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2008 SportProjections.com NFL Mock Draft. Find out where your favorite college athlete will be playing pro football. Find out who you favorite team will select in the upcoming NFL football draft. Join the discussion in our forum.
Chris Fry created this group on SportProjections.com.
| PICK | TEAM | SELECTION |
| 1 | Miami | Jake Long OT Michigan |
| Team Needs: | OL, DT, LB, CB, QB | |
| Jake Long is the next great offensive lineman out of the University of Michigan. He is a dominant LT that has Pro Bowl written all over him. Long should join Joe Thomas as the best LT for the next 10-15 years. Bill Parcells has a lot of options here and would love to trade out of this spot; however, no one wants to give up enough to get here. That being said, the Dolphins brass knows that a dominant LT is the cornerstone for an offense. Ronnie Brown will be looking forward to running left behind Long. |
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| 2 | St. Louis | Chris Long DE Virginia |
| Team Needs: | QB, OT, DT, S | |
| Howie's boy is a high-motor defensive end that has the instincts to be an impact player in the NFL. Chris jumped into the spotlight during the 2007 season as he led the Cavaliers to their best finish in years. He also had a great combine that solidified him as a top 5 pick in this draft. St. Louis improved its defensive line in the 2007 draft with Carriker and continues that trend with Long this year. Leonard Little is the only legitimate pass rusher for the Rams and will benefit from the addition of Long. |
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| 3 | Atlanta | Glenn Dorsey DL LSU |
| Team Needs: | QB, OT, DT, S | |
| Dorsey is the most NFL-ready defensive prospect in this draft. He has the size and speed necessary to play the pass and the run. If there were not questions about his health, he may be the #1 pick. New coach Mike Smith built his successful Jacksonville defense on the strength of its defensive tackles. He starts rebuilding the Falcons "D" in the same way by picking the best defensive player in the draft, DT Glenn Dorsey. |
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| 4 | Oakland | Darren McFadden RB Arkansas |
| Team Needs: | DT, WR, DE, OT, LB | |
| Darren McFadden is the best of a really good crop of RBs. He ran a sub 4.4 at the combine, impressing scouts. Although he may not be the same type of RB Adrian Peterson is, he should have the same impact AD had with the Vikings. Do the Raiders really need a RB? Does Al Davis care? Davis will jump at the chance to bring in McFadden if he can. The Raiders have more pressing needs but love the sexy pick; that's why they take McFad here. |
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| 5 | Kansas City | Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt |
| Team Needs: | LT, OG, CB, DE, S | |
| Williams is a big, versatile lineman that has the ability to be an impact player. He needs to get stronger and meaner, but his intelligence makes up for the lack of a mean streak. KC is in desperate need of an OL, and Chris Williams is its choice. Any of the remaining linemen would be a stretch here, but we believe KC goes with Williams over Clady or Albert. |
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| 6 | NY Jets | Vernon Gholston DL Ohio State |
| Team Needs: | WR, LB, RB, DE | |
| Vernon Gholston made a name for himself by beating Michigan OT and first pick in the draft Jake Long over and over in the OSU/Mich game. He followed that up with an outstanding workout at the combine. Gholston is the second-best DE in the draft and could go as high as 3rd. The Jets have made some good moves in acquiring veterans Alan Faneca and Kris Jenkins. Now they are able to get Gholston to help bolster their pass rush. They have not caught the Patriots yet but with a strong draft could get back into the playoff discussion. |
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| 7 | New England (From S.F.) | Leodis McKelvin CB Troy |
| Team Needs: | LB, CB, S, OL | |
| McKelvin is the most natural CB in this year's draft. At 5'11" and 190 lbs., he is big enough to play bump coverage against bigger receivers, and he runs a 4.44 40-yard dash, which allows him to run with the speed receivers. He is the climber in this year's draft. Asante Samuels is officially gone, so the Patriots need a pure-cover corner. McKelvin fits that role perfectly. LB is also a possibility here, but we know Belichik would rather have our grandpa playing LB than a rookie. |
