Geeklog Site

Check out where Chad & Jeff scored on this year's draft!

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:27:22 -0500

Chad's is 3rd overall on the mock draft 3 year average Jeff finished 8th this year on the mock draft Jeff's is 10th overall on the top 100 3 year average Jeff finished 13th this year on the top 100 http://thehuddlereport.com/FREE_CONTENT/top100mock.shtml

NFL Answers 2008 Pre-Draft Analysis

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:12:52 -0500

Watch NFL Answers' second version of the Pre-Draft Analysis. This year find out where and why Chad projects his picks. http://youtube.com/watch?v=cGBtgKFV9fg

Jeff Mullen's final top 100 for 2008 NFL Draft

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:28:21 -0500

Jeff Mullen's final top 100 for 2008 NFL Draft RANK POS PLAYER SCHOOL 1 OT Jake Long Michigan 2 DE Chris Long Virginia 3 DT Glenn Dorsey LSU 4 DE Vernon Gholston Ohio St 5 QB Matt Ryan Boston College 6 RB Darren McFadden Arkansas 7 DT Sedrick Ellis USC 8 CB Leodis McKelvin Troy 9 OT Ryan Clady Boise St 10 DE Derrick Harvey Florida 11 LB Keith Rivers USC 12 RB Rashard Mendenhall Illinois 13 CB Dom Rodgers-Cromartie Tennessee St 14 OT Jeff Otah Pittsburgh 15 OG Branden Albert Virginia 16 CB Mike Jenkins South Florida 17 OT Chris Williams Vanderbilt 18 DE Phillip Merling Clemson 19 RB Jonathan Stewart Oregon 20 WR Devin Thomas Michigan St 21 CB Aqib Talib Kansas 22 WR Malcolm Kelly Oklahoma 23 OT Gosder Cherilus Boston College 24 RB Felix Jones Arkansas 25 WR DeSean Jackson California 26 DT Kentwan Balmer North Carolina 27 DE Calais Campbell Miami 28 WR Limas Sweed Texas 29 LB Quentin Groves Auburn 30 S Kenny Phillips Miami 31 WR James Hardy Indiana 32 OT Sam Baker USC 33 LB Dan Connor Penn St 34 QB Brian Brohm Louisville 35 DE Lawrence Jackson USC 36 QB Joe Flacco Delaware 37 CB Brandon Flowers Virginia Tech 38 S Reggie Smith Oklahoma 39 LB Jerod Mayo Tennessee 40 CB Antoine Cason Arizona 41 TE Dustin Keller Purdue 42 WR Mario Manningham Michigan 43 DT Trevor Laws Notre Dame 44 WR Early Doucet LSU 45 LB Cliff Avril Purdue 46 TE Fred Davis USC 47 CB Justin King Penn St 48 RB Jamaal Charles Texas 49 CB Tracy Porter Indiana 50 OG Chilo Rachal USC 51 S Tyrell Johnson Arkansas St 52 DT Frank Okam Texas 53 LB Curtis Lofton Oklahoma 54 QB Chad Henne Michigan 55 TE Martellus Bennett Texas A&M 56 WR Andre Caldwell Florida 57 S DaJuan Morgan North Carolina St 58 LB Xavier Adibi Virginia Tech 59 RB Chris Johnson East Carolina 60 WR Eddie Royal Virginia Tech 61 RB Ray Rice Rutgers 62 DT Pat Sims Auburn 63 CB Patrick Lee Auburn 64 WR Earl Bennett Vanderbilt 65 CB Terrell Thomas USC 66 LB Erin Henderson Maryland 67 CB Charles Godfrey Iowa 68 RB Tashard Choice Georgia Tech 69 OT Carl Nicks Nebraska 70 RB Matt Forte Tulane 71 QB Andre Woodson Kentucky 72 CB Tyvon Branch Connecticut 73 TE John Carlson Notre Dame 74 WR Jordy Nelson Kansas St 75 TE Brad Cottam Tennessee 76 LB Philip Wheeler Georgia Tech 77 DT Dre Moore Maryland 78 WR Donnie Avery Houston 79 OC Mike Pollak Arizona St 80 DE Jason Jones Eastern Michigan 81 QB John David Booty USC 82 OT Duane Brown Virginia Tech 83 DE Chris Ellis Virginia Tech 84 S Josh Barrett Arizona St 85 DE Jeremy Thompson Wake Forest 86 DT Ahtyba Rubin Iowa St 87 LB Ali Highsmith LSU 88 RB Kevin Smith Central Florida 89 LB Tavares Gooden Miami 90 DT Red Bryant Texas A&M 91 OT Anthony Collins Kansas 92 LB Shawn Crable Michigan 93 OT John Greco Toledo 94 LB Geno Hayes Florida St 95 WR Dexter Jackson Appalachian St 96 CB Chevis Jackson LSU 97 OT Oniel Cousins UTEP 98 S Thomas DeCoud California 99 DT Marcus Harrison Arkansas 100 DE Darrell Robertson Georgia Tech

Jeff Mullen's Final 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:58:01 -0500

Find out who's going where in my final mock of the year. 1. Miami Dolphins-OT Jake Long, Michigan 2. St. Louis Rams-DE Chris Long, Virginia 3. Atlanta Falcons-QB Matt Ryan, Boston College 4. Oakland Raiders-RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas 5. Kansas City Chiefs-DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU 6. New York Jets-OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State 7. New England Patriots-OLB Keith Rivers, USC 8. Baltimore Ravens-CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State 9. Cincinnati Bengals-DT Sedrick Ellis, USC 10. New Orleans Saints-CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida 11. Buffalo Bills-CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy State 12. Denver Broncos-OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh 13. Carolina Panthers-DE Derrick Harvey, Florida 14. Chicago Bears-RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois 15. Detroit Lions-ILB Jarod Mayo, Tennessee 16. Arizona Cardinals-CB Aqib Talib, Kansas 17. Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota)-OG Branden Albert, Virginia 18. Houston Texans-OT Ryan Clady, Boise State 19. Philadelphia Eagles-WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-WR Donnie Avery, Houston 21. Washington Redskins-DE Phillip Merling, Clemson 22. Dallas Cowboys-OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt 23. Pittsburgh Steelers-RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon 24. Tennessee Titans-WR Limas Sweed, Texas 25. Seattle Seahawks-DT Trevor Laws, Notre Dame 26. Jacksonville Jaguars-DE Calais Campbell, Miami (FL) 27. San Diego Chargers-WR DeSean Jackson, California 28. Dallas Cowboys-RB Felix Jones, Arkansas 29. San Francisco 49ers-OLB Quentin Groves, Auburn 30. Green Bay Packers-CB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma 31. New York Giants-S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL)

