This year, more than a few things stood out to me with the draft. There were a lot of trades, a lot of good players dropping, and more than a lot of teams reaching and taking a player too high. With that said, here’s my team by team analysis of the draft.

Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals had a great first three rounds by taking Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Calais Campbell, and Early Doucet. The one thing on offense that the Cards lacked was an impact slot reciever. Cromartie had a great combine and ran a 4.33 and should help Arizona’s secondary with Antrel Rolle moving to safety. Brandon Keith will add depth to their offensive line and Tim Hightower is comparable to Marion Barber and may be a complement to Edgerrin James. I give them a B.

Atlanta Falcons The Falcons did themselves a huge favor by being smart and taking Matt Ryan here. They now have a franchise quarterback that can help them in the future and possibly forget about Vick. They traded back into the first round to get Sam Baker from USC when they didn’t have to and that wasn’t smart since they lost a pick or two in the process. I think they waited too long to address their needs in the secondary but they did draft Chevis Jackson from LSU.  Robert James from Arizona St should help that linebacking corps and the local kid from Georgia Thomas Brown will give them some depth at running back. A

Baltimore Ravens As good as Joe Flacco might be, he wasn’t looked at as first round pick. The Ravens might have taken him a bit early especially with Chad Henne, John David Booty, and Brian Brohm still on the board. Ray Rice is a great running back and he’ll make life easier for Willis McGahee. With an aging defense, they also helped themselves out by taking Tavares Gooden from Miami and Tom Zbikowski from Notre Dame. I also like Haruki Nakamura. He had a great senior year at Cincinnati and he doubles as a kick returner. C+

Buffalo Bills The Bills first three picks will most likely end up being starters in the NFL. Leodis McElvin is the right replacement for Nate Clements,  James Hardy is going to be a quality reciever in the NFL opposite Lee Evans, and Chris Ellis can be a great pass rusher if he can stay consistent. B-

Carolina Panthers I thought the Panthers took Jonathan Stewart a little too early because I thought that Rashard Mendenhall was a better back, but it wasn’t a bad pick. Jeff Otah was a smart pick by the Panthers considering they had 4 starting quarterbacks last season. It all starts with the offensive line.  The Panthers also hit the lottery with Dan Connor in the third round. B-

Chicago Bears I thought that Chris Williams was perfect for the Bears to help them on the offensive line, especially with run blocking. I thought taking Matt Forte from Tulane was a reach considering there were other running backs available. The defense needed some help after a subpar year and Craig Steltz is a good enough safety to help the Bears right away. The Bears best pick may have been taking Marcus Monk in the seventh round. Before injuring his knee and having two surgeries, he was an impact receiver at Arkansas. C+

Cincinnati Bengals Could it be some foreshadowing that the Bengals took Andre Caldwell. Jerome Simpson,  and Harry Douglas? If they really do trade Chad Johnson, they have plenty of guys to help replace him. Keith Rivers should also be the first of many high character guys the Bengals bring in. B+

Cleveland Browns Its hart to rate a teams draft when they dont have any picks before the 4th round. I’ve seen Beau Bell play and he’s good. Very instinctive. The Browns traded some of their picks last year to get Brady Quinn so I guess it worked out for them. D+

Dallas Cowboys I think the Cowboys could have benefited from drafting a wide reciever to provide some help for Patrick Crayton and Terrell Owens. Jerry Jones is confident that Terry Glenn can still be productive.  Speaking of Jerry Jones, he got his running back in Felix Jones and also upgraded a very good secondary with Mike Jenkins from South Florida. B+

Denver Broncos With Ryan Clady and Eddie Royal, the Broncos have a great tackle that fits into their zone blocking system and a guy that doubles as a reciever and a return man which is what they sorely needed. Scouts say that Royal could become a Steve Smith type player. Picking up Ryan Torain will also help. A-

Detroit Lions The Lions took Gosder Cherilus a little early and they’re getting good value with Kevin Smith out of Central Florida. I think it was great of Rod Marinelli to pick up Caleb Campbell from Army. I also think the Lions could have helped themselves out by taking a cornerback somewhere in this draft. C

Green Bay Packers The Packers took a good reciever when they really didn’t need one but they did address all their other needs so consider Jordy Nelson a bonus. I’d like to see if either Brian Brohm or Matt Flynn will end up challenging Aaron Rodgers. A

