Mock_draft

Mock draft is a term used by sports websites and magazines in reference to a simulation of a particular league\'s draft. They are very popular in magazines and online, especially in reference to the NFL Draft. ESPN has run mock drafts on the front page of its website, allowing any visitor to vote towards a specific team\'s choice.

Mock drafts are often found to be useful to fans because they allow them to speculate on which members of the collegiate ranks will join the fan\'s favorite team. They are also often useful to general managers because they may help them to estimate which players will be available at a particular point in the draft.

There are several Internet and television analysts that are considered experts in this field and can give the fans the best gauge of where players are exepcted to go in drafts. Although mock drafts are created in nearly every sport, they are most commonplace in the NFL. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay of ESPN and Mike Mayock of the NFL Network are considered television experts on the NFL Draft. Scott Wright of [1], Walter Cherapinsky and Matt McGuire of [2], and Mark Geise of [3] are considered Internet experts in this field. Although nobody can be in the minds of a sports general manager, these analysts are often considered to have the most information and give the fans of the sports league they are covering the most accurate information relating to their field.

A Common NFL Mock Draft

Credited to the creators of nfldraft.biz.ly[4], this is an example of a common first round NFL mock draft. This mock was created before the outset of NFL Free Agency.

(1) Miami Dolphins - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU Although Jake Long would be the safer pick here, Dorsey addresses the needs of the Dolphins better than Long. The offensive line of the Dolphins has exceeded expectations and actually played pretty decent; their lack of a solid quarterback, the injury of their star running back, and the trade of their #1 wideout have been the major reasons for their struggles. Their defense lacks playmakers, and is aging fast. Dorsey is a guy who will make a lot of plays and is a good fit for their hybrid defense. He can play tackle in the 4-3 and end in the 3-4, and should instantly become a force in the NFL. He is a big upgrade over current starting defensive tackles Vonnie Holliday, 31, and Keith Traylor, 38, and would add some talented youth to this defense. Both Chris and Jake Long are very possible selections, but Dorsey is the best fit. I would not be at all surprised if Bill Parcells trades back to pick up for picks to attempt to rebuild the Dolphins quicker. This team is a mess and needs as many picks as they can get, so this would not be shocking whatsoever.

(2) St. Louis Rams - DE Chris Long, Virginia This is an extremely difficult choice between the two Longs (Chris and Jake), but ultimately the Rams decide to select the former. On a 3-13 team such as the Rams, instant impact players are needed to improve that team for the next season. Jake Long would be more important to this team in the future, but he could have difficulty landing the left tackle position for the Rams in the upcoming season if Orlando Pace is finally able to stay healthy. Alex Barron, a first round selection by the Rams in 2005, is currently their right tackle, and they do not want to potentially relegate him or Pace to the bench if Jake Long was indeed drafted here. In a deep offensive tackle class, they will be able to address the issue in the second or third round and add some talent to their line without making a major monetary investment in it like this. The Rams would be much better off if they were to select Chris Long, who has been compared by some to their own Leonard Little. He would instantly start over the average James Hall and would go a long way to upgrading that porous defense. The best thing about Chris Long is his character and ability to fit in any defensive scheme. He is the type of player NFL coaches are looking for and will be a great player in this league because of his talent, all-out hustle, size, and strength from the defensive end position. Along with first-round selection Adam Carriker from a year ago, the Rams have the pieces of a potentially dominant defensive line, which is the base of every good defense.

(3) Oakland Raiders^ - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas* (*indicates underclassmen) Al Davis has always loved physical freaks and always will, and Darren McFadden may be the most physically gifted player in this entire draft. Running back is not a need for the Raiders, as Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Michael Bush are all on the team, but McFadden is too good for Davis to pass up here. He is a big, fast, powerful runner who can contrbute to a team in numerous different ways. After five straight seasons with records of 5-11 and less, McFadden could be the spark this team needs to get back to respectability. Jake Long is a potential selection here, but the Raiders will be scared off because of the progression of Robert Gallery. Gallery, seen as a surefire NFL left tackle when coming out in 2004, has been a big disappointment and has been shifted inside to guard. They will not spend another top pick on an offensive lineman for a long time. McFadden makes the most sense here, as Davis will jump all over the best player in the draft.

