Third-annual Chargers.com Writer’s Mock Draft
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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com
Chargers.com has spent the last couple of days calling writers around the NFL. Each reporter made a selection for their team based on how the board fell in front of them. Here’s how it turned out.
1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT Michigan - Harvey Fialkov, South Florida Sun Sentinel – “Long is the perfect fit. First-year head coach Tony Sparano’s background is in the offensive line and Bill Parcels believes in building teams inside out. This move allows former first-round pick Vernon Carey to move back to right tackle where he’s much better suited.”
3. Atlanta Falcons - Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU - Steve Wyche, Atlanta Journal-Constitution - “The Falcons need help on the defensive interior and want to build from the inside first. Head Coach Mike Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff come from programs that have built the defensive line first. Their three second-round picks give them the flexibility to trade up to get a quarterback such as Chad Henne or Brian Brohm later.”
4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas - Nancy Gay, San Francisco Chronicle – “Owner Al Davis just can’t resist the combo of speed and game breaking ability that McFadden presents.”
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State - Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star – “The Chiefs suddenly find themselves needing to replace Jared Allen after completing the trade with Minnesota. They take Gholston here and address the offensive line later.”
6. New York Jets - Matt Ryan, QB Boston College - Dave Hutchinson, Newark Star Ledger – “If McFadden and Gholston are both off the board, I think the Jets would love to trade down but for the sake of this argument, we’ll give them the franchise quarterback.”
7. New England Patriots - Sedrick Ellis, DT USC - Mike Reiss, Boston Globe – “Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green and Vince Wilfork - three of New England’s top four defensive lineman – have contracts that expire after the 2009 season. Ellis projects at nose tackle in the Pats’ scheme and will also give them versatility to play four-man fronts, which Bill Belichick loves having the flexibility to do if it presents the best matchup.”
8. Baltimore Ravens - Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy - Aaron Wilson, Carroll County Times – “The Ravens are a bit disappointed they didn’t get a shot at Ryan, but they address a pressing need at cornerback and are happy with the pick. Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister are advancing in age and both coming off injuries. There is little depth behind them. Baltimore loves McKelvin’s speed and character. His return abilities are an added bonus.”
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Keith Rivers, LB USC - Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com – “It’s anything defense. The Bengals don’t have much experience at linebacker and lost Landon Johnson in free agency so Rivers fills that need. They’d love to have Ellis or McKelvin but are happy with Rivers.”
10. New Orleans Saints - Jerod Mayo, LB Tennessee - Sheldon Mickles, Baton Rouge Advocate – “The Saints are in a bit of a tough spot because they’d love to have Dorsey, Ellis, Rivers or McKelvin, who are all off the board. I think they’d love to trade down if they can find a suitor, but if not they’ll address the need at linebacker.”
11. Buffalo Bills - Devin Thomas, WR Michigan State - Mark Gaughan, Buffalo News - “Thomas fills a desperate need on the outside for a points-challenged offense. He’ll take some pressure off of Lee Evans, who can be a good #1 receiver with a solid #2 on board.”
12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady, OT Boise State - Mike Klis, Denver Post - “With the retirement of Matt Lepsis, left tackle is Denver’s most pressing need and Clady is the next best after Jake Long.
13. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Harvey, DE Florida - Charles Chandler, Charlotte Observer - “The Panthers have options because they like Jeff Otah, Reshard Mendenhall and Jonathan Stewart as well. They could go in all of those directions, but they’ve got to restore what was just a few years ago considered one of the top defensive lines in the NFL.”
14. Chicago Bears - Branden Albert, G/T Virginia - Brad Biggs, Chicago Times Sun - “The Bears had the oldest offensive line in the league at the beginning of last season and Albert could be a fixture for a revamped group for years to come. They think he has the skills to project to an elite left tackle. They love his intelligence and athleticism.”
15. Detroit Lions - Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon - Nicholas Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press - “The Lions want to run the ball more now that Mike Martz is out as offensive coordinator. Stewart compares to Jamal Lewis, and new Lions OC Jim Colletto was the offensive line coach in Baltimore when the Ravens won a Super Bowl with Lewis.”
16. Arizona Cardinals - Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB Tennessee State - Darren Urban, AZCardinals.com - “Rogers-Cromartie has huge potential and comes into a great situation because the Cardinals have two starting cornerbacks. That means he could have the luxury of playing the nickel for a year as he learns. With Antrel Rolle moving to safety, they need to add depth as well.”
17. Kansas City Chiefs (From Minnesota) - Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh - Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star - “With defensive end already addressed at number five, the Chiefs fill their second biggest need by taking the big tackle.”
18. Houston Texans - Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt - Megan Manfull, Houston Chronicle - “The Texans hope to finally solve their woes at left tackle which have hindered the franchise since its inception in 2002.”
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida - Les Bowen, Philadelphia Daily News - “The Eagles would like to move up to get one of the offensive tackles. If they can’t, Jenkins makes a lot of sense. They’re going to trade cornerback Lito Sheppard this weekend and also need a returner. Jenkins meets both of those needs.”
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Aqib Talib, CB Kansas - Chris Harry, Orlando Sentinel - “The Bucs are surprised that a corner with Talib’s credentials is still available. Wide receiver is a need, but this team was built on defense and they need to replenish what made them great all those years. Plus there’s probably not a receiver worth taking there.”
21. Washington Redskins - Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma - Jason LaCanfora, Washington Post - “If this case presents itself, the Redskins will try hard to move down. If they can’t, we’ll give them the receiver.”
22. Dallas Cowboys - Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois - Todd Archer, Dallas Morning News - “The Cowboys have Marion Barber, but he’s never been a full-time back. Mendenhall can provide the big plays and eventually move into that number-one role.”
24. Tennessee Titans - Felix Jones, RB Arkansas - Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean - “The Titans need a playmaker on offense and speedy Jones fits the bill.”
27. San Diego Chargers - Gosder Cherilus, OT Boston College - Kevin Acee and Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune and the North County Times’ Mike Sullivan all agree that the Bolts will add depth to the offensive line by taking the big tackle if this scenario presents itself.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Antonie Cason, CB Arizona - Charean Williams, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram - “Pacman Jones’ status is still up in the air for next season. The Cowboys lost Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones in free agency, leaving two openings for them at the backup cornerback spots. Brandon Flowers is still available, but they like Cason more.”
29. San Francisco 49ers - Quentin Groves, LB/DE Auburn - Matt Maiocco, Santa Rosa Press Democrat - “The 49ers need another pass rusher and Groves looks to be one that fits the 3-4 defense.”
30. Green Bay Packers - Joe Flacco, QB Deleware - Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - “As we speak, there’s no backup for Aaron Rodgers. Mike McCarthy is a heck of a quarterbacks coach and he can develop Flacco.”
31. New England Patriots - Pick forfeited.
32. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, S Miami - Mike Garafolo, Newark Star Ledger - “Safety wasn’t a position of strength last year, and that was before Gibril Wilson left for the Raiders.”
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We already know Jake Long will be selected number one, but what will happen after that?
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