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| 8 | Baltimore | Matt Ryan QB Boston College |
| Team Needs: | QB, CB, DE, OT, LB | |
| Ryan is the best QB in this year's draft. He has the ideal size for an NFL QB at 6'5" and 220 lbs.; he is big enough to take the beating opposing defenses will give him, and he has the mechanics and the footwork to play at this level. He needs to work on reading defenses, but that will come with experience. The Ravens are excited to find Matt Ryan still on the board. Steve McNair retired, and it appears the Kyle Boller era has come to an end in Baltimore. Ryan will quickly become the starter and have a very productive rookie year. |
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| 9 | Cincinnati | Sedrick Ellis DT USC |
| Team Needs: | DT, TE, DE, LB, CB | |
| Ellis may be the best DT in this draft and will probably be gone here if Dorsey's injuries turn out to be a real issue. Ellis is versatile and should be effective against the run or the pass. He is a little shorter than most teams would like, but his talent and athletic ability should make up for that small deficiency. The Bengals will be running to the podium if Ellis is still available at 9. He fills their number-one need, an impact DT. |
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| 10 | New Orleans | Mike Jenkins CB South Florida |
| Team Needs: | CB, TE, DT, C | |
| Jenkins is a natural CB that has the size and speed to play at the pro level. He has good instincts, which compensate for his lack of footwork at the line of scrimmage. The Saints knew they had to improve their defense in the off season, and they have done just that with the acquisitions of DE McCray, LB Morgan, LB Vilma, and CB Gay. They continue that trend by adding Michael Jenkins here. |
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| 11 | Buffalo | Devin Thomas WR Michigan State |
| Team Needs: | DT, CB, WR, LB, TE | |
| Thomas was the most impressive WR in the pre-draft workouts and is now regarded as the best wideout in the draft. Thomas ended his junior season averaging almost 200 all-purpose yards per game. He is a true game breaker. Thomas will complement Lee Evans nicely and take some pressure off him. Give this tandem a couple of years, and they may be the best one-two receiver punch in the league. |
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| 12 | Denver | Branden Albert OG Virginia |
| Team Needs: | DT, OT, MLB, S, WR | |
| Albert is the one guard in this draft that has first-round potential. He is big and lengthy and plays with a very solid technique. He also has the mean streak you like to see in an OG. Albert should develop into a Pro Bowler. Denver loves versatile offensive linemen, and Albert fits that mold. He projects as a guard but is athletic enough to play tackle in Shanahan's system. |
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| 13 | Carolina | Derrick Harvey DE Florida |
| Team Needs: | OT, DE, WR, S, DT | |
| Harvey is a pass-rush specialist that can play the outside backer in a 3-4 or put his hand down as a defensive end in the 4-3. Harvey should develop into an every-down player quickly. Harvey is the pass rusher the Panthers need to take pressure off Peppers. These two will cause headaches for opposing defenses much the way Uminyora and Strahan do in New York. |
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| 14 | Chicago | Ryan Clady OT Boise State |
| Team Needs: | QB, OL, RB, DT, S | |
| Clady is a 6'6", 320 lb. OT out of Boise State University. Clady is very quick off the ball and has the ability to protect the QB's blindside. Ryan has the size and strength to be a standout left tackle for the next 10-15 years. The Bears may consider Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall here, but what good is he if there are no holes to go through? The Bears address their offensive problems by choosing the best OL available. |
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| 15 | Detroit | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State |
| Team Needs: | OL, RB, CB, S, DE | |
| Rodgers-Cromartie is the fastest riser amongst the draft prospects. He wasn't even talked about until he impressed in the combine. He is a big kid at 6'2" and runs a 4.44 40. He is raw but loaded with upside. Choosing Rodgers-Cromartie would mean that Matt Millen actually made a smart pick. Rodgers-Cromartie fits a huge need and is great value at this pick. |
