Fantasy College Blitz 2008 NFL MOCK DRAFT (version 1)
Date: 4/21/2008 8:59:00 PM
Author: Daniel Freer
Daniel Freer of Fantasy College Blitz presents his 2008 NFL Mock Draft
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Sometime ago, I got a call from the Home Office, saying they wanted a Mock Draft of the upcoming 2008 NFL Draft.
"OK....the Miami Dolphins draft stunk so bad last year....former head coach Cam Cameron is now cleaning bathrooms at a local adult superstore".
"Ummm...no Dan" replied the Home Office "We want you to predict who will get picked, and where, in the upcoming NFL Draft.....not make fun of team's past drafts"
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So, suffice to say, I will be projecting who will go where, when, and maybe why....in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Mind you, my experience is with college football, not the NFL. That is a whole different world out there. In no way should I be compared to that expert guy on ESPN....except for maybe having a funny hairdo
Now, there are some things easier for me to predict:
China will continue to be the human-rights hating, lead paint toy-making beligerent nation, before and after the 2008 Olympics. No word yet on whether NFL honchos will approve China's request to put the "franchise player" tag on the Dalai Lama(photo,above, Picsearch.com/Namgyal Monastery)....in a move to keep the "Free Tibet" protesters at bay. Former Patriots CB Asante Samuel probably not as miffed now, having been franchise-tagged last season.
Canadian actress Ellen Page (photo, above, Dominik Keppner/Coppermine Photo Gallery) will someday soon win an Oscar (why she did not win for Juno is a mystery....much like the Giants winning the last Super Bowl). However, proposed trade between the USA and Canada, sending Page to the States for Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and "some other American chick to be named later"...falls through. Is that millions of Canucks giving us the "manual maple leaf" sign, or, telling us to procreate with ourselves?
Ahh, yes, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (photo, above, CNN/SI/Justin Doom) will wear his famous "sawed-off hoodie" sometime during the season. In a move to preserve their second first-round pick (31st overall) in the 2008 Draft, the Pats will select Lens Lensman, a graduate student majoring in video production at the Massachusetts School of Video. "The league only said we could not draft a player at #31" stated an unnamed team spokesman.
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Now that I have the easier predictions out of the way....lets get busy with the more difficult ones....who is going where in the 2008 NFL Draft. The envelopes please (um..maybe they do not use envelopes...)
1. MIAMI DOLPHINS: Jake Long, OT, Michigan: Already in the works to sign Long before the draft, the Fins want to build the trenches first...easier to bury the dead. WNBA players wondering where Long was able to buy those women's clothes...for such a big dude.
2. ST. LOUIS RAMS: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State: With Long already gone, Rams go for the lineman famous for blocking on the Hook N' Ladder, the Statue of Liberty, and the Ian Johnson Marriage Proposal plays while at Boise. Orlando Pace is getting on in years, and Clady is the younger version...would not be surprised he joins Pace in Canton someday.
3. ATLANTA FALCONS: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College: With the last Falcons "franchise QB" going free-agency to the US Bureau of Prisons, Ryan will be a must-have for the Georgia Birdmen. I am sure Falcons owner Arthur Blank will be curious as to how Ryan feels towards animals....especially dogs. Esepcially dog teams like the Falcons.
4. OAKLAND RAIDERS: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU: Even Raiders GM/Managing General Partner Al Davis has not lost it that much to miss out on Dorsey if he falls to 4th overall. With Warren Sapp retiring, a young talent like Dorsey would have an immediate impact on the Raiders good defense.
5. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh: The run on tackles continues...and the Chiefs could use a possible impact-player at the position. The Chiefs are trying to get younger, and, another hole-opener for RB Larry Johnson would be nice.
6. NEW YORK JETS: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: Stock falling due to personal issues....but McFadden is the best offensive player in the Draft. Issues....tissues....D-Mac will only fall so far...and many teams are kicking themselves for bypassing Vikings RB Adrian Peterson in the 2007 Draft.
7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Leodis McKelvin, DB, Troy: With Asante Samuel going FA to the Eagles, the Pats have a shot to fill that position with a player who single-handedly won games for my fantasy college team last season. Although the Pats are sound at the return game, McKelvin is also the poor man's Devin Hester.
8. BALTIMORE RAVENS: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt: Tackles have not moved this fast and early since the two-for-one minnow sale at the Swamp Muck Bait Shop last year. Williams, like Boise's Clady, looks to eventually replace a legend....in this case Jonathan Ogden.