(4) Atlanta Falcons^ - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College Atlanta\'s greatest need is at the quarterback position, as they had journeymen Byron Leftwich, Joey Harrington, and Chris Redman playing in place of the imprisoned and suspended Michael Vick. None of the quarterbacks presently on their roster are the answer to their problems, so they would jump to select the best quarterback in the draft here. The only player I could see the Falcons potentially taking over a quarterback here is Darren McFadden, as he would improve their offense just as much, if not more than, as a quarterback selected here. Ryan is widely regarded as the best quarterback in this draft because of his ability to lead the Boston College team to success without having much talent around him. He has the arm to make every throw in the NFL, but what sets him apart are his intangibles. He is a smart, high character guy who would be welcomed in the mayhem in Atlanta after the Michael Vick fiasco. Atlanta is lacking in both talent and character, and Ryan would upgrade them in both categories and would be a good change-of-pace from all that has happened with Vick.

(5) Kansas City Chiefs^ - OT Jake Long, Michigan If Jake Long, the best offensive lineman in this class, is available when the Chiefs pick in this upcoming draft, then there is no doubt in my mind that the Chiefs would select him. He is a big, strong man with good agility for his size. He is not the most athletic left tackle in the world, but his toughness and strength in the running game along with his solidity in pass protection makes him the best offensive line prospect in the 2008 draft class. Outside of injury replacement Will Svitek, the entire starting offensive line of the Chiefs is over 30 years old. Kyle Turley and Chris Bober, both on injured reserve, as well as starters Damion McIntosh, Brian Waters, Casey Wiegmann, and John Welbourn, are all over 30 years old and on the downsides of their careers. Jake Long would be an instant upgrade over Daimon McIntosh at left tackle and would finally give this unit some young talent. The Chiefs have neglected drafting offensive linemen for a long time, and this is the year they absolutely need to upgrade the unit.

(6) New York Jets - DE (OLB) Vernon Gholston, Ohio State* The Jets would love to get either Chris Long or Darren McFadden here, but the two should both be gone by this point. They would likely consider trading down here, but, if they decide to keep this pick, they go with the pass-rushing dynamo from The Ohio State University. After Gholston\'s 13 sacks in 2007, his stock is on the rise. Also, at the combine, he is expected to test very well because of his outstanding speed and strength for his size. If he does declare, his stock will do nothing but rise, and the Jets would be very happy with this selection. Gholston could not be stopped by top prospect Jake Long of Michigan, sacking Chad Henne three times when Ohio State defeated Michigan earlier in the season. He did not have a great national championship game, but the entire Ohio State defense was off because of the 51 day layoff between games. Gholston would be utilized by the Jets like DeMarcus Ware is utilized by the Dallas Cowboys, and the two are similar players. The Jets need players to upgrade their defense and make their 3-4 scheme work, and Gholston would be a terror for opposing offenses to try to neutralize as a rush \'backer off the edge. This would be a sound pick.

(7) New England Patriots (from San Francisco) - S Kenny Phillps, Miami (FL)* The Patriots options went from many to very few over the past few days. With Rey Maualuga, James Laurinaitis, and Malcolm Jenkins all returning to school for their senior seasons, the options at the Patriots two biggest needs (inside linebacker and corner) are very slim at that position. They will likely trade down if this situation presents themselves, as picking Dan Connor, Mike Jenkins, or Aqib Talib here would be big reaches. If they decided to stay here, they would have to pick the best player available here, which would be Kenny Phillips. The Patriots have no need at safety, but Phillips would instantly become their best safety and would add yet another playmaker to their defense. Phillips is the unquestioned top safety prospect in this draft, as he has an excellent combination of former Miami safeties: Sean Taylor’s big hitting ability and pure athleticism and Ed Reed’s ball-hawking ability. Brandon Meriweather, the Patriots first round selection in the 2007 Draft, could make the transition to corner. Rodney Harrison has lost a step, and James Sanders and Eugene Wilson are good players, but Phillips is better than all three and is one of the premier defensive players available in this draft. The Patriots would likely try to trade down if they were in this position, but Phillips would have to be the pick if they stayed in this position.

