Four Rounds - Final NFL Mock Draft ‘08 - April 25

1. Miami - Jake Long - OT - Michigan
The Dolphins signed the huge tackle days before the NFL Draft ’08. It’s smash mouth time in Miami. Long will couple with Vernon Carey to form a physical tackle tandem along with FA guard Justin Smiley. Long is one of the fastest picks in the draft and capable of being a dominant right tackle and a good left tackle. They had major needs along the offensive line prior to those two additions and this allows them to focus on skill positions and pass rushers and cover men thru the rest of the process. They are debating LB Quentin Groves at the #32 spot vs QBs like Chad Henne, Joe Flacco and Brian Brohm. They also could see a talented receiver on the board there like Limas Sweed or James Hardy.
Alternate Pick: None

2. St. Louis - Chris Long - DE - Virginia
The Rams are debating two defensive linemen here with Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey the only prospects of interest. They have received offers from clubs in the top ten for this selection and will entertain all offers right up to the selection. Chris Long addresses the bigger need on the outside while Glenn may be the best overall prospect in the entire draft. They are also debating receivers on the early 2nd round like DeSean Jackson and James Hardy. Offensive tackles will get attention especially in the top 100 selections.
Alternate Pick: Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

3. Atlanta - Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College
The Falcons are hoping Matt Ryan falls to this spot so they can turn on the page on the Michael Vick fiasco. Ryan would be a great image and start for a new era and a prospect with the development to be a good early NFL starter. They have many needs but a boatload of high selections with three #2 and two #3 picks that allows them to collect a bumper crop of prospects to rebuild a changing club. They could not go wrong with DT Glenn Dorsey here and come back in the early 2nd round with QBs like Henne, Brohm or Flacco.
Alternate Pick: Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

4. Oakland - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU
The Raiders have not done many things right over the past six years. They need to get this right after another poor ’07 performance despite a good draft class that should become a nucleus of this club going forward. They will debate a few prospects like Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey and Darren McFadden. They want to trade back and hope the Ravens or Cowboys are interested in moving up. They hope to recover a #2 pick for the DeAngelo Hall trade. Chris Long would carry on the heritage of his Hall of Fame father Howie Long with the Raiders. Glenn would be a great replacement for the retired Warren Sapp and a cornerstone defender. McFadden brings the star factor that Al Davis likes, but the Raiders have a deep backfield and not a high need area.
Alternate Pick: * Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas

5. Kansas City - * Vernon Gholston - DE - Ohio St.
The Chiefs are in limbo at this spot. They probably will not have a chance at Matt Ryan with this pick, the prospect they like the most. The second best offensive tackle does not merit this spot in the top 5 picks. They also must replace DE Jared Allen who was traded for another #1 pick of the Vikings. They will consider DE Vernon Gholston and Derrick Harvey if they retain this selection. They also like offensive linemen Ryan Clady and Branden Albert here and have both high on their list.
Alternate Pick: Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College

6. New York Jets - * Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas
The Jets have a few prospects earmarked here. They would love to land QB Matt Ryan, runner Darren McFadden or LB Vernon Gholston at this spot. McFadden would give them the big play weapon they need on this offense. Gholston would be a perfect compliment to FA addition Calvin Pace for their 3-4 scheme.
Alternate Pick: * Vernon Gholston - LB - Ohio St.

7. New Eng (San Fran) - Keith Rivers - LB - Southern Cal
The Patriots have a few key needs that must be addressed mainly in the secondary and at linebacker. They will consider Keith Rivers or Jerod Mayo if Vernon Gholston is off the board at this selection. They will most likely have their choice of any cornerback like McKelvin or Rodgers-Cromartie and either would be great additions for their changing secondary.
Alternate Pick: Leodis McKelvin - CB - Troy University

NFL Announces 32 Compensatory Picks for 15 teams
A total of 32 compensatory choices in the 2008 NFL Draft have been awarded to 15 teams, the NFL announced. Under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. The 32 compensatory choices announced today will supplement the 220 choices in the seven rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft (April 26-27). This year, the compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.
Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.

2008 NFL Combine Watch List
The 2008 NFL Scouting Combine opens in Indianapolis tomorrow with more than 300 prospects scheduled to work out for pro scouts and font-office personnel in the RCA Dome. The Combine opens Thursday and runs through Tuesday, Feb. 26. The Combine is one of the critical final phases of the player evaluation process.

Photo - TE John Carlson - Notre Dame

Here are some players to watch with explanations why the NFL Combine is so critical to their professional futures:

RB Ray Rice, 5-9, 200, Rutgers
This strong and compact tailback left after his junior season. He must show that he can run a sub-4.5 time in the 40-yard dash. Rice is a chiseled athlete with natural running skills. A good time in the 40 will solidify an early selection in the draft.

