NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The BCS rankings are out, there has finally been enough football played - at both the college and pro levels - for us to have a grip...even a tenuous one...on how good players are and what teams need. With that in mind....DRAFT!!!!

As a Dallas fan I'm dejected after getting killed by the Pats and (temporarily) stunning my delusions of Super Bowl grandeur. I know fans in Miami, Kansas City (but hopefully not Blue Springs...we're still pissed at that town) and Atlanta have been looking forward to each Saturday to see their potential football saviors. So let's get started with a very VERY early mock draft...a billion things can and will change but that's not going to stop me.


#1 St Louis Rams -- Andre' Woodson QB Kentucky

As all teams picking #1, St Louis needs help in lots of areas. The injuries to Marc Bulger and the fact that Gus Ferotte is their back-up means QB is chief among there many concerns. A stud defensive player like Glen Dorsey or Calais Campbell will be looked at hard, as will Jake Long who could be a long term replacement for former #1 pick Orlando Pace. But a rule of the NFL draft is QB's go fast. Woodson is the best QB in college right now AND the best prospect (those two aren't always the same guy...ex: Couch, Eric) Woodson possess an ideal combination of size, arm strength, accuracy, mobility and decision making. He has the best technique of any QB coming out of college since Manning the Elder...not to say he'll be as good as Peyton (maybe no one ever will be) but Woodson has absolutely everything you need to be a championship caliber franchise signal caller for a long long time.

#2 Miami Dolphins -- Glen Dorsey DT LSU

A surprising fact about the Miami Dolphins this year is that their offense is pretty decent -- thank you, Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins' once formidable D is now really old, their two best players are guys that Jimmy Johnson drafted. Adding Dorsey will immediately reverse that and add a couple years to the careers of Thomas and Taylor who, with a huge force in the middle occupying blockers and commanding double teams, will be freed up to make plays. Dorsey is the best defensive tackle prospect to come along in a really long time. He's as big as a mountain, has the strength of many men, amazing speed (with the fat guy caveat: 'for a man of his size') and he could prolly throw a football over them mountains. Fins fans will love this former LSU great...assuming he doesn't go to Alabama after two years.

#3 New York Jets -- Calais Campbell DE Miami

3-4 defenses need big ends, Campbell fits that mold. The 6'8'' 280lb behemoth is almost too big to play D-line...I wonder how well a guy that tall will do against the run since low man wins those battles. But if Too-Tall Jones can play, so can Campbell who has that kind of upside. Campbell notched 20.5 tackles for a loss to go along with 10.0 sacks as a sophomore and is off to a hot start this year. He's a true disruptive force off the edge with the size to play against the run. I'm sure Jets fans will be pissed for passing on McFadden but, then again...when aren't they pissed, I mean they have to root for the Jets.

#4 Buffalo Bills -- Jake Long OT Michigan

Michigan has gotten through a mildly upsetting start to the season - that was the nicest way I could put it - but with Mike Hart running the ball they've gotten right back on track (and even solved their problems vs the spread offense with a sound thrashing of Purdue.) Mike Hart makes the offense go, and Jake Long makes Mike Hart go. Long is so good that he won the award for best offensive lineman in the Big 10 last year...Joe Thomas' senior year. Long prolly would have gone #5 last year to Arizona, since he's better than Levi Brown...another Big 10 tackle..but for going back to school he misses a chance at the national championship but gains a few million bucks by going one slot higher.

#5 Atlanta Falcons -- Brian Brohm QB Louisville

This fits so well that you know there is no way for it to actually happen. Brohm came into the season with the cursed label of #1 senior QB and, despite his team not being as good as some thought, he has performed pretty well. I think Brohm is an outstanding college QB but I have reservations about him in the pros...landing with his former coach would alleviate many of those. Brohm has the size and arm of a pro-bowler but struggles against the rush and is used to playing only out of the shot gun and tossing the ball to wide open receivers. Brohm's biggest worry is injury. He had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in January of 2007. He missed nearly three full games with a thumb injury in 2006 and suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the 10th game of the 2005 season. I'm not completely sold, but there is a lot to like and Atlanta would be as good for him as he would be for Atlanta.

