Mock draft: This draft might make a mockery of my picks

 

Updated April 25

Why do we take mock drafts so seriously?

Here's why: We all want to be right. We want to say, "I told you so." We want to brag.

We want to be the mock-draft champion.

Why does it matter? That and four bucks might not even get you a gallon of gas.

Jake Long becomes the first overall pick. (Getty Images)  
Jake Long becomes the first overall pick. (Getty Images)  
Yet as I sat in front of my screen late Friday night trying to figure out who is going where, the worthlessness of doing a mock never even entered my mind.

I'm competitive. I don't want to look like an idiot (insert joke here).

But by the time the draft rolls around, I have a feeling trades in the top 10 will mess with my draft.

Will New Orleans trade up to get USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis?

Will the Kansas City Chiefs trade down? Who else is going up?

I'm done. I'm toast. So here it is, the final one -- unless, of course, there's a trade early Saturday morning.

2008 NFL Mock Draft
1. Miami Dolphins
NFL TEAM
Jake Long, OT, Michigan: They did the right thing signing him to a deal before the draft. He was the safe choice.
2. St. Louis Rams
NFL TEAM
Chris Long, DE, Virginia: There was a real battle inside the building between Long and Glenn Dorsey. In the end, they will go Long if they can't trade down.
3. Atlanta Falcons
NFL TEAM
Glenn Dorsey, DT, Louisiana State: The Falcons will consider Matt Ryan here, but Dorsey is the guy they want. They have nothing at defensive tackle, and he's the best player on the board.
4. Oakland Raiders
NFL TEAM
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: Al Davis is said to want McFadden. Al Davis gets what he wants in Oakland.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
NFL TEAM
Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State: They would like to trade down, but if they can't they take a tackle they can plug in for the next 10 years.
6. New york Jets
NFL TEAM
Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College: They need to get their franchise passer. Ryan is a guy they spent a lot of time with the past month.
7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco)
NFL TEAM
Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State: If they were to take Gholston, they could move Adalius Thomas inside on a full-time basis.
8. Baltimore Ravens
NFL TEAM
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy: With Ryan gone, they will take the best corner on the board. Look for the Ravens to try and move up ahead of the Jets. If they can't get Ryan, they get a quarterback in the second round.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
NFL TEAM
Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC: This is a team sorely lacking a dominant player inside. Ellis isn't big at just over 6-feet tall, but he plays big.
10. New Orleans Saints
NFL TEAM
Keith Rivers, OLB, USC: They want to go up and get Glenn Dorsey. If they can't, they stay here and opt for Rivers over a corner.
11. Buffalo
NFL TEAM
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State: They need another big-play receiver to go with Lee Evans.
12. Denver Broncos
NFL TEAM
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon: They could go tackle here, but they really need a big-time runner. Stewart is perfect for their system.
13. Carolina Panthers
NFL TEAM
Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida: The pass rush has a void on the right side, and they need someone to pair with Julius Peppers. The coaches spent a lot of time with Harvey during his Pro Day workout.
14. Chicago Bears
NFL TEAM
Branden Albert, G, Virginia: They see him as a left tackle, which would allow a move of John Tait to the right side. Albert is more physical than Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams, so he's the pick.
15. Detroit Lions
NFL TEAM
Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee: They need a thumper in the middle of that defense and Mayo can fill that role. Playing next to Ernie Sims, they would have two fast linebackers who can play the run and pass.
16. Arizona Cardinals
NFL TEAM
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn. State: Nobody is afraid of his physical talents. But there is some concern about the level of competition he faced. The Cardinals like him.
17. Kansas City Chiefs (From Minnesota)
NFL TEAM
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida: They would love to get an end to replace Jared Allen, but Jenkins' value is too great. They do need corner help.
18. Houston Texans
NFL TEAM
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois: How many more years can they get by with Ahman Green? Left tackle is also a possibility.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
NFL TEAM
Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh: The Eagles have age creeping into their tackle position and Otah can play either side.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFL TEAM
DeSean Jackson, WR, California: This is a team desperate for a playmaker at receiver to pair with Joey Galloway. Jackson will help the return game as well.
21. Washington Redskins
NFL TEAM
Philip Merling, DE, Clemson: They spent time at his workout Thursday for a reason. Merling is the last of the top defensive ends left on the board.
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland)
NFL TEAM
Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas: If they took Pacman Jones, they'll take a guy with lesser issues on his resume. Talib is a top-10 talent.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL TEAM
Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina: They have some age at their defensive end spots. Balmer played defensive tackle in college, but he can be a 3-4 end.
24. Tennessee Titans
NFL TEAM
Limas Sweed, WR, Texas: At some point, they have to get a go-to receiver for Vince Young. Why not a guy he knows?
25. Seattle Seahawks
NFL TEAM
Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma: Their receiver situation isn't very good with Deion Branch coming off a knee injury. Kelly hasn't run well, but he plays faster.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
NFL TEAM
Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas: This might seem like a surprise, but Fred Taylor is getting up in years and Maurice Jones-Drew is too little to be handling a 25-carry load per game.
27. San Diego Chargers
NFL TEAM
Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: They can't believe he's here. Williams is a left tackle, but they could move Marcus McNeil to the right side or try Williams at right tackle.
28. Dallas Cowboys
NFL TEAM
Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville: The Cowboys move out of the spot and the Falcons get their franchise quarterback. If they get Dorsey and Brohm one word: Wow.
29. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis)
NFL TEAM
Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College: They would love to move Joe Staley to the left side. Cherilus can make that a reality.
30. Green Bay Packers
NFL TEAM
Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona: He's a playmaker and their corners are getting old. Cason might also be able to move inside to free safety and take the job from Nick Collins.
31. New England Patriots
NFL TEAM
Pick forfeited.
32. New York Giants
NFL TEAM
Tyrell Johnson, S, Arkansas State They can't play Sammy Knight and feel comfortable with their back two. Johnson has range and size.

 
 
 

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