Final NFL Mock Draft

Filed in archive NFL Draft on April 22, 2008

© Timothy McIntyre

Our final mock draft before the big day on Saturday.

1. Miami Dolphins: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
- The Fins snag Long to anchor their porous offensive line

2. St. Louis Rams: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
- Injury problems have scared some teams off, and it's possible the Rams could be blowing smoke, but they're said to love him.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
- Dorsey is gone, and they simply must have a franchise QB to turn the team around.

4. Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
- McFadden and Russell form new silver and black backfield.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Branden Albert, OL, Virginia
- The wildcard of the draft, KC could go a number of ways. Set at DE with Allen and Hali, the team passes on Long and goes for the fast-rising Albert

6. New York Jets: Vernon Gholston, OLB, Ohio State
- Could be a monster in the 3-4 alignment, unless someone trades up with KC to snag him first.

7. New England Patriots: Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia
- Pats luck out and get a possible Mike Vrabel clone, only maybe better.

8. Baltimore Ravens: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
- Baltimore can team up Ellis with Ngata to form a great interior on the D-Line.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
- Cincy needs defense in the worst way, and Harvey will give them a sorely needed pass rusher.

10. New Orleans Saints: Keith Rivers, OLB, USC
- The Saints need a corner, but they shouldn't pass up the best player at his position in the entire draft.

11. Buffalo Bills: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
- Similar to New Orleans, Buffalo has a larger need at another position (WR), but this is a deep class at wide out, so getting McKelvin here is a positive.

12. Denver Broncos: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
- Clady may just wind up being the best offensive lineman in the draft in a few years.

13. Carolina Panthers: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
- This move allows the Panthers to further increase the talent on what should be a good offensive line, joining Wharton and Gross.

14. Chicago Bears: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
- The team desperately needs help at the receiver position after having lost Bernard Berrian to division rival Minnesota.

15. Detroit Lions: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
- Mendenhall is the popular choice here, but we all know running backs can be had in later rounds, and while Jeff Backus is solid, the Lions need help on the O-Line.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
- Antrelle Rolle is moving to free safety in 2008, so Rodgers-Cromartie is the choice here.

17. Minnesota Vikings: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
- The Vikings love to pick defensive ends in the first round, so add Merling to the list.

18. Houston Texans: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
- Not a terrific need, but adding Mendenhall with Andre Johnson will give the Texans a great receiver/runner duo.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee
- The Eagles are tough to read because they don't have significant glaring needs, and could go a number of ways. Still, Mayo is versatile and able to play inside or outside.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
- Ronde Barber isn't getting any younger, and Brian Kelly moved on, so Jenkins gets the nod.

21. Washington Redskins: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
- After going through a plethora of diminutive wide outs, the Skins take a chance on Kelly, a big target whose stock has dropped because of recent slow 40-yard-dash times and attitude questions.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
- Talib's stock has also dropped a bit lately, but who knows if the Cowboys will get Pacman Jones, so Talib makes sense here.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
- Campbell is big enough to play DE in a 3-4 alignment, making him a good fit here.

24. Tennessee Titans: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
- Somewhat of an enigma who scouts question, but he is undoubtedly talented and would have pressure taken off of him playing next to Albert Haynesworth.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue
- The Seahawks have been looking for a tight end since Jerramy Stevens departed, and Keller is a big of a workout wonder, but he is a great option for the West Coast offense.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
- Jacksonville goes the wide receiver route in round one again, but takes Jackson, who is a different type of player than the bigger wideouts currently on their roster.

27. San Diego Chargers: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
- San Diego needs depth more than anything, and Cherilus provides that on the offensive line.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
- Despite his current injury, Stewart is a playmaker who would be a perfect option to team with Marion Barber.

29. San Francisco 49ers: Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn
- Groves gives them another speed rusher on the outside as they continue to build on what could one day be an outstanding linebacking corps.

30. Green Bay Packers: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
- Al Harris and Charles Woodson are in their thirties, and Green Bay needs to start making plans for the future at corner. There are a number of options here, if Cason is not their guy, like Brandon Flowers or Justin King.

31. New England Patriots: Pick Forfeited

32. New York Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
- With Gibril Wilson gone, the Super Bowl champs pick up the consensus best safety in the draft.