Chad Thompson's FINAL 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:11:59 -0500

The time has come. The 2008 NFL Draft is here. We know who is going number one overall, but who is going two, and beyond? Find out in my FINAL 2008 NFL mock draft. 1. Miami Dolphins-OT Jake Long, Michigan One of the main reasons Bill Parcells left the Dallas Cowboys� organization was because of the uncertainty in the Cowboys� offensive line. It has been said and it is known that Bill Parcells is a defensive guy, but he realizes the importance of the offensive line too. Jake Long is the best left tackle to offer in this draft and that�s why he was the pick. ---- 2. St. Louis Rams-DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU Well it�s pretty simple for the Rams, they know who�s there and they know who�s not. On one hand Chris Long would be a great fit for the Rams and allow Carriker to stay put at a rumored 315 pounds. On the other hand Dorsey is the better player available and would be too hard to pass up on. La�Roi Glover is up there in age and Dorsey could anchor the rest of the defensive line and allow pressure to get free on the ends from Little and Carriker or James Hall. Watch out for Vernon Gholston who can play defensive end too. 3. Atlanta Falcons-QB Matt Ryan, Boston College Too bad for the Falcons their top two options are gone but it is now being rumored that the Falcons� front office are zeroing in on Matt Ryan no matter who is left. The Falcons won�t be a team again until they can get a quarterback, so it is important they end up with one somewhere in this draft and it appears it will be with their first round pick. If for some reason Ryan is not the pick look for Sedrick Ellis the number two rated defensive tackle in the draft. If Ellis is the pick, the Falcons will have to look to a guy like Joe Flacco in round two whom some believe may end up being the best quarterback out of this draft class. 4. Oakland Raiders-RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Darren McFadden is the best player in the draft and even though Justin Fargas has gotten better over the years, and Dominic Rhodes has been a serviceable running back, and not to mention there are five total half backs on the Raiders� roster currently; all that is thrown out the window if McFadden is still available. In this situation the Raiders still have every option available to them that they want. They could take Chris Long, son of Howie, they could take Vernon Gholston a freak speed rusher, or they could have Darren McFadden, a stud running back who fits the description of a Raiders� player to a T. The choice is ultimately McFadden, the best available. 5. Kansas City Chiefs-DE Chris Long, Virginia It doesn�t make the most since in the world to me for the Chiefs to trade a premiere defensive end just so they could draft another one, and isn�t it ironic that Howie�s son will play for the team he once considered a rival? But that�s what the NFL Draft is all about, the unexpected possibilities, the surprises, and the unknown. And Jared Allen and the Chiefs couldn�t have maintained their relationship anyways so he had to be traded. Chris Long could give the Chiefs flexibility on the defensive line, and could really be moved inside if it came down to it. Look for them to upgrade the offensive line at their second first round pick. 6. New York Jets-DT Sedrick Ellis, USC The Jets need some help in the new 3-4 scheme that Eric Mangini is trying to implement. Sedrick Ellis is perfect for the 3-4 defense and can give the Jets some explosiveness on the defensive line. This becomes a tough decision for the Jets as Vernon Gholston is still available, and could very well be the pick. If Chris Long makes it here too he will definitely be an option; in this situation though Sedrick Ellis is the best option. 7. New England Patriots-OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State With Asante Samuel in Philadelphia, the Patriots need a top corner to come in right away and start, however with Gholston still available that may change the Patriots� approach. New England has always had a solid core of linebackers and in order to keep that success going they need to inject some youth into the team. Gholston is a great value pick and many probably don�t expect him to fall this far. 8. Baltimore Ravens-CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy State With Matt Ryan off the board it�s all about best player available for the Ravens and they haven�t done too badly of a job in the past using the BPA strategy. In this situation based off of needs and BPA, Leodis McKelvin is the best choice and the top cornerback in this draft. Chris McAllister is the Ravens best corner and he is a good one but outside of that they have Samari Rolle who still is questionable in man to man coverage, and behind him is a bunch of unknowns. McKelvin could come in right away and clean that position up. 9. Cincinnati Bengals-DE Derrick Harvey, Florida With Ellis long gone the Bengals look to their next option or options; and I think there are three prospects here that the Bengals will look at: Keith Rivers, Derrick Harvey, and Ryan Clady. The Bengals did sign Antwan Odom but even with that signing I don think Marvin Lewis will shy away from a solid defensive end prospect like Harvey. 10. New Orleans Saints-OLB Keith Rivers, USC The Saints had one of the worst set of linebackers in the NFL before Jonathan Vilma was brought to the team but even with Vilma there is still a need at linebacker. Rivers is the best true linebacker in the draft and would be an excellent pick for the Saints. Look for the cornerback position to be an option here as well. The Saints are also a team to keep any eye on as far as trades. Word is they would really love to have a Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis, but do they have enough and what would that be to move up five spots? Trades are very hard to get done so I think the Saints will have to stay put. 11. Buffalo Bills-CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State Outside of Terrence McGee the Bills don�t really have a worthy staring corner and with DRC still on the board the Bills would be smart to snatch him up. I also think wide receiver will be a position the Bills will target on draft day, and maybe even an offensive tackle. 12. Denver Broncos-RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois Here is the team to look out for. Mendenhall could end up being the best running back in this draft and has a boat load of potential. Denver is always the team to take a running back when no one expects it and they are bound and determined to strike again this year. The Broncos are good at making almost any running back succeed in their system but it�s been a while since they have used an absolute stud in their system, the last time being Clinton Portis. Of course offensive tackle will be an option as well. 13. Carolina Panthers-OT Ryan Clady, Boise State In this part of the draft it�s likely to see a few offensive tackles go and there really isn�t a sure number two offensive tackle prospect outside of Jake Long, but I think Ryan Clady has the most potential to be a dominant offensive tackle. And offensive tackle is the position the Panthers are going with. 14. Chicago Bears-OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh After having Otah in the top five at one point one would assume the Bears are getting some good value with this pick and they are. They really need some help on that offense both passing and running the ball. If Mendenhall is here I really think the Bears have a chance to take him but if not look for them to go the offensive tackle route. 