(8) Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady, Boise State* The Ravens are an aging team in need of revitalization of many positions. Troy Smith was impressive at the end of the year and could be something special for this franchise, so a quarterback will not be their selection even if Andre Woodson and Brian Brohm are still on the board. Jonathan Ogden is likely to retire after watching his actions in the final game of the season versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although he has not come out and announced it, it is almost a certainty that he will retire in my opinion. Jared Gaithier was drafted by the team in the supplemental draft last offseason to be Ogden\'s future replacement, but if the opportunity presented itself to the Ravens to pick one of the premier left tackle prospects in this draft, the Ravens would have to jump on it. Corner is a bigger need than the offensive line for the Ravens, but there are no corners worth the #8 overall pick. Clady is more polished than Gaithier and would be able to step in right away and be the starting left tackle for the Ravens. Gaithier then could start at right tackle and develop there while Clady could hold down the left tackle position from Day One. This would be a solid pick that would upgrade their offense greatly.

(9) Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC Cincinnati needs to invest this entire draft on defense, as their unit is embarassingly porous. They can afford to go best defensive player available here because they have so many needs on the defensive side of the ball. They selected Leon Hall last season, who was considered the top corner in the 2007 Draft. He was able to help the unit get more turnovers, which ultimately upgraded the unit. That should be their goal with every pick they own in this draft. Sedrick Ellis would upgrade the Bengals at arguably their greatest position of need. Ellis is a penetrating tackle who has an excellent first step and gets in opposing backfields and makes plays. He is the ideal 3-technique tackle, and would look good next to Domata Peko. Peko, an effective nose tackle, is a young player with some potential. John Thornton, the current starter at the 3-technique, is a decent player, but is 31 years old and a better fit as a rotational tackle. Ellis would help to upgrade this defense, which is what the Bengals ultimately want from this draft. Kenny Phillips is a possibility, but the secondary is not as big of an issue as the defensive line on this team.

(10) New Orleans Saints - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy The Saints need to upgrade their secondary badly, as their team allow the 3rd most passing yards per game in the NFL in the 2007 season. Their biggest need is at corner, and with Kenny Phillips gone, Leodis McKelvin should be their pick. McKelvin has been flying up draft boards after a promising Senior Bowl showing throughout the week of practices. He will continue to rise, possibly becoming the first corner taken in this draft, as long as he impresses at the Combine as is expected. McKelvin provides a presence as both a cover corner and returner. He has the feet, size, and speed to be a dynamic corner in this league. He has the rare ability to recognize routes, jump said routes, and knock down or intercept countless passes. Jason David has been a colossal bust for the Saints, after they lured him away from the Indianapolis Colts with a big contract last offseason. Mike McKenzie is a solid starter, but they need somebody opposite him. Fred Thomas and Jason Craft are washed up and Usama Young has not established himself as any more than a dime back at the pro level. This would fill a need for the Saints and is a decent pick value wise. McKelvin will be a hot commodity come Draft day.

(11) Buffalo Bills - OLB Keith Rivers, USC Malcolm Kelly is a big possibility here, as the Bills badly need a playmaker from the wide receiver position, but the wide receiver depth in this draft is amazing and the Bills can secure a solid starter later in this draft. Keith Rivers is the ideal weakside linebacker in the Cover 2, and Keith Ellison and John DiGiorgio have not shown that they are more than backups at this point in their careers for the Bills. Rivers is excellent in coverage, and has the speed and agility to make plays all over the field. He attacks in pursuit, which is something Ellison and DiGiorgio have been criticized for, and is a big hitter. He needs to gain 5-10 pounds to be an impact player in the NFL, but the Cover 2 allows for smaller players to succeed using their speed and athleticism. Rivers is an excellent fit in Buffalo, as he fits the defensive scheme and high character profile of the franchise. This would be a solid selection that would for a linebacking trio for years to come in Buffalo with Rivers, Paul Posluszny, and Angelo Crowell. They could potentially trade down and pick up more picks, but this makes sense if they stay with this pick.

