draft2008_2

Last update: Saturday, April 26, 2008. Finishing touches for all seven rounds.
Next update: If any news breaks, this will be updated. I’ll have a RE-DRAFT (Rounds 3-7) posted for Day 2 by Sunday morning.

This NFL Draft order is based on the 2008 NFL Draft Order and 2008 Draft Prospect Rankings.

Miami Dolphins: Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware
Live 2008 NFL Draft Blog – I’ll be posting my thoughts about the NFL Draft here. That will include everything from the actual picks, to the ESPN personalities, to the commercials, etc. Anything goes. Emmitt Smith may even show up! This page will be updated every five minutes or so, so I hope you join me for the 2008 NFL Draft!

I seriously moved Dan Connor up here 20 minutes before the Dolphins announced a trade with Dallas. Miami received Akin Ayodele and Anthony Fasano for its fourth-round pick. With Ayodele competing with Channing Crowder and Reggie Torbor, it’s now unlikely the Dolphins draft Connor, especially with the plethora of needs they have.

I’m not sure if the Dolphins like Joe Flacco or Chad Henne more, but it’s looking like neither will be available at No. 57. Flacco is higher on most boards, so I’ll go with him here.

Pick change; previously Curtis Lofton, ILB
St. Louis Rams: Dan Connor, ILB, Penn State
If the Rams keep the 4-3, they can really use Dan Connor, who can play all three linebacker positions. And if they move to the 3-4, they’ll need depth at inside linebacker.
Atlanta Falcons: Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska
I don’t care who you have a quarterback. No signal caller can thrive behind an offensive front that surrenders 47 sacks. With Jake Long no longer a possibility at No. 3 overall, I have to think the Falcons will address the offensive tackle position atop Round 2.

Nicks had an outstanding combine and looked like a first-round prospect. Unfortunately, he was arrested in early March. Is his draft stock dipping? I’ll dub any team that doesn’t take him just because of his arrest completely foolish. Check out the details of Nicks’ arrest per the Lincoln Journal Star:

“Police arrived to find the music could be heard [at 3124 Mickaela Lane in northwest Lincoln before midnight Sunday] from the sidewalk and more than 75 people inside. Empty beer cans littered the home. Police cited 10 partygoers who remained after officers told everyone to leave, including Nicks … Police arrested Nicks on suspicion of being an inmate of a disorderly house and failure to disperse after he wouldn’t leave. He since has been released.”

Question – don’t the cops have anything else better to do than breaking up a college party? I understand that they were disturbing the peace and what not, but there’s no logical reason not to draft Nicks because of this incident. It was just a party that got out of control. He didn’t beat up his girlfriend. He didn’t drive drunk. He didn’t steal any Super Nintendos. No big deal in my book. I hope Nicks gets drafted in the first round.

Pick change; previously Duane Brown, OT
Kansas City Chiefs: Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas
Perhaps the team that benefits most from the DeAngelo Hall trade is Kansas City; without the Raiders drafting in front of them, there’s a greater chance a superior second-tier tackle will still be on the board. If Anthony Collins is available, he’s pretty much a no-brainer; Kansas City cannot afford to surrender 55 sacks against next year. Hopefully that will change with Collins on the Chiefs’ offensive front.

Pick change; previously Carl Nicks, OT
New York Jets: Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana
I know the Jets drafted a corner in the first round last year. While that doesn’t make it seem like they’d be interested in spending a second-round selection on another one, that belief simply isn’t true because they were close to signing Asante Samuel. Because they missed out on him, they could be tempted into drafting a corner with this pick. New York needs a corner across from Darelle Revis, so the rising Tracy Porter could definitely be that guy.
Atlanta Falcons: Chad Henne, QB, Michigan
The sad part about Brian Brohm improving his draft stock is that my “Arthur Blank may never trust anyone associated with Bobby Petrino” joke will come to an end, unless the Falcons trade up prior to the draft for some reason.

No worries though; Chad Henne should become the starter in Atlanta by the midway point of the season, as the only other quarterbacks the team has under contract are Chris Redman, D.J. Shockley, and the caviar-loving, piano-playing Joey Harrington.

Pick change; previously Justin King, CB/KR
Baltimore Ravens: Justin King, CB/KR, Penn State
The Ravens suddenly can’t stop the pass, as Chris McAlister and Samari “Boy” Rolle are both on the wrong side of 30. I could see Baltimore cleaning house at the cornerback position soon, meaning it’ll have to draft replacements.