15. Detroit Lions-ILB Jarod Mayo, Tennessee The Lions could go with a guy like Chris Williams here but it�s really becoming obvious that Mayo is the Lion�s guy. Marinelli really hit on the Ernie Sims pick and if he can do the same with Mayo the once shaky linebacker core that existed in Detroit will become a force. Mayo has great size and speed for the position and is just what the Lions need in the middle of their defense. If not Mayo look for a defensive end, but with Harvey off the board Mayo is almost certain to be the pick. 16. Arizona Cardinals-CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida The Cardinals need a top corner in the secondary with Antrel Rolle making the move to safety and Jenkins is maybe the most underrated corner out of the first round. Jenkins has the ability to be a stud at the next level and will have a chance to start right away. 17. Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota)-OG Branden Albert, Virginia Word is that the Chiefs are comfortable moving forward with Brodie Croyle at quarterback, and that they are very high on Branden Albert out of Virginia. When you look back at the Chiefs� success on offense it was a result of their great offensive line. With the loss of Willie Roaf and such, a big hole is left on the offensive line. A pick like this isn�t flashy, but if Larry Johnson gets back to running like he once was it will be a pick well spent. Not to mention Kansas City gets a pair of Cavaliers, one to fix the defensive line, and one to fix up the offensive line. 18. Houston Texans-OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt The Texans get who I believe they ultimately want. Houston has had the need at offensive tackle for years so it�s nice to see them have a chance to finally upgrade the position, but in doing so they pass on another position player and a guy who the fans can cheer for. Williams is a great value pick, but keep your eyes peeled for Jonathan Stewart. 19. Philadelphia Eagles-WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State With all the wide receivers still on the board and with Philadelphia bringing in all sorts of receivers for workouts there is no reason they can�t upgrade in this draft. Devin Thomas has become the top receiver in this draft with his great combination of size and speed. 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-QB Brian Brohm, Louisville The Bucs have never been afraid to reach for a player they really like and this year it�s Brian Brohm. Tampa Bay really doesn�t have much of a future at the quarterback position. They have gotten by the past few years on players such as Jeff Garcia, who did lead the Bucs to the playoffs, but it�s time to invest in a guy for at least five years. Right now the Bucs have six possible quarterbacks on the roster and zero have a future starting job in this league. Jon Gruden really needs a new quarterback and he really likes Brohm, who has good size and arm strength along with adequate mobility. 21. Washington Redskins-DE Phillip Merling, Clemson Amazing value here for the Redskins, and that�s thanks to the Vikings who got out of the first round for their new defensive end Jared Allen, but that has allowed Merling to fall to the Redskins. Merling might not get a starting job right away but he is definitely coming into a situation where he will have a chance to shine. 22. Dallas Cowboys-CB Aqib Talib, Kansas Even with the acquisition on Pacman Jones the Cowboys insist they won�t change their draft plans, and those plans include bringing in a cornerback. Aqib Talib is excellent value here at twenty two, and would give the Cowboys plenty of talent and depth in the secondary. 23. Pittsburgh Steelers-RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon Fast Willy is great but Pittsburgh is now a team that needs to have a two headed monster at running back. Stewart has great size for a back, and underrated speed to along with his size. Pittsburgh has always had a big tough back to get the tough yards, and since Jerome Bettis they haven�t had that. Stewart can come in right away and get around ten carries a game to take some heat off of Willy Parker who is a great back himself. This pick will give the Steelers more options in the long run. 24. Tennessee Titans-WR Limas Sweed, Texas We�ve all seen this pick and we all know how special it would be for Vince Young to hook up with Limas Sweed in Tennessee. Sweed has great size and ability to fight for the jump ball, but he does lack speed. Either way the Titans get a potential number one target for Young. 25. Seattle Seahawks-DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina If Jonathan Stewart or a worthy offensive tackle was available here I think the Seahawks would take one of the two, but since neither seems to be an option, Balmer is the next best thing. The Seahawks could look to round two to draft Trevor Laws but there is no guarantee he�ll be there. Balmer would be the eventual replacement to Rocky Bernard, who is a free agent at the end of the season. 26. Jacksonville Jaguars-S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL) The Jags would live to have a defensive lineman at this spot but it doesn�t appear there is one here that they like. Kenny Phillips can compete for a starting job right away, and would make an excellent pair of safeties with Reggie Nelson. If Phillip Merling is still available here he will most likely be the pick. 27. San Diego Chargers-WR DeSean Jackson, California The Chargers already have one Jackson who has great size and leaping ability, and now with DeSean Jackson they�ll have the top punt returner in this draft class and a guy with great speed in the open field. Jackson would give the Chargers their only missing link on offense; a speed receiver. 28. Dallas Cowboys-RB Felix Jones, Arkansas One Jones out, another Jones in; Marion Barber proved to be the better back once and for all and should have a starting spot guaranteed next year for the Cowboys. But as good as Barber is, Dallas still needs a back that can take it 70 yards down the field and spell Marion �The Barbarian.� With Stewart still on the board at the time of the Cowboys twenty second pick it enabled them to wait on Felix Jones, and take another position of need. 29. San Francisco 49ers-OLB Quentin Groves, Auburn The Niners are still trying to build up that 3-4 defense, and you can never have enough linebackers in that scheme. Groves has the size, speed, and strength to be a great outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. 30. Green Bay Packers-CB Antoine Cason, Arizona Packers have a great secondary but it never hurts to have depth and Cason would be an excellent pick for that, and could be groomed as an eventual starter. Cason is the top corner in the draft in some people�s minds and in others isn�t a first round pick, so I guess he falls somewhere in between that. 31. New York Giants-CB Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech A defensive end will be an option here come draft day but in this mock there aren�t any left who are worth the pick so the Giants look to the secondary, their other problem, and take the best available defensive back which is Brandon Flowers.