(12) Denver Broncos - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois* This pick would be surprising to many people, as the Broncos have not spent a first round selection on a running back since 1985, but Mendenhall is the only player who truly makes sense here. Travis Henry is both an injury and suspension risk, and Selvin Young and Andre Hall have shown to be serviceable, but nowhere near spectacular, backs. The defense has been the weakest part of the Broncos recently, but there are no players available who fit their biggest needs on the defense (defensive tackle and linebacker) and are solid value here. Therefore, the Broncos would need to address one of their secondary needs. Running back really is not a major need, but having an excellent running back would absolutely dominate in Mike Shanahan’s system. Average running backs have done very well for the Broncos (Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Reuben Droughns, etc.), so a great back like Mendenhall could be a superstar. His acceleration and speed is the ideal fit for the one-cut system the Broncos employ. He is an enormous upgrade over Mike Bell, Selvin Young, and Andre Hall. DeSean Jackson, Chris Williams, Dan Connor, Kentwan Balmer, and Philip Merling are possibilities, but Mendenhall makes the most sense if they decide to stay fit.

(13) Carolina Panthers - OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt Chris Williams has impressed greatly throughout the week of Senior Bowl practices and looks to shoot up draft boards with his excellent athleticism. I am confident that Williams can start at left tackle right away in the NFL with his size, athleticism, and pass protection prowess. The Panthers need somebody who can come in and contribute at offensive tackle right away, as Travelle Wharton and Jordan Gross (the current starting tackles for the Panthers) are both set to become unrestricted free agents. One of the main reasons the Panthers were not able to move the ball consistently this past season was their offensive line. Injuries played a big role in their struggles this season, but the offensive line stayed relatively healthy and was still largely ineffective. Baker would be able to step in as the starting left tackle with his smarts, experience, and leadership ability. Wharton, if re-signed, would then be able to move inside to guard. Jordan Gross, if re-signed, would be able to hold down the right tackle spot. Baker would help to solidify the offensive line, which is one of the major goals of the Panthers this season. Calais Campbell, Derrick Harvey, Quentin Groves, Gosder Cherilus, Jeff Otah, Andre Woodson, and Brian Brohm are all possibilities, but Baker fills a need for them and is an excellent fit for their zone-blocking scheme.

(14) Chicago Bears - QB Brian Brohm, Louisville The Bears, if they have a shot at Matt Ryan or Brian Brohm, will take the opportunity and run with it. Rex Grossman is garbage, and the Bears should definitely not re-sign him. Brohm is an efficient, smart quarterback who, if he were to pick up Chicago’s offense quickly, would be a guy who could start right away. He is a safe pick in this draft who doesn’t have a very high ceiling but also doesn’t have a big basement. He is smart, accurate, productive quarterback with everything you look for in a quarterback in terms of intangibles. He has injury concerns and there are concerns about the offense he played in at Louisville, but he has almost all of what you look for in a franchise quarterback and makes a lot of sense here.

(15) Detroit Lions - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida The Lions don\'t have as many needs as many of the teams picking in this area, but they definitely need an upgrade at corner and some help along the offensive line. Unless an elite prospect falls to them here, the Lions should select a corner here. Having Fernando Bryant and Travis Fisher as your starting cornerbacks will not cut it in this league, so that position needs to be addressed for sure. The best available here is Mike Jenkins. Jenkins has been an excellent college player, shutting down his half of the field for the majority of his college career. He has good feet, speed, and size (6’0” 200 pounds). He is a physical cover corner with great athleticism and the ability to play in nearly any defensive scheme in the NFL. His versatility will also up his value, as he has the ability to play safety as well as corner. If a corner like Jenkins is available when the Lions get on the clock, they will take him. Jenkins is a very good player and can be an instant starter in Detroit.