Houston Texans The Texans addressed all their needs and got great value all throughout the draft. Duane Brown will sure up that offensive line for Matt Shaub,  Steve Slaton will give them added depth at running back and may eventually become a Warrick Dunn type player, and Xavier Adibi is a great linebacker that can play well in pass coverage. Frank Okam can also come in and help on defense. A+

Indianapolis Colts The Colts traded this year’s first round pick last yeat to draft their offensive tackle Ugoh, who’s currently starting and being productive so that worked out for them. They were able to draft Georgia Tech linebacker Phillip Wheeler. Wheeler brings a different dynamic to this team because he’s less of the coverage type linebacker and more of a bruising blitzer. In college he had over 250 tackles and 16 sacks. The Colts also got tremendous value in Mike Hart, who despite a slow 40 time at the combine and being undersized, he’s very durable and a high character guy who plays well against blitzes. Tony Dungy got a steal this late in the draft. Hart may end up being the back to complement Joseph Addai. I also like them picking Tom Santi from Virginia. After the departure of Ben Utecht to Cincy, Santi could fill that void as Dallas Clark’s backup. A

Jacksonville Jaguars he Jaguars had a simple task this offseason and they didn’t do it. They needed help on the defensive interior and they drafted back to back defensive ends. They needed a safety to replace Sammy Knight, and they didnt draft one.  They needed help on the offensive line, and they didnt draft one. I do like Chauncey Washington that late in the draft but it wasnt what they needed.  For that, they get a big whopping F.

Kansas City Chiefs Where do I begin. These guys had the best draft. Between Glenn Dorsey, Branden Albert, and Brandon Flowers, the Chiefs have three starters for years to come. Throw in Jamaal Charles as a productive backup to LJ, and you have someone very valuable in the third round. Brad Cottam from Tennessee  might be groomed to be the eventual backup to Tony Gonzalez, and Will Franklin from Missouri gives the Chiefs some added depth at reciever. I would have like to see them take a shot at a quarterback but they seem sold on Brodie Croyle. A+

Miami Dolphins You gotta give Bill Parcells credit, he knows how to build a team. Did it with the Giants in the 80s, the Jets and the Pats in the 90s, the Cowboys a few years ago and now the Dolphins. The question is whether head coach Tony Sparano can put it all together. Jake Long is this year’s Joe Thomas. Phillip Merling could be the eventually successor to Jason Taylor. There is some speculation that Henne could start right away. Many believe he’s a better prospect than John Beck was coming out of BYU. A+

Minnesota Vikings The Vikings already have a good defense after making the trade for Jared Allen and they addressed all their needs in the draft. Getting John David Booty in the 5th round is a steal and he’ll challenge Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job. B-

New England Patriots The Patriots made a great move by draft Jerrod Mayo from Tennessee because they have to get younger in the linebacking corps. Mayo might replace Junior Seau if he decides to retire. The Pats needed to improve their secondary and they added a cornerback from Colorado. Bo Ruud is a linebacker and brother of Tampa Bay’s middle linebacker Barrett Ruud. He’s not as good as his brother but linebacker is in his blood. B+

New Orleans Saints The Saints traded up to get Sedrick Ellis, and I’m not convinced that they had to. With the talent at linebacker, I’m disappointed that they didn’t pull the trigger on anyone, especially in the later rounds. They also relied too much on trying to trade for Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey and they didn’t go after one themselves in the draft. The Saints havent had a good starting tight end in several years with Boo Williams. C-

New York Giants The Giants addressed their need at safety by drafting Kenny Phillips in the first round. If Phillips can return to the player he was during his junior year, he’ll be just as effective as Gibril Wilson was. The Giants also got great value at wide reciever with Mario Manningham in the third round. He’ll learn under Amani Toomer, another Michigan reciever, and I believe he’ll contribute right away. They added depth at cornerback with Terell Thomas from USC, and got tremendous value in Andre Woodson in the sixth round. Woodson was a Heisman candidate at one point. The Giants could have helped themselves by taking an offensive lineman. A-

New York Jets The Jets could have helped themselves by moving up to take Darren McFadden and this marks the second time in three years, they didn’t pull the trigger to take an impact running back. I don’t understand why they traded back into the first round to take Dustin Keller when they just acquired Bubba Franks and gave an extension to starting tight end Chris Baker. Baker is already upset at what the team has done during the season and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the same outcome as last year’s dispute with Pete Kendall. The Jets didn’t address their needs at running back and linebacker, but they did draft Erik Ainge, who has all the talent and intangibles to succeed in the NFL. B-

