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| 2008 NFL DRAFT | ||||||
| Round #1 | ||||||
| Team | Pick | Player | POS | College | Reason | |
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1.01 | Chris Long | DT | Virginia | Howie's kid is exactly the type of athlete Bill Parcell's wants to add to his team. With a non-stop motor and pedigree of a champion, he's the safe pick if the Phins can't trade down. The Phins will strongly consider Jake Long here to fill another big need but it's Chris' killer instinct that will draw Parcells to make this pick. |
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1.02 | Jake Long | OT | Michigan | He could just as easily go 1.1 in this draft. He's a monster LT with great feet who allowed all of 1 sack his senior year at Michigan. He's the prototypical LT in the NFL and will cement the Rams there. He'll learn at RT while Orlando Pace finishes out and then Jake takes over. Smart pick here. |
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1.03 | Vernon Gholston | DT | Ohio State | I don't know how you pass on someone like Darren McFadden but they spent the big jack to bring in RB Michael Turner so they'll pass on DMC. Gholston is a freak of nature that produced on the field. He can run like a LB and has the strength of a Nose Tackle. He'll give the Falcons that edge rusher every team needs to compete. |
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1.04 | Darren McFadden | RB | Arkansas | No way in hell Al Davis passes on a big ticket draw talent like DMC. DMC and his 9 illegit kids will fit in just perfectly on the Raiders. This kid has silly speed and surprising strength. He's not as tough a runner as AP but he's faster. He'll have an instant impact on the league and the early favorite for ROY. |
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1.05 | Matt Ryan | QB | Boston College | KC is going to find their QB one of these years. Ryan brings a winner's mentality and strong leadership to the table with all his physical strengths to boot. He's not a bad choice here. Vanilla ice cream, but at least you know what you're getting. The Chiefs believe he will be their leader for the next decade. If he falls past Atlanta, he'll be a Chief. |
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1.06 | Glenn Dorsey | DT | LSU | Dorsey may not make it past Atlanta but the questions surrounding his knee may just let him fall to the Jets. They'd probably rather have Gholston but should Dorsey be on their doorstep they'll gladly take him. He's a dominating inside tackle who spends his days in the opponents backfield. He can simply take over a game when his effort is there. |
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1.07 | Mike Jenkins | CB | USF | I don't think the Pats will stay at this slot but they're paying rent on Jenkins' ballsack these days. Belichick even went to his pro day...that never happens. They can slide and still get Jenkins 15 picks from this one so they may deal. Leodis McKelvin is another possibility. The Patriots just aren't hurting anywhere so they have the luxury to pick whatever the heck they want here. |
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1.08 | Ryan Clady | OT | Boise St. | Jonathan Ogden can't last forever...in fact his days are numbered. Clady can come in and learn from one of the best ever and eventually take over. He's a big OT with very good feet. There's a chance they go Brian Brohm here but they have to be gun-shy on taking a QB this early after the whole Kyle "Should have been a" Boller experiment. Safe pick is Clady. |
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1.09 | Sedrick Ellis | DT | USC | This would be an early Xmas gift if Ellis falls. He's an impact DT who has rare explosion. His forty time and stamina leave much to be desired but when the guy flips the switch, he's in your backyard wreaking havoc. He's just the dominant inside force the Bengals need. Of course if he goes to Cincy, he'll be arrested 4 times by July so who knows. |
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1.10 | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | DB | Tenn St. | This kid has been flying up the charts since the Senior Bowl. He's got amazing athletic ability packaged in a large frame to hang with the big WR's in the NFL. They'll consider Leodis McKelvin here as he too brings the playmaking ability the Saints need in the secondary. They need DB in the worst way and that's what they'll take at this slot. DRC just happens to have the most upside/talent at that position. |