9. CINCINNATI BENGALS: Phil Merling, DT/DE, Clemson: Would add more talent to the Striped Cats defense. These plans could change if "Ocho Cinco" Chad Johnson is traded before the draft....possibly moving the Bengals draft position and/or having to fill a need for a WR.
10. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC: Excellent nose tackle who will add some strength to an improving defensive line. Hey...do I now hear a run on USC Trojans players being drafted?
11. BUFFALO BILLS: Keith Rivers, LB, USC: Nice get at this position for the Buffalo/Toronto/Mississauga/Orchard Park Bills. Rivers will get a chance to play very quickly.
12. DENVER BRONCOS: Vernon Gholston, LB, Ohio State: Maybe the best LB in the 2008 Draft...and the Broncos could use the help on defense. Now I am getting crazy e-mails from Ohio wondering why I am picking Michigan players ahead of Buckeyes.
13. CAROLINA PANTHERS: Derrick Harvey, DL, Florida: Dark Cats may be working to move up the Draft to snag Matt Ryan, so Harvey may not be on the Panthers list come this weekend.
14. CHICAGO BEARS: Sam Baker, LT, USC: Since Devin Hester may be a little smallish to play OL, Bears go for another good OT in a Draft infested with good OTs. Bears offense needs all the help it can get.
15. DETROIT LIONS: Branden Albert, OG/OT, Virginia: With Damien Woody gone free-agent, the Lions can fill a need on the OL with some immediancy by taking Albert.
16. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois: Edgerrin James islosing his edge....and the Arizona Birdmen could use a RB for the future with a real NFL body.
17. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: DeSean Jackson, WR, California: The Vikes front-office has checked, double-checked, and triple-stacked with cheese...to make sure Jackson is not the next Troy Williamson.
18. HOUSTON TEXANS: Brandon Flowers, DB, Virginia Tech: Improving team with an improving secondary could land immediate help with Flowers.
19. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan: When healthy, Manningham was one of the biggest game-breakers in college football. Could be NFL mega-star if he can avoid the injured list.
20. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma: A nice complement to Joey Galloway, and hopefully does not disappear after rookie season like Michael Clayton.
21. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami: Redskins could really benefit from Miami Hurricanes poor 2007 season, for Campbell probably would have been taken earlier if Canes were better.
22. DALLAS COWBOYS: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas: Sweed's 2007 season was cut short due to injury, and the Cowboys will luck out big getting this stud WR so late in first round.
23. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Gasdar Cherilus, OT, Boston College: Steelers do not need Matt Ryan....so why not get a guy that blocked for him? The Terrible Towel Team always finds talent.
24. TENNESSEE TITANS: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State: Titans always in need of players to open up the offense....but will Vince Young complete passes to anyone?
25. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas: "The Cat" can add a speedy change-up to the aging and slowing Shaun Alexander in the backfield.
26. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Early Doucet, WR, LSU: Seems the Spotted Cats always are taking WRs early in past drats...maybe they get this one right.
27. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina: Like the Chargers really need help on defense....but the Chargers have few real needs...so why not add to a strong defense?
28. DALLAS COWBOYS: Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State: Cowboys, like the Chargers, have few real needs at any position. Terrell Owens is getting up there in football years....and just a blow-up away....
29. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Chris Long, DE/LB, Virginia: I am getting some crazy e-mails from some guy named "Howie" from Hollywood....dissing me for picking Long so low.
30. GREEN BAY PACKERS: Kevin Smith, RB, UCF: OK, I admit, this is a pick for the alma-mater "24K" and I share...but, do you really think Ryan Grant is the Pack's RB of the future? Smith will remind The Frozen Tundra fans of Ahman Green when at his peak.
31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Lens Lensman, Video Student, Mass. School of Video (see previous section above).
32. NEW YORK GIANTS: Reggie Smith, CB/PR, Oklahoma: Not a bad last pick of the first round. Like Troy's Leodis McKelvin, Smith is another poor man's Devin Hester...with good DB skills.
Like Brian Bosworth....writer Daniel Freer was "great in college....stunk as a pro".(sans the really wild hair). Comments or questions about Daniel's 2008 Mock Draft can be directed to the Fantasy College Blitz Message Boards or e-mail Daniel at Sportdwf@aol.com