Oakland Raiders  The Raiders have tons of talent but does it all come together? The Raiders have dumped a lot of money in players coming off of injuries. The trade for DeAngelo Hall makes them better but how does it make Nnamdi Asomugha feel now that he’s been slapped with the franchise tag? The Raiders made one great pick, in my opinion. Hopefully, their later picks will pan out. C+

Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles addressed all their needs and got great talent and versatility out of DeSean Jackson. At one point, Jackson was the highest rated reciever in this year’s draft class. Quintin Demps adds depth to their secondary and can play special teams. He may eventually take over for Brian Dawkins. C+

Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers added depth in the running game with Rashard Mendenhall and also got a huge target for Big Ben with Limas Sweed. Look for Dennis Dixon, a former Heismna candidate, to play different positions. The Steelers have a history of getting good value out of their athletes like Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle-El, and Kordell Stewart. B+

San Diego Chargers The Chargers didn’t address their needs on the defensive line nor in the secondary. Drafting LSU fullback was smart and Antoine Cason will add some depth to the cornerback. C-

San Francisco 49ers The Niners added a quality defensive lineman as well as a good enough guard. I dont know if they added much else to their offense. C-

Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks just added Patrick Kerney, but Lawrence Jackson from USC could one day replace him. The Seahawks could have benefited from taking a better tight end, but  John Carlson could end up being a decent tight end. C

St. Louis Rams The Rams can move Adam Carriker to defensive tackle and Chris Long could benefit from the attention Carriker will recieve. Justin King has great value in the fourth round and may evolve into a starting cornerback. B+

Tampa Bay Bucanneers  Aqib Talib is a perfect Cover 2 cornerback, Dexter Jackson gives them depth a wideout for an aging Joey Galloway. Cory Boyd is actually a very good back and could have gone earlier in the draft. B+

Tennessee Titans The Titans dropped the ball here. The one thing that the Titans needed is a wide reciever and they didn’t get one until the fourth round. Lavelle Hawkins is not the answer. For messing up their team, the Titans get an F

Washington Redskins The Redskins sorely needed help with recievers and they got some. Malcolm Kelly had a bad combine but he’s a great player. Devin Thomas may have been a one year wonder but he’s worth the pick in the second round. Their most intriguing pick may have been Colt Brennan. If he can stay healthy and put on some weight, he might evolve into a decent backup. B+

I knew there’d be trades. Never fails. So here’s an updated version of my mock draft. Its basically the same as version 2 except a little different.

Miami Dolphins Jake Long OT Michigan They already signed the deal. Its done. And I was right.

St. Louis Rams Chris Long DE Virginia I keep hearing that the Rams might want Glenn Dorsey. But with Adam Carriker, their first round pick from last season, up at around 300 pounds, thats more like a defensive tackle than a defensive end. With that said, why not draft the best defensive end in the draft?

Atlanta Falcons Glenn Dorsey DT LSU I completely disagree with this pick but it could happen. For a team that had Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich starting during the season, I think quarterback is their biggest need. Not taking Matt Ryan here probably won’t kill them but it won’t help either. I just hope they wise up and take a quarterback in the second round.

Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden RB Arkansas After they said that Justin Fargas would be their starting back, I thought they were insane to pass on a talent like McFadden. But everyone knows how this works. You act like you don’t want the guy you really want, and you act like you want to draft someone you dont so that another team will trade up with you to get him. So all this talk about Justin Fargas being their main running back is crazy. Besides, with the way the league is now, they’re going to want another guy to share the backfield with. It worked for Minnesota last year.

Kansas City Chiefs Brandon Albert OG Virginia There arent any wide recievers worth taking this early. I thought they’d be willing to take Devin Thomas out of Michigan St but he’s not worth a top five pick. They need to upgrade an offensive line that has lost two premiere linemen in consecutive years.

New York Jets Vernon Gholston DE/LB Ohio St The Jets definately want McFadden. They’d be retarded for not wanting him. But unless they trade up, or they get extremely lucky, its not happening. With that said, they could definately use help on defense after losing Victor Hobson to the Patriots and trading away Jonathan Vilma to the Saints.