Pick change; previously Charles Godfrey, CB
San Francisco 49ers: Sam Baker, OT, USC
The 49ers were the sexy sleeper pick this offseason. So, what happened? Frank Gore’s injury played a factor. As did Alex Smith’s ineptness. And don’t forget the disappointing $100 million secondary. However, what hindered the team most has been its offensive line and receiving corps. The former surrendered 55 sacks. That’s simply unacceptable. I don’t care who the quarterback is; no signal caller can possibly thrive without any sort of pass protection.

I recently had Malcolm Kelly here, and I still think he’s an option. Despite the additions of Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson, wide out is still a major need. I just think addressing the offensive tackle situation is much more imperative.
New Orleans Saints: Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
Brian Young was re-signed recently, but Hollis Thomas is looking forward to retirement so he can eat Doritos on his couch, meaning the Saints need to address the nose tackle position.

What about the Giants? Rumor has it that the Saints have traded this pick to the Giants for Jeremy Shockey. If that happens and New York takes Kenny Phillips in Round 1, they could be looking at corner Tyvon Branch, defensive ends Lawrence Jackson and Cliff Avril, or tight ends Fred Davis or Dustin Keller.

Pick change; previously Pat Sims, DT
Buffalo Bills: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Bills need some sort of complementary possession receiver for Lee Evans. If they can’t trade out of the No. 11 pick and consequently eschew drafting a possession receiver to start across from Evans, they’ll do that later on. Malcolm Kelly was once an option at No. 11, so this is pretty much one of the many second-round steals in this mock.
Denver Broncos: Jerod Mayo, ILB, Tennessee
Denver’s signing of Darrell Jackson and Samie Parker – although they both suck – lessens the chance that the team goes after a receiver in the second round. I couldn’t blame them if they did, however, as Brandon Marshall’s excuse for shattering a few arteries in his arm was pretty lame. He could have at least told Mike Shanahan his household ran out of Internet and he had to take a trip to Californee.

With defensive tackle no longer an option in the wake of the Dewayne Robertson trade, the Broncos will look at an interior linebacker. Jerod Mayo will be able to play in the middle of Denver’s defense, allowing D.J. Williams to move back outside to his natural position.

Pick change; previously Dre Moore, DT
Carolina Panthers: Pat Sims, DT, Auburn
The Panthers acquired an extra selection in the third round by trading away Kris Jenkins, so it only makes sense that they replace him with another talented defensive tackle relatively early.

Pick change; previously Trevor Laws, DT
Chicago Bears: Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas
It’s amazing that the Bears were able to reach the Super Bowl despite completely screwing up the No. 4 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Prior to the draft, Cedric Benson made it a point to prove he was nothing like Ricky Williams. Well, he’s not. Williams was forced out by the league, while Benson just looks like he wants to leave the NFL on his own. With Rex Grossman definitely coming back (groan, goes every single Bears fan), I think Chicago takes a quarterback a bit later in the draft.
Detroit Lions: Curtis Lofton, ILB, Oklahoma
I promise – no more Paris Lenon jokes. With that in mind, the Lions really do need an upgrade at middle linebacker, and they’ll be lucky if Curtis Lofton falls this far.

Pick change; previously Jerod Mayo, ILB
Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Moore, DT, Maryland
No way the Bengals pass on Dre Moore if he’s available here, especially after they lost out in the Shaun Rogers and Dewayne Robertson sweepstakes. Cincinnati ranked 24th versus the run and managed just 22 sacks in 2007, and I think it’s safe to say that adding a talented defensive tackle like Moore to the front four would vastly improve both of those statistics.

Pick change; previously Early Doucet, WR
Minnesota Vikings: Oniel Cousins, OT, UTEP
This is a reach. But unless the Vikings are able to trade down, they have to take an offensive tackle. Minnesota fans would gladly don green and gold if Ryan Cook and Marcus Johnson are allowed to battle it out for the starting gig at right tackle without a promising rookie challenging them.
Atlanta Falcons: Tyvon Branch, CB/KR, Connecticut
As of this writing, the Falcons have four cornerbacks on their roster: Chris Houston, Von Hutchins, David Irons and Brent Grimes. Yeah, I’m going to recommend playing any receiver going against the Falcons in your fantasy leagues next year. Atlanta desperately needs help here. An added bonus is that Tyvon Branch, who’s flying up draft boards, doubles as a return specialist, something the Falcons could really use.