#6 Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) -- Darren McFadden RB Arkansas

Another magical, perfect fit. Jules Jones is a free agent after this season and seems to think that he should be paided like he's a good player. Jerry Jones is an Arkansas alumnus and still a huge fan of the 'Backs. And, oh yeah, that McFadden guy is pretty good. With more and more teams going to the tandem running back system, the value of RB's has fallen in recent years. Guys like Bush two years ago and Peterson last year went further down in the draft - even if just a little bit - than there talent would dictate. On talent alone McFadden is the best player in the draft. He's not quite the runner that All-Day is, but he's more versatile...though not as much so as Reggie "please-don't-make-me-give-back-my-Heisman" Bush, but he's better between the tackles. McFadden does have an awesome nickname like those two, Run DMC. There is a good chance he could fall this far and if he does there is no way Dallas passes. If he's gone they'll look for DB help with Kenny Phillips from the U being the only real option.

#7 New Orleans Saints -- Kenny Phillips DB Miami

Amazing how I have Phillips going off the board right after I mentioned him...almost like I planned that. The Saints are in the midst of a really bad year and part of that is because they weren't able to fix the glaring problems in the secondary from last year. Phillips has the ability to play anywhere, corner/strong/free safety, and be really good at any of them. He's not quite in the LaRon Landry class from a year ago as a hitter, but he's a better cover guy. Phillips could step right into the category of "people who are better cover corners than Fred Thomas" - which includes most living humans - and play corner but he's best suited for work at safety where is abilities to ball-hawk and hit are on display.

#8 Kansas City Chiefs -- Sam Baker OT USC

KC needs a QB and could reach for a guy like Matt Ryan but they seem sold on giving Brodie Croyle a chance...for what ever reason. If they are going to give Croyle the reigns to the Herm Edwards "run the ball into 9 man fronts on 2 & 10" offense, they'd better get him some help on the O-line. KC used to have the best line in football, but father time remains undefeated and the current incarnation has their top player as a guy who was out of the game 2 years ago. Baker would be big help and immediate improvement. He's big enough, strong enough and fast enough to play the tackle spot at the highest level and going to KC, working with their excellent line coaches will help him improve his technique which is really all that stands between him and annual trips to Hawaii.

#9 Cincinnati Bengals -- James Laurinaitis MLB THE Ohio State

The Bengals could end up picking much higher than this and the #1 reason is their defense. Coach Marv Lewis is lending credence to the Brian Billick theory that coaches can be assigned the label "offensive" or "defensive gurus" simply by being assistants on teams with outstanding personnel. Lewis was set to upgrade to the defensive unit of team with lots of talent on offense when he took the job...but the team remains one with tons of talent on offense and no clue on D. This team gave up 51 to the Browns for crying out loud. Laurinaitis could give the Bengals something they haven't had in a long...a playmaker on defense. Laurinaitis, a junior, is a sideline to sideline athlete who plays with tremendous passion and aggression. As far as I know he is the only player eligible for this draft whose father was one of my favorite wrestlers as a kid, so he gets brownie points for that.

#10 New England Patriots (from: San Fran) -- Malcolm Jenkins CB THE Ohio State

Back to back buckeyes to round out the top 10. Maybe the Pats only weakness is depth in the secondary, last year's first round pick Brandon Meriweather is good but better at free safety than corner. Jenkins is the top true corner available in this draft and could take over for Asante Samuel should he depart via free agency this year.

#11 Minnesota Vikings -- Chris Long DE Virginia

DeSean Jackson will be very tempting but coach Brad Childress and the Vikings brass loaded up on wide outs in the middle rounds last year and seem to shy away from taking WR's early in round one. What the Vikings don't shy away from is taking defensive linemen. Kevin Williams, Erasmus James, and Kenechi Udeze could add Chris Long to the club come Draft Day. Howie's son plays a lot like his dad, which is high praise. He's incredibly strong and very stout against the run...which the Vikings covet. Long can get after the QB a little bit but it's doubtful that he will be more than a 6-8 sack a year guy. Good but not amazing. Getting to the QB is but one limited part of a DE's duties and Long is great at everything else. He'll fit right in with the Vikings D and form maybe the toughest front four in football vs the run.