(16) Arizona Cardinals - DE/OLB Derrick Harvey, Florida* The Cardinals still have had some difficulty transitioning to their 3-4 defense, but this is a selection that would greatly help their shift. Harvey is tailor-made for the 3-4 rush \'backer position, as he is undersized for a defensive end but to big to play linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. He has been an excellent pass rusher throughout his career at Florida, but there are concerns about how his size will translate to the defensive end position in the NFL. This position is ideal for him, and he would be a DeMarcus Ware type threat off the edge for the Cardinals. All teams that are able to execute the 3-4 defense successfully have at least one threat off the edge. Baltimore has Terrell Suggs, San Diego has Shawne Merriman, New England has Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel, and Dallas has DeMarcus Ware. Also, the current starting outside linebackers, Karlos Dansby and Calvin Pace, are set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason. At least one of the starting positions should be open. This pick makes a lot of sense.

(17) Minnesota Vikings - WR DeSean Jackson, California* The Vikings struggled mightily in the passing game this season, and much of this could be attributed to the overall weakness of the receiving corps of the team. Tarvaris Jackson was part of the problem, but he improved throughout the year and showed a lot of development. Because of the promise he showed, the Vikings most likely will not select a quarterback in the first round. Sidney Rice was an excellent pick in the second round of the 2007 Draft, as he had a solid rookie season with 31 receptions, 296 yards, and 4 TDs. They still need more at the position, as Bobby Wade is nothing special, Robert Ferguson is aging and injury-prone, Troy Williamson has been a colossal bust, and Aundrae Allison is more of a return man than a receiver. DeSean Jackson would be the ideal complement to Rice and would give the Vikings a vertical threat that they sorely lack. Jackson is expected to run very well at the combine, and is a better prospect than Ted Ginn was a year ago as both a returner and receiver. He could go even higher than this depending on his 40 time, but his disappointing junior season could cause him to fall to this area. Jackson would give the Vikings another offensive weapon outside of Adrian Peterson and would help with the progression of Tarvaris Jackson. Malcolm Kelly is another possibility at receiver and Calais Campbell and Quentin Groves are possibilities at defensive end, but Jackson would ultimately be the best selection for them.

(18) Houston Texans - RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon* The Texans have several needs, but selecting a running back here would give the Texans the best "bang for their buck". I believe Jonathan Stewart is the second-best running back in this draft and would be a steal at this point in the draft. Stewart is a stocky running back at 5’10” 230 pounds with the ability to both grind out yards and take the ball all the way. He is faster than most backs at his size and will run well at the Combine. Stewart is a ball of thunder and will be an excellent running back because of his all-around capability of running, receiving, and blocking. Houston has pressing offensive line and secondary needs, so Jeff Otah and Leodis McKelvin are possibilities here, but Stewart makes the most sense because he is the best player available here and fits their needs.

(19) Philadelphia Eagles - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma* There are three players I could seriously see the Eagles drafting with this selection if the draft did indeed play out this way: Malcolm Kelly, Jeff Otah, or Dan Connor. Malcolm Kelly is a good option here because he complements the other receivers the Eagles have. Philly has a bunch of good, but not great, receivers, and they need a true #1 receiver. Malcolm Kelly could be that guy, as he has been compared to Larry Fitzgerald. Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown are speed guys, and selecting Kelly would allow Curtis to move to the slot, where he is more comfortable. Greg Lewis, Jason Avant, and Hank Baskett are no better than #4 guys at this time in their careers. Jeff Otah would make sense here because the Eagles have had a tendency to draft linemen, offensive and defensive, in the first round. They selected DT Brodrick Bunkley in the first round in 2006, DT Mike Patterson in 2005, G Shawn Andrews in 2004, and DE Jerome McDougle in 2003. On the offensive side, Andy Reid seems to prefer bigger linemen (the average weight of their 2007 starting offensive line was 330.2 pounds), and Otah is one of the biggest and most talented in this draft. He is 6\'6" 340 pounds and has excellent athleticism for his size. Dan Connor would make sense here because the Eagles\' linebacking corps is weak. Takeo Spikes is aging fast, while Chris Gocong is above average but nothing special. The Eagles see some true promise in Omar Gaithier, the starting middle linebacker, but the outside linebackers will be upgraded at some point. Connor is probably the least likely of the three, but is a very strong possibility. It is a toss up between Otah and Kelly, but I ultimately go with Kelly because wide receiver is a more pressing need. Otah probably would not start right away, while Kelly would play a major role from Day One.

