Subscribe to NFL Content to get the Mock Up dates

Football Jabber Mock Draft 5.0

Updated 4/15/08

by TJ Ford

The Mock Draft has grown into three rounds!

Round One | Round Two | Round Three

Round 1

1 ) Miami - OT Jake Long

Bill Parcells grabs the anchor of his offensive line for the next 10 years or so. With the Dolphins converting to a Parcells 3-4, the defensive players that make sense here are Chris Long or Vernon Gholston. However, I think that Parcells will try to incorporate more of the old Dolphins (read: Jason Taylor) than many are anticipating. Matt Ryan is another plausible choice but I have always said that Ryan is not worthy of a top 5 choice. The Dolphins would be better served to grab a QB in the later rounds if they are dead set on getting one. Getting a possible franchise tackle when you do not have one is always a sound move, no matter what other holes you have.

2 ) St. Louis - DE Chris Long

The Rams take the other Long; prompting a huge boost in electronics sales in the midwest area. Chris Long will give St. Louis a scary defensive line with Leonard Little, last year’s first round pick Adam Carriker and Long. Carriker is a better tackle than end and will have a home position on the inside with the arrival of Long.

3 ) Atlanta - DT Glenn Dorsey

Dorsey’s solid pro day shut up many of his critics and as a result, his stock is back on the rise. Atlanta needs a presence on the inside of the line for both run stopping and pressure on the passer. Dorsey does both extremely well. Atlanta starts its rebuild from the inside out. Matt Ryan tempts them greatly but they gamble that Brohm, Flacco or Henne is available in the second round.

4 ) Oakland - DE Vernon Gholston

I am trusting that Crazy Al Davis actually looks at his team needs before he makes this choice. The Raiders are probably one pass rusher away from having one of the best defenses in the NFL. Gholston is a physical freak and should give the Raiders the type of pass rush they need. The Raiders defense will be scary if this pick is made.

5 ) Kansas City - QB Matt Ryan

With Dorsey and J Long gone, the Chiefs probably scramble to trade down and fail; similar to the teams that tried to trade down above them. Clady and Otah are reaches here and while Ellis could be argued, QB is a need in the wake of last season, where Croyle could not stay healthy and Huard was inconsistent.

6 ) New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden

The perfect storm of picks (J Long, C Long, Gholston and Ryan) ahead of the Jets force them to take Run DMC. The NFL is a copycat league and the Jets will look to use Thomas Jones and DMac similar to Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson of the Vikings. With the addition of Alan Faneca, the Jets offensive line should prove to be a dominant group and a dynamic playmaker such as McFadden will capitalize.

7 ) New England - CB Leodis McKelvin

Despite what Dallas’ leaked cornerback draft board would have you believe, I think Leodis McKelvin leaves the board first to the Patriots who need to replace two cornerbacks lost in free agency. McKelvin adds return skills to the mix as well as good coverage abilities.

8 ) Baltimore - OT Ryan Clady

Baltimore has been advised to treat this year as if Pro Bowl tackle Johnathan Ogden will not be returning. Heeding that advice Head Coach Harbaugh drafts his replacement in Ryan Clady. Clady is a fluid tackle who always seems to be in position. The Ravens will continue to lean on their running game this year and Clady is a solid choice to ensure it keeps rolling.

9 ) Cincinnati - DT Sedrick Ellis

Ellis has fallen in the last couple weeks, not because of anything he did, but simply due to the fact that other prospects have made jumps. Cincinnati failed to grab a defensive tackle through FA and early offseason trading so Ellis fills the gap.

10 ) New Orleans - LB Keith Rivers

New Orleans complete sits reconstruction of the linebacking corps with the drafting of Rivers. Rivers would likely take the job of current strong side linebacker Scott Fujita. Alongside newly acquired MLB Johnathan Vilma, the Saints instantly gain some credibility on defense.

11 ) Buffalo - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Dallas cringes with its top cornerback prospect leaving the board (not that they had much of a shot at DRC falling to the 20s). Rodgers-Cromartie adds some talent and coverage dependability to a secondary that was absolutely destroyed by injury. The loss of Nate Clements was very apparent over the course of last year. Buffalo would be wise to draft some help for Terrence McGee.

12 ) Denver - OT Sam Baker

I have Baker going much higher than most mocks but in all seriousness, is their a better projection to a zone blocking scheme tackle than Sam Baker? I don’t believe so. Mike Shanahan needs to replace the retired Matt Lepsis and Sam Baker should be that guy. The Broncos could probably trade down and still get Baker later in the first but again fidning a buyer might be difficult.

13 ) Carolina - FS Kenny Phillips

Carolina has holes on the offensive side of the ball but needs to add some coverage help to allow Chris Harris play more in the box. Carolina’s defense will be better suited that way. Kenny Phillips is still the best cover safety in the draft despite his weak combine.

14 ) Chicago - OT Jeff Otah

Chicago drafts the upside tackle. Their bread-and-butter running game was uncharacteristically weak last year and as usual, their weak passing game was exposed by the opposing team’s pass rush. A good tackle would go far to alleviate both of these concerns, although drafting Jeff Otah won’t keep Cedric Benson from being labelled a bust.

