By Nolan Nawrocki
April 2, 2008

Virginia OG-OT Branden Albert

The top three teams making selections in this year’s draft — the Dolphins, Rams and Falcons — all have new decision makers and could feel comfortable selecting the best overall talent.

However, Oakland at No. 4 and Kansas City at No. 5 both face desperate situations to win now. The Raiders have spent heavily in free agency and the trade market. The Chiefs, conversely, have spent little in free agency, have many glaring holes and are desperately seeking to trade down to acquire more picks. Their two most pressing needs, having yet to fill the gaping holes left by the retirement of Willie Roaf and the release of Ty Law, are at the OT and CB positions.

The way we hear it, the Chiefs do not consider any of the draft-eligible cornerbacks to be worthy of the No. 5 overall selection, should they be forced to stay put as expected, with no team showing any interest in moving up. Given the depleted status of their offensive line, which remained thin at the OG position following Will Shields’ retirement a year ago, team brass would like to ramp up the offensive line and is seeking to establish a more powerful, man-blocking unit that best fits Herm Edwards’ style of smashmouth, grind-out-the-clock, win-by-a-field-goal football.

Michigan OT Jake Long, the only offensive lineman who grades out as a top-five selection in this year’s draft, is certain to be gone before the Chiefs select, leaving Boise State’s Ryan Clady and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Otah — an Edwards favorite — as potential options.

Several team executives who have met with Clady have been turned off by what they described as “a lack of passion” and immaturity. The Chiefs, who typically send a contingent of executives to the pro days of the prospects they like, simply sent an area scout to evaluate Clady.

Otah, who surprised evaluators when he clocked in the mid-5.5s at the Combine, was running with a left high ankle sprain that he played with during the season and chose not to participate in his pro day with the team on March 25. He is scheduled to run again on April 9, when he expects to be more fully recovered from the injury. An improved workout is expected to keep the Chiefs interested.

However, Virginia OG Branden Albert has been gaining ground in the Chiefs’ eyes. Albert, who started two games at left tackle as a junior, was firmly entrenched at the OLG position when D’Brickashaw Ferguson departed two years ago. Virginia coaches decided to insert Eugene Monroe at left tackle and leave Albert at guard in order to keep more stability on the line and not have to retrain two players at new positions.

The way we hear it, however, the Chiefs have Albert stacked as an offensive tackle and view him as a safer selection than Otah because if he struggles on the outside, at the worst he should be a great interior lineman. His versatility and overall athleticism could allow teams to consider him higher than they graded his talent.

Decisions will begin to crystallize for the Chiefs on April 7, when Carl Peterson opens the Chiefs’ final draft meetings with his scouts to solidify their draft board.

Cromartie’s removed kidney could affect status

Based on conversations with two decision makers in the top 15, concerns are mounting over CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s missing kidney.

He was born with two but had one removed when he was 8 years old because it was not functioning. As a result, team doctors are trying to figure out how much of a risk it will pose to a club that invests a high first-round pick on him.

There is one school of thought that the standout small-school product should be able to play a lengthy career because of his dislike for contact and ability to stay clean. However, one team executive in need of a cornerback said he viewed the injury as more severe than the knee injury that forced his cousin, Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie, to slide to the 19th overall slot.

“You have to trust your doctors. It’s not a good feeling,” said one executive. “You can say anyone is only one hit away and you don’t want to think that way, but the reality is, it creates reservation.”

Based on game tape, Cromartie graded out like an early second-round talent. However, his stock has climbed in the postseason after stepping up vs. better competition at the Senior Bowl and lighting up the Combine. He stands a chance to be drafted very early, with New England, Baltimore, New Orleans and Buffalo all in need of an elite cornerback. However, his injury could be enough reason for several of those teams to consider trading down to lessen the risk of drafting a cornerback in his condition.

2008 Draft Preview

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.

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