2008 NFL DRAFT PREVIEWS

[Ego74]

courtesy of The Sports Network


St. Louis Rams 2008 Draft Preview

By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - The Rams had a mind-boggling confluence of offensive line issues last season, beginning with the season-ending injury to left tackle Orlando Pace, and only signed one new o-lineman - ex-Titans guard Jacob Bell - during the subsequent free agency period. Inasmuch, it would be strange for a team that gave up 48 sacks a year ago to do anything other than pick Michigan tackle Jake Long at No. 2. The other big needs reside within the defensive front seven, where the Rams must find a reliable complement to Leonard Little at defensive end, and need a linebacking contributor [or two] following Brandon Chillar's free agent defection to the Packers. Receiving talent is not generally among this team's trouble spots, but the respective ages of holdovers Torry Holt (32), Drew Bennett (30), and tight end Randy McMichael (29) might prompt the team to select another set of hands in the middle rounds.

2007 Record: 3-13

First Pick: No. 2

Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7)

RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Adam Carriker (DE, Nebraska); 2006 - Tye Hill (CB, Clemson); 2005 - Alex Barron (T, Florida State); 2004 - Steven Jackson (RB, Oregon State); 2003 - Jimmy Kennedy (DT, Penn State); 2002 - Robert Thomas (LB, UCLA); 2001 - Damione Lewis (DT, Miami-Florida), Adam Archuleta (S, Arizona State), Ryan Pickett (DT, Ohio State); 2000 - Trung Canidate (RB, Arizona); 1999 - Torry Holt (WR, North Carolina State); 1998 - Grant Wistrom (DE, Nebraska); 1997 - Orlando Pace (OT, Ohio State); 1996 - Lawrence Phillips (RB, Nebraska), Eddie Kennison (WR, LSU); 1995 - Kevin Carter (DE, Florida); 1994 - Wayne Gandy (OT, Auburn); 1993 - Jerome Bettis (RB, Notre Dame); 1992 - Sean Gilbert (DT, Pittsburgh); 1991 - Todd Lyght (CB, Notre Dame); 1990 - Bern Brostek (C, Washington).

[Ego74]

Oakland Raiders 2008 Draft Preview
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - The Raiders' draft strategy is always a mystery, since it is never clear whether owner and shot-caller Al Davis will select based on need or in the interests of making a big splash. If Oakland seeks to address the former, then you have to believe that either tackle Jake Long (Michigan) or defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (LSU) is atop the draft board. If the Silver and Black are going for headlines, they'll add running back Darren McFadden (Arkansas) to a backfield group that already includes Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Michael Bush. Either way, barring trades, that pick will be the only significant one the team makes. In the late rounds, look for Oakland to target depth on the offensive and defensive lines, and at linebacker.
2007 Record: 4-12
First Pick: No. 4
Number of Selections: 5 (1, 4, 6, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU); 2006 - Michael Huff (S, Texas); 2005 - Fabian Washington (CB, Nebraska); 2004 - Robert Gallery (T, Iowa); 2003 - Nnamdi Asomugha (CB, California), Tyler Brayton (DE, Colorado); 2002 - Phillip Buchanon (CB, Miami-Florida), Napoleon Harris (LB, Northwestern); 2001 - Derrick Gibson (S, Florida State); 2000 - Sebastian Janikowski (K, Florida State); 1999 - Matt Stinchcomb (OT, Georgia); 1998 - Charles Woodson (CB, Michigan), Mo Collins (OL, Florida); 1997 - Darrell Russell (DT, USC); 1996 - Rickey Dudley (TE, Ohio State); 1995 - Napoleon Kaufman (RB, Washington); 1994 - Rob Fredrickson (LB, Michigan State); 1993 - Patrick Bates (DB, Texas A&M); 1992 - Chester McGlockton (DL, Clemson); 1991 - Todd Marinovich (QB, USC); 1990 - Anthony Smith (DE, Arizona).