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1.11 | Limas Sweed | WR | Texas | The Bills need a big playmaking WR to put opposite Lee Evans. Sweed brings great size/speed combo to the table. His wrist injury hurt his stock through the combine but the kid's talent will shine through once he gets the shot. He's the best big WR in the draft and that's what the Bills are looking for in the 1st round. This is actually a crappy year for WR, so it sucks to be them. |
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1.12 | DeSean Jackson | WR | Cal | He has blazing speed and electric moves but he'd probably get his ass kicked by Steve Urkel. The size numbers were grossly exaggerated at Cal. He showed up to the Combine and the real numbers hurt his draft status. There aren't too many 169 pound anorexic smurfs dominating in the NFL. He'll put on a little size and add an immediate boost to their kick return game. The Broncos could go Devin Thomas here or Dan Connor but they really need the big playmaker and with Brandon Marshall breakdancing on cheeseburger wrappers, WR is a need. |
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1.13 | Branden Albert | OG | Virginia | Albert is a dominating guard who can slide out to tackle and excel as well. They're getting 2-for-1 on this pick. He's been rising up the charts all off-season. The Panthers could go Dan Connor here but OL is a bigger need and Albert is a stud. This pick helps DeAngelo run to daylight this season. |
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1.14 | Rashard Mendenhall | RB | Illinois | If the Bears don't pick the hometown kid and still cling to the hope of Cedric Benson actually being an NFL RB, they are dumber than a box of rocks. Give up on Benson and add this warrior NOW! Mendenhall is a tough inside runner with the speed to break outside. Great balance and vision. They can build around this kid for the next 8 years. Being the Bears, they'll draft some OL projected for the 4th round in this slot...ugh. |
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1.15 | Dan Connor | ILB | Penn St. | Bring back the CHRIS SPIELMAN type LB! Connor is a sideline-to-sideline run stuffer that just makes plays. The Lions haven't had that lockdown guy since Spielman. With a hard-nosed work ethic and lead by example attitude, he'd be the perfect addition to Detroit. They wanted Mendenhall in the worst way but Chicago beats them to that. They could go DE Derek Harvey here to shore up the pass rush as well. With Matt Millen calling the shots, they'll probably draft WR Malcolm Kelly...they do have a streak to keep alive. |
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1.16 | Leodis McKelvin | CB | Troy | This kid is electric. He's probably the best kick returner in the draft and showed lockdown coverage skills in the Senior Bowl. He's been rising up the charts all off-season. New England may take him up at 1.07 or try to trade down to this neck of the woods to take him. If he's there when Arizona hits the clock, they'll be all over him like a fat kid on cake. He'll be their lockdown CB and kick returner from day 1. |
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1.17 | Derek Harvey | DE | Florida | Blazing fast pass-rush DE's don't fall this far in the draft, so it wouldn't surprise if he's already gone but if he is here, the Vikings will do cartwheels on the way to the podium for this pick. He's got a great wingspan and is lightening fast off the edge on the pass rush. It's exactly what the Vikes need. If Harvey's not here, they could go Brian Brohm as Tavaris Jackson just isn't the answer. |
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1.18 | Jonathan Stewart | RB | Oregon | Yeah he needed turf toe surgery but he'll be ready by the season and the kid just has too much talent for Houston to pass. He's got great size at 230lbs and 4.4 speed with amazing vision. He's a future stud RB1 in the fantasy football circles and Houston will continue to build their offense by taking him here. |
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1.19 | Malcolm Kelly | WR | Oklahoma | The Eagles have needed WR for years now and they'll keep trying to find that gem for Donovan McNabb this year. Kelly has great size and amazing hands. He knows how to get open in the red zone and make plays. He's not going to be All-World, but he's the best WR available at this point in the draft and Philly has that need. |
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1.20 | Devin Thomas | WR | Michigan St. | He's got good size and great speed. His sub 4.4 at the Combine boosted his stock through the roof. TB needs a WR in the worst way as they can't count on Joey Galloway to keep producing into his 40's. Thomas will give them the guy for Galloway to show the ropes. They could go Manningham with this pick too but Thomas has the better size. One way or the other, they're going WR with this pick. |
