First-round projection:
1. Miami Dolphins – Jake Long, OT, Michigan. Drafting Long protects three positions for the Dolphins: OT, QB John Beck, and RB Ronnie Brown.
2. St. Louis Rams – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. All the hubbub about Dorsey is for naught. Like Long helping the Fins at multiple positions, Dorsey will improve the play of Tinoisomoa, Witherspoon, and ’07 first-rounder Adam Carricker
3. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan, QB, BostonCollege. The Falcons were hoping that Dorsey would fall to them. If he doesn’t, they may try and trade out of this position. They don’t, so they take their next Franchise Quarterback some 20 picks before they intended to.
4. Oakland Raiders – Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia. The only thing that Raiders owner Al Davis loves more than speed is former Raiders. He names clauses in rookie contracts after former players. Long will provide discipline, leadership, and character to the Silver and Black.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Branden Albert, OL, Virginia. Cavaliers go off the board back-to-back. GM Carl Peterson takes a chance on greatness here, knowing that Albert can perform at right tackle or left guard if the experiment at left tackle doesn’t work out.
6. New York Jets – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. This is too good a value for the Jets to pass on. McFadden will add much-needed star power to the New York Jets, and will provide them with a multi-dimensional playmaker in the offensive backfield.
7. New England Patriots (through San Francisco 49ers) – Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal. New England will take a below-market offer to trade out of this pick. It’s very likely that the Saints would trade into this spot to get ahead of the Bengals, or the Bengals would trade in to make sure they get the character player at the position they need. The Patriots pick up an insurance policy on another disappointing season from Richard Seymour.
8. Baltimore Ravens – Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State. Ozzie Newsome cannot believe his luck. They have concerns at QB and along the offensive line, but it is the defense that makes the Ravens run. They cannot pass on this player.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Keith Rivers, LB, Southern Cal.The Bengal defense is in dire need of leadership and playmaking ability. Rivers will provide both. They desperately wanted to pick up a defensive tackle at this position, but they’re going to settle for an above-average player who will be an examplar in the locker room.
10. New Orleans Saints – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy. The Saints, surprisingly, go into the draft with very few glaring needs. They hoped to get Ellis or Rivers, but they’ll settle for a very good cornerback to develop.
11. Buffalo Bills – Mike Jenkins, CB, South Flroida. The Bills are very interested in trading out of this position. Jenkins will not make anyone forget about Nate Clements early, but will give them an experienced player on the outside of their defense.
12. Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State. Clady is not going to help the Broncos with their biggest problem (stopping the run), but he will help solidify their offensive line. Clady is ideal for the zone-blocking schemes the Broncos prefer.
13. Carolina Panthers – Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida. With the QB off the board for now, John Fox gets a player that he thinks will help him keep his job. The Panthers are also interested in OT Chris Williams here, but he is a bit of a project for a coach that’s trying to keep his job.
14. Chicago Bears – Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt. General Manager Jerry Angelo calls Cedric Benson (who is crying at home) and says that this year really is his last chance. Williams will improve the Bears at two positions, allowing Tackle Jon Tait to perform at a Pro Bowl level at right tackle next season.
15. Detroit Lions – Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois. The Lions featured the 9th-best passing game in the NFL last season, but the 31st-ranked rushing offense. The Lions’ new OC wants to establish a more power-oriented rushing attack. Mendenhall will provide all the physicality the Lions can ask for.
16. Arizona Cardinals – Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.. Jeff Otah’s still on the board, but the Cards already have a right tackle. Jonathan Stewart is tempting here, but the Cards understand that they’re not going to use a Top 20 pick on a player whose talents they’ll underutilize (Whis’s offense does not pass the ball to RBs). They’ve backed themselves into a corner with this pick, which they’re not going to be disappointed with. If you believe in your coaching staff, you are not afraid to select players with a high ceiling like Cromartie.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Philip Merling, DE, Clemson. The Vikings must address the defensive end position, perhaps with more than one choice. Merling has been absent from the postseason workout process, but Minnesota is desperate.
18. Houston Texans – Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. HC Gary Kubiak knows that he can get 1000 yards from any running back. It’s possible that former Pro Bowl cornerback Dunta Robinson will be out until the middle of next season. Talib represents great value and an insurance policy.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh. Andy Reid loathes using first-round picks on skill-position players, but he loves drafting linemen. Otah is fantastic value here for the Eagles.
20. TampaBay Buccaneers – Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St. Thomas’s talents will suit Jon Gruden’s offense to a “T”.
21. Washington Redskins – Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma. The Redskins add a weapon to complement Santana Moss and move Antwan Randle-El to the nickel position. The Redskins would be wise to trade out of the first round altogether with a team that wants the 2nd QB.
22. Dallas Cowboys (through Cleveland Browns) – DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal. Jackson will add some youth to an aging Dallas WR corps. More importantly, he’ll add a terrifying threat to their special teams.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers – James Hardy, WR, Illinois. The Steelers know that they’re going to have to pass more next season. At 6’6”, Hardy is the kind of WR that Ben Roethlisberger will quickly fall in love with.
24. Tennessee Titans – CalaisCampbell, DE, Miami (Fl.). The Titans lost two defensive ends to free agency. Campbell will give them a physical presence on the strong side of the line, and should be able to take advantage of the extra attention given to Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth while he learns the finer points of the game.
25. Seattle Seahawks – Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon. GM Tim Ruskell cannot believe that Stewart fell this far to them. Stewart doesn’t take anything off the table when he’s on the field.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina St. The Jaguars would probably like to trade out of this position. They traded one mammoth DT this offseason, so they’ll pick up a replacement. They’d prefer a pass rusher, but there are none on the board at this point.
27. San Diego Chargers – Dan Connor, LB, Penn St. The Chargers don’t have a lot of clear needs, but 3-4 defenses cannot compile enough linebackers. Connor is a smart, physical player.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Felix Jones, RB, Arkanas. Jerry Jones gets an Arkansas runningback who will help the Cowboys in several phases of the game.
29. San Francisco 49ers (through Indianapolis Colts) – Quentin Groves, DE/OLB, Auburn. Manny Lawson has not developed as HC Mike Nolan might have hoped. Groves will give a pass-rushing presence on the outside of the San Francisco defense.
30. Green Bay Packers – Kenny Phillips, S, Miami (Fl.). Phillips is probably a bit of an overrated prospect, but the Packers are solid in most aspects of the game. Phillips will spark competition in the Packers’ defensive backfield.
31. New England Patriots - Forfeited for being cheaters.
32. New York Giants – Gosder Cherilus, OT, BostonCollege. The Giants add a true offensive tackle to their line. They’ve been fortunate with Boston College players in the past, so they’ll go back to that well.