New England Patriots Aqib Talib CB Kansas They lost Asante Samuel and Randall Gay to free agency. They have to help out that secondary.

Baltimore Ravens Matt Ryan QB Boston College Steve McNair just retired this week after 13 seasons. Kyle Boller is not the answer. Matt Ryan can take them back to the Super Bowl in a few years. He’s that good. If you dont believe me, look back to that Boston College- Virginia Tech game when he led his team to a win in thrilling fashion against a very good defense.

Cincinatti Bengals Sedrick Ellis DT USC I honestly think Dorsey is over-rated and I thought he could slip here to the Bengals. If he’s drafted where everyone thinks he will be, Ellis would be the way to go here. He’s the second best defensive tackle in this draft.

New Orleans Saints Dustin Keller TE Purdue Time will tell if this is where Keller will land. The Saints are interested in trading for Jeremy Shockey. If they do land Shockey, obviously this pick wont happen. i dont think the Giants will give up Shockey for anything less than a secound round pick.

Buffalo Bills Devin Thomas WR Michigan St I thought that Thomas would be off the board by now but I’m just not that impressed by thsi year’s recievers. I don’t think any of them is really worth being taken in the top 10.

Denver Broncos Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh I figured they’d go wide receiver her and take a guy like Limas Sweed to get a replacement for Javon Walker, but after some thought, they do need some help on the offensive line. Especially given the fact that the jury is still out on Limas Sweed after a sub-par season at Texas.

Carolina Panthers Ryan Clady OT Boise St They could also go quarterback or running back here with guys like Joe Flacco, John David Booty, and Rashard Mendenhall still on the board. To be honest with you, its really a toss up between Clady and Mendenhall because the Panthers did part ways with DeShaun Foster.

Chicago Bears Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt These guys really do need a quarterback and there was widespread specualation that they were going to trade for a guy like McNabb instead of going with Rex Grossman again. But they seeem sold on Grossman and they hope that he’ll finally live up to his potential. Maybe getting a one year deal with no guarantee of playing time is just what he needs to wake up. If so, Williams is a good enough blocker for him.

Detroit Lions Leodis McElvin CB Troy The Lions need help on defense after losing Shaun Rogers, and Boss Bailey. They could also use some help on the interior offensive line after losing Damien Woody but drafting a cornerback here would be useful and one of the few smart moves General Manager Matt Millen could make.

Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St You know what they say. Defense wins championships. And in this case, defense wins divisions. Thats what the Cardinals need to do. Win the NFC West.

Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Harvey Florida The Chiefs just traded away their best defensive player (who can also play tight end) to the Vikings for picks. I can see them taking a defensive end to replace him.

Houston Texans Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois The Texans need an impact runner to pair up with whoever is still in that backfield. I think Ron Dayne might be on their roster, so that should be a clue.

Philadelphia Eagles Kenny Phillips S Miami Now that Brian Westbrook has come out and become a leader on that offense, they need to establish some stability on defense. Brian Dawkins isn’t getting any younger and that secondary could use some help.

Tampa Bay Bucanneers James Hardy WR Indiana The Bucanneers need to find a replacement for the aging Joey Galloway. My only concern with Hardy is his ability to be effective in double coverage as well as his ability to get open.

Washington Redskins Keith Rivers LB USC The Redskins have never had a dominant linebacking corps and Rivers could be the focal point of a developing defense.

Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones RB Arkansas Jerry Jones really wants this guy to be a complement for Marion Barber and he’d make a perfect change of pace back.

Pittsburgh Steelers Phillip Merling DE Clemson I thought about the Steelers taking a chance with Jonathan Stewart here but he’s the same kind of back that Willie Parker is. So they should go defense here. You can never go wrong with defense. Another possible pick here is Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech.

Tennessee Titans Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma The Titans have to get some help for Vince Young. I dont care about Kelly’s 40 time. This guy can play.

Seattle Seahawks Fred Davis TE USC This year’s tight end class isn’t great but Fred Davis is what the Seahawks have been missing. Jeremy Stevens has never been and never will be the answer at tight end. Davis can block, catch, and run decent routes.

Jacksonville Jaguars Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina The Jaguars traded Marcus Stroud to the Buffalo Bills so they’ll have a huge gap on the defensive line. Balmer would be a big addition and help them immediately.

