By Nolan Nawrocki
Jan. 27, 2008

(L to R) Michigan OT Jake Long, LSU DL Glenn Dorsey, Boston College QB Matt Ryan

Teams at the top of the 2008 draft will be looking to trade down and acquire more value to fill a greater number of holes and avoid having to make the major investment that comes with top-10 picks. Typically, there are no suitors, however, that show interest in moving up, and the Dolphins can be expected to have to make a pick at the top spot. If they truly want to trade down, they will have to take a stand like A.J. Smith did in 2004, when he was pressured not to select Eli Manning by his family but did so anyway, only to move the pick four spots later. After thoroughly analyzing this draft, however, the Dolphins may not want to trade at all.

Editor’s note: Juniors are denoted with an asterisk. A tie for the third, fourth and fifth picks overall will be decided by a coin flip during the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

1. Miami Dolphins
    QB Matt Ryan | Boston College

Wayne Huizenga found a key ingredient the Dolphins had been missing since Don Shula departed when he hired master chef Bill Parcells. Still left to address is the gaping hole at quarterback that has kept the Dolphins down since Dan Marino left. Although Tony Sparano’s appreciation for offensive linemen could make Jake Long an attractive commodity, Parcells made Drew Bledsoe the cornerstone of the Patriots’ franchise in his first rebuilding project. Ryan is every bit as good as Bledsoe coming out and appears further along at this stage in his career than even Tom Brady was. QB coach David Lee was hired even before the head coach and will be ready to take Ryan’s game to the level he took Tony Romo’s in Dallas. Expect Parcells to focus on fixing the problem no one before him has been able to fix. Ryan has everything a team could want in a quarterback, and his exceptional intelligence and intangibles will make the decision easy for new GM Jeff Ireland. Being a Pennsylvania native like Marino certainly won’t hurt Ryan, either. If the Dolphins do not take the only sure thing at quarterback in free agency or the draft, it would be a shocker.

2. St. Louis Rams
    OT Jake Long | Michigan

The Rams have busted on far too many defensive linemen, as much as they could use more. Orlando Pace is not getting younger and has not been able to stay healthy. Long has the toughness to play inside initially and could be a 12-year starter on the blind side after Pace hangs up the cleats.

3. Atlanta Falcons
    DL Glenn Dorsey | LSU

New GM Tom Dimitroff cut his teeth under Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick, and the way they built the Patriots was on the defensive line. Richard Seymour was their first first-round pick in New England and was followed not long after by Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork, making D-line the position of choice in three of the Patriots’ first five drafts. Dorsey is stout and explosive and can play the nose as well as the “three-technique,” and his versatility will be a big draw. He would also make ’07 first-rounder Jamaal Anderson look a lot better.

4. Oakland Raiders
    RB Darren McFadden* | Arkansas

Al Davis has never placed a premium on character and will have no problem pulling the trigger on an exciting playmaker who can take some of the pressure off the first-round investment he made a year ago in JaMarcus Russell, especially given that he sees McFadden as being a tougher version of Marcus Allen.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
    OT Ryan Clady* | Boise State

Clark Hunt has spoken. The Chiefs need to be competitive next year to avoid a major housecleaning.The top priority has to be the offensive line. Although it’s rich for Clady, expect another run on tackles this year and for the naturally athletic 300-pounder to be pushed up the draft board, like Levi Brown was a year ago, because of the Chiefs’ glaring hole on the left side since Willie Roaf retired.

6. New York Jets
    OLB Chris Long | Virginia

In a unique position to trump the Patriots, the Jets, also in need of an outside linebacker, get the chance to one-up their division rival for the Mike Vrabel-like outside edge rusher. Long’s versatility will make him an attractive target.

7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco)
    OLB Vernon Gholston* | Ohio State

An untapped pass rusher with explosive pass-rush ability and the versatility to drop into coverage, Gholston has tremendous upside, too much for the Pats to pass on.

8. Baltimore Ravens
    CB Leodis McKelvin | Troy

Has dynamic return ability — a big plus to a former special-teams coach like John Harbaugh — that will push up his value. Combine his outstanding size, feet and ability to play the off-man coverage the Ravens frequently run, and McKelvin is a great fit.

9. Cincinnati Bengals
    DE Derrick Harvey* | Florida

Marvin Lewis fell in love with Jarvis Moss a year ago but shied away because of character concerns. Harvey does not come with baggage and is a more natural pass rusher.

10. New Orleans Saints
      DT Sedrick Ellis | USC

Ellis could be gone sooner, especially with a weak DL class, but Sean Payton understands the importance of a strong front and will not hesitate to take the best player.

11.  Buffalo Bills
       DE-DT Phillip Merling* | Clemson

Merling has a nonstop motor that will be endearing to Dick Jauron, and his versatility, with the ability to move inside in nickel pass-rush situations, will raise his value.