(20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh The Bucs could go in a number of directions with this selection. They have needs all over the field: offensive line, defensive tackle, corner, and receiver. Jeff Otah is a very promising prospect who is a massive upgrade over current starting left tackle (undrafted rookie Donald Penn). Luke Petitgout has shown that he cannot be counted on for a full season, as he has only played in 13 of 32 possible games in the past two seasons. As a result, the Buccaneers will have to find an alternative option that can be counted on. Penn did as well as expected of an undrafted rookie, but he is not the long-term answer. Otah, although not quite ready to start on the left side in the pros, is still an upgrade over Petitgout and Penn. He is very raw, but he may have the highest upside of any offensive lineman in this draft and could turn out to be a Jonathan Ogden-type force in this league if everything goes correctly in his development. Otah has all the talent in the world and is amazing value here.

(21) Washington Redskins - DE Calais Campbell, Miami (FL)* The Redskins greatest need is along the defensive line, and Campbell may be the most physically talented defensive lineman in this draft. At defensive end, where Campbell could start right away for the Redskins, the Redskins are solid at one side with former 49er Andre Carter. However, at the other end position they have Phillip Daniels, who is 34 years old and an average player. Campbell was once regarded as a top 5 prospect in this year\'s draft after his excellent sophomore season, but his production dipped in the 2007 season and he disappointed. Compared to the 20.5 tackles for loss and the 10.5 sacks he had in 2006, he only had 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks on an underachieving Miami team this past season. Dan Snyder has always loved supremely talented althletes, as he has paid for players such as Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle-El, and LaRon Landry, and he would love to add one more. This is a great pick that is a very good calculated risk for the Redskins.

(22) Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) - CB Aqib Talib, Kansas* The Cowboys are in an excellent position for the upcoming draft, as they don\'t have a lot of needs and have two first round selections. They could attempt a trade up to get a player that they really covet, but I wouldn\'t be surprised to see them stay here. As a result, the Cowboys can basically draft the best player available. In this case, corner and running back are arguably their two biggest needs. Talib is one of this draft’s best defensive playmakers and would be a great value pick here while still filling a major need. The only thing that could hold him back is his lack of great timed speed and his lack of development as a corner, but his playmaking skills alone should get him drafted this high. Many analysts believe he would have been better off focusing at corner while with the Jayhawks. He played corner, receiver, and contributed as a returner, but he certainly projects as a full-time cornerback at the next level. His size is very good, and his athleticism is excellent. If Anthony Henry makes the long-rumored move to safety, then corner becomes the Cowboys biggest need by far. Talib is definitely the best corner available here, as playmaking corners are a valuable commodity in this league. Aqib Talib makes a lot of sense here.

(23) Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College The Steelers are almost certain to lose Alan Faneca in free agency, as the Steelers have not negotiated with him and Faneca has basically said that he will test the free agency waters. Max Starks also will become an unrestricted free agent, and it is uncertain whether or not he will return. The Steelers will need to fill at least one or two positions along their offensive line this offseason, and they have always loved big, mauling linemen. Cherilus is one of the most NFL ready offensive linemen in this draft class, and fits the “mauling” profile to perfection. He is the ideal NFL right tackle and is coming from a college known for producing NFL-ready offensive linemen. Cherilus is not the most athletic guy, but he is a beast in the run game and is a smart, experienced, hard working player. He is a blue-collar guy and could very well become a fan favorite in the rugged city of Pittsburgh. If Faneca leaves and Starks stays, Willie Colon would likely move inside to take Faneca\'s starting position and Cherilus could then take over for Colon at right tackle. This is the most obvious need for the Steelers, and Cherilus is the offensive lineman available that is most ready to step in and start right away. He is pretty much a finished product and would fit right in with this franchise.