Kevin Alvidera's Updated 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:39:49 -0500

Jake Long has been signed as a Miami Dolphin. Here are my projections for this year's first round of the NFL Draft. Commentary coming soon... 1. Miami Dolphins-Jake Long//Michigan 2. St. Louis Rams-Vernon Gholston//Ohio State 3. Atlanta Falcons-Darren McFadden//Arkansas 4. Oakland Raiders-Glenn Dorsey//LSU 5. Kansas City Chiefs-Chris Long//Virginia 6. New York Jets-Derrick Harvey//Florida 7. New England Patriots (from SF)-Leodis McKelvin//Troy 8. Baltimore Ravens-Matt Ryan//Boston College 9. Cincinnati Bengals-Sedrick Ellis//USC 10. New Orleans Saints-Keith Rivers//USC 11. Buffalo Bills-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie//Tennessee State 12. Denver Broncos-Chris Williams//Vanderbilt 13. Carolina Panthers-Ryan Clady//Boise State 14. Chicago Bears-Jeff Otah//Pittsburgh 15. Detroit Lions-Rashard Mendenhall//Illinois 16. Arizona Cardinals-Antoine Cason//Arizona 17. Kansas City Chiefs (from MIN)-Branden Albert//Virginia 18. Houston Texans-Mike Jenkins//South Florida 19. Philadelphia Eagles-Devin Thomas//Michigan State 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Malcolm Kelly//Oklahoma 21. Washington Redskins-Phillip Merling//Clemson 22. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE)-Felix Jones//Arkansas 23. Pittsburgh Steelers-Gosder Cherilus//Boston College 24. Tennessee Titans-Limas Sweed//Texas 25. Seattle Seahawks-Jonathan Stewart//Oregon 26. Jacksonville Jaguars-Calais Campbell/Miami 27. San Diego Chargers-Kenny Phillips//Miami 28. Dallas Cowboys-Agib Talib//Kansas 29. San Francisco 49ers (from IND)-Jerod Mayo//Tennessee 30. Green Bay Packers-Kentwan Bawlmer//North Carolina 31. New England Patriots-forfeited 32. New York Giants-Dan Connor//Penn State

John Stoebe's Final 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:22:19 -0500

1-Dolphins-Jake Long OT, Michigan 2-Rams-Chris Long DE, Virginia 3-Falcons-Glenn Dorsey DT, LSU 4-Raiders-Vernon Gholston DE/OLB, Ohio St 5-Chiefs-Sedrick Ellis DT, USC Cick to view full mock draft 6-Jets-Darren McFadden RB, Arkansas 7-Patriots-Mike Jenkins CB, USF 8-Ravens-Matt Ryan QB, Boston College 9-Bengals-Keith Rivers LB, USC 10-Saints-Dominique Rogers-Cromartie CB, Tennessee St 11-Bills-Leodis McKelvin CB, Troy 12-Broncos-Branden Albert OG, Virginia 13-Panthers-Rashard Mendenhall RB, Illinois 14-Bears-Jeff Otah OT, Pittsburgh 15-Lions-Derrick Harvey DE, Florida 16-Cardinals-Ryan Clady OT, Boise St 17-Chiefs-Chris Williams OT, Vanderbilt 18-Texans-Aqib Talib CB, Kansas 19-Eagles-Limas Sweed WR, Texas 20-Buccaneers-Phillip Merling DE, Clemson 21-Redskins-Devin Thomas WR, Michigan St. 22-Cowboys-DeSean Jackson WR, Cal 23-Steelers-Kentwan Balmer DT, UNC 24-Titans-Antoine Cason CB, Arizona 25-Seahawks-Jon Stewart RB, Oregon 26-Jaguars-Quentin Groves DE, Auburn 27-Chargers-Gosder Chilerus OT, Boston College. 28-Cowboys-Felix Jones RB, Arkansas 29-49ers-Jerod Mayo LB, Tennessee 30-Packers-Dustin Keller TE, Purdue 31-Giants-Kenny Phillips S, Miami

Chad Thompson's April 23rd 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:57:43 -0500