15 ) Detroit - RB Rashard Mendenhall

The cutting of Kevin Jones, although it made little sense, paved the way for a first round RB. Mendenhall’s power running style should be a good fit in the hard-nosed NFC North. He has experience running in the cold and should prove to be an excellent addition to the Lions if their offensive line can manage to open some holes for him.

16 ) Arizona - RB Jonathan Stewart

Arizona has the luxury of allowing Jonathan Stewart to heal his surgically-repaired toe while Edge continues to be the feature back into the twilight of his career. Stewart is a smash-mouth running back and will fit well with the Whiz and Russ Grimm if he can stay healthy.

17 ) Minnesota - DT/DE Phillip Merling

Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James cannot seem to stay healthy enough to provide a decent pass rush for the Vikings. Their defense has been excellent versus the run but putrid against the pass and I don’t believe the secondary is completely at fault. Merling is a monster of a man at should provide the Vikes with the pressure they need to ascend their defense to elite status.

18 ) Houston - CB Aqib Talib

Houston seems to be going the RBBC route with their signing of Chris Brown and assurance of a more prominent role of Chris Taylor. Their backfield looks to be a mess. That being said the Texans need to beef up their secondary given the injury to Dunta Robinson and the fact that the Texans play the Colts twice a year.

19 ) Philadelphia - WR Malcolm Kelly

Philly’s failed effort to land Larry Fitzgerald reaffirms the fact that the eagles are desperate for a number one receiver. Yet not since Freddie Mitchell have they really committed to one via the draft. Malcolm Kelly is the big-body receiver the Eagles need to allow Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown to develop into the deep threats they are best suited for.

20 ) Tampa Bay - QB Brian Brohm

Tampa needs to draft a replacement quarterback for the geriatic club of QBs they host currently; Garcia and Griese are both long in the tooth and Head Coach Jon Gruden has shown his lack of faith in young Bruce Gradkowski after signing or trading for multiple QBs last offseason despite Gradkowski’s decent showing in a handful of contests. Brohm’s stock is sagging but a west coast system with decent protection could see his career take off.

21 ) Washington - DE Derrick Harvey

The Skins need a bookend to compliment Andre Carter. Washington’s D-line is old and slowing down. Their sacks totals were weak last year. Harvey is a solid prospect who should make an impact for the Skins early in his career.

22 ) Dallas (from Cleveland) - WR DeSean Jackson

The perfect compliment to a gritty, physical receiver like Terrell Owens. Jackson’s lightning quick speed should allow for Owens to soften up defenses underneath and open up deep passes later in the game. He is a playmaker that defenses will need to account for and will cause defensive coordinator to gameplan moreso than Patrick Crayton ever could.

23 ) Pittsburgh - OT Chris Williams

The Steelers will choose to draft Williams to help soften the blow of losing impending free agent guard Alan Faneca. Willie Colon can then move back inside to guard allowing Williams to start at RT. The sack totals given up by the Steelers this year was uncharacteristically large. Look for the Steelers brass to address that problem first.

24 ) Tennessee - WR Limas Sweed

The Titans are forced to get some receiving weapons to overhaul a terribly one-sided offense. Limas Sweed is an excellent big body receiver who should be able to give Vince Young someone to throw to in the end zone that’s not a tight end.

25 ) Seattle - CB Brandon Flowers

If Seattle can’t get Marcus Trufant’s new deal done, it might be best to draft his replacement now. I think Flowers could work well in the Seattle defensive scheme.

26 ) Jacksonville - DE Lawrence Jackson

Jacksonville drafts a big rush end to help shore up a defensive line that has suffered the loss of many players this offseason. Jackson fits the profile of the body that Jacksonville likes.

27 ) San Diego - OT Gosder Cherilus

The Cahrgers draft the heir of the position Shane Olivea held done for so long; right tackle for the Chargers. Cherilus is a more natural right tackle than left due to the feet placement and positioning. He struggled when transitioned to the left side last year for Boston College.

28 ) Dallas - CB Mike Jenkins

The Cowboys finally address their most pressing need for cornerbacks. Many Dallas fans feel that the nickel and dime package play was their Achilles Heel last season. The Cowboys lack of cornerback depth was extremely evident over their entirety of their season when Anthony Henry and Terence Newman missed time. Jenkins may have off the field issues, but that has never stopped Jerry Jones from drafting a player before.

29 ) San Francisco (from Indianapolis) - WR Early Doucet

Joining Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle in version 3 of the Greatest Show on Turf, Doucet is a necessity in an offense that will frequently run 3 and 4 WR sets. With Darrel Jackson finished and Ashley Lelie halfway out the door, the 49ers might choose to draft another WR now to expose him to the system before the ageless Isaac Bruce finally calls it a career.

30 ) Green Bay - CB Antoine Cason

Al Harris and Charles Woodson are getting older and with the Packers not needing any desperate help in any particular area, they have the luxury of drafting for depth and value. Cason makes sense for the Packers here.

31 ) New England - Forfeited

32 ) New York Giants - ILB/OLB Dan Connor

With Strahan likely to call it a career this year or next, expect Mathias Kiwanuka to move back to the line from OLB. Between this and the loss of Kawika Mitchell to the Bills, the Giants need linebackers. Connor’s roots are at outside linebacker. He can serve as an outside linebacker and a possible understudy to Antonio Pierce.

Round One | Round Two | Round Three

Tjford @ January 9, 2008