(24) Tennessee Titans - WR James Hardy, Indiana* The Titans have a great need at wide receiver and, with the amount of talented wide receivers available here, the Titans should address the issue once and for all. They may have needs in the secondary depending on the outcome of the Pac-Man Jones situation, but wide receiver is their biggest needs. Despite many attempts at finding receivers with the acquisitions of David Givens, Brandon Jones, Roydell Williams, Justin Gage, and Eric Moulds, none have emerged as consistent, quality options. Hardy has as much upside as any receiver in this draft, with Plaxico Burress-type ability. With the success bigger receivers have had in this league this year (Moss, Burress, etc.), Hardy will be a valuable commodity at 6\'7". He has been a consistent producer throughout college and has shown up for the toughest games. Vince Young and this Titans offense needs more weapons if they are ever to win a championship, and Hardy would instantly be the best receiver on this team. This pick makes a lot of sense.

(25) Seattle Seahawks - TE Fred Davis, USC The Seahawks’ passing offense was excellent this past offseason, as Matt Hasselbeck threw for nearly 4,000 yards. The running offense of the Seahawks was another story, so the Seahawks will definitely be in the market for a running back here. If Jonathan Stewart or Rashard Mendenhall fall this far, then I expect the Seahawks to pick one of them. However, in this mock both Stewart and Mendenhall are gone before this pick. One glaring weakness in the Seahawks’ offense was the lack of a true pass-catching tight end. Marcus Pollard looked terribly mediocre this season, and there is no promising backup behind him who looks to take on the starting job next year. Fred Davis is the top tight end in this draft class, as he is athletic, has outstanding hands, and is an improving blocker. He may not be the best all-around tight end in this class, as that distinction would likely have to go to John Carlson, but he is the tight end most ready to come in and provide an impact in the passing game in this draft. Blocking tight ends are easy to find, but premier receiving ends like Davis are very difficult to find. If Mendenhall and Stewart are gone here, then Fred Davis should be the Seahawks’ selection here.

(26) Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Philip Merling, Clemson* The Jaguars don\'t have many needs, but defensive end is one position that could definitely stand to be upgraded. They need a dynamic player from the outside, as they have some decent players at the position but none who can consistently be counted on to make plays. Bobby McCray is a solid pass-rusher, but he will become a free agent at the end of the season. Although Reggie Hayward is a sound starter when healthy, he has been injury-prone over his Jaguars\' career. Paul Spicer has gotten to the quarterback this year, but he has not been a pass-rushing threat throughout his career. Rob Meier is more of a wave defensive tackle than a starting defensive end, so I think the Jaguars would prefer to use him in a rotation behind Marcus Stroud and John Henderson then as a rotational defensive end. The Jaguars love big defensive linemen, and Merling is one of the biggest defensive ends available in this draft. He is one of those guys who can fit anywhere in any scheme because of his size (6’5” 280 pounds) and athleticism. He is solid both against the run and pass and has excellent potential. If he can focus on the pass-rushing side of his game, then he could be a star in this league. At the very least, he is a guy who will be great against the run and provide a good pass rush. He may never be a dynamic sack-artist, but this is a perfect fit for the Jags here. The Jaguars are in the middle of the pack in terms of sacks, and this move would help them to upgrade their end position and hopefully get some more.

(27) San Diego Chargers - CB/S Reggie Smith, Oklahoma* I believe San Diego will trade down here to pick up additional picks later in the draft, as their next selection in the upcoming draft does not come until the fifth round. However, if they do stay here, Reggie Smith should be their pick. San Diego\'s major needs are at safety and defensive tackle, and there is no nose tackle worth this pick. Reggie Smith, however, is an excellent value pick and could fill a starting position at safety for the Bolts or serve as a nickel corner. His versatility makes him an even more valuable prospect. The Chargers drafted Eric Weddle in the second round of the 2006 Draft, but the other safety spot could be upgraded. Clinton Hart is a decent player, but Smith would be an upgrade. He has excellent speed and range from the free safety position while still having the necessary size to play the position. This would be a great pick at this point if the Chargers opt to not trade this pick.