Now that we know Jake Long is going to Miami, who is going to St. Louis?? And what will the rest of the teams decide? Find out in my new NFL Mock Draft. 1. Miami Dolphins-OT Jake Long, Michigan One of the main reasons Bill Parcells left the Dallas Cowboys� organization was because of the uncertainty in the Cowboys� offensive line. It has been said and it is known that Bill Parcells is a defensive guy, but he realizes the importance of the offensive line too. Jake Long is the best left tackle to offer in this draft and that�s why he was the pick. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. St. Louis Rams-DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU Well it�s pretty simple for the Rams, they know who�s there and they know who�s not. On one hand Chris Long would be a great fit for the Rams and allow Carriker to stay put. On the other hand Dorsey is the better player available and would be too hard to pass up on. La�Roi Glover is up there in age and Dorsey could anchor the rest of the defensive line and allow pressure to get free on the ends from Little and Carriker or James Hall. Watch out for Vernon Gholston who can play defensive end too. 3. Atlanta Falcons-QB Matt Ryan, Boston College Too bad for the Falcons their top two options are gone but it is now being rumored that the Falcons� front office are zeroing in on Matt Ryan no matter who is left. The Falcons won�t be a team again until they can get a quarterback, so it is important they end up with one somewhere in this draft and it appears it will be with their first round pick. If for some reason Ryan is not the pick look for Sedrick Ellis the number two rated defensive tackle in the draft. If Ellis is the pick, the Falcons will have to look to a guy like Joe Flacco in round two who some believe may end up being the best quarterback out of this draft class. 4. Oakland Raiders-RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Darren McFadden is the best player in the draft and even though Justin Fargas has gotten better over the years, and Dominic Rhodes has been a serviceable running back, and not to mention there are five total half backs on the Raiders� roster currently; all that is thrown out the window if McFadden is still available. In this situation the Raiders still have every option available to them that they want. They could take Chris Long, son of Howie, they could take Vernon Gholston a freak speed rusher, or they could have Darren McFadden, a stud running back who fits the description of a Raiders� player to a T. The choice is ultimately McFadden, the best available. 5. Kansas City Chiefs-DE Chris Long, Virginia It doesn�t make the most since in the world to me for the Chiefs to trade a premiere defensive end just so they could draft another one, and isn�t it ironic that Howie�s son will play for the team he once considered a rival? But that�s what the NFL Draft is all about, the unexpected possibilities, the surprises, and the unknown. Chris Long could give the Chiefs flexibility on the defensive line, and could really be moved inside if it came down to it. Look for them to upgrade the offensive line at their second first round pick. 6. New York Jets-DT Sedrick Ellis, USC The Jets need some help in the new 3-4 scheme that Eric Mangini is trying to implement. Sedrick Ellis is perfect for the 3-4 defense and can give the Jets some explosiveness on the defensive line. This becomes a tough decision for the Jets as Vernon Gholston is still available, and could very well be the pick. If Chris Long makes it here too he will definitely be an option. In this situation though Sedrick Ellis is the best option. 7. New England Patriots-OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State With Asante Samuel in Philadelphia, the Patriots need a top corner to come in right away and start, however with Gholston still available that may change the Patriots� approach. New England has always had a solid core of linebackers and in order to keep that success going they need to inject some youth into the team. Gholston is a great value pick and could even go number one if the Jake Long pick falls through for Miami. 8. Baltimore Ravens-CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy State With Matt Ryan off the board it�s all about best player available for the Ravens and they haven�t done too bad of a job in the past using the BPA strategy. In this situation based off of needs and BPA, Leodis McKelvin is the best choice and the top cornerback in this draft. Chris McAllister is the Ravens best corner and he is a good one but outside of that they have Samari Rolle who still is questionable in man to man coverage, and behind him is a bunch of unknowns. McKelvin could come in right away and clean that position up. 9. Cincinnati Bengals-DE Derrick Harvey, Florida With Ellis long gone the Bengals look to their next option or options; and I think there are three prospects here that the Bengals will look at: Keith Rivers, Derrick Harvey, and Ryan Clady. The Bengals did sign Antwan Odom but even with that signing I don think Marvin Lewis will shy away from a solid defensive end prospect like Harvey. 10. New Orleans Saints-OLB Keith Rivers, USC The Saints had one of the worst set of linebackers in the NFL before Jonathan Vilma was brought to the team but even with Vilma there is still a need at linebacker. Rivers is the best true linebacker in the draft and would be an excellent pick for the Saints. Look for Leodis McKelvin to be an option as well. 11. Buffalo Bills-CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State Outside of Terrence McGee the Bills don�t really have a worthy staring corner and with DRC still on the board the Bills would be smart to snatch him up. I also think wide receiver will be a position the Bills will target on draft day, and maybe even an offensive tackle. 12. Denver Broncos-RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois Here is the team to look out for. Mendenhall could end up being the best running back in this draft and has a boat load of potential. Denver is always the team to take a running back when no one expects it and they are bound and determined to strike again this year. The Broncos are good at making almost any running back succeed in their system but it�s been a while since they have used an absolute stud in their system, the last time being Clinton Portis. Of course offensive tackle will be an option as well. 13. Carolina Panthers-OT Ryan Clady, Boise State In this part of the draft it�s likely to see a few offensive tackles go and there really isn�t a sure number two offensive tackle prospect outside of Jake Long, but I think Ryan Clady has the most potential to be a dominant offensive tackle. And offensive tackle is the position the Panthers are going with. 14. Chicago Bears-OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh After having Otah in the top five at one point one would assume the Bears are getting some good value with this pick and they are. They really need some help on that offense both passing and running the ball. If Mendenhall is here I really think the Bears have a chance to take him but if not look for them to go the offensive tackle route. 