By Nolan Nawrocki
April 2, 2008

OLB-DE Chris Long

Media hype has created an expectation for Chris Long to be the first overall draft pick, but we see Bill Parcells opting for a more valuable Long with the top pick and, the way we hear it, we would be surprised if Chris is drafted in the top five. If the Chiefs, at No. 5, focus on their greatest need, a bigger run could be made on offensive linemen. However, the depth of this year’s draft at the OT, DE and CB positions could make teams feel comfortable about finding a talent at those positions in later rounds.

— Juniors are denoted by an asterisk (*).

1. Miami Dolphins
OT Jake Long, Michigan

It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is if he doesn’t have time to throw. With Long protecting the blind side, QB Josh McCown may not have to run for his life for the first time in his career. The time-tested, proven way to build a football team is in the trenches, and Bill Parcells knows that as well as anyone.

2. St. Louis Rams
DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU

The Rams’ track record of drafting defensive tackles in the first round has been very suspect. However, the team’s brain trust is wise enough not to let past mistakes cloud its judgment of a legitimate talent with great passion.

3. Atlanta Falcons
QB Matt Ryan, Boston College

If the Falcons are to put the past behind them, nothing could do it better than a new face of the franchise at the most important position. Ryan has all the tools to become great.

4. Oakland Raiders
DE Vernon Gholston*, Ohio State

The Raiders’ ground game was not the problem last year, when they ranked sixth in the league in rushing. With Tyler Brayton (free agency) and Warren Sapp (retirement) gone, Tommy Kelly returning from a serious injury and a disgruntled Derrick Burgess having outplayed his contract, Gholston will provide the most help.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
RB Darren McFadden*, Arkansas

The Chiefs desperately want to trade down, but Carl Peterson has never shied away from the strategy of taking the best player overall. With the looming pressure to win immediately and Larry Johnson coming off injury, he may have to restrain himself from filling bigger needs at tackle and cornerback if forced to stay at the No. 5 slot.

6. New York Jets
RB Jonathan Stewart*, Oregon

Signing Calvin Pace filled a void at the OLB position. The Jets signed Alan Faneca and Damien Woody to establish a power-running game. All the offense lacks is a smashmouth back. After having surgery on his toe, Stewart is expected to be fully ready for training camp and could bring the blend of power and speed that’s missing from the Jets’ offense.

7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco)
OLB-DE Chris Long, Virginia

The Patriots have not drafted a linebacker in the first round since Bill Belichick came to New England, but Long’s versatility will be too attractive to pass up. A strategist like Belichick could utilize him in many ways.

8. Baltimore Ravens
CB-RS Leodis McKelvin, Troy

Age and injuries have wounded the Ravens’ secondary. McKelvin could step in from Day One and start.

9. Cincinnati Bengals
NT Sedrick Ellis, USC

The Bengals tried hard to acquire help inside via free agency but were not able to make a splash. Ellis could provide new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer with scheme versatility, allowing him to move between the 3-4 and 4-3.

10. New Orleans Saints
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State

His speed will be very attractive to a team with a major void at cornerback and a history of drafting speed. Small-school talent has paid big dividends for Sean Payton.

11. Buffalo Bills
WR Devin Thomas*, Michigan State

One-year wonders always pose some risk, but Thomas has playmaking ability that could open up the offense for Trent Edwards and complement Lee Evans very nicely.

12. Denver Broncos
OLT Ryan Clady*, Boise State

Clady’s lack of upper-body strength, low Wonderlic score and questionable passion for the game could push him down the board, but strength is not as important as athletic ability in the Broncos’ zone-blocking scheme.

13. Carolina Panthers
DRE Derrick Harvey*, Florida

With Mike Rucker likely in his final year in Carolina, Harvey could benefit from a year as Rucker’s backup and see considerable action in rotational duty as a rookie.

14. Chicago Bears
ORT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh

Otah’s powerful style suits the Bears’ running game. His lack of foot speed could prevent him from being drafted higher.

15. Detroit Lions
RB Rashard Mendenhall*, Illinois

With a pressing need in the backfield following the release of Kevin Jones, Mendenhall could step into the starting lineup from Day One and be asked to shoulder the workload.

16. Arizona Cardinals
DE Phillip Merling*, Clemson

With no runner or cornerback worthy of the 16th pick, Merling could best help a pass rush that lost Calvin Pace, having shown the toughness to play through a sports hernia injury that he suffered during the second half of his junior season.