#12 Oakland Raiders -- DeSean Jackson WR/KR Cal

Al Davis loves speed and play-making ability, Jackson is the fastest playmaker in college ball. DeSpite a down year receiving wise - currently on pace for about 700 yard with a 9.9 ypc - Jackson has remained maybe the most dangerous weapon in all of NCAA football with his Devin Hester-esque return ability (and I don't throw around that compliment often). Jackson has 7 returns for scores on 34 chances in his career with the Berkley Bears...I have NO IDEA why anyone still kicks to him. Jackson needs to improve his route running as he tends to rely too much on his speed to get open. He would have been my #2 WR last year behind Calvin Johnson and heads a strong receiver class this year.

#13 New York Giants -- Steve Slaton RB West Virginia

Slaton is the fastest back in this draft and would be a perfect match for Brandon Jacobs. With Eli at QB you need all the help you can from skill position players, Slaton represents the big time play making by running back that went grumbling out the door when Tiki left. People knock Slaton for the system that he plays in, but I'm still on the bandwagon. Adding Slaton and McFadden to the NFC East will drastically shoot up the caliber of RB talent in the division.

#14 Detroit Lions -- Derrick Harvey DE Florida

Harvey put himself on the map with a breakout performance against Ohio State in the national championship game...and forcing Troy Smith to fall 3 rounds in the draft. The 6'4'' 265 Harvey runs a 4.7 and is one of the best pass rushers in this draft. It's hard to predict what the Lions will do on draft day but Harvey is big, strong, athletic, fills a need, could start right away, and has big upside. Detriot was reportedly in on Gaines Adams last year, before they decided to take the better player in Calvin Johnson. In my mind Harvey is just as good as Adams, if not better. (note I thought Adams was pretty overrated...but I guess his one sack in 6 games is really showing me)

#15 Arizona Cardinals -- Quentin Groves DE/OLB Auburn

Groves is this year's DeMarcus Ware/Shawn Merrimen/Anthony Spencer type who was a really good end in college but will move to outside linebacker in the pros and be a disruptive pass rusher. The Cards may be switching to a 3-4, but even if they stay at 4-3 Groves could play either rush end or weakside backer. Arizona could end up picking higher than this, and Groves could end up being taken much higher than this. Groves is an excellent athlete who should really wow people at the combine. At 6'3'' 250 Groves runs a 4.4 and plays angry. He's battled some injuries, but plays through them. Groves is a great leader and where ever he goes, in whatever scheme, will be a difference maker.

#16 Chicago Bears -- Matt Ryan QB Boston College

BREAKING NEWS: The Chicago Bears need a quarterback. There is an outside shot that Ryan could end up being the best of the '08 crop. He's big, has a great arm, and while not a scrambler is mobile enough to avoid the rush. Very smart and a good leader, Ryan needs to work on progressing through his reads more quickly - there seems to be a delay when he must go beyond his 2nd read. But quick decisions tend to come with experience and Ryan seems to be a good student of the game and an apt pupil. I've been on the BC bandwagon all year and really like Ryan as a player. He would be a perfect fit for the Bears in the middle of round one.

#17 Denver Broncos -- Dan Conner LB Penn State

Denver is another team that is somewhat hard to pick for, as they like to go off the board from time to time. Conner however would represent a smart, sensible choice for the Broncos. A better athlete than he's given credit for, Conner possesses incredible instincts and is always in the right place at the right time. He doesn't wow you in any one area watching the game from the stands, but Conner is a football player (if you'll allow me to throw out a meaningless cliche). He plays hard, is very smart, and is always around the ball. Drafting Conner would let Denver move DJ William back to the outside linebacker spot where he's better suited.

#18 Carolina Pathers -- Sedrick Ellis DT USC

Ellis is another player that could be taken well before this, but I think the market for the one-gap defensive tackles isn't what it used to be with the prominence of the 3-4 defenses in the NFL. Despite the fact that he may be limited in where he can play, Ellis would be a tremendous fit a team like Carolina who plays the 4-3 and has a dominate force on the outside who will command double/triple teams. When given one on one opportunities Ellis rivals Dorsey in disruptive ability along the interior of the line. Ellis is a bit undersized...I know it's weird calling a guy 6'1'' 300lb too small but in the world of the NFL that is filled with the most freak athletes on earth it is...and may struggle against double teams. He could be shifted to DE by a team that runs the 3-4 but his pass rush ability is really special from the DT spot and pretty mundane for an end. The Panthers need depth along the D-line and if Ellis can get stronger he has a chance to be one of the better tackles in the game.