15. Detroit Lions-ILB Jarod Mayo, Tennessee The Lions could go with a guy like Chris Williams here but it�s really becoming obvious that Mayo is the Lion�s guy. Marinelli really hit on the Ernie Sims pick and if he can do the same with Mayo the once shaky linebacker core that existed in Detroit will become a force. Mayo has great size and speed for the position and is just what the Lions need in the middle of their defense. 16. Arizona Cardinals-CB Aqib Talib, Kansas The Cardinals need a top corner in the secondary with Antrel Rolle making the move to safety and Talib is maybe the most underrated corner out of the first round. Talib was an interception machine in college, and has the best ability to be a playmaking corner in the NFL. 17. Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota)-OG Branden Albert, Virginia Word is that the Chiefs are comfortable moving forward with Brodie Croyle at quarterback, and that they are very high on Branden Albert out of Virginia. When you look back at the Chiefs� success on offense it was a result of their great offensive line. With the loss of Willie Roaf and such, a big hole is left on the offensive line. A pick like this isn�t flashy, but if Larry Johnson gets back to running like he once was it will be a pick well spent. 18. Houston Texans-OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt The Texans get who I believe they ultimately want. Houston has had the need at offensive tackle for years so it�s nice to see them have a chance to finally upgrade the position, but in doing so they pass on another position player and a guy who the fans can cheer for. Williams is a great value pick, but keep your eyes peeled for Jonathan Stewart. 19. Philadelphia Eagles-WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State With all the wide receivers still and with Philadelphia bringing in all sorts of receivers there is no reason they can�t upgrade in this draft. Devin Thomas has become the top receiver in this draft with his great combination of size and speed. 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida The Bucs have had a great secondary for years, but Barber is getting up there in age and it�s not too late to find a suitable replacement. Jenkins is a quick and agile corner with good bulk for his size. 21. Washington Redskins-DE Phillip Merling, Clemson Amazing value here for the Redskins, and that�s thanks to the Vikings who got out of the first round for their new defensive end Jared Allen, but that has allowed Merling to fall to the Redskins. Merling might not get a starting job right away but he is definitely coming into a situation where he will have a chance to shine. 22. Dallas Cowboys-WR DeSean Jackson, California Cornerback is a definite possibility here but with the chance of bringing Pac-Man in the Cowboys can look to another position of need. TO is getting older, as well as Terry Glenn, who is looked at as the team�s only deep threat. The Cowboys are in need of a guy who can stretch the field and be a force in the return game. DeSean Jackson can take care of both of those areas. 23. Pittsburgh Steelers-OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College Steelers need help on the offensive line with Faneca now out of the picture. Cherilus can come in and challenge for a starting job right away at left tackle. 24. Tennessee Titans-WR Limas Sweed, Texas We�ve all seen this pick and we all know how special it would be for Vince Young to hook up with Limas Sweed in Tennessee. Sweed has great size and ability to fight for the jump ball, but he does lack speed. Either way the Titans get a potential number one target for Young. 25. Seattle Seahawks-RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon Even with the toe injury there is no way Stewart falls past Seattle. The Seahawks added Julius Jones from the Cowboys but to make him the sole starter is very risky especially now with Alexander completely out of the picture. Stewart is great value at this point in the draft and is a great fit in Seattle. 26. Jacksonville Jaguars-DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina It looks as if a defensive lineman is the Jaguars� best bet in this year�s draft. After trading away Marcus Stroud it leaves a giant hole in the Jags� interior defensive line. With two defensive tackles already taken in the top five the next one comes twenty three picks later. Balmer had a good senior year and can come in right away and start. 27. San Diego Chargers-S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL) The Chargers need a safety to pair with Eric Weddle and Phillips has the most potential. 28. Dallas Cowboys-RB Felix Jones, Arkansas One Jones out, another Jones in; Marion Barber proved to be the better back once and for all and should have a starting spot guaranteed next year for the Cowboys. But as good as Barber is, Dallas still needs a back that can take it 70 yards down the field and spell Marion �The Barbarian.� With Stewart still on the board at the time of the Cowboys twenty second pick it enabled them to wait on Felix Jones, and take another possible stud in DeSean Jackson. 29. San Francisco 49ers-OLB Quentin Groves, Auburn The Niners are still trying to build up that 3-4 defense, and you can never have enough linebackers in that scheme. Groves has the size, speed, and strength to be a great outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. 30. Green Bay Packers-CB Antoine Cason, Arizona Packers have a great secondary but it never hurts to have depth and Cason would be an excellent pick for that, and could be groomed as an eventual starter. Cason is the top corner in the draft in some people�s minds and in others isn�t a first round pick, so I guess he falls somewhere in between that. 31. New York Giants-CB Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech A defensive end will be an option here come draft day but in this mock there aren�t any left who are worth the pick so the Giants look to the secondary, their other problem, and take the best available defensive back which is Brandon Flowers.

