2008 NFL Mock Draft

Long is the OT in this draft, but may not end up being the best in the long run.   Long's strong combine and pro days only reiterated what everyone knows: that he is the premier tackle in this draft

Notes: 14 starts at right tackle and 11 at left tackle he is more suited to the right side at the NFL level, but showed the skills at the combine that have many believing he can play the left side at the next level.

Long, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, is a complete defensive end who is an explosive pass rusher as is evidenced by his 14 sacks this year playing in a 3-4 system.

Notes: Long won the 2007 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Long garnered "more than 60 percent of the votes, the most ever for a winner in the history of the award." Ted Hendricks and Long's father, Howie, played together for the Oakland Raiders.

Dorsey would be a serious upgrade to the D-Line and would help solidify their run defense. Dorsey has the speed and quickness to pressure and disrupt. It has been strange with the injury questions, but they never affected his play.

Rivers may be a bit undersized (He is smaller than QB Brian Brohm for example), but he has the speed and athleticism to excel in the NFL

Notes: USC linebacker coach Ken Norton, Jr. nicknamed Rivers "the Shark" for his aggressive play on the field, juxtaposed to his polite demeanor off of it.

Ryan is the consensus top quarterback in a weak quarterback class this year

Notes: Matt Ryan was awarded the 2007 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given annually in the United States to the Nation's most outstanding college football senior quarterback. He was selected to play in the 2007 Senior Bowl. He also won the 2007 Manning Award.

The Saints defense was just horrendous in the back 7 last year. They signed Randall Gay and now they get McKelvin and the defensive backs are suddenly elite. McKelvin is one of the best defensive backs in the draft. He has everything you look for in a CB. Decent size, good speed, good hips, and a fluid backpedal; the only real knock on McKelvin is his hands. He gets his hands on a lot of balls, but cant seem to catch at all. He was a true shutdown corner in college as he hardly ever even got thrown toward as a senior also holding down his numbers, but with DB's many times the numbers mean nothing for that very reason. He also is an explosive punt returner.

Notes: McKelvin was only a two year starter and has a lot of upside.

HEIGHT: 6-2  WEIGHT: 215

Devin Thomas is our fastest rising prospect this year, he has come from the lower first all the way to 11 because he has the size, speed and the hands teams desire. Thomas has above average size to go with the speed to get behind a defense and when you watch him lay what you see is Dwayne Bowe and that style seems to be working out nicely.

With the retirement of Matt Lepsis, the left tackle position becomes a need with Ryan Harris and Erik Pears at the two tackle positions, that could really be hazardous to Jay Cutler's health. Clady is a potential franchise LT with a huge frame and good athleticism. At 6’6, 320 his quick feet and decent strength make him a potential steal this late in the first round. Had he stayed a year he most likely would be a top 5 pick next year. Clady has ideal size and when he gets his hands on the defender he locks him completely out. He does struggle against speed rushers and that could hurt him at the next level. Still has room to grow.

Notes: First-team All-America by the AFCA and the Sporting News, second-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and SI.com and third-team All-America by Rivals.com

Notes: Harvey started football late, in junior year of high school so he still has a lot of learning to do, but also has a lot of upside.

HEIGHT: 6-6  WEIGHT: 340

In this mock, the Bears address their second biggest need, the offensive line. None of the other QB's warrant a first round pick. Otah can be a mauler in the run game but has also shown flashes of being a fleet-footed blindside protector, and could grow into a LT of the future. The Bears may look to trade up if they get a chance at Ryan by some miracle, or if Brohm is here they may take him as well, but he is really grading out to an early 2nd rounder at this point.

Current starter Tatum Bell has terrific speed and is an elusive back, but lacks the power to hold up as a feature back. Mendenhall  would give the Lions the type of tough runner that can move the chains and the speed to stretch the field. Mendenhall is a tough runner with good vision and adequate quickness, along with the ability to get yards after contact, an offensive playmaker.

