08draft

Al's 2008 Pre-Final Mock Draft

Al Fronczak has over 20 years experience in scouting the NFL Draft.

Al's Mock finished 8th overall out of the top 100 media mocks for the 2007 Draft.

Click Here to view My FINAL 04/25 Mock for the 2008 NFL Draft.

-Al Fronczak

(Posted 04/23)

1. Miami Dolphins - OT Jake Long (Michigan)...I had Jake Long penciled in at this pick since my first mock back in January, long before the other mockers even considered Long in the top five...Long made the most sense since the Dolphins O-Line needs the most help at this time and the Dolphins feel he can play left tackle and help their power running game.

2. St. Louis Rams - DT Glenn Dorsey (LSU)...The Rams front office and coaching staff are divided on this pick...the front office wants Chris Long, while the coaching staff wants Glenn Dorsey...the Rams will make an attempt to trade down, or flip a coin between Long and Dorsey here.

3. Atlanta Falcons - QB Matt Ryan (Boston College)...The only player that would trump Matt Ryan here is Glenn Dorsey...if Dorsey is on the board, he's their pick...if not, the Falcons plan on taking Matt Ryan, or moving down a bit in this round.

4. Oakland Raiders - DE Vernon Gholston (Ohio State)...The Raiders would love to trade down since Al Davis just paid big bonus money to Russell last year...the Raiders are rebuilding their Defense for DC Rob Ryan, since they traded for CB DeAngelo Hall and signed S Gibril Wilson and re-signed DE Tommy Kelly to play DT...Gholston is the missing link on the Raiders line and a great pick for the Silver & Black.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - DE Chris Long (Virginia)...The Chiefs have a huge need on their offensive line at the OT position, but they also need to find Jared Allen's replacement...Long will be rated higher than any OT left on the board...Note - See pick #11 for the Chiefs other first round pick.

6. New York Jets - HB Darren McFadden (Arkansas)...They opened their wallets in free agency by adding NT Jenkins and OLB Pace to help their defense...now it's time to help the offensive side of the ball with a potential difference maker in McFadden for their anemic offense.

7. New England Patriots - OT Branden Albert (Virginia)...The Patriots would love to move down but can't find a trading partner...the Pats love versatile players and Albert has the ability to play OG or OT for a Patriots O-Line that took a beating in the Super Bowl.

8. Baltimore Ravens - CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (Tenn St.)...Ravens rumors have them linked to McKelvin, but Cromartie is the pick for the Ravens...Note - Don't rule out DT Ellis here or a trade down.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedric Ellis (USC)...The Bengals have numerous needs, but finding a DT like Ellis for the middle of their defense is a high priority...an OT like Ryan Clady will also be considered.

10. New Orleans Saints - CB Leodis McKelvin (Troy St.)...The Saints have needs at DT and CB ...McKelvin is the best player on their board at this spot, since DT Ellis was taken one pick earlier.

11. Kansas City Chiefs (from Buffalo) - OT Ryan Clady (Boise State)...The Chiefs move up six spots (from the Vikings pick they acquired in the Jared Allen trade) to fill their biggest need at left tackle...the Chiefs have begun their rebuilding process by taking DE Chris Long and OT Ryan Clady in this draft.

12. Denver Broncos - HB Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois)...They have several needs heading into the Draft including finding some youth for their offensive line and help for the middle of their D-Line...the Mendenhall pick will surprise some, but Shanahan isn't happy with his running back situation and both OT's (Branden Albert and Ryan Clady) they have rated highly, have already come off the board.

13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey (Florida)...This will be an interesting pick, since John Fox is in "win now mode" because he's in the final year of his contract...the Panthers feel they addressed their needs on their O-Line in FA, so it's time to find a DE that can rush the passer.

14. Chicago Bears - OT Chris Williams (Vanderbilt)...The Bears offensive line needs help especially at the OT position...GM Jerry Angelo must decide between Chris Williams or Jeff Otah here.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Detroit) - OT Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh)...The Eagles trade their second round pick in the 2009 Draft to the Lions to move up four spots for the player Andy Reid covets...the Eagles OT's are getting up their in age, and backup Winston Justice still needs time to develop.

16. Arizona Cardinals - LB Keith Rivers (USC)...The Cardinals have needs at CB, OLB, DE and HB, and are elated that Rivers has slipped through the cracks.

17. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City thru Minnesota) - WR Devin Thomas (Michigan State)... The Bills moved down six spots in a trade with the Chiefs who received this pick from the Vikings for Jared Allen and still land the player they had targeted all along....The Chiefs send the Bills the third round pick #83 that they acquired from the Vikings in the Allen trade, and an undisclosed future pick for the move.

18. Houston Texans - CB Michael Jenkins (So. Florida)... The Texans signed CB Jacques Reeves from the Cowboys in FA, but they still need to find another CB with Dunta Robinson coming off of an injury.

19. Detroit Lions (from Philadelphia) - LB Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)...The first surprise of the Draft, and to some the first reach... Lions head coach Rod Maranelli covets Jerod Mayo and compares him to a LB'er he coached at Tampa by the name of Derrick Brooks...the Lions moved down four spots and acquired the Eagles 2nd round pick in 2009 for their move.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - HB Jonathan Stewart (Oregon)...Stewart is the type of back that Jon Gruden loves to pound the rock with and the Bucs Hb situation is cloudy at best at this time...they also need to find a WR that can start opposite of Joey Galloway and will be looking for a CB...Note - Tampa has never used it's first round pick on a CB, dating back to their inauguaral season in 1976.

21. Washington Redskins - DE Phillip Merling (Clemson)...Redskins O-Line coach Joe Bugel is said to covet OG/OT Branden Albert, but they will need to move up to get him...Merling is recovering well from sports-hernia surgery, and will hold a workout for NFL teams on April 24th.

22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) - CB Antoine Cason (Arizona)...They will be looking for a WR and a HB with their early picks if they acquire Pacman...Pacman is still a Titan, so the pick is Cason.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Gosder Cherilus (Boston College)...The Steelers were targeting Branden Albert, but he's already off the board...plan B is to take a big WR for Big Ben, but none are truely worthy here...Plan C goes back to addressing their O-Line needs with Gosder Cherilus.

24. Tennessee Titans - WR DeSean Jackson (California)...The Titans need to find some help for Vince Young at the WR position...Jackson can do just that and help out the Titans return game.

25. Seattle Seahawks - DT Kentwan Balmer (North Carolina)..Trade Down...The Seahawks filled a need at the HB position in free agency, but also need help at TE,DT,OT and WR.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - S Tyrell Johnson (Arkansas St.)...They need to find a DE and are thinking about sending their second round pick to the Dolphins for DE Jason Taylor...Johnson is the pick here since safety has also become a need since the team released Lamont Thompson.

27. Baltimore Ravens (from San Diego) QB Chad Henne (Michigan)...The Ravens move back into the first round to land QB Henne...the Ravens send the Chargers their second round pick #39, their 4th round pick #103, and an undisclosed pick in the 2009 Draft for the move...the Chargers are happy to move out of the round and add the picks, since OT Cherilus has already come off the board.

28. Dallas Cowboys - HB Felix Jones (Arkansas) ...The Cowboys filled a need at the CB position with their earlier pick and fill a big need with the selection of Felix Jones here.

29. San Francisco (from Indy) - OLB Quentin Groves (Auburn)...The Niners would like one of the top four OT's to fall to them here, but since they're gone they take Groves a DE at Auburn who will be a rush end (stand-up outside linebacker) in the Niners scheme.

30. Green Bay Packers - WR James Hardy (Indiana)..The Packers don't have any pressing needs on either side of the ball, but they would like to come away from this Draft with another OG,CB, and a DE... Hardy is the best player available on their board, and gives the Pack a big target at the reciever position.

31. New England Patriots - (Forfeited the pick)

32. New York Giants - S Kenny Phillips (Miami-Fla)...The Giants will be looking for help for their back seven of their Defense...Giants DC Steve Spaguola loves Phillips.

Teams that could be looking to trade down in the First Round of the Draft:

#1. Miami...#4. Oakland...#7. New England...#8. Baltimore...#11. Buffalo......#15. Detroit...#29. Dallas

Teams that could could be looking to move up in the First Round of the Draft:

#13. Carolina...#15 Detroit...#17 Kansas City...#19. Philadelphia...#21. Washington...#22 Dallas

Prospects that just missed the Grade:

QB Joe Flacco...QB Brian Brohm...WR Limas Sweed...LB Dan Connor...CB Aqib Talib...