[Ego74]

Baltimore Ravens 2008 NFL Draft Preview


By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - The most obvious need for Baltimore is at quarterback, but chances are the team won't meet that need with the No. 8 pick. Boston College's Matt Ryan, the only Top-10 worthy signal-caller in this draft, is likely to be gone by then, meaning Baltimore could target one of the second- tier QB talents - Chad Henne (Michigan), Brian Brohm (Louisville), or Joe Flacco (Delaware) - with the 38th overall pick. In the first round, the advancing age of cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle is likely to have the team looking long and hard at Mike Jenkins (South Florida), Leodis McKelvin (Troy), and Aqib Talib (Kansas) to bolster that department. Elsewhere on defense, GM Ozzie Newsome and new head coach John Harbaugh could look to upgrade a pass rush that was a disappointment last season, as well as an aging linebacking corps. Apart from the QB slot, the biggest need on offense is up front, where the expected retirement of left tackle Jonathan Ogden and the unlikely return of center Mike Flynn has created some depth issues.
2007 Record: 5-11
First Pick: No. 8
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Ben Grubbs (G, Auburn); 2006 - Haloti Ngata (DT, Oregon); 2005 - Mark Clayton (WR, Oklahoma); 2004 - none; 2003 - Terrell Suggs (DE, Arizona State), Kyle Boller (QB, California); 2002 - Ed Reed (S, Miami-Florida); 2001 - Todd Heap (TE, Arizona State); 2000 - Jamal Lewis (RB, Tennessee), Travis Taylor (WR, Florida); 1999 - Chris McAlister (CB, Arizona); 1998 - Duane Starks (CB, Miami-Florida); 1997 - Peter Boulware (LB, Florida State); 1996 - Jonathan Ogden (OT, UCLA), Ray Lewis (LB, Miami-Florida).

[Ego74]

Carolina Panthers 2008 Draft Preview


By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - Like the Ravens and Bears, the Panthers are a team that needs a ready-to-play quarterback but isn't likely to find value for one at its current position in the first round. Thus, expect Carolina to wait until the 43rd pick to select its QB of the future, and to address other needs at No. 13. The Panthers had major trouble rushing the quarterback last year, so a complement to Julius Peppers figures to be the first-round target for the embattled John Fox and his club. Another possibility, depending on how the dominoes fall, is offensive line help. Ex-starters Justin Hartwig (Steelers) and Mike Wahle (Seahawks) have both changed addresses in the offseason. Locating additional depth in the secondary and in the backfield figure to be later-round priorities.
2007 Record: 7-9
First Pick: No. 13
Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Jon Beason (LB, Miami-Florida); 2006 - DeAngelo Williams (RB, Memphis); 2005 - Thomas Davis (S/LB, Georgia); 2004 - Chris Gamble (CB, Ohio State); 2003 - Jordan Gross (OT, Utah); 2002 - Julius Peppers (DE, North Carolina); 2001 - Dan Morgan (LB, Miami-Florida); 2000 - Rashard Anderson (CB, Jackson State); 1999 - none; 1998 - Jason Peter (DE, Nebraska); 1997 - Rae Carruth (WR, Colorado); 1996 - Tim Biakabutuka (RB, Michigan); 1995 - Kerry Collins (QB, Penn State), Tyrone Poole (CB, Fort Valley State), Blake Brockermeyer (OT, Texas).

[FrankieGotti]

Do you have one on the my cleveland brownies? Oh wait i forgot, they don't have a pick until midway through the second day.

[Ego74]

Here ya' go Frankie


Cleveland Browns 2008 Draft Preview
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - TV ratings in the greater Cleveland area don't figure to be too high for the 2008 Draft, since barring a trade, the Browns won't select until some time in the mid-afternoon on Sunday. For the record, the team swapped its draft picks for the right to select Brady Quinn (1st-round pick to Dallas), Corey Williams (2nd-round pick to Green Bay), and Shaun Rogers (3rd- round pick to Detroit), all acquisitions with which it's difficult to argue. The Browns could go in absolutely any direction with its four mid-to-late round selections, but we predict they'll target depth at running back, offensive tackle, cornerback, and outside linebacker, in no particular order.
2007 Record: 10-6
First Pick: No. 122
Number of Selections: 4 (4, 5, 6, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Joe Thomas (T, Wisconsin), Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame); 2006 - Kamerion Wimbley (OLB, Florida State); 2005 - Braylon Edwards (WR, Michigan); 2004 - Kellen Winslow (TE, Miami-Florida); 2003 - Jeff Faine (C, Notre Dame); 2002 - William Green (RB, Boston College); 2001 - Gerard Warren (DT, Florida); 2000 - Courtney Brown (DE, Penn State); 1999 - Tim Couch (QB, Kentucky); 1995 - Craig Powell (LB, Ohio State); 1994 - Antonio Langham (CB, Alabama), Derrick Alexander (WR, Michigan); 1993 - Steve Everitt (C, Michigan); 1992 - Tommy Vardell (FB, Stanford); 1991 - Eric Turner (S, UCLA); 1990 - none.