Chad Thompson's April 21st 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:10:44 -0500

Sedrick Ellis into the top five? Is Jake Long still number one? A new team in the running for Rashard Mendenhall? All these questions and many more are answered in my NFL Answers April 21st edition mock draft. 1. Miami Dolphins-OT Jake Long, Michigan One of the main reasons Bill Parcells left the Dallas Cowboys� organization was because of the uncertainty in the Cowboys� offensive line. It has been said and it is known that Bill Parcells is a defensive guy, but I think he realizes the importance of the offensive line too. Jake Long is the best left tackle to offer in this draft and don�t think for a second that Bill Parcells won�t go with him as the first pick. If he does not go with Long look for him to take the same approach he did with the Cowboys and that is trying to get that edge rusher on the defense, and in this draft that would be Vernon Gholston. 2. St. Louis Rams-DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU This pick becomes very interesting for the Rams if Jake Long goes first overall. On one hand Chris Long would be a great fit for the Rams and allow Carriker to stay put. On the other hand Dorsey is the better player available and would be too hard to pass up on. La�Roi Glover is up there in age and Dorsey could anchor the rest of the defensive line and allow pressure to get free on the ends from Little and Carriker or James Hall. Watch out for Vernon Gholston who can play defensive end too. 3. Atlanta Falcons-DT Sedrick Ellis, USC With Joe Flacco showing off his stuff at the combine and in the quarterback drills he may be the top quarterback in some teams� eyes, but will also probably make it to the second round. That enables the Falcons to look elsewhere with this pick. The Falcons are in desperate need of help at defensive tackle and even with Glenn Dorsey off of the board the Falcons will take Sedrick Ellis, who some believe the Falcons like better anyways. 4. Oakland Raiders-RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Darren McFadden is the best player in the draft and even though Justin Fargas has gotten better over the years, and Dominic Rhodes has been a serviceable running back, and not to mention there are five total half backs on the Raiders� roster currently; all that is thrown out the window if McFadden is still available. In this situation the Raiders still have every option available to them that they want. They could take Chris Long, son of Howie, they could take Vernon Gholston a freak speed rusher, or they could have Darren McFadden, a stud running back who fits the description of a Raiders� player to a T. The choice is ultimately McFadden, the best available. 5. Kansas City Chiefs-OG Branden Albert, Virginia Word is that the Chiefs are comfortable moving forward with Brodie Croyle at quarterback, and that they are very high on Branden Albert out of Virginia. When you look back at the Chiefs� success on offense it was a result of their great offensive line. With the loss of Willie Roaf and such, a big hole is left on the offensive line. A pick like this isn�t flashy, but if Larry Johnson gets back to running like he once was it will be a pick well spent. 6. New York Jets-DE Chris Long, Virginia The Jets need some help in the new 3-4 scheme that Eric Mangini is trying to implement. Chris Long is perfect for the 3-4 defense and can give the Jets flexibility on the defensive line. This becomes a tough decision for the Jets as Vernon Gholston is still available, and could very well be the pick. 7. New England Patriots-OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State With Asante Samuel in Philadelphia, the Patriots need a top corner to come in right away and start, however with Gholston still available that may change the Patriots� approach. New England has always had a solid core of linebackers and in order to keep that success going they need to inject some youth into the team. Gholston is a great value pick and could even go number one if the Jake Long pick falls through for Miami. 8. Baltimore Ravens-QB Matt Ryan, Boston College In my opinion it�s a shame that former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith won�t get a chance to start in Baltimore but with a new coaching staff in place that�s what�s going to happen. Ryan is the top quarterback in this draft and is an excellent choice to start over with at the quarterback position. 9. Cincinnati Bengals-DE Derrick Harvey, Florida With Ellis long gone the Bengals look to their next option or options; and I think there are three prospects here that the Bengals will look at: Keith Rivers, Derrick Harvey, and Ryan Clady. The Bengals did sign Antwan Odom but even with that signing I don think Marvin Lewis will shy away from a solid defensive end prospect like Harvey. 10. New Orleans Saints-OLB Keith Rivers, USC The Saints had one of the worst set of linebackers in the NFL before Jonathan Vilma was brought to the team but even with Vilma there is still a need at linebacker. Rivers is the best true linebacker in the draft and would be an excellent pick for the Saints. Look for Leodis McKelvin to be an option as well. 11. Buffalo Bills-CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy State Outside of Terrence McGee the Bills don�t really have a worthy staring corner and with McKelvin still on the board the Bills would be smart to snatch him up. I also think wide receiver will be a position the Bills will target on draft day, and maybe even an offensive tackle. 12. Denver Broncos-RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois Here is the team to look out for. Mendenhall could end up being the best running back in this draft and has a boat load of potential. Denver is always the team to take a running back when no one expects it and they are bound and determined to strike again this year. The Broncos are good at making almost any running back succeed in their system but it�s been a while since they have used an absolute stud in their system, the last time being Clinton Portis. Of course offensive tackle will be an option as well. 13. Carolina Panthers-OT Ryan Clady, Boise State In this part of the draft it�s likely to see a few offensive tackles go and there really isn�t a sure number two offensive tackle prospect outside of Jake Long, but I think Ryan Clady has the most potential to be a dominant offensive tackle. And offensive tackle is the position the Panthers are going with. 14. Chicago Bears-OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh After having Otah in the top five at one point one would assume the Bears are getting some good value with this pick and they are. They really need some help on that offense both passing and running the ball. If Mendenhall is here I really think the Bears have a chance to take him but if not look for them to go the offensive tackle route. 15. Detroit Lions-ILB Jarod Mayo, Tennessee The Lions could go with a guy like Chris Williams here but it�s really becoming obvious that Mayo is the Lion�s guy. Marinelli really hit on the Ernie Sims pick and if he can do the same with Mayo the once shaky linebacker core that existed in Detroit will become a force. Mayo has great size and speed for the position and is just what the Lions need in the middle of their defense. 16. Arizona Cardinals-CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State The Cardinals need a top corner in the secondary with Antrel Rolle making the move to safety and Cromartie looks to have the stuff of a stud cornerback. Rodgers in my opinion is a top ten prospect but with the combination of team needs and just overall depth at the corner position this year, it allows him to fall to this point. 17. Minnesota Vikings-DE Phillip Merling, Clemson The Vikings offense should be set for now with a good offensive line, a superstar at running back, and at least a guy they are going to put some stock into at the quarterback position. Defense is another story, the Vikings will yet again reach into the defensive end pool and drag out Phillip Merling who is the best available. 18. Houston Texans-OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt The Texans get who I believe they ultimately want. Houston has had the need at offensive tackle for years so it�s nice to see them have a chance to finally upgrade the position, but in doing so they pass on another position player and a guy who the fans can cheer for. Williams is a great value pick, but keep your eyes peeled for Jonathan Stewart. 19. Philadelphia Eagles-WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State With all the wide receivers still and with Philadelphia bringing in all sorts of receivers there is no reason they can�t upgrade in this draft. Devin Thomas has become the top receiver in this draft with his great combination of size and speed. 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida The Bucs have had a great secondary for years, but Barber is getting up there in age and it�s not too late to find a suitable replacement. Jenkins is a quick and agile corner with good bulk for his size. 21. Washington Redskins-DE Calais Campbell, Miami (FL) The Redskins have always liked their Miami players and they have the chance to add another one here. Campbell has incredible size and much potential. Campbell might not be the type of player to come in right away and explode but in a few years when Phillip Daniels is long gone look for Campbell to show what he�s worth. 22. Dallas Cowboys-WR DeSean Jackson, California Cornerback is a definite possibility here but with the chance of bringing Pac-Man in the Cowboys can look to another position of need. TO is getting older, as well as Terry Glenn, who is looked at as the team�s only deep threat. The Cowboys are in need of a guy who can stretch the field and be a force in the return game. DeSean Jackson can take care of both of those areas. 23. Pittsburgh Steelers-OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College Steelers need help on the offensive line with Faneca now out of the picture. Cherilus can come in and challenge for a starting job right away at left tackle. 24. Tennessee Titans-WR Limas Sweed, Texas We�ve all seen this pick and we all know how special it would be for Vince Young to hook up with Limas Sweed in Tennessee. Sweed has great size and ability to fight for the jump ball, but he does lack speed. Either way the Titans get a potential number one target for Young. 25. Seattle Seahawks-RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon Even with the toe injury there is no way Stewart falls past Seattle. The Seahawks added Julius Jones from the Cowboys to take some pressure off Alexander, but if anything Stewart could come in and split with Julius and end the career of Shaun Alexander once and for all 26. Jacksonville Jaguars-DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina It looks as if a defensive lineman is the Jaguars� best bet in this year�s draft. After trading away Marcus Stroud it leaves a giant hole in the Jags� interior defensive line. With two defensive tackles already taken in the top five the next one comes twenty three picks later. Balmer had a good senior year and can come in right away and start. 27. San Diego Chargers-S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL) The Chargers need a safety to pair with Eric Weddle and Phillips has the most potential. 28. Dallas Cowboys-RB Felix Jones, Arkansas One Jones out, another Jones in; Marion Barber proved to be the better back once and for all and should have a starting spot guaranteed next year for the Cowboys. But as good as Barber is, Dallas still needs a back that can take it 70 yards down the field and spell Marion �The Barbarian.� With Stewart still on the board at the time of the Cowboys twenty second pick it enabled them to wait on Felix Jones, and take another possible stud in DeSean Jackson. 29. San Francisco 49ers-OLB Quentin Groves, Auburn The Niners are still trying to build up that 3-4 defense, and you can never have enough linebackers in that scheme. Groves has the size, speed, and strength to be a great outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. 30. Green Bay Packers-CB Antoine Cason, Arizona Packers have a great secondary but it never hurts to have depth and Cason would be an excellent pick for that, and could be groomed as an eventual starter. Cason is the top corner in the draft in some people�s minds and in others isn�t a first round pick, so I guess he falls somewhere in between that. 31. New York Giants-CB Aqib Talib, Kansas A defensive end will be an option here come draft day but in this mock there aren�t any left who are worth the pick so the Giants look to the secondary, their other problem, and take the best available defensive back which is Aqib Talib.

