2008 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

The following is a two round mock draft with trades completed by Eagles fan (one of what seems like hundreds here at YardBarker), "PhillyPhanatic". Updated edition. 2008 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Draft Day Trades 1. The New Orleans Saints trade their 1st (10) and 3rd round picks to the Baltimore Ravens for their 1st (8) and 5th round picks. Considering the situation, this trade makes perfect sense to me. In my opinion, the Saints will pick one of two defensive positions; either linebacker or tackle. They recently signed Randall Gay; so cornerback, once a big need, is out of the picture. From what I've read, outside of Keith Rivers, there is no linebacker worthy of a top twenty pick. The same can be said about a defensive tackle, if both Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis are unavailable. After the Atlanta Falcons select Dorsey with the 3rd overall pick and the New England Patriots select Keith Rivers with the 7th overall pick, I don't see why the Saints wouldn't jump over the Bengals (who are also likely targeting a linebacker or defensive tackle) to fix their biggest need. If I'm the Baltimore GM, I'd want to screw the rival Bengals. I would not want the Bengals to get their hands on Sedrick Ellis, who has the talent to be a top three pick. If I'm not mistaken, Ellis would not work in the Ravens' 3-4 defense and they are in big need of a young corner, due to the current age of their DBs, Chris McAllister (34) and Samari Rolle (32). Make no mistake, they both had great careers but their "time" is nearing. That said I see no reason why the Ravens wouldn't trade down two spots, pick up a third round pick, and make it so that the Bengals would be left with players unhelpful to their needs. 2. The Dallas Cowboys trade their two 1st round picks (22 and 28) to the Buffalo Bills for their 1st (11) and 4th round picks. I can't possibly see a scenario in which Jerry Jones doesn't use his two first round picks to trade up. It has been rumored that he's interested in Darren McFadden, running back of the Arkansas Razorbacks, to give the Cowboys' running game a 1-2 punch. There is also the possibility that he may use the picks to get Chad Johnson or Anquan Boldin. As an Eagles fan, all of this scares the living crap out of me. Yes, if Chad Johnson is traded to the Cowboys, there's a good possibility that he and T.O. may not get along but that's not a certainty. And no Eagles fans, I don't see Johnson or Boldin in an Eagles' uniform this year (explanation in next trade). As for Buffalo's reason to trade down, they need to improve their offense by either a receiver or tight end. The eleventh pick is too early to pick a wideout. 3. The Philadelphia Eagles trade CB Lito Sheppard for the New York Jets' 2nd round pick and RB Leon Washington. Worst case/most likely scenario, Lito Sheppard is traded for a 2nd round pick. I'm sorry but I can't see the Eagles trading for Chad Johnson. He's too expensive and his situation compares too much to the time when Terrell Owens got himself out of San Francisco. The Cardinals appear set on keeping Fitzgerald and Boldin and Matt Millen is in love with wide receivers, evident by the first round picks he has wasted on them, and will likely keep Roy Williams. If the Eagles had their choice, they'd probably use their first pick on an offensive lineman. The thing is, nearly every team from pick twelve to eighteen is need of an offensive lineman. A case can be made for Denver, Carolina, Chicago, Detroit, and Houston. The only teams in front of the Eagles who may be willing to take Lito are the Patriots and Bills. The Patriots may be too high while the Bills may be satisfied with their platoon of Jabari Greer, Ashton Youboty, and William James. We may not be able to trade up and instead, fortunately, be left to settle with taking a wide receiver in round one. I'm hoping that wide receiver is either Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma or Limas Sweed of Texas. We need another red zone target and at 6'4" with great ability to jump up and get the ball, both players can provide that. Hopefully, in the mind of Donovan, taking a WR in round one will make up for taking a QB in round two last year. Which, of course, is doubtful. Back to the trade? Why does the trade favor the Jets? Well, I figure, if DeAngelo Hall is traded to the Raiders for an early second round pick, then Lito must have at least the same value considering he doesn't have as much baggage. The tandem of Lito Sheppard and Darrelle Revis would become one of the best in the league. With the selection of Darren McFadden, the signing of Jesse Chatman, the return of former 2006 Pro Bowl kick returner Justin Miller, and solid play by current starter Thomas Jones, Leon Washington becomes expendable. Leon Washington gives the Eagles the kick return man that they need. * = Not Official 1ST ROUND 1. Miami Dolphins ? Jake Long, OT, Michigan 2. St. Louis Rams ? Chris Long, DE, Virginia 3. Atlanta Falcons ? Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU 4. Oakland Raiders ? Vernon Gholston, DE, Arkansas 5. Kansas City Chiefs ? Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College 6. New York Jets ? Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas Note: No chance McFadden falls past the sixth pick. The Jets will do whatever they can to make sure McFadden doesn't fall into the hands of the Patriots. 7. New England Patriots ? Keith Rivers, LB, USC Note: Mostly everyone has a corner going to the Patriots in the first round to fill the hole that was created by the departure of Asante Samuel. I can't see it. A rookie cornerback, starting, can lose your team a game. Look for Ty Law to return with the Patriots. 8. *New Orleans Saints (via BAL) ? Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC 9. Cincinnati Bengals ? Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida Note: While defensive end is not a need, the Bengals take arguably the best defensive player available. Harvey's stock has reportedly soared in the past month. On another note, it would be unwise to take a cornerback here as they have spent a first round pick on one in the last two years (Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph). 