[Ego74]

Miami Dolphins 2008 Draft Preview
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - A rebuilding Dolphins team would probably prefer to trade the No. 1 overall pick, but that is highly unlikely to happen given the lack of star power at the top of the Draft as well as the outsized signing bonuses that top five selections currently command and owners despise. With those factors in mind, it seems a cinch that the Fins will select Virginia pass rusher Chris Long with the top pick - he's the surest thing in a draft rife with question marks. Expect the team brass of Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland, and coach Tony Sparano to place a heavy emphasis on defense throughout the Draft, since shoring up that side of the ball is the quickest route to competitiveness. Any attention paid to the offense figures to be devoted to a line that perpetually needs bodies, and perhaps to a sturdy running back to take some pressure off and carries away from the healing Ronnie Brown.
2007 Record: 1-15
First Pick: No. 1
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State); 2006 - Jason Allen (DB, Tennessee); 2005 - Ronnie Brown (RB, Auburn); 2004 - Vernon Carey (OT, Miami-Florida); 2003 - none; 2002 - none; 2001 - Jamar Fletcher (CB, Wisconsin); 2000 - none; 1999 - none; 1998 - John Avery (RB, Ole Miss); 1997 - Yatil Green (WR, Miami); 1996 - Daryl Gardener (DT, Baylor); 1995 - Billy Milner (OT, Houston); 1994 - Tim Bowens (DT, Mississippi); 1993 - O.J. McDuffie (WR, Penn State); 1992 - Troy Vincent (CB, Wisconsin), Marco Coleman (DL, Georgia Tech); 1991 - Randall Hill (WR, Miami-Florida); 1990 - Richmond Webb (OT, Texas A&M).

[Ego74]

Minnesota Vikings 2008 Draft Preview


By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - The most-publicized problem for the Vikings of late has been an inability to both throw and catch the football, and conventional wisdom suggests that a quarterback, receiver, and perhaps a tight end will be high on the team's priority list. At the same time, no Minnesota player tallied more than five sacks last season, and with Kenechi Udeze expected to miss time with a reported case of leukemia, and Erasmus James still a question mark due to a perpetually injured knee, the Vikes might draft a first-round defensive end for the third time in the last five years. If available, Florida's Derrick Harvey is a real possibility. After addressing the QB and wideout situations, Minnesota might want to target some offensive line depth given the age (32), injury history, and contract dissatisfaction of center Matt Birk, the recurring legal problems experienced by left tackle Bryant McKinnie, and the shaky play of recent first-day draft choices Ryan Cook and Marcus Johnson.
2007 Record: 8-8
First Pick: No. 17
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma); 2006 - Chad Greenway (LB, Iowa); 2005 - Troy Williamson (WR, South Carolina), Erasmus James (DE, Wisconsin); 2004 - Kenechi Udeze (DE, USC); 2003 - Kevin Williams (DT, Oklahoma State); 2002 - Bryant McKinnie (OT, Miami-Florida); 2001 - Michael Bennett (RB, Wisconsin); 2000 - Chris Hovan (DT, Boston College); 1999 - Daunte Culpepper (QB, Central Florida), Dimitrius Underwood (DT, Michigan State); 1998 - Randy Moss (WR, Marshall); 1997 - Dwayne Rudd (LB, Alabama); 1996 - Duane Clemons (DE, California); 1995 - Derrick Alexander (DE, Florida State), Korey Stringer (OT, Ohio State); 1994 - DeWayne Washington (CB, North Carolina State), Todd Steussie (OT, California); 1993 - Robert Smith (RB, Ohio State); 1992 - none; 1991 - none; 1990 - none.