Pick change; previously Joe Flacco, QB
Philadelphia Eagles: Terrell Thomas, CB/FS/KR, USC
If the Eagles trade Lito Sheppard, they’ll need another cornerback for depth. And even if they keep him, they’ll still go after a potential starter, allowing them to move Sheldon Brown over to free safety. Terrell Thomas, who can also play that position, doubles as a return specialist, which is something the Eagles desperately need.
Arizona Cardinals: Antwaun Molden, CB, Eastern Kentucky
The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost back-to-back contests to the Seahawks and Saints. The reason for those defeats was because Arizona couldn’t stop the pass. Actually, that’s an understatement; Matt Hasselbeck and Drew Brees combined to go 48-of-63, 587 yards and six touchdowns. That’s only 15 incompletions in two weeks! Pathetic!

As e-mailer Jeff Goldberg pointed out, “You do realize you have Antwaun Molden going to the Cardinals, right? LOLOLOLOLOL.” I’m actually insisting that Arizona should make this pick. Antwaun Molden, Anquan Boldin… good luck to anyone announcing a Cardinals game. And yes, I’m praying for some real-life Emmitt commentary on this.
Washington Redskins: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
Calais Campbell can definitely fall further than this. He showed up overweight and sluggish at his Pro Day. If he can’t get motivated to stay in shape before even making it to the NFL, what’s going to happen once he receives his first paycheck? I think teams will shy away from Campbell until at least the middle of the second round.

Washington failed to register a single sack the Sunday following Sean Taylor’s death. Keep in mind that the team was playing a rookie quarterback. Against the Seahawks, the Redskins barely touched Matt Hasselbeck, managing only one sack. They have nothing at defensive end beyond Andre Carter.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
Ronde Barber will be 33 soon, while Brian Kelly was just released. The Buccaneers need youth at the position. A steal in the middle of Round 2, Brandon Flowers is an excellent fit for Tampa Bay’s scheme.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Reggie Smith, CB/S, Oklahoma
The Steelers, like many other teams in the NFL, have major depth issues at corner; Deshea Townsend will be 33 the day after Kickoff Sunday. I’m not sure how effective he’ll be in 2008. Reggie Smith can also help Pittsburgh out at free safety, a position that can definitely be upgraded.
Tennessee Titans: Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue
The Titans lost both Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy in free agency. So, across from Kyle Vanden Bosch, they’re down to fossilized Jevon Kearse, journeyman Bryce Fisher and Jacob Ford, who is coming off an ACL tear. No wonder Albert Haynesworth is yelling at everyone and threatening to stomp on the head of all the people in the front office.
Seattle Seahawks: Fred Davis, TE, USC
Kicking Jerramy Stevens out of Seattle was a good thing. Replacing him with Marcus Pollard and Jeb Putzier? Not so good. The Seahawks need a legitimate, top-notch tight end, and not one who drops 5,000 passes in a playoff game.
Green Bay Packers: Xavier Adibi, OLB, Virginia Tech
Without many needs, the Packers can afford to go Best Player Available, and that happens to be Xavier Adibi, who can provide excellent depth at weakside linebacker. Green Bay had no depth at linebacker last year, but were fortunate no one got hurt. Lightning usually doesn’t strike twice.
Miami Dolphins: Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa
Derek Anderson dissected Miami’s secondary en route to 41 points. Trent Edwards, Kellen Clemens and Kyle Boller did the same a few weeks later. The story of the 2007 Dolphins. They need a solid cornerback – and about 10 million other things.

Pick change; previously Chad Henne, QB
Jacksonville Jaguars: Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC
The Jaguars lost Bobby McCray and failed to find a worthy replacement for him in free agency. I recently had Lawrence Jackson going in the first round, so he’s obviously a steal down here.
Indianapolis Colts: Erin Henderson, OLB, Maryland
Rob Morris was cut, while Rocky Boiman is a free agent and may not return. The Colts may need an outside linebacker after the 2007 campaign.
Green Bay Packers: Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue
The Packers love having tons of options at tight end on their roster. In the wake of Bubba Franks getting cut, they will pick one relatively early in the draft.
Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Julius Jones is gone, and the Cowboys clearly don’t think Marion Barber can carry the load on his own; otherwise he’d be doing so already instead of starting his first game in the playoffs. The quick Felix Jones, who shares Jerry Jones’ alma mater, will be a perfect change-of-pass back for the powerful Barber.
New England Patriots: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
A similar move to what Dallas made just one pick earlier. Laurence Maroney is a big back who could use a speedy complement. Kevin Faulk is currently that guy, but he turns 32 in June. It’s scary to think how much more lethal New England’s offense would become with the blazing Chris Johnson (4.25 speed) in the backfield.
New York Giants: Jason Jones, DE, Eastern Michigan
Now that the Giants are champions, it’s a safe bet that Michael Strahan may retire even though he has hinted that he will come back. Assuming he doesn’t un-retire for the 5,000th time, the Giants will need another pass rusher in their rotation.