from pro-football weekly...
1. Miami ? OLT Jake Long, Michigan
What better way to please a former offensive line coach such as Tony Sparano than to make an elite, blind-side protector the cornerstone of the franchise. Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland took the safest route in the draft with the selection of Jake Long, and he figures to be a 10- to 15-year starter for the Fins and allow Josh McCown a chance to finally realize his potential behind a legitimate NFL offensive line. Long is a mammoth man with long arms, terrific strength and great power. He plays smart and disciplined and is very tough, smart and hardworking. He's athletic, as he needs to be to match up with elite pass rushers, and could have every bit the type of career that Jumbo Elliott and Tony Boselli had on the left side after they were criticized for not being athletic enough to play there. Long has Pro Bowl potential and will prove to be an excellent selection. He will be the rock of the Dolphins' offense for a long time. With the unraveling of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Dolphins were very wise to sign Long prior to his selection, even if they had to pay through the roof. Long should be able to make a seamless transition to the pro game and start from Day One, allowing Vernon Carey to shift to his more natural ORT position and securing both edges with power players.
2. St. Louis ? DE Chris Long, Virginia
Glenn Dorsey was the choice of many in the Rams? building, including defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. Dorsey would have allowed the Rams to kick Adam Carriker outside to left end and could have given the Rams more strength inside at the three-technique spot. Vernon Gholston gained some steam late in the process, as well. However, with Long in the fold, the Rams now have a replacement for long-departed community favorite Grant Wistrom, and they can feel confident that they will not miss with this selection. At his worst, Long will be a very good pro. He plays the game with terrific passion and energy, never taking a play off, which ultimately made Rams decision makers feel more comfortable selecting him rather than the more naturally gifted Gholston. Long is a very well-trained technician with great football intelligence and toughness. He could bring some versatility to the Rams? defense and should be able to compete right away for a starting job and eventually be an eight- to 12-sack producer.
3. Atlanta ? QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
Give first-year GM Tom Dimitroff a lot of credit for making a very difficult decision and selecting a franchise quarterback when most of the league expected him to first build the defensive line, following in the same mold as his former bosses in New England. Some evaluators argued that Ryan did not have elite physical traits, but neither did Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. What Ryan does have is the mind of a champion. He's very, very tough, smart and has terrific leadership ability. He will help rid the team of the image of Michael Vick and create excitement in the Atlanta community. The Falcons will need to improve the offensive line before throwing Ryan to the wolves, but with Ryan in the fold, the Falcons could soon be competing for the NFC South crown every year the way the Colts and Patriots do in their divisions. Without a franchise quarterback, it's very, very difficult to win consistently in the NFL, and the Falcons now have a chance.
4. Oakland ? RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Al Davis loves playmakers and wants to sell tickets, and he should be able to sell a lot more with an exciting runner such as Darren McFadden in his backfield. McFadden's presence immediately takes pressure off last year's first overall selection, JaMarcus Russell. McFadden must learn how to take better care of the football and make a conscious decision to prevent his rough surroundings from becoming distractions. He does not have great base run strength and could stand to get stronger in the lower body. However, he could make an immediate impact in the pros and contend for Rookie of the Year honors. He should be good for at least 5-8 40-yard-plus runs in his first year and create an explosive element in the Raiders' offense that has been lacking. However, he must truly commit himself to the game in the offseason to sustain long-term success.
5. Kansas City ? DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
Herm Edwards has to be ecstatic that he was able to land a dominant run defender like Dorsey to his defense. He perfectly fits Edwards' scheme as an interior penetrator and brings tremendous passion to the unit, which is exactly what Edwards seeks. If it were not for his leg injury, he likely would not have lasted this long. However, he will step in from Day One and immediately improve the Chiefs' defense. He will start alongside Alfonso Boone and make it extemely difficult for opponents to run the football inside.
6. New York Jets ? OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
Eric Mangini has not had the pieces to effectively maximize his preferred 3-4 front, but following the addition of Gholston and Calvin Pace in the offseason, the Jets now have two huge components to pressurize the edges. Gholston is a rare physical specimen who, with good coaching, could be special. He has Dwight Freeney-like twitch off the edge and when he wants to be a force, he has shown he can flat out dominate. If he can learn to play hard every down, dial up his motor and play big all the time, he will become a regular in Honolulu.
7. New Orleans (from San Francisco through New England) ? DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
The Saints made a strong push to make a trade with the Raiders and Chiefs, but neither wanted to part with their picks, forcing the Saints to land the draft's second-best defensive lineman. Saints DL coach Ed Orgeron helped recruit Ellis to USC and is intimately familiar with his personality and talent and should be able to maximize his ability. With Hollis Thomas and Brian Young manning the inside for the Saints, they clearly needed an upgrade inside to help stuff the run. Ellis is not a great pass rusher from the inside, but he is strong and active and should contribute readily.
8. Jacksonville (from Baltimore) ? DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
The Jaguars do not have a double-digit pass rusher and lost Bobby McCray in the offseason, which created a pressing need on the edge. Jack Del Rio knows games are won on the defensive line, and he made a very strategic move to aggressively jump in front of the Bengals to land the draft's last remaining elite pass rusher. Harvey, like Reggie Nelson a year ago, will have to overcome questions about his intelligence, but he is very strong and naturally athletic and should give the Jaguars a big boost in the sack production category.