12. Denver Broncos
      WR Mario Manningham* | Michigan

With Javon Walker’s future up in the air and Mike Shanahan’s tendency to overlook character, Manningham is a natural fit.

13. Carolina Panthers
      OT Jeff Otah | Pittsburgh

With both of their tackles set to hit the unrestricted free-agent market, the Panthers have no other choice but to fill a pressing need. Taking a quarterback with no protection for him would serve no purpose. The Panthers need to win now.

14. Chicago Bears
      RB Jonathan Stewart* | Oregon

Expect a trade for a proven commodity. The Bears need help in the trenches the most, on both sides of the ball, and could reach to fill a big need. But if they are forced to stay put, it’s time to come to grips with the fact that Cedric Benson has not gotten the job done and is coming off injury. If the Bears want to get off the bus running, they need a workhorse.

15. Detroit Lions
      CB Jack Ikegwuonu* | Wisconsin

Was riddled by injury as a junior but has shown shutdown ability and would give defensive coordinator Joe Barry the chance to be much more aggressive.

16. Arizona Cardinals
      RB Rashard Mendenhall* | Illinois

With Edgerrin James showing his age, the Cardinals need to add more power to the backfield, and Mendenhall could bring it.

17. Minnesota Vikings
      QB Brian Brohm | Louisville

May seem like the draft gods have smiled on them again, after the Vikings landed Adrian Peterson a year ago, but V.P. of player personnel Rick Spielman’s strength has never been evaluating quarterbacks. Brad Childress was noncommittal toward Tarvaris Jackson at the end of the season. An average quarterback will get overdrafted again.

18. Houston Texans
      OT Gosder Cherilus | Boston College

Struggled as a senior, but he is still loaded with natural ability and could help keep Matt Schaub healthy in 2008 — a task an average offensive line could not do.

19.  Philadelphia Eagles
       CB Mike Jenkins | South Florida

An athletic corner with return ability could be very attractive to the Eagles.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
      WR Limas Sweed | Texas

Bucs need a young playmaker, and Sweed’s exceptional work habits should resonate with Jon Gruden.

21. Washington Redskins
      DE Quentin Groves | Auburn

Would not pass Joe Gibbs’ strength-of-character test, but with a new head coach in place, Vinny Cerrato could gain more influence, and Groves is a classic Cerrato pick with great measurables and average production.

22. Dallas (from Cleveland)
      WR Malcolm Kelly* | Oklahoma

Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are not getting any younger, and the Cowboys could use another young, sure-handed target to pair with Tony Romo.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers
      OG-OT Brandon Albert* | Virginia

Versatility was a big theme of the Steelers’ upon Mike Tomlin’s arrival, and Albert’s ability to play guard or tackle, with Alan Faneca possibly departing and the edges not being secured last season, will be attractive.

24. Tennessee Titans
      WR DeSean Jackson* | California

Has explosive big-play ability in the return game, with Pacman Jones possibly out of the picture, and as a receiver. Can stretch the field and give Vince Young a legitimate playmaker to enhance his maturation as a quarterback.

25. Seattle Seahawks
      TE John Carlson | Notre Dame

The Marcus Pollard experiment did not go as expected, leaving a pass-happy offense without a key element. Carlson’s exceptional character and intelligence will be inviting to GM Tim Ruskell.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars
      WR Devin Thomas* | Michigan State

Have missed on too many first-round receivers and find themselves in position to draft a legitimate playmaker, which Thomas showed he can be, although he might take some time to develop, like those they have drafted before him.

27. San Diego Chargers
      DT Kentwan Balmer | North Carolina

The way the rich get richer is by strengthening their fronts, and Balmer has the strength to two-gap in the Chargers’ “30” front.

28. Dallas Cowboys
      RB Felix Jones* | Arkansas

Could wind up with the more dynamic of the Hogs’ two backs and replace free agent Julius Jones, keeping a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield and improving the return game.

29. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis)
      WR Early Doucet | LSU

Niners are desperate for more playmakers and could find a strong runner who can handle going over the middle the way Mike Martz will demand.

30. Green Bay Packers
      LB Keith Rivers | USC

Will look to upgrade the athleticism of the linebacking corps and allow the defense to be more creative.

31. New York Giants #
      CB Patrick Lee | Auburn

Brings a lot of versatility to play press or off-man coverage or in the slot and could upgrade a weak secondary.

32. New England Patriots #
      Forfeited pick

# — The 31st and 32nd picks will go to the Super Bowl loser and winner, respectively.

PFW's premier draft publications will be available soon. The 2008 Draft Guide magazine will be on sale at newsstands and bookstores in March, and the 2008 Draft Preview book, recognized as "the bible of the draft," will be shipped by the first week in April. To order an advance print copy of either publication, call 1-800-FOOTBALL (1-800-366-8225). In the coming weeks, you'll also have the option of placing your order online at PFWstore.com.