(28) Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas* The Cowboys are rumored to really be interested in Darren McFadden, but when they discover they will not be able to trade up for him without using too many of their assets they decide to take his teammate. Felix Jones really capitalized on having the luxury of Darren McFadden wearing down defenses, but he is an excellent NFL prospect in his own right. He may be faster than McFadden, although not near as big or powerful. Jones, however, is the ideal complement to Marion Barber III. Although Barber has been an excellent player for the Cowboys, they do not seem to trust him to carry the load. Julius Jones, the current starter, almost certainly will not be back. He is an unrestricted free agent and will try to cash in with a team in need of an every down starter. Jones should have stayed in school, as he could have gone in the top half of the first round next year after a year of carrying the load for Arkansas, but he decided to skip his senior season to cash in on an NFL bonus sooner rather than later. The Cowboys will be getting an excellent player who would add another weapon to the already scary Cowboys offense.

(29) San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis) - DT/DE Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina The 49ers have needs all over the field after a very disappointing 2007 season. With this selection, a defensive lineman, linebacker, and wide receiver are probably the most like possibilities. Kentwan Balmer is an outstanding talent who finally began to show it consistently in his senior season. He has some versatility, as he could fit as a 4-3 defensive tackle while still having the ideal measurables to play defensive end in the 3-4. The 49ers\' defensive line is below average, as Bryant Young is 36 years old and Aubrayo Franklin and Marques Douglas are mediocre. Balmer would instantly start at one of the defensive end spots in their 3-4 scheme and has a ton of potential. He has many similarities to Richard Seymour and would be a great fit for San Francisco at this point in the draft.

(30) Green Bay Packers - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State Plaxico Burress absolutely destroying Al Harris and the Green Bay Packers secondary resulted in this selection being a corner. Harris and Charles Woodson are both solid players but are both over 30 years old and on the downside of their careers. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been flying up draft boards after his performance throughout the Senior Bowl practices. His talent is outstanding, as he has great height (6’2”), feet, speed, and playmaking ability. He compares favorably to his cousin Antonio Cromartie, as they both have the same impressive ability to make plays on the ball. After being touted as a projected middle round pick earlier in the year, DRC has basically come out of nowhere to be talked about as a perennial first-round selection. There are questions about his bulk (only 170 pounds), experience, and level of competition, but his overall talent is incredible and his ceiling is extremely high. This is an ideal fit for the Packers here.

(31) New York Giants - LB Dan Connor, Penn State The Giants have been a great success story, and they have relatively few needs compared to the other teams around the NFL. Therefore, they can basically afford to select the best player available. Connor is the best player available here, as he comes from an excellent program at Penn State and has drawn comparisons to current Buffalo Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny. He may not have premier physical tools, but he is a brick wall against the run and can fit in nearly any scheme. He is an upgrade over Kawika Mitchell, and would give the Giants a lot of options. Mathias Kiwanuka, a LB/DE tweener, could be moved permanently to defensive end if Michael Strahan were to retire. Connor could man the middle linebacker position if need be, as well. Connor is a rock-solid player who is an excellent selection at this juncture. Although I was tempted to put Chris Williams here, Connor makes more sense and is a more valuable player because of his performance at the Senior Bowl.

^Since Kansas City finished third in the AFC West Division and the Raiders fourth (the tie was broken on the basis of record in common games), the Raiders will draft ahead of the Chiefs. Atlanta and Oakland will flip a coin for the third position at the NFL Combine in February. If Atlanta wins, the Falcons will draft third, the Raiders fourth, and the Chiefs fifth. If the Raiders win the coin flip, they will draft third, and the Falcons and Chiefs will flip a coin to determine the fourth and fifth positions.

Mock Draft Club

Mock Draft Club is a unique club that is the first of its kind at any school. This is currently going through the confirmation process of officially becoming a club. The purpose of the club and the website is to translate the knowledge of the students of the St. Francis High School student body about subjects not used in school into something productive. This something fun, but everybody enjoys it. This is a revolutionary idea that many students seem to have grasped and wanted truly to become members of this club. It began as a joke, but Mock Draft Club will hopefully come to fruition.

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