RB Felix Jones, 5-11, 200, Arkansas
Jones is an explosive junior tailback and return man. He has the speed and athleticism to light it up this weekend. He could outperform his highly acclaimed college teammate, tailback Darren McFadden. If he does outperform McFadden, they could both be first-round selections in April.

TE John Carlson, 6-5, 255, Notre Dame
This athletic senior tight end hopes to impress in workouts after missing Senior Bowl week due to illness. He has recovered most of the weight he lost when he was sick. Now, Carlson needs to show he is ready to perform his positional drills.

Draft Insiders - All-Rookie Team

Offensive Player of the Year
Adrian Peterson - RB - Minnesota Vikings

Defensive Player of the Year
Patrick Willis - LB - San Francisco 49ers

Offense
Quarterbacks
Trent Edwards - Bills
Troy Smith - Ravens

Running Backs
Adrian Peterson - Vikings
Marshawn Lynch - Bills
Ahmad Bradshaw - Giants
Selvyn Young - Broncos

Underclassmen Group Improves Class of Pro Prospects for the NFL Draft ‘08

Photo - DE Calais Campbell - Miami

Underclassmen have made a huge impact on the NFL Draft over the past two decades and this year they will once again have a strong presence in the player process especially in the early rounds. Over 50 underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft ’08 by the Jan 15th deadline. They will then have three additional days to rescind their decision and regain their college eligibility. Over recent years, the NFL Draft added anywhere from 30 to 50 additional pro prospects from the underclassmen ranks. The NFL has provided an experienced advisory committee that evaluates an underclassmen for the draft process and helps a collegian make the decision. The Advisory Board gives a player an approximate placement in the draft that is based on evaluation by NFL scouts, though it is only their subjective opinion. The Advisory committee has advised over 75 players this year since early December ’07 to assist college players. Players must be three years removed from high school to be eligible to the NFL Draft. Third year sophomores are eligible to declare for the pros but true sophomores are ineligible as a result of an NFL rule that a court decision upheld a few years ago that denied Ohio St’s running back Maurice Clarett of Ohio St. from entering the NFL Draft ‘04.

For Complete & Detailed Underclassmen Report – Jan. Newsletter – this week

Highly Rated Underclassmen who entered NFL Draft ‘08

RB Darren McFadden - Arkansas
Super blue chip feature back is probably the best player in the NFL Draft ’08 with the complete package to be a top pro feature back. He has a strong chance to be an immediate impact performer in the NFL in the right setting.

Draft Insiders.com 2008 Pro Bowl Team
Patriots’ QB Tom Brady - MVP Award

NFL Awards
MVP Award - Tom Brady - QB - Patriots
Defensive Player of the Year - Bob Sanders - S - Colts
Rookie of the Year - Adrian Peterson - RB - Vikings
Comeback Player of the Year - Ben Roethlisberger - QB - Steelers

Draft Insiders.com ‘08 Pro Bowl Team
Pro Bowl Game - Sunday, February 10 in Honolulu
x - Rookie y - injured and replaced
Projected starters listed first

NFC Team
Offense

Quarterbacks
Brett Favre, Green Bay
Tony Romo, Dallas
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle

DraftInsiders.com 2007 All-American Team

Offense
Pos - Player - Class - School

QB: Tim Tebow - Soph. - Florida
RB: Darren McFadden - Jr. - Arkansas
RB: Kevin Smith - Jr. - Central Florida
FB: Jacob Hester - Sr. - LSU
WR: Michael Crabtree - Fr. - Texas Tech
WR: Malcolm Kelly - Jr. - Oklahoma
WR: James Hardy - Jr. - Indiana
TE: Fred Davis - Sr. - Southern Cal
OL: Jake Long - Sr. - Michigan
OL: Ryan Clady - Jr. - Boise St.
OL: Gosder Cherilus - Sr. - Boston College
OL: Steve Justice - Sr. - Wake Forest
OL: Alex Mack - Jr. - Cal
PR: Kevin Robinson - Sr. - Utah St.

2007-08 College Bowl Season

Matchups and Schedule
Date - Time ET) - Bowl - Site - Conferences - Matchup

Dec. 20 - 9 p.m. - Poinsettia - San Diego - Mountain West vs. At-large - Utah vs. Navy
Dec. 21 - 8 p.m. - New Orleans - New Orleans - Sun Belt vs. Conf USA - Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis
Dec. 22 - 1 p.m. - Papajohns.com - Birmingham, Al. - Big East vs. Conf USA - Cincinnati vs. Southern Miss
Dec. 22 - 4:30 p.m. - New Mexico - Albuquerque, N.M. - Mountain West vs. WAC - New Mexico vs. Nevada
Dec. 22 - 8 p.m. - Las Vegas - Las Vegas - Mountain West vs. Pac-10 - Brigham Young vs. UCLA