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| 16 | Arizona | Keith Rivers LB USC |
| Team Needs: | CB, LB, TE, RB, DE | |
| Rivers is an outstanding LB prospect out of USC. He is a high-energy guy that will bring a winning attitude to the Cards. Arizona needs playmakers at several spots including LB. They go with the best available player, which is Rivers. He will be an immediate leader on this defense and bring it closer to a divisional title. |
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| 17 | Minnesota | Phillip Merling DE Clemson |
| Team Needs: | DE, S, WR, QB, TE | |
| At 6'5" and 275 lbs., Merling has great size for an NFL defensive end. He also has a good burst off the ball and plays with a high motor. Merling should improve a good Vikings defense immediately. The Vikings could go receiver here, but with Jackson at QB, they are going to need a great defense because they won't score much. |
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| 18 | Houston | Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois |
| Team Needs: | CB, RB, S, LT, DE | |
| Mendenhall is a 5'11", 225 lb. RB that has the explosiveness to hit the home run. He had a great junior season and led the Fighting Illini to the Rose Bowl for the first time in years. He has top 10 talent, but due to the depth at RB in this draft, he falls to 18. Houston needs a solid answer at the RB position. Last year was a mix of Ahman Green and Ron Dayne, neither of which is the long-term solution. Mendenhall is great value at 18. |
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| 19 | Philadelphia | Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh |
| Team Needs: | WR, DE, S, OT, LB | |
| Otah is a huge man at 6'6" and 340 lbs. He has also started a lot of games both at Pitt and in junior college before that. Otah still has a lot of upside as he didn't start playing football until his senior year of high school. Donovan McNabb has made it clear that he wants more weapons, but the Eagles front office can't resist taking an elite lineman. Otah will start immediately and be a factor for the Eagles. |
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| 20 | Tampa Bay | DeSean Jackson WR California |
| Team Needs: | WR, CB, RB, QB, C | |
| Jackson is a return specialist that can line up and play WR. He is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball, which excites Jon Gruden. Jackson is a WR in the mold of Joey Galloway and should benefit from having him as a tutor. If Tampa uses Jackson properly, he could be a very productive NFL wideout. |
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| 21 | Washington | Limas Sweed WR Texas |
| Team Needs: | S, DE, WR, OT, CB | |
| Sweed is the big, fast receiver that teams are looking for these days. He has good hands and is a fluid route runner. The only question mark is his durability after suffering from a wrist injury in his senior year. Washington could go a lot of directions here, but new head coach Jim Zorn likes the big, strong receivers. Sweed, Randle El, and Moss make a nice 3 receiver set. |
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| 22 | Dallas (from Cleveland) | Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma |
| Team Needs: | S, CB, RB, WR, OT | |
| Kelly is a big, fluid receiver that has good speed for his size (4.5 sec. 40 at 6'4" and 217 lbs.). He also has strong hands and shields defenders well with his big body. Jerry Jones loves that there are top tier RBs left at this point because it allows him to get a top tier receiver and still get his RB with the next pick. Kelly was considered the best receiver in this draft until a couple weeks ago. Jones loves value, and that is what he gets with this pick. |
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| 23 | Pittsburgh | Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina |
| Team Needs: | C, OT, DE, RB, OG | |
| Balmer was a late bloomer. He had a breakout year as a senior when he had 4 sacks and 3.5 hurries as he plugged up the middle for the Tar Heels. Balmer has good size and athletic ability. He should be a solid pro. This is not a "need" pick for the Steelers, but they love to add good linemen. Kentwan would be a much higher pick in most drafts but falls here due to some good first-round talent this year. He's another value pick in the late first round. |
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| 24 | Tennessee | James Hardy WR Indiana |
| Team Needs: | WR, DE, DT, CB, C | |