San Diego Chargers Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon The Chargers lost Michael Turner to free agency. The definately need a change of pace back for LT.

Dallas Cowboys DeSean Jackson WR California Cant argue with the experts. I don’t think Jackson is all that great. He reminds me of Ted Ginn, Jr. However, this late in the first round, he’s worth the gamble.

San Francisco 49ers Mike Jenkins CB South Florida A good complement for Nate Clements. This guy can hit as well as play well in coverage.

Green Bay Packers Chad Henne QB Michigan I find it hard to believe that this guy wont go in the first round and who better to draft him than the Packers. They get a backup and an insurance policy for Aaron Rodgers.

New York Giants Jerrod Mayo LB Tennessee The Giants can go in different directions here. They can also take Kenny Phillips to fill the gap at safety left when Gibril Wilson went to Oakland. They can also take Mario Manningham here since both Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress are well into their 30s. Taking a linebacker here makes the most sense because they not only lost Kawika Mitchell to the Saints, but they can move Mathias Kiwanuka to his more natural position at DE if Michael Strahan retires.

So thats it… I’d throw in that 32nd pick but the Pats are cheaters and lost it. Nuff said.

Since I wrote the last mock draft, there’s been a lot of rumbling about who’s stock has risen and fallen. And after going over what I had, I realized I’m leaving a lot of talented players out. So I thought I’d revise it a bit. So here we go.

Miami Dolphins Jake Long OT Michigan New General Manager Jeff Ireland had a slip of the tongue and gave away the fact that the team would draft a defensive player. I dont think they will for two reasons. 1) No defensively player would impact that team as much as an offensive player would. Lets remember how horrendous that offense was last year. 2) An offensive player, a lineman especially would be the anchor of that team for years.

St. Louis Rams Chris Long DE Virginia The Rams have the most to gain by trading down here. They need to upgrade that defense and could acquire some more picks if they trade down. More picks could lead to drafting players that will impact their secondary and linebacking corps. If not Chris Long is a good pick here.

Atlanta Falcons Glenn Dorsey DT LSU I completely disagree with this pick but it could happen. For a team that had Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich starting during the season, I think quarterback is their biggest need. Not taking Matt Ryan here probably won’t kill them but it won’t help either. I just hope they wise up and take a quarterback in the second round.

Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden RB Arkansas After they said that Justin Fargas would be their starting back, I thought they were insane to pass on a talent like McFadden. But everyone knows how this works. You act like you don’t want the guy you really want, and you act like you want to draft someone you dont so that another team will trade up with you to get him. So all this talk about Justin Fargas being their main running back is crazy. Besides, with the way the league is now, they’re going to want another guy to share the backfield with. It worked for Minnesota last year.

Kansas City Chiefs Brandon Albert OG Virginia There arent any wide recievers worth taking this early. I thought they’d be willing to take Devin Thomas out of Michigan St but he’s not worth a top five pick. They need to upgrade an offensive line that has lost two premiere linemen in consecutive years.

New York Jets Vernon Gholston DE/LB Ohio St The Jets definately want McFadden. They’d be retarded for not wanting him. But unless they trade up, or they get extremely lucky, its not happening. With that said, they could definately use help on defense after losing Victor Hobson to the Patriots and trading away Jonathan Vilma to the Saints.

New England Patriots Aqib Talib CB Kansas They lost Asante Samuel and Randall Gay to free agency. They have to help out that secondary.

Baltimore Ravens Matt Ryan QB Boston College Steve McNair just retired this week after 13 seasons. Kyle Boller is not the answer. Matt Ryan can take them back to the Super Bowl in a few years. He’s that good. If you dont believe me, look back to that Boston College- Virginia Tech game when he led his team to a win in thrilling fashion against a very good defense.

Cincinatti Bengals Sedrick Ellis DT USC I honestly think Dorsey is over-rated and I thought he could slip here to the Bengals. If he’s drafted where everyone thinks he will be, Ellis would be the way to go here. He’s the second best defensive tackle in this draft.

New Orleans Saints Dustin Keller TE Purdue Time will tell if this is where Keller will land. The Saints are interested in trading for Jeremy Shockey. If they do land Shockey, obviously this pick wont happen. i dont think the Giants will give up Shockey for anything less than a secound round pick.

Buffalo Bills Devin Thomas WR Michigan St I thought that Thomas would be off the board by now but I’m just not that impressed by thsi year’s recievers. I don’t think any of them is really worth being taken in the top 10.