#19 Philadelphia Eagles -- Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College

Jon Runyan is getting old and Winston Justice apparently sucks. In Cherilus Philly would get a tackle prospect who has a chance to be pretty darned good. BC is known for their linemen and Cherilus is by far the best one this year. The left tackle is big enough, quick enough, and has really good technique. Gosder (really?...who names their kid that?) needs to get stronger but sitting for a year watching Jon Runyan and the-lineman-formerly-known-as-Tra-Thomas, while being in a NFL workout program could do him wonders. Cherilus has been very well coached and with a bit more work could be really good.

#20 Houston Texans -- Ryan Clady OT Boise State

This is the year Houston finally takes an OT high, right?...RIGHT!!?!?! Maybe the Texans are still banking on Toni Boselli working out. Either way Ryan Clady would be, really the only logical choice for H-town picking at this spot. Though he's not quite in the Long/Baker class Clady is extremely quick for a man of size, 6'6'' 320. Coach Gary Kubiak loves the Denver system that emphasises mobility for linemen and Clady fits that mold to a T. (where that expression came from I'm not really sure...if you know leave the answer in the comments section) He could stand to gain some strength, but he has the frame to add some bulk without sacrificing any of his quickness. Clady could be the legit franchise left tackle of Texans fan's dreams.

#21 Tennesse Titans -- Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma

Limas Sweed could be a real possibility here, due to his close relationship with former college teammate Vince Young, but his season ending injury will likely send him falling down the draft boards baring a quick recovery and good workouts. Titans fans, and VY, should be happy if the team goes for Kelly over Sweed because Kelly is a much better prospect. At 6'4'' 215 lbs Kelly has elite size for a wide out and still manages to run a sub 4.4. Despite being a junior, Kelly already holds virtually every Oklahoma record for receivers and will continue his terrific performance for whichever team is lucky enough to draft him.

#22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Early Doucet III WR LSU

Tampa is not as good as they have played this year and still have holes across most of their roster. Keith Rivers will get lots of attention if he's still on the board but Gruden (assuming this good season means he's still the coach) is an offensive guy and that offense needs more play makers on it. Enter Early Doucet. Doucet was one of the biggest recruits in the nation out of high school but has had to defer the spotlight until this year at LSU due to their outstanding group of WR's that included two first round picks last year. Doucet has good size, outstanding speed, and amazingly soft hands. He's been banged up a bit this year, but his talent is undeniable. The Early Doucet story should have a much happier ending than the Michael Clayton movie does in Tampa.

#23 San Diego Chargers -- Mario Manningham WR Michigan

I really think that Chargers will turn it around and finish with a good record...there's just too much talent on that team not to. One of the few spots that doesn't have tons of talent on the Chargers roster is wide out. Manningham runs nice routes and has great hands to go along with the speed to get down field. I like Craig Davis who they got at the end of the first round last year, and I think Vincent Jackson can be pretty good too. Add a Mario Manningham to that mix and all of a sudden you have a really nice group of young WRs to open things up for Gates and LT.

#24 Seattle Seahawks -- Keith Rivers OLB USC

Seattle is another talented team that I think will really turn it on in the second half of the season...I mean someone has to win all those NFC West games, right? I've seen Rivers' name in the top 10 of lots of drafts. I like him, but I'm not as high on him as some other people. He's got good speed but really needs to bulk up. It's really hard to be 220lbs and a successful linebacker in the NFL (I feel the same way about Ali Highsmith from LSU). Seattle would be a good fit for Rivers because they run a 4-3 and value smaller quick linebackers. Rivers, Peterson and Tatupu would drive opponents nuts with their speed, all three guys are versatile and play hard.

