship’ – he will be a large part of the reason why.
10) New England Patriots – OLB Jerod Mayo, University of Tennessee – The Patriots filled a need with this pick, since their linebacking corps’ average age is somewhere north of Methuselah’s. They traded down to this pick from #7, but most teams had Mayo going in the 2nd round. You going to question Belicheat? He may be a dirty coach, but he has historically drafted well.
11) Buffalo Bills – CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy St. – Having to play Tom Brady and the Patriots twice a year will lead to a knee-jerk reaction like this pick. (Knee-jerk here not having its usual negative connotation, rather a more literal definition) The trend of getting two players for the price of one continues with McKelvin, who should be a solid contributor. The Bills have so many needs to fill that it is hard to criticize them for filling two needs with one pick.
12) Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady, Boise State – The perfect pick for the Broncos, Clady wasn’t very high on too many teams’ boards because he didn’t have a lot of great film. Well, he played in the WAC, where most defensive ends are the size of linebackers in the bigger conferences, so he didn’t have to do much. He is, however, 6’6” and 309, which is just what the Broncos need as they work to replace their outdated speed O-line and get some beef up front. Another good thing about Clady? Think about all the wacky pass plays Boise St. runs…you have to have a ton of time to do that, and time starts with the left tackle.
13) Carolina Panthers – RB Jonathon Stewart, University of Oregon – Some teams were scared of taking Stewart in the first round, mainly because of his history of injuries. On the flip side of that coin is the toughness he has demonstrated in playing through some of those injuries. An explosive player, Stewart touched the ball 72 times when he was freshman, but nine of those touches resulted in touchdowns – can anybody say ‘dynamic’?
14) Chicago Bears – OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt – What do you say about the Bears? Coach Lovie (“___________ is our quarterback and we are sticking with him”) Smith has not seemed to have ANY success in acquiring any sort of competent QB, so the next best thing is to get somebody to protect the Brian Grieses, Kyle Ortons and Rex Grossmans of this world. Well, that’s probably not a bad idea, aside from the fact that Williams is far from being the strongest guy on the block. At 6’6”, 315 lbs, he should have been cranking the 225-lb. bench press that the NFL combine uses, but he managed a paltry 21 reps. A smart kid, Williams needs to live in the weight room for a few years before he can be an effective NFL player.
15) Kansas City Chiefs – OG Brandon Albert, University of Virginia – The Chiefs were able to (ostensibly) replace Jared Allen with their first pick of Glenn Dorsey and their offense is pretty solid, save for Brodie Croyle (so far – I saw a future NFL QB when I used to watch him play in college but he hasn’t ‘made the leap’ yet), who may blossom with a little more time to throw the ball, a serious problem last year. A solid, solid player, Albert didn’t miss a game in his college career and could well be one of those stalwarts who start for 10 years and you never learn his name.
16) Arizona Cardinals – CB Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State – He could end up becoming the biggest playmaker in the draft – this kid can do it all. Aside from being a top-tier cover corner, Rodgers-Cromartie can contribute almost anywhere on the field. For his college career (he played in all 44 games, starting the final 38), he had eight blocked kicks, 14 special teams tackles, averaged 23.9 yards on 36 kickoff returns and 7.3 yards on six punt returns, and scored a total of six touchdowns. Wow.
17) Detroit Lions – OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College – 6’6”, 314 lbs. That is one big wide receiver! Oh, sorry…just used to Matt Millen making picks. All signs point to this being Matt Millen’s first good first round pick; Cherilus started every game in his college career, the first 37 at right tackle, then he made the switch to left tackle for his senior year and all he did there was protect #3 overall pick Matt Ryan well enough that Matt Ryan could become the #3 pick. Big boy with quick feet and he has a propensity for burying the guys he is blocking, rather than just impeding their progress – sounds perfect for blue-collar Detroit, the fans there should love this guy.
18) Baltimore Ravens – QB Joe Flacco, University of Delaware – Wow, that’s a questionable pick. After not being able to get playing time at Pitt, Flacco transferred to Delaware, where he put up good numbers against pretty weak competition. He is tall and has a strong arm, but doesn’t have much experience getting the ball from under center at Delaware, as the Blue Hens ran a spread offense, with Flacco taking the majority of his snaps from the shotgun. That is going to be a tough transition, especially when he is now going to have men rushing him that look him in the eye, as opposed to looking him in the neck – the Colonial Athletic Association, in which U. of Delaware plays, is not exactly known for its massive defensive linemen. With Henne and Brohm still on the board, this doesn’t make sense to me.
19) Carolina Panthers – OT Jeff Otah, University of Pittsburgh – Otah, who is Nigerian-born, did not start playing football until his senior year of high school, but he is a raw talent who possesses better athletic ability than his combine numbers suggest because he participated with a bum ankle. He is 6’6”, 322 and will only get bigger and stronger, as he has only been in a big-time weightlifting program for two years. John Fox and the Panthers like to pound the ball, and after some work, Otah may be perfectly suited to the task.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Aqib Talib, University of Kansas – He could end up as the best defensive player out of this draft. A little undisciplined at times in college, that will be quickly checked by the coaching staff and veterans in Tampa. Bigger than most corners at nearly 6’1” and over 200 lbs, Talib still turned in a 4.4 40 at the combine, where he did have one glaring weakness – only 10 reps on the bench press, but I wonder how many reps Deion Sanders had? I’d wager it wasn’t many more and I’d have to say he was effective! Talib is not as fast as Deion (nobody is) but he is wired for football and the former Jayhawk should become a real NFL ball-hawk.