Chad Thompson's April 10th 2008 NFL Mock Draft

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:03:42 -0500

Branden Albert in the top five?? Jake Long still number one? The Lions taking a linebacker and much more in my most updated mock draft. 1. Miami Dolphins-OT Jake Long, Michigan One of the main reasons Bill Parcells left the Dallas Cowboys� organization was because of the uncertainty in the Cowboys� offensive line. It has been said and it is known that Bill Parcells is a defensive guy, but I think he realizes the importance of the offensive line too. Jake Long is the best left tackle to offer in this draft and don�t think for a second Bill Parcells won�t go with him as the first pick. 2. St. Louis Rams-DE Chris Long, Virginia This pick becomes very interesting for the Rams if Long goes first overall. On one hand Chris Long would be a great fit for the Rams and allow Carriker to stay put. On the other hand Dorsey is the better player available and would be too hard to pass up on. In this situation I think Long is the better choice. 3. Atlanta Falcons-DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU With Joe Flacco showing off his stuff at the combine and in the quarterback drills he may be the top quarterback in some teams� eyes, but will also probably make it to the second round. That enables the Falcons to look elsewhere with this pick. The Falcons need some help on the defensive line and Dorsey is a much better value here than what Ryan is. 4. Oakland Raiders-RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Darren McFadden is the best player in the draft and even though Justin Fargas has gotten better over the years, and Dominic Rhodes has been a serviceable running back, and not to mention there are five total half backs on the Raiders� roster currently; all that is thrown out the window if McFadden is still available. 5. Kansas City Chiefs-OG Branden Albert, Virginia Word is that the Chiefs are comfortable moving forward with Brodie Croyle at quarterback, and that they are very high on Branden Albert out of Virginia. When you look back at the Chiefs� success on offense it was a result of their great offensive line. With the loss of Willie Roaf and such, a big hole is left on the offensive line. A pick like this isn�t flashy, but if Larry Johnson gets back to running like he once was it will be a pick well spent. 6. New York Jets-OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State The Jets need some help in the new 3-4 scheme that Eric Mangini is trying to implement. Vernon Gholston is a freak athlete and at 6-3 266 he could be a great speed rushing outside linebacker. Of course the Jets are looking to get McFadden here but there is a good chance he won�t be available. 7. New England Patriots-CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy State With Asante Samuel in Philadelphia, the Patriots need a top corner to come in right away and start. If Gholston is still available he will be a big consideration but I think the Patriots will go for a top corner. 8. Baltimore Ravens-QB Matt Ryan, Boston College In my opinion it�s a shame that former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith won�t get a chance to start in Baltimore but with a new coaching staff in place that�s what�s going to happen. Ryan is the top quarterback in this draft and is an excellent choice to start over with at the quarterback position. 9. Cincinnati Bengals-DT Sedrick Ellis, USC It�s hard to imagine Ellis falling any further than this and the Bengals could really use his presence on the defensive line. Ellis has good size and a good burst. If Dorsey wasn�t in this draft Ellis could have landed with the Falcons. 10. New Orleans Saints-CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State Adding Jonathan Vilma was huge for the Saints and that allows them to look for something else here in the first round. Cromartie is only getting more and more hype as the draft gets closer. It might be a reach to put him in the top ten, but if he is anything close to what Antonio Cromartie has been, then the pick will have been well worth it. 11. Buffalo Bills-WR Limas Sweed, Texas Evans and Parrish are good wide receivers for the Bills but it there group would be complete if Parrish could move to the slot and their number one receiver was six foot four. Sweed became the top receiver after his performance in the combine. 12. Denver Broncos-WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State After losing Javon Walker and hearing about Brandon Marshall�s injury the Broncos would be wise to get some insurance at wide receiver. If Marshall comes back healthy, Thomas would instantly be the number two receiver. 13. Carolina Panthers-OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh After having Otah in the top five, certainly the Panthers are getting their value here at pick thirteen. Otah is just what the Panthers need to move Travelle Wharton to guard. 14. Chicago Bears-RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois Before the Bears upgrade at quarterback�. okay never mind, that is the first thing they need to do because Rex Grossman is terrible, but there isn�t a quarterback worth taking here so they need to look to another position player. Mendenhall would be a perfect fit in Chicago; we all know Benson isn�t what he was in college, and if the Bears can�t pass they need to at least provide a threat in the running game. 15. Detroit Lions-OLB Keith Rivers, USC The Lions could go with Ryan Clady or Chris Williams here but in this mock I have them going with Keith Rivers, who is the best fitting linebacker for the Lions in this draft. Rivers is quick and makes plays sideline to sideline, which is what the Lions need at strong-side linebacker. With Sims, Lenon, and Rivers as the starting linebackers the Lions don�t look too bad. 16. Arizona Cardinals-CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida The Cardinals need a top corner in the secondary with Rolle making the move to safety. 17. Minnesota Vikings-DE Derrick Harvey, Florida The Vikings offense should be set for now with a good offensive line, a superstar at running back, and at least a guy they are going to put some stock into at the quarterback position. Defense is another story, the Vikings will yet again reach into the defensive end pool and drag out Derrick Harvey who is the best available. 18. Houston Texans-RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon Finally the Texans grab a position player, and it is a running back with power and speed. If not for the toe injury Stewart would have probably been taken higher, but 18 at Houston isn�t a bad spot. 19. Philadelphia Eagles-OT Ryan Clady, Boise State Excellent value here for the Eagles who have always been a great drafting team. Philly has aging tackles on both sides so to add an eventual replacement like Clady here is great. 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-CB Aqib Talib, Kansas The Bucs have had a great secondary for years, but Barber is getting up there in age and it�s not too late to find a suitable replacement. Talib has great size for a corner and the ability to leap in the air and fight for the ball. 21. Washington Redskins-OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt Jim Zorn is in and he has an offensive mind. Protecting Campbell should be at the top of his priority list. 22. Dallas Cowboys-RB Felix Jones, Arkansas One Jones out, another Jones in; Marion Barber proved to be the better back once and for all and should have a starting spot guaranteed next year for the Cowboys. But as good as Barber is, Dallas still needs a back that can take it 70 yards down the field and spell Marion �The Barbarian.� 23. Pittsburgh Steelers-OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College Steelers need help on the offensive line with Faneca now out of the picture. Cherilus can come in and challenge for a starting job right away at left tackle. 24. Tennessee Titans-DE Phillip Merling, Clemson Titans need a guy on the defense to get more pressure with the loss of Antwan Odom. 25. Seattle Seahawks-WR DeSean Jackson, California Seattle is low on wide receivers and need a return guy. Jackson may be the most explosive receiver in the draft. 26. Jacksonville Jaguars-DE Calais Campbell, Miami (FL) Campbell is a physical specimen and with McCray being an unrestricted free agent a replacement will most likely be needed. 27. San Diego Chargers-S Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL) The Chargers need a safety to pair with Eric Weddle and Phillips has the most potential. 28. Dallas Cowboys-CB Antoine Cason, Arizona Who knows if the Cowboys will end up with Pac-Man or not? Either way the Cowboys could never have enough cornerbacks with their history of coverage problems. Cason is argued by some to be the best all-a-round corner in the draft. He has good size, speed, and athleticism for a cornerback. 29. San Francisco 49ers-OLB Quentin Groves, Auburn The Niners are still trying to build up that 3-4 defense, and you can never have enough linebackers in that scheme. 30. Green Bay Packers-CB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma Packers have a great secondary but it doesn�t hurt to have a guy who is versatile and can spot start at safety or corner. 31. New York Giants-CB Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech A defensive end will be an option here come draft day but in this mock there aren�t any left who are worth the pick so the Giants look to the secondary, their other problem, and take the best available defensive back which is Brandon Flowers.