9. Cincinnati ? OLB Keith Rivers, USC
The Bengals made a conscious decision prior to the draft to improve their defense, and with Ellis and Harvey both off the board, they moved to the next-best player and filled a position where they could not find enough help a year ago. Rivers is a great athlete who plays with discipline and has three-position versatility. He makes tackles sideline to sideline and should upgrade the Bengals' weak run defense.
10. New England (from New Orleans) ? LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
The Patriots wore down late last year because of their age at linebacker. With Mayo in the middle, the Patriots stand a much better chance of keeping pace with spread offenses and stopping the run late in the game. Mayo is big, strong, fast, smart, versatile and superathletic. He upgrades the Patriots' defensive team speed, brings character to the locker room and, most importantly, gives the Patriots a chance in the fourth quarter, when tired legs have been their biggest enemy.
11. Buffalo ? CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
The Bills' secondary took a big hit when Nate Clements departed a year ago. McKelvin is extremely athletic with great feet and burst and should be able to lock down the big receivers who play in the AFC East the way he did Calvin Johnson earlier in his career. Questions about his intelligence should not be an issue in a very simple defense, and when his dynamic return ability is considered, he could bring tremendous value at this spot.
12. Denver ? OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
The Broncos needed to find a blind-side protector to allow Jay Cutler to take more five- and seven-step drops and become more of a drop-back passer. Clady needs to get stronger and could play more physical, but he possesses the foot quickness, athletic ability and natural knee bend to start from Day One. He may struggle with the strength of the game for a year or two, but he should develop into a solid pro with continued development.
13. Carolina ? RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
The Panthers cut DeShaun Foster in the offseason, and DeAngelo Williams is best-served in a complementary, change-of-pace role. Without a power runner, the Panthers could not re-establish a strong ground game, and Stewart brings the size, strength and power to pound the ball between the tackles in John Fox style. The Panthers' selection of Stewart showed that his toe surgery has been very overblown.
14. Chicago ? OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
With the versatile Branden Albert still available, it's a surprise that the Bears would pass him, especially given the multiple holes that exist on their offensive line. However, Chris Williams has great feet and athletic ability and is very smart. He should allow John Tait to move back to the ORT position that he played in Kansas City. One pitfall that could eventually sting, however, is that the Bears now have two short-armed edge protectors and have to worry about both being injured, given that Williams was removed from some draft boards for back concerns and Tait is well-aged. Williams lacks the killer instinct, tenacity and nastiness that has definied traditionally tough Bears offensive linemen, but he does fill a huge position of need.
15. Kansas City (from Detroit) ? OL Branden Albert, Virginia
Give Carl Peterson huge credit for capitalizing on the Bears' pass, beating the Eagles to the punch and addressing his depleted offensive line. Albert could start immediately at either the OLT or OLG positions, depending on what other offensive linemen the Chiefs can land in this draft. Albert is big, strong, physical and explosive and brings tremendous value at this selection, regardless of whether he lines up at guard or tackle, because of his Pro Bowl potential. The Chiefs have improved themselves greatly.
16. Arizona ? CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
With Antrel Rolle moving to safety and Eric Green struggling to stay healthy, the Cardinals had a pressing need at the CB position. Cromartie has terrific bloodlines, speed, natural athletic ability and ball skills and really improved his draft value after standing out vs. better competition at the Senior Bowl. He has great upside, but he will need to show he can be physical and improve as a tackler.
17. Detroit (from Minnesota through Kansas City) ? OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College
Give Matt Millen and Rod Marinelli credit for addressing the right position and adding some much-needed toughness to the offensive line. Cherilus is big, strong and physical and while he may need some reps to adapt to complex protection schemes, he has all the physical ability to become a great pro. He is very experienced and should be able to contribute right away.
18. Baltimore (from Houston) ? QB Joe Flacco, Delaware
Ozzie Newsome's Achilles' heel in the evaluation process has always been the QB position. Not only did the Ravens waste a third-round pick by moving up to secure Flacco, regardless of whether they had picks to burn from their trade with the Jaguars, I think they grossly overestimated Flacco's abilities and misevaluated the QB position once again. Flacco has far and away the strongest arm in the draft, as did Kyle Boller when the Ravens traded up to draft him in 2003, but Flacco has yet to show that he can make quick decisions and process the game quickly vs. elite competition. I think the Ravens will suffer through the same problems with Flacco that they had to endure with Boller and just set back the franchise again by overdrafting a quarterback who has never shown he can be good in the spotlight. Time will prove that they would have been better off staying at No. 8, drafting Branden Albert and finding a quarterback in the second round than coming away with Flacco in the first. They may even have been able to land him with their 38th overall pick.