Denver Broncos Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh I figured they’d go wide receiver her and take a guy like Limas Sweed to get a replacement for Javon Walker, but after some thought, they do need some help on the offensive line. Especially given the fact that the jury is still out on Limas Sweed after a sub-par season at Texas.

Carolina Panthers Ryan Clady OT Boise St They could also go quarterback or running back here with guys like Joe Flacco, John David Booty, and Rashard Mendenhall still on the board. To be honest with you, its really a toss up between Clady and Mendenhall because the Panthers did part ways with DeShaun Foster.

Chicago Bears Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt These guys really do need a quarterback and there was widespread specualation that they were going to trade for a guy like McNabb instead of going with Rex Grossman again. But they seeem sold on Grossman and they hope that he’ll finally live up to his potential. Maybe getting a one year deal with no guarantee of playing time is just what he needs to wake up. If so, Williams is a good enough blocker for him.

Detroit Lions Leodis McElvin CB Troy The Lions need help on defense after losing Shaun Rogers, and Boss Bailey. They could also use some help on the interior offensive line after losing Damien Woody but drafting a cornerback here would be useful and one of the few smart moves General Manager Matt Millen could make.

Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St You know what they say. Defense wins championships. And in this case, defense wins divisions. Thats what the Cardinals need to do. Win the NFC West.

Minnesota Vikings Limas Sweed WR Texas The Vikings need to get Tarvaris Jackson some help. He’s got Sidney Rice, Chester Taylor, and Adrian Peterson. Get him another deep threat.

Houston Texans Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois The Texans need an impact runner to pair up with whoever is still in that backfield. I think Ron Dayne might be on their roster, so that should be a clue.

Philadelphia Eagles Derrick Harvey DE Florida Now that Brian Westbrook has come out and become a leader on that offense, they need to establish some stability on defense. That starts with the defensive line. The more pressure you put on the opposing team’s quarterback, the better it makes the overall defense.

Tampa Bay Bucanneers James Hardy WR Indiana The Bucanneers need to find a replacement for the aging Joey Galloway. My only concern with Hardy is his ability to be effective in double coverage as well as his ability to get open.

Washington Redskins Keith Rivers LB USC The Redskins have never had a dominant linebacking corps and Rivers could be the focal point of a developing defense.

Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones RB Arkansas Jerry Jones really wants this guy to be a complement for Marion Barber and he’d make a perfect change of pace back.

Pittsburgh Steelers Phillip Merling DE Clemson I thought about the Steelers taking a chance with Jonathan Stewart here but he’s the same kind of back that Willie Parker is. So they should go defense here. You can never go wrong with defense. Another possible pick here is Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech.

Tennessee Titans Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma The Titans have to get some help for Vince Young. I dont care about Kelly’s 40 time. This guy can play.

Seattle Seahawks Fred Davis TE USC This year’s tight end class isn’t great but Fred Davis is what the Seahawks have been missing. Jeremy Stevens has never been and never will be the answer at tight end. Davis can block, catch, and run decent routes.

Jacksonville Jaguars Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina The Jaguars traded Marcus Stroud to the Buffalo Bills so they’ll have a huge gap on the defensive line. Balmer would be a big addition and help them immediately.

San Diego Chargers Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon The Chargers lost Michael Turner to free agency. The definately need a change of pace back for LT.

Dallas Cowboys DeSean Jackson WR California Cant argue with the experts. I don’t think Jackson is all that great. He reminds me of Ted Ginn, Jr. However, this late in the first round, he’s worth the gamble.

San Francisco 49ers Mike Jenkins CB South Florida A good complement for Nate Clements. This guy can hit as well as play well in coverage.

Green Bay Packers Chad Henne QB Michigan I find it hard to believe that this guy wont go in the first round and who better to draft him than the Packers. They get a backup and an insurance policy for Aaron Rodgers.

New York Giants Jerrod Mayo LB Tennessee The Giants can go in different directions here. They can also take Kenny Phillips to fill the gap at safety left when Gibril Wilson went to Oakland. They can also take Mario Manningham here since both Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress are well into their 30s. Taking a linebacker here makes the most sense because they not only lost Kawika Mitchell to the Saints, but they can move Mathias Kiwanuka to his more natural position at DE if Michael Strahan retires.