Yes we know he had surgery and will be out til July. So What?  Jonathon Stewart is just an amazing specimen and had he stayed a year would be the consensus number one next year. He is like Superman or something at 6-0 and 230 lbs and freakishly fast and strong (4.34 40 yard time!) He will be a better NFL back than McFadden.

You could switch the Lions and Cardinals picks and it would surprise no one.

Merling brings speed, size, and athleticism where he could be the premier sackmaster to replace the departed for this pick Jared Allen.

Chris Williams, a big lineman who at 6’6, 320, has ideal size to play OT at the NFL level. Versatile, smart, and aggressive, Williams was the leader of the Vanderbilt offensive line and really improved his stock with a stellar senior season and a great week at the Senior Bowl

Dominique is a super fast and talented Division 1AA prospect that can play corner or safety. Should run under 4.40 at the NFL Scouting Combine he plays like his brother Antonio, another sleeper. He was by far the best corner at the Senior bowl. He was awarded the Under Armour New Prototype Award for his play in the 2008 Senior Bowl where he played mostly free safety. He showed speed and height, but also elite ball skills.

This is a fall for Jenkins, and Tampa has a need in the secondary with Ronde Barber nearing the end of his career and Phillip Buchanan a bit of a wild card, the speedy and physical, Jenkins excels in man-to-man coverage and would immediately challenge for a starting spot. He has improved consistency over entire career since an injury kept him out as a freshman

The Skins could look to add a wide receiver at this selection, especially with DeSean Jackson available. But adding a solid DE who can defend the run and rush the pass will add a lot to the defensive line. A giant of a man, Campbell can dominate when he wants to, and although staying another year would help him build character and technique, he is a smart person, already having graduated with a degree in Sociology, which made his decision to leave school early easier for him.

At 6'5, 219, Sweed is a huge red-zone threat and a match-up nightmare for smaller DB's. He would fit well in the Cowboys offense, it actually is just not quite fair to imagine him opposite TO, that is a match up nightmare for defenses.

HEIGHT: 6-05 WEIGHT: 295

Ballmer is a hustle player who makes plays and is a terrific run stopper. The interior of the defensive line struggled in the playoffs, and Marcus Tubbs is coming off an injury and return is questionable.  In our minds the Seahawks have a lot of needs, but right now they cant even field a receiving corps. Deion Branch is a solid receiver, but he's coming off an ACL injury suffered in the team's playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers and may not be ready to play when the 2008 season begins and Bobby Engram is 34 and can't go on forever so they may go receiver here.

HEIGHT: 6-05 WEIGHT: 265

Jackson is a great physical specimen at 6'5" and 265 pounds he has excellent size for a defensive end. He is a bit raw, but rushes the passer very well. When Jackson does not sack the passer he does a great job of stopping quarterbacks from completing passes by either batting them down or intercepting them and he can stop the run cold from a 3-4 end spot.

 The Chargers are talent rich, so they can take the best available player who can fill several needs. With Chris Chambers now on board, the Bolts might want to look at defense in the first round this year. Safety is a need, and Philips has everything you want in a safety. By far the best safety in the draft and quite possibly one of the best defensive players in the draft as a Junior available.

Everyone thinks that the Cowboys want McFadden, we are not so sure that his backfield mate Jones is a better fit with Marion Barber. Jones is lightning-quick with a great burst and the speed to get out on the edge. Also a threat as a kick-returner, Jones is a big-time playmaker and would make for a great change of pace for Barber.

DeSean Jackson may be undersized but he can stretch the field and is a special athlete in the return game. We still think the pathetic front 7 is not fixed, but the consensus says its Jackson

HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 185

Arizona's Antoine Cason is a polished corner with excellent skills. He will be an immediate nickle back and will be playing a lot in the first year as he gets to learn from two of the best.

Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas (JR)

HEIGHT: 6-2  WEIGHT: 205

Talib is one of the top cover-men in the nation and is just an all around playmaker even getting some action at wide receiver. Aqib is a big corner with good speed and ball awareness who can be electrifying at times and sometimes just completely busts a play as well. A lot of upside with a little bit of Dale Carter swagger in him.