19. Carolina (from Philadelphia) ? OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
The Panthers put an exclamation mark on their power running game with the selection of Jeff Otah, who should allow Travelle Wharton to kick inside. Otah completes the line and brings a very physical presence to open holes for Jonathan Stewart and keep Jake Delhomme healthy. Concerns about Otah's work ethic and overall character pushed him down some draft boards and eliminated him from consideration for others, but his powerful style meshes very well with what the Panthers are trying to establish. Otah has only scratched the surface of his potential, and if he can commit himself to the game, he could be a dominating blocker.
20. Tampa Bay ? CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
Bruce Allen did it again, having dinner with Mike Jenkins in the days before the draft the way he purposely has done with many prospects to mislead the NFL community about his draft intentions. Ultimately, it was a close decision between Talib and the local product Jenkins. Both corners brought concerns about character, but Talib got the edge, in part because of his better ball skills and renewed commitment since the birth of his daughter. The ability to contribute on offense has to intrigue Jon Gruden, as well. Kansas decided to play him on offense because he consistently scored touchdowns in pickup games at the end of summer practice sessions, and it would not be a surprise if he winds up scoring a few for the Bucs, as well. His size, instincts and ball skills make him a great fit for Monte Kiffin's defense.
21. Atlanta (from Washington) ? OT Sam Baker, USC
The Falcons may have reached slightly for the last offensive tackle in the draft, but there was no telling when he would be drafted with six offensive linemen already off the boards and teams likely exploring the same scenario. The Falcons needed to be more aggressive with their decision because of the complete void of talent at the OT position on their roster and because of the mighty investment they made in Matt Ryan. Baker added some weight as a senior and may have hurt his stock after suffering through injuries and timing poorly in the 40, but he has been a very consistent four-year starter for a national championship program and he should be able to play right away.
22. Dallas (from Cleveland) ? RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
The worst-kept secret in football, Felix Jones replaces the departed Julius Jones as the Cowboys' complementary, change-of-pace back. With Marion Barber not being able to hit the right hole, there's a chance Jones could even wind up opening the season as the starter. He brings exciting return potential and adds a new speed element to the Cowboys' backfield.
23. Pittsburgh ? RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
With Willie Parker coming off injury and their field expected to be a mess late in the season, the Steelers sought to find another big back to correct problems that would have been best fixed with a strong offensive line. Mendenhall has great size and good feet for his size, but he is not an overly strong, tough or physical runner and does not fit the Steelers' mold of smashmouth back. Concerns about his toughness and straight-linish running style concerned a lot of teams and forced him to slide to this spot.
24. Tennessee ? RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina
Second-year GM Mike Reinfieldt will not be long for the evaluation profession if he continues to make very questionable decisions like the one he just made at the RB position for the second consecutive year. After grossly reaching on Chris Henry last year, Reinfieldt was blinded by measurables again. Chris Johnson lacks run strength and vision to run between the tackles and is an injury waiting to happen with the way he dips his head on contact. Questions about his intelligence, upright running style and previous neck injury pushed him to the third round on many draft boards. Scouting is about a lot more than pure speed and measurables. Johnson will struggle to ever live up to his first-round draft status and will need to be utilized in a space role to be effective.
25. Dallas (from Seattle) ? CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
With recent acquisition Pacman Jones' status in limbo, the Cowboys still needed to address the CB position and get bigger and faster at cornerback, which they did with the selection of Jenkins. He has terrific man cover skills, but he does not like to practice, and his football and personal character knocked him off some draft boards. Jerry Jones has proven that he will compromise character for great talent, and he did it again here.
26. Houston (from Jacksonville through Baltimore) ? OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech
Gary Kubiak, one of the best personnel-evaluating coaches in the league, clearly deferred to Alex Gibbs on this selection. Gibbs will have his work cut out for him with Brown, who has first-round athletic ability but was not much better than Texans 2007 fifth-rounder Brandon Frye at Virginia Tech. He will require a lot of attention.
27. San Diego ? CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
A surprise selection over the more physical Brandon Flowers, Cason has the size, instincts, ball skills, confidence and overall production that fit A.J. Smith's profile of a cornerback. His great Combine workout elevated his draft status. Cason has the competitiveness to battle for a job opposite Antonio Cromartie.
28. Seattle (from Dallas) ? DE Lawrence Jackson, USC
The Seahawks needed help on the defensive line, and Lawrence Jackson could bring it as both an outside and inside rusher. A very smart four-year starter with good strength against the run, Jackson could help immediately as a nickel rusher.
29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis) ? DL Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina
Balmer is a career underachiever whose tendency to make excuses pushed him down draft boards. He has great size and natural strength to fit well in a 3-4 front and could stack the corner for the Niners. With hard coaching and improved hand use, he could develop into a solid player.
30. New York Jets (from Green Bay) ? TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
The Jets needed to add more offensive playmakers, and Keller has the combination of size, speed, body control and competitiveness to create mismatches. He will not help much as a blocker but could cause problems for linebackers in coverage.
? New England (forfeited)
31. New York Giants ? S Kenny Phillips, Miami (Fla.)
The Super Bowl champs filled arguably their most pressing need at safety with Gibril Wilson having departed in free agency. Phillips should unseat James Butler right away and line up alongside Sammy Knight. He's not a physical striker, but he is a secure tackler, and he could be a very good, not great, pro.