So thats it… I’d throw in that 32nd pick but the Pats are cheaters and lost it. Nuff said.

If you’re like me, you probably spend hours and hours watching draft coverage just to see if you can decipher any type of clear picture of what the draft might look like. Personally, I like to think that I can predict the draft just as easily as Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay.  Sometimes its easy. Like two years ago, when the one thing that didn’t go as planned was Matt Leinart falling to the Cardinals. I know, I know. You’re probably thinking… what about the Texans taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush? Honestly, if you were Charlie Casserly and your job depended on taking the sexy choice and go with Reggie Bush, or taking someone who would eventually be the leader of a very underrated defensive line… what would you do? Personally, I would’ve gone with Vince Young. Hometown hero, doesn’t need an offensive line, and he finds ways to win without putting up insane numbers.  But enough about the past. Lets talk about this year’s draft. For those that know me, this is like Christmas time for me. I always look forward to the draft and this year is no different.

If you haven’t heard it before, this might either be the year of the running back or the year of the offensive lineman. Regardless, its a pretty deep draft. In this mock draft, some things might make a lot of sense, and other things might not make sense at all so don’t be surprised if you see a few changes here and there between now and April 26th. Without further delay, your 2008 NFL Draft.

With the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

1. Michigan OT Jake Long with a side of dignity. This is the same team that took Ted Ginn Jr last year at number 9. I mean, seriously? He’s a good wideout with less than stellar lateral movement and decent change of direction skills. But I digress. Jake Long should provide some consistency along that miserable offensive line. The Dolphins ranked 23rd overall last season in rushing offense. Part of that was due to injuries to Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. I think the Dolphins benefit from having Long here because he can be the anchor that they build around for the next ten years. Its happened before. Orlando Pace helped turn the Rams into the “greatest show on turf”, Walter Jones has been a solid member of that Seahawks running game for years. Need I remind you that Joe Thomas helped the Browns win 10 games and made the Pro Bowl? If you need more proof, look at next season’s schedule. The Browns have 3 Monday Night games. They haven’t had any in the past three years. With that said, offensive linemen are the unsung heroes. Bill Parcells isn’t stupid. He’s going to take Jake Long. Besides, no one else is going to trade up that far.

2. Chris Long, DE University of VirginiaThere’s speculation that the Rams want to trade out of this spot and the Saints are interested. Regardless of who is picking here, a defensice lineman will be selected. Lets assume there are no trades. If thats the case, Chris Long goes the Rams to form a strong young defensive line with Adam Carriker and Chris Long on both sides. In fact, Chris Long is already my pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. If the Saints pick here, I could see them passing on Long to take Glenn Dorsey which would mean that Long would end up where his dad played with the Raiders. Hows that for pressure?

3. Matt Ryan QB Boston College The Falcons need to move on and help themselves by taking a franchise quarterback. Matt Ryan is a no-brainer. Sure, they could take Glenn Dorsey but I’m not sure if thats the direction they need to go. I think this is a smart pick in terms of public relations after the Michael Vick fiasco. 

4. Vernon Gholston DE Ohio St The Raiders just gave Tommy Kelly a new contract worth $50 million a few weeks ago. Before then, I had no idea who Tommy Kelly was. And thats saying a lot. He had 30 tackles and 1 sack last season. He only has 13 career sacks. They need help on the defensive line. With that said, the Raiders are going to be looking to get some help on the line. Vernon Gholston is an absolute animal. The only knock on him is whether he gives 100% on every play. If he does, then they’ve got a great player coming in.

5. Ryan Clady OT Boise St. At first I was thinking that Glenn Dorsey would go here but after the year that Jared Allen just had, why draft another defensive lineman? Instead, draft someone who can take the pressure off of Brodie Croyle.

6. Darren McFadden RB, Arkansas Could the Jets really be dumb enough to pass on Run DMC? Seriously, the one thing they’ve lacked since Curtis Martin’s knees went AWOL is a running back and they’ve been trying to platoon it since. Yeah, Thomas Jones did well in Chicago but guess what? He had an offensive line. Leon Washington is a nice change of pace back but he’s not your starter. McFadden is an exceptional talent who can be productive for many years. He’s no Adrian Peterson but he’s talented.