21) Atlanta Falcons – OT Sam Baker, University of Southern California – The new regime in the ATL made a smart, smart pick with Sam Baker. A four-year starter at USC, which is for all intents and purposes a pro system, Baker should be able to start from Day One and he will become Matt Ryan’s best friend in a big hurry. This is a great pick, a top-tier offensive lineman the same age as your new franchise QB…nothing left to do now but wait and see…at 6’4”, he is shorter than the prototypical left tackle in today’s NFL and has had some injuries, most of which he was able to play through.
22) Dallas Cowboys – RB Felix Jones, University of Arkansas – Two running backs from the SAME SCHOOL in the first round? Stop the madness. Good teams can find a running back anywhere in the draft, but Jerry Jones seems to think that Darren McFadden’s backup is worth a first-round pick. Whatever. That is what happens when businessmen make football decisions. A scat-back, Jones managed EIGHT reps on the bench press at the combine. BUST-O-LA!!!!!!
23) Pittsburgh Steelers – RB Rashard Mendenhall, University of Illinois – The fourth running back taken in the first round, Mendenhall will end up being better than the backs picked in front of him. At 5’10”, 225 lbs Mendenhall perfectly fits the mold for the new NFL running back and will provide a wicked one-two punch when paired with Fast Willie Parker. He is wicked quick, having the fastest shuttle time at the combine and had more than 3 times the reps on the bench press as the player picked in front of him. Last season’s Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 10, Mendenhall boasts a 6.5 yard per carry average for his Big 10 career, no small feat (he averaged 9.1 yards per carry his senior season).
24) Tennessee Titans – RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina – Wow. This kid is FAST. Almost Deion-fast. 4.24 in the 40 at the NFL combine this year, but how that will translate to success running the ball in NFL remains to be seen. What seems more likely is that he will be primarily a return man, and a 3rd down back to compliment the bruising inside running of LenDale White. To bludgeon a well-worn cliché further into submission, wait for it, you know what’s coming………………….you can’t teach speed.
25) Dallas Cowboys – CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida – A shutdown corner who also returns kicks and recently got arrested for a fight outside a bar…..wait, am I reviewing the ‘Boys draft pick or the guy they just traded for? At least Jerry Jones is consistent if nothing else. On one level, this makes sense if the Commish doesn’t reinstate Pacman ‘Jackass’ Jones, the Cowboys will need a player to fill those roles. On the other hand, many scouts noted his tight hips and inability to recognize routes quickly; those two factors could combine disastrously and result in his early exit from the NFL, although he may be able to hang on as a special teams player, he is very hard worker.
26) Houston Texans – OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech – Most teams had him projected as a late 2nd or early 3rd-round pick, but the Kubiak brain trust must see something in the former tight end who played in every game of his college career. Playing as a reserve TE his freshman year, Brown switched to the offensive line his sophomore year and started every game there for the duration of his college career. This pick keeps the trend of building a team from the line out that seems popular this year, especially with offensive linemen who have demonstrated consistency. The Texans have historically had issues on the offensive line, made famous by David Carr’s 7,324,224 sacks that he took over his years in Houston.
27) San Diego Chargers – CB Antoine Cason, University of Arizona – A team with few weaknesses, the Chargers could have gone one of two ways with this pick, another CB because you can never have too many good ones, or a pass rusher to complement Merriman. With the marquee pass rushers long off the board (and the Chargers probably still holding out hope of trading for Jason Taylor), San Diego made a smart pick with Cason. If his name sounds familiar, it should – his father Wendell played in the NFL for 3 years and his cousins Aveion Cason and Ken-yon Rambo played for a combined 8 years. He will be a smart player who listens to his coaches and has good guidance from family who has experience dealing with trappings that come with being an NFL star, which is likely for Cason.
28) Seattle Seahawks – DE Lawrence Jackson, University of Southern California – Oh, look, another Trojan. A solid defensive lineman who quietly put up decent numbers in a pro-style system and had a very good combine, Jackson seems like he could be one of those quiet contributors who people don’t notice while they’re averaging 10 sacks a year for a 10 year career. If anybody can call that quiet.
29) San Francisco 49ers – DE Kentwan Balmer, University of North Carolina – With the retirement of 49er stalwart Bryant Young, the Niners had little choice but to take the best defensive lineman left in the draft and they got a solid player in Balmer, with an outside chance that he could be very good. He bounced around the defensive line as a Tar Heel, having his best success as a run-stopper, something every team could use.
30) New York Jets – TE Dustin Keller, Purdue – For a team that has as many needs as the Jets, this is an odd pick, but one that could turn out well. After putting on 60 pounds of muscle after entering Purdue as a 185-lb. freshman WR, Keller developed into one of the nation’s premier tight ends and will give Pennington/Clemens a target over the middle, something they have been lacking. On paper, the kid looks great; 6’3”, 242, 4.53 in the 40, 26 reps on the bench press and a stellar 38 inch vertical leap. How that translates to the field remains to be seen, but he should work out just fine.
31) New York Giants – FS Kenny Phillips, University of Miami – The defending Super Bowl champs lost their starting free safety Gibril Wilson in free agency, so this pick is no shock, especially considering the Hurricane tradition of churning out NFL-caliber d-backs and safeties. Projected as the best safety in the draft by just about everybody who makes those projections, the Giants made the smart pick with Phillips who by all accounts looks like he’ll play on Sundays for a while.