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1.21 | Mario Manningham | WR | Michigan | After a slow combine forty, his stock has fallen a little. He made some of that back with a strong Pro Day. Bottom line, the kid produced on the field where it counts. He's a big playmaker and Washington would love to put him opposite Santana Moss and dare you stop those two. Manningham will go down as a steal in this draft if he's available here. He's much better on the field than his workout numbers show. |
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1.22 | Felix Jones | RB | Arkansas | They let Julius Jones go and would love to add this dynamite playmaker. Felix Jones will leave defenders in the dust and provide the perfect lightening compliment to Marion Barber's thunder. This kid averaged over 8 yards a carry IN THE SEC! He was behind McFadden the last 2 years and still managed over 1000 yards each season. He's the real deal and will be a big boost to the Cowboy's O. |
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1.23 | Jeff Otah | OL | Pitt | Hometown boy gives the Steelers another young stud O-lineman to shore up the future. They could go Talib here but they don't have a huge need on defense. Otah is too good to pass up at this slot so they build the front lines. If Otah and Albert are both gone here...they'll go Chris Williams. I think they go OL unless a stud CB falls. |
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1.24 | James Hardy | WR | Indiana | At 6'6" with mits for hands, he's exactly the type of go-to WR Vince Young needs in this offense. He'll be a red zone monster just like he was for Indiana in college. Tennessee could go several directions with this pick but WR makes the most sense. They are dying to give VY a target. |
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1.25 | Calais Campbell | DE | Miami FL | The Hawks could use an athletic monster DE like Campbell. He's got that typical "U" athleticism and attitude. He'll add immediate pass rush help and he's equally adept at stopping the run. He's a nice safe prospect to add to their defense. They wanted Jonathan Stewart and if he slides due to the turf toe surgery, they'll scoop him quick. |
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1.26 | Kentwan Balmer | DT | N. Carolina | With Marcus Stroud departed, Balmer is the perfect replacement at this slot. He's got great athleticism and will clog up the middle of the Jags D just like Stroud did. They could go OLB Quentin Groves here if they want to boost the pass rush. It's a coin flip. Pass rush vs. Run Stuffer. |
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1.27 | Kenny Phillips | S | Miami FL | Another Miami playmaking safety hits the NFL. The Chargers would LOVE to add this kid at this slot. Marlon McCree is gone so there's an opening for Phillips to step right in and make an impact. With just 1 pick in the first 3 rounds, the Chargers have to make it count. They'll take the BPA. |
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1.28 | Aqib Talib | DB | Kansas | If the Cowboys ink Pacman Jones then they'll look WR with this pick or maybe package their 2 picks to move up for another player. If they're smart they'll stay away from Pacman and fill the need in the draft right here. Talib is a big strong DB that just makes big plays. He has the "X" factor about him...always around the ball. |
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1.29 | Quentin Groves | OLB | Auburn | Groves is a freakish athlete who can play OLB or be and edge pass rusher for the Niners. They need that type of impact player on their D. Only 2 teams had fewer sacks than the Niners did so this pick makes perfect sense. Groves and Willis give the Niners a killer core of LB's for the future. If a WR falls here, they'll consider that as well. |
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1.30 | Antoine Cason | CB | Arizona | Cason has good size and athleticism to match up with the big NFC WR's. The Pack would love to add him to learn under Woodson and Al Harris. Both of those guys are getting up in years and Cason could be groomed as well as provide depth this season. |
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1.31 | FORFEITED | - | - | Spygate and Karma...ain't that a bi@$%@$. | |
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1.32 | Gosder Cherilus | OT | Boston College | The Giants would love for Kenny Phillips to fall here and replace Gibril Wilson. If he doesn't fall, they'll take the best OL on the board to provide depth. Their O-line is thin and Cherilus would be a perfect fit for them. The Giants can go several ways with this pick. It's nice drafting with a shiny new Super Bowl ring on. |
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