7. Aqib Talib, CB Kansas I was thinking that the Pats could go offensive line or linebacker here with either Jeff Otah or Keith Rivers but they lost so much in the secondary with Asante Samuel and Randall Gay. Knowing the way the Pats work, they can find someone later in the draft to fill their needs on the offensive line, and there are plenty of good linebackers to be had in the second and third rounds.

8. Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh If the Falcons have a lapse in judgement, and pass on Matt Ryan for Glenn Dorsey, Matt Ryan would be ideal here with the Ravens because Kyle Boller isn’t cutting it and Steve McNair just retired. If the Ravens decide to keep Boller they better get him some protection with Jeff Otah.

9. Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU The Bengals have a working offense with or without Ocho Cinco and they need to do something about that defense. Why not go after the best prospect at his position, Glenn Dorsey. Most draft gurus would probably want my head on a platter for having Glenn Dorsey so far down, but I really think that if teams wanted to draft intelligently, it would go this way.

10. Sedrick Ellis DT, USC Honestly, I think the Saints could go tight end here and take Dustin Keller but if they want a defensive tackle so badly, unless they trade up, taking Sedrick Ellis is their best bet.

11. Devin Thomas WR Michigan St They have Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish. I think Trent Edwards would appreciate another target. They could go tight end here but I’m not sold on any of this year’s tight end prospects.

12. Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois The Broncos say they want a back to complement Travis Henry and/or Selvin Young. Mendenhall is the best answer here and he’s what they’ve lacked since they traded Clinton Portis to the Redskins.

13. Brandon Albert OG Virginia The Panthers would be smart to draft either an offensive lineman or a quarterback here as an insurance policy for Jake Delhomme. A big bruising guard like Albert would help open up holes for DeAngelo Williams, who’s going to be getting a lot more snaps now that DeShaun Foster is gone.

14. Chad Henne QB Michigan The Bears need a quarterback… nuff said.

15. Keith Rivers LB USC The Lions have a good offense and could benefit from taking a quarterback here but they have more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions were dead last in total defense last season.

16. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St. Its hard to believe he’ll fall this far to the Cardinals but at this point, he’s the best player available at his position.

17. Malcolm Kelly WR, Oklahoma The Vikings need another reciever to stretch the field on the other side of Sidney Rice. Malcolm Kelly may be disputing his 40 time but I think he’s a great fit here in Minnesota.

18. Leodis McElvin CB, Troy The Texans would really improve their pass defense with a corner here. Up until a few weeks ago, this guy was a projected to be in the top 10.

19. Kenny Phillips S Miami Brian Dawkins isn’t going to be around forever.

20. DeSean Jackson WR California I’d hate to sound repetitive but Joey Galloway isn’t going to be around forever. And remember how up until last year, The Buccaneers had gone over 1,800 attempts without a kick returned for a touchdown? Jackson is a good returner, so there you go Tampa.

21. Limas Sweed WR Texas Its hard to believe the Redskins would get another wide reciever but this one can actually catch and is taller than 5’10″. The only knock on him is his durability.

22. Felix Jones RB Arkansas There’s no way Jerry Jones misses out on a complementary back for Marion Barber… that also went to his alma mater.

23. Derrick Harvey DE Florida The Steelers need another impact defensive lineman to rush the passer.

24. James Hardy WR Indiana Seriously, is Vince Young on Punk’d? He’s got no recievers… at all. Go ahead. Name one. See? I told you.

25. Dustin Keller TE Purdue The one thing that the Seahawks lacked has been a pass catching tight end. Its just too bad they dont have the impact running back to get that offense over the hump.

26. Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt Absolute beast. Remember when David Garrard ran on that 4th and long play in the playoffs against the Steelers? He wouldn’t have had to with this guy on the line.

27. Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech With this guy and Cromartie on both sides, the Chargers pass defense will be way better.

28. Andre Caldwell WR Florida With DeSean Jackson off the board, the Cowboys need a replacement for Terry Glenn.

29. Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College Finally some protection for Alex Smith.

30. Dan Connor LB Penn St.  This is a smart pick for anyone, especially this late in the draft. The Packers could also draft a quarterback like Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm here if they’re not sold on Aaron Rodgers.

31. Xavier Adibi LB Virginia Tech I think the Giants would like to draft a linebacker here so they can move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end.  This might change if Strahan decides to come back.

32. There is no 32 because the Pats decided they wanted to steal signals and be cheaters. Dumbasses.