17. Minnesota Vikings
WR Mario Manningham*, Michigan

With Troy Williamson sent packing, Tarvaris Jackson needs a legitimate downfield threat to open up the offense. The Vikings have always been willing to overlook a wart or two in the character department in order to secure a great talent.

18. Houston Texans
OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt

An excellent fit for Alex Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme, Williams’ lack of strength and explosion could be concealed with all the leaning and cutting the Texans’ line is asked to do.

19. Philadelphia Eagles
OT-OG Branden Albert*, Virginia

With versatility to help inside or outside, Albert could be very attractive to an Eagles brain trust that may be looking to move up to land a tackle.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Limas Sweed, Texas

Jon Gruden’s offense could receive a spark from a big, strong, acrobatic receiver like Sweed.

21. Washington Redskins
DE Calais Campbell*, Miami (Fla.)

New DL coach John Palermo has proven he could get the most out of Campbell and should be able to get him to cut some weight to regain the burst he showed as a sophomore when Palermo coached him in Coral Gables.

22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland)
RB Felix Jones*, Arkansas

With Marion Barber in tow, Jones could be a very good complement and make a big contribution in the return game.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers
OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College

Cherilus possesses the power and strength that defines the Steelers’ ground game. With Marvel Smith struggling to stay healthy, Cherilus could easily be pressed into duty early.

24. Tennessee Titans
WR Malcolm Kelly*, Oklahoma

Questions about the health of Kelly’s knees and a lack of speed may keep him from getting drafted sooner. Vince Young could take major strides with a sure-handed, big target whom he could trust to attack the many jump balls he tosses. 

25. Seattle Seahawks
OLT Sam Baker, USC

The Seahawks need to begin thinking about replacing Walter Jones. Giving his replacement some time to learn from one of the game’s greats could pay big dividends down the line.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars
DE Lawrence Jackson, USC

With Jack Del Rio exerting more influence in the draft room, a former Trojan like himself could help upgrade an aging pass rush in need of help off the edges.

27. San Diego Chargers
NT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina

Balmer could be a few years away from contributing, which is acceptable on a very talented roster. His overall strength makes him ideally suited to play in a 3-4 front.

28. Dallas Cowboys
CB-PR Aqib Talib*, Kansas

A Pacman Jones experiment may or may not work out, and Talib could bring a similar swagger and much more size to the secondary to help match up with the likes of Plaxico Burress.

29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis)
LB Keith Rivers, USC

The lack of need at the LB position could keep Rivers from being drafted sooner and work out very favorably for the Niners. Rivers’ versatility could be a plus in San Francisco.

30. Green Bay Packers
TE Martellus Bennett*, Texas A&M

With the Packers having released Bubba Franks and in need of a blocking tight end who could also pose matchup problems in the passing game, Bennett could help ease the transition of Aaron Rodgers in his first year as the starting quarterback.

31. New England Patriots

Forfeited pick

32. New York Giants
CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida

Despite drafting Aaron Ross in the first round last year, the Giants need more depth in the secondary, and Tom Coughlin has gotten the most out of players who don’t like to practice.

2008 Draft Preview

If you would like to read more about the prospects who are about to enter the April 26-27 NFL draft, and where they are likely to be drafted, Pro Football Weekly has two publications that will fit the bill — the 2008 Draft Preview book and the 2008 Draft Guide.

The 200-page 2008 Draft Preview book, which sells for $19.95, contains detailed scouting reports on nearly 500 NFL prospects, including each player's height, weight, 40-time, positives and negatives. You'll also get our rankings of more than 900 draft prospects and a breakdown of each NFL team's needs, by position. Written by PFW personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki and the editors of PFW, the Draft Preview book is widely recognized as the "bible of the draft." It will be ready for shipping no later than the first week of April.

2008 Draft Guide

Meanwhile, hot off the presses, the 2008 Draft Guide is a 152-page magazine that sells for $6.99, showcasing feature stories on Arkansas RB Darren McFadden and the secret to drafting success, a sleeper watch, a fantasy forecast and more. In addition, you'll find scouting reports on more than 350 players, draft previews for all 32 teams (including each club's top five areas of need and a "hot list" of prospects who fit the team's schemes) and rankings of the prospects by position. 

The 2008 Draft Guide is available now at newsstands and bookstores throughout the country. Both of the above publications can be ordered now from the PFW store. You will receive a discount if you purchase both the 2008 Draft Preview book and the 2008 Draft Guide magazine from the PFW store with our Combo-Pack offer.