| Hardy is a huge receiver at 6'6" and 217 lbs. He also runs a sub 4.5 40-yard dash and has star written all over him. He needs to mature as a route runner, but that will come quickly with NFL coaching. Tennessee needs to get some weapons around Vince Young if it expects him to take the next step. Hardy fills a great need and should team up with Young to form a deadly duo over the next several years. |
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| 25 | Seattle | Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon |
| Team Needs: | OL, DT, RB, TE, K | |
| Jonathan Stewart has top 15 talent, but he has not proven that he can stay healthy. He is currently recovering from an injury that will keep him out part of the pre-season. If he can get healthy, he will be a Stephen Jackson-like RB. Seattle needs a TE but can't find one worthy of this pick, so it will take the high-risk, high-reward RB. If healthy, Stewart will be a perfect West Coast Offense RB. The key word there is IF. |
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| 26 | Jacksonville | Quentin Groves OLB/DE Auburn |
| Team Needs: | DE, WR, CB, S, OL | |
| Groves is a tweener, but so was Terrell Suggs. This kid has the ability to play with his hand on the ground as an end or standing up and playing the run. He was impressive at Auburn's Pro Day in both LB and DE drills. Jacksonville gets good value here with Groves. This is one of the few teams that project him as a DE, and it will use him in that role. He should help cushion the loss of McCrary. |
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| 27 | San Diego | Kenny Phillips S Miami |
| Team Needs: | OT, NT, S, CB, RB | |
| Phillips is another in the line of great Miami safeties. He is a very talented player. In the end, he becomes the next Sean Taylor, making the Pro Bowl early in his career. Kenny is the best player available and fits a need for the Chargers. This is a no brainer. |
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| 28 | Dallas | Felix Jones RB Arkansas |
| Team Needs: | S, CB, RB, WR, OT | |
| Felix Jones has spent the last few years in a backfield dominated by Darren McFadden. He was still able to get over 1,000 yards and make a name for himself in college football. Jones is a burner but needs to prove he can be an every-down back. Jerry Jones would love to move up and snag McFadden but will settle for his college backfield mate. Jones is used to splitting carries and should complement Barber nicely. |
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| 29 | San Francisco (From Indy) | Gosder Cherilous OT Boston College |
| Team Needs: | WR, OT, QB, LB, DE | |
| Gosder is an experienced offensive tackle with a good burst off the line. He has played both left and right tackle and has excelled at both. He needs to improve his strength to become an elite OT. The 49ers need to protect their young QBs, and Cherilous is just the guy for the job. San Fran is ecstatic that he slips to them. |
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| 30 | Green Bay | Aqib Talib CB Kansas |
| Team Needs: | CB, OT, S, TE, P | |
| Talib turned in a great year for the Jayhawks. He went from a virtual unknown into a star CB on a very good defense. He has the size and ball skills to make up for his raw technique. Talib will benefit from having Woodson and Harris as mentors. Green Bay benefits from having its heir apparent at CB. |
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| 31 | New England | Forfeit pick |
| Team Needs: | LB, CB, S, OL | |
| 32 | NY Giants | Dan Connor LB Penn State |
| Team Needs: | LB, OT, S, WR, CB | |
| Connor is the best LB and player available. He is a very productive LB from the LB factory, PSU. He has good size and speed; more importantly, he has the leadership needed to play ILB in the NFL. The Giants run to the podium to get a guy with top 15 talents. |
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Started by Scott Apr 18
Dallas owner Jerry Jones has two number one picks which are 22nd and 28th, respectively. Since he craves the opportunity to draft Darren McFadden should he trade both his picks to the Atlanta Falco... Read More »
Started by Danny Franklin Mar 19
Pretty ignorant considering Phillups has never had an off the field issue while at Miami. Read More »
Started by Aaron Mar 13
Personally I don't like the New England Patriots, more importantly Bill Belichick . He is a jerk , how can such a "dignified" man be as petty as he is. Anyways I was wondering what could be the pro... Read More »
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