Guns' 2008 NFL Mock Draft Round 1.

[A Gunslinger]

Here it is: Anyone care to join me? I'll add comments where warranted.

1. MIA: Chris Long, DE, Virginia. A gimmie.

2. STL: Jake Long, OT, Michigan: Orlando Pace is gettin' up there, and Steve Jackson NEEDS a good tackle to run through. Long is the best avaialble. It is a rare case where best player on the board also meets needs.

3. ATL: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. I could see ATL trading out of this pick given that if they have their eye on Brohm or Ryan, they do not have to take either here. If no trade is made, they may well roll the dice and hope that MIA doesn't take a QB...which I think might be a good angle...but more later. If they don't trade: Dorsey is a game changer. He is a beast in the middle of the line, he plays well against the run and pass. He is a great player to build a DF around.

4: OAK: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas Al Davis won't be bale to help himself.

5: KC: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State I am not buying the notion that KC is givng on Croyle, and really is Ryan worht a #5? Gholston
is a great defensive end prospect.

6. NYJ: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State: Rodgers-Cromartie has shot up draft boards with his amazing speed and raw ability. He needs to work on his ball skills, but that was the same knock on his cousin who now plays for SD.

7. NE: Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Rivers is the complete linebacker package. He was a top linebacking prospect entering college and has received top-notch coaching while at USC. He has good speed and is a tackling machine. Bruschi is OLD. I don't rule out a trade out of this spot either.

8. BAL: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC. Matt Ryan is a distinct possibility here as well.

9. CIN: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma: Kelly has the size and speed combination that makes NFL teams drool. At 6'4 and runs an unofficial 4.5 second forty yard dash. Kelly has good body control for a player his size. He has good hands as well and does a good job of catching the ball with his hands.

10. NO: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas: Talib was the defensive leader on the surprise team of the year for the Kansas Jayhawks. He might be the best corner available.

11. BUF: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy State: McKelvin is a physical corner with amazing recovery speed, and could dominate the AFC East (Randy Moss needs a babysitte, no?) If McKelvin had gone to a school with national exposure he would likely be a name teams in the top five considered.

12. DEN: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Clady is a big, mean offensive tackle. Clady has been a three year starter for Boise State which is a consistent rushing team. Clady will likely step in and start.

13. CAR: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College Ryan is a pocket passer with good arm strength and great accuracy. He has good footwork and had good production with sub-par receivers around him. At just under 6'5 he has good size to be able to see over the line in the NFL.

14. CHI: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC: Ellis is an impressive physical specimen. He is an absolute beast and has proven to be unblockable all year. Ellis has the frame to easily add bulk without losing speed or quickness. He is slightly undersized to play the nose tackle position in the NFL, but could easily add bulk and do so.

15. DET: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

16. ARI: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida. Jenkins is an ideal cover corner with very good speed. He had a great year on a South Florida team that came from no where, and was led by its defense. Jenkins has great size at 200 pounds and speed running a 4.4 forty yard dash.

17. MIN: Jeffrey Otah, T, Pittsburg. Otah is a beast of a man at 6'6 and 340 pounds. He is surprisingly agile for his size. As one might expect Otah is a good pass blocker and excels in the running game. Otah needs to improve his footwork a little bit, but will likely do so with NFL coaching. Birk isn't coming back, and help on the line will be a need.

18. Houston: MIN: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson.Best Player on the board.

19. PHI: Branden Albert, OT/G, Virginia Albert is a versatile offensive line prospect who has been sky rocketing up draft boards. I

20. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas. Caddilac is a candybone.

21. WAS: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami

22. DAL: Desean Jackson, WR, Cal. Glenn is done, Crayton is OK, and TO...is well, TO. Jackson has more speed that that twitchy kid you knew in High School.

23. PIT: Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College. Cherilus is a massive offensive tackle prospect.

24. TEN: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. Sweed is a huge playmaking wide receiving. At a staggering 6'5 and 220 pounds he creates an immediate miss-match with nearly every corner in the league. Vince Young would love to reunite with his former Longhorn teammate.

25. SEA: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina. After the signing of T.J. Sea needs a run stuffer up front.

26. JAX: Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn
Groves is a pass rushing specialist. He struggles against the run, but he is the type of edge pass rusher that NFL teams covet.

27. SD: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
Phillips has an amazing combination of size and speed. Phillips has been timed at a sub 4.5 second forty yard dash which will make him among the leagues elite coverage safeties. Best player on the board.

DAL: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State . There is a chance that they might package this pick and their first pick to move up and take an elite CB, but I think not. Connor is agreat LB, and the 'boys could do worse here.

SF: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State. The 49ers need a WR and Thomas is the real deal.

GB: Brian Brohm, QB Louisville. This is where it gets weird I think. This pick, unless the Pack goes with Brandon Flowers, CB or Chris Williams T, Vandy...would represent Ted Thompson's philosphy of taking the best player available regardless of position. It wouldn't be an indictment on Rodgers, but instead would provide security down the road.

NE: Cheaters.

NYG: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona. Need meets best player.

Round 2 will feature more RBs and TE's...but as of right now, I just don't see alot of talent emerging in round #1 in those skill spots.

Am I daft?

[danlo]

So you don't expect McFadden to go till round 2???!!!

[A Gunslinger]

So you don't expect McFadden to go till round 2???!!!

I have him going #4 to Oakland...take a look, silly! I'll edit to bold!

[danlo]

Sorry I'm blind!

[A Gunslinger]

Sorry I'm blind!

But what do you think about the Mock? I can't imagine that Parcells would not want to have Long to anchor that DF, put people in the stands...all of it. In round #2, I'll bet that Parcells trades down, getting another 3rd rounder, and STILL get's either Flacco or Henne in round #2.

[danlo]

Many people agree with you about Long and Miami. I've heard a lot of rumors that Jerry Jones is going to try very hard to draft up to get McFadden and that, possibly, that was a reason why Julius Jones was let go.

[A Gunslinger]

Dallas might have the picks to do it with, but I cannot imagine Oakland givng up the pick unless Jones essentially rapes himself. Probably not gonna happen.

[Mr. Broken]

Unfortunately as a Browns fan I can have no part in this conversation, other than to say Gholston is a monster, and KC would be lucky to have him.