10. Baltimore Ravens (via NO) ? Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy 11. *Dallas Cowboys (via BUF) ? Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State Note: Jerry Jones trades up to take arguably the best corner in the draft. Once a so-called "sleeper", Cromartie is now seen as the second coming of his cousin, Antonio Cromartie, who led the league with ten interceptions last year. Jerry Jones may also choose to select Rashard Mendenhall to pair with Marion Barber. 12. Denver Broncos ? Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State 13. Carolina Panthers ? Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt 14. Chicago Bears ? Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois Note: Cedric Benson has been a disappointment. The Bears need to create an offense; resigning Grossman eliminates a passing game, Mendenhall would give them something to work with. 15. Detroit Lions ? Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh Note: Is Matt Millen smart enough to select a lineman? 16. Arizona Cardinals ? Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida 17. Minnesota Vikings ? Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson 18. Houston Texans ? Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon 19. Philadelphia Eagles ? Malcolm Kelly, WR and Rapper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9RiitZEHxA), Oklahoma Scouting Report by Matt MacCoy, Offensive Scout at WarRoomReport.com (Check Link) "Strengths: Malcolm Kelly continued to improve throughout his junior season and impressed scouts in the process?Malcolm Kelly runs smoothes concise routes that allows him to maximize the distance between him and his defender in order to best get open?Kelly stretches out his arms and catches the ball away from his body with his hands?Malcolm Kelly is an excellent every down receiver and should develop nicely into a red-zone threat? Weaknesses: Has good speed, but may not have great top end speed?with the recent struggles of former Oklahoma WR Mark Clayton, a prospect in which Kelly will be compared to often, some scouts maybe a bit skeptical of his long term prospects?he will need to work getting off of "jams" at the next level?must improve his strength...does he play tough enough??will have little to no impact in the special teams game?disappeared at times for Oklahoma...some durability concerns Overall: Malcolm Kelly may not be a spectacular prospect, but an extremely solid one. He may have the best all-around game of any WR in the 2008 Draft class. He is a long-strider so he surprises many defenders with his speed. There are several wide receivers in this class that have question marks surrounding either their speed or whether they are big enough to withstand the rigors of the National Football League, neither concern applies to Malcolm Kelly. NFL teams looking for a WR to step in and play right away will look no further than Malcolm Kelly." 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ? Aquib Talib, CB, Kansas 21. Washington Redskins ? Kenny Phillips, S, Miami Note: Phillips replaces arguably one of the best safeties in the last decade. Am I over exaggerating? 22. *Buffalo Bills (via DAL) ? Limas Sweed, WR, Texas 23. Pittsburgh Steelers ? James Hardy, WR, Indiana Note: Big Ben asks for a tall wide receiver. Enter 6'7" James Hardy. Is that tall enough for ya? 24. Tennessee Titans ? DeSean Jackson, WR, California 25. Seattle Seahawks ? Branden Albert, OG, Virginia 26. Jacksonville Jaguars ? Kentawn Balmer, DT, North Carolina 27. San Diego Chargers ? Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas Note: Jones replaces Michael Turner, who signed with the Falcons, and gives the Chargers a good complement to Tomlinson. 28. *Buffalo Bills (via DAL) ? Fred Davis, TE, USC 29. San Francisco 49ers ? Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State 30. Green Bay Packers ? Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech 31. New York Giants ? Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma 2ND ROUND 32. Miami Dolphins ? Dan Connor, LB, Penn State 33. St. Louis Rams ? Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College 34. Atlanta Falcons ? Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware 35. Kansas City Chiefs ? Sam Baker, OT, USC 36. *Philadelphia Eagles (via NYJ) ? Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska 37. Atlanta Falcons ? Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan 38. Baltimore Ravens ? Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville 39. San Francisco 49ers ? Oniel Cousins, OT, UTEP 40. New Orleans Saints ? Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee 41. Buffalo Bills ? Chilo Rachal, OG, USC 42. Denver Broncos ? Earl Bennettt, WR, Vanderbilt 43. Carolina Panthers ? Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC 44. Chicago Bears ? Chad Henne, QB, Michigan 45. Detroit Lions ? Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona 46. Cincinnati Bengals ? Pat Sims, DT, Auburn 47. Minnesota Vikings ? Heath Benedict, OT, Newberry 48. Atlanta Falcons ? Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn 49. Philadelphia Eagles ? Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana 50. Arizona Cardinals ? Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina 51. Washington Redskins ? Calais Campbell, DE, Miami 52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ? Early Doucet, WR, LSU 53. Pittsburgh Steelers ? Roy Schuening, OG, Oregon State 54. Tennessee Titans ? Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn 55. Seattle Seahawks ? Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue 56. Green Bay Packers ? DaJuan Morgan, S, North Carolina State 57. Miami Dolphins ? Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa 58. Jacksonville Jaguars ? Thomas DeCoud, S, UCLA 59. Indianapolis Colts ? Jason Jones, DE, Eastern Michigan 60. Green Bay Packers ? John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame 61. Dallas Cowboys ? Lavelle Hawkins, WR, California 62. New England Patriots ? Justin King, CB, Penn State 63. New York Giants ? Erin Henderson, LB, Maryland