#25 Baltimore Ravens -- Reggie Smith CB Oklahoma

Few teams have as much talent on D as Baltimore, but age is starting to creep up on the Ravens ... including Samari Rolle who has battled injuries lately. Smith is a big physical corner - he played safety early in his college career - who has the speed to run with burners down field. A junior this year, Smith will probably decide to come out early since the senior CB group is pretty thin. Smith could step right in on Sunday and play the nickel for Baltimore and in a year or two could step up and be a full time starter opposite Chris McAllister. An added bonus should the Ravens nab Smith; he could work double duty as their return man thus saving them from a potential catastrophic injury to their current returner, Ed Reed.

#26 Jacksonville Jaguars -- Lawrence Jackson DE USC

Jackson is the type of big, strong, physically imposing defensive lineman that the Jags have built their team around. Jackson isn't a great speed rusher and has had to battle the injury bug but when healthy he's one of the best players in the country. Henderson and Stroud on the inside would help him work his magic on the outside and really bolster an already strong Jags front seven.

#27 Washington Redskins -- Frank Okam DT Texas

Everything has come easy for Frank Okam. At 6'5'', 325 lbs he runs a 5.15 forty and has the strength to easily shed double teams. As a senior, Okam is carrying a 4.0 GPA at Texas and looks to follow in the footsteps of Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers as UT DT's who slipped in the draft but had Pro-Bowl careers. Critics accuse Okam of Alan Branch-ing too much, taking plays off and not dominating every snap despite amazing physical gifts. Okam has all the talent/smarts in the world and could end up being an outstanding pro.

#28 Green Bay Packers -- Mike Hart RB Michigan

Trying to project accurately draft choices this early in the process is almost and exercise in futility. "Almost" because you can chisel in stone that Green Bay will take a running back. Right now Mike Hart would have an edge over Ray Rice - should he decide to come out - and fellow senior Tashard Choice from Georgia Tech. Hart is a very quick back with great patience and vision in the open field. A tremendous natural runner, Hart would start for the Pack from day one and give another dimension to the offense that now consists of just four plays: "Favre pass right", "Favre pass middle", "Favre pass left", and "Favre run around for 10 minutes then make something crazy happen."

#29 Pittsburgh Steelers -- Mike Jenkins CB South Florida

Pittsburgh has gotten by on a lack of talent at corner for a while, mostly because of good safety play and the ability to get pressure on the QB. Passing a talent like Jenkins would be unwise in this spot. Jenkins has good size, 6'0.5'' 200lbs, and runs a 4.4. He's got smooth hips and is strong enough to jam big receivers at the line. Charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and opposing or obstructing an officer without violence during the 2007 off-season, South Florida suspended him indefinitely...character is a concern. Pitt has a strong locker room, a coach that everyone seems to have tons of respect for and with Joey Porter out the door Steeler fans would only have to worry about him hanging out with Santonio Holmes.

#30 Dallas Cowboys -- Justin King CB Penn State

King is a tall, slender, experienced corner who has seemingly been the man at Penn State since first setting foot in the Happy Valley. I suspect the Boys will address WR sometime the early rounds, but guys who can cover are of the utmost importance and King has man to man cover skills. He's not great in run support but has done a really good job of shutting down the opponents best receivers...and in the end isn't that what corners really need to do?

#31 San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis) -- Tommy Blake DE/OLB TCU

The 9ers are building themselves quite the talented roster: adding players like Frank Gore, Vernan Davis, Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, and Joe Staley through the draft, Dexter Jackson, Larry Allen and Nate Clements via free agency and trades. Tommy Blake could be the next in the line of uber-talented players to suit up for the city by the bay. Blake is a highly disruptive pass rusher with the speed to play outside in a 3-4. Teaming up Blake and Lawson on the outsides would give San Fran two of the best young pass rushers in the league that could be teamed up together for a long time at a fairly low price. Blake has the talent to go higher in the draft but he may slip due to perceived personal problems. Before the season started for TCU, Blake was given a leave of absence from the team for what was only described as "personal reasons." Blake isn't a bad dude by any means but teams will definitely be checking into his background prior to the draft.

#32 New England Patriots -- N/A

Roger Goodell's ruling on the whole "spy-gate" kerfuffle was that the Pats will be docked a first round draft pick if they make the playoffs...I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the first round of the 2008 draft will only consist of 31 picks.

So good news Rams fans...it's like you get two first round picks this year!!