So the time for mock drafts has come and gone. Rip’em up. Jake Long did indeed get picked by the Dolphins.

Kudos to Don Banks for giving the Rams Chris Long, the 272 lb DE from Virginia. Several folks who had him going first to Miami made the quick switch. But some had Glenn Dorsey headed to St. Louis. Long is a great player and made 79 tackles last year.

At #3 the Atlanta Falcons decided to put Michael Vick behind them and take a gamble that QB Matt Ryan (6’ 4 ¾, 228 lbs.) is the man to lead them back to respectability. Prisco and Judge over at CBS Sportsline had the pick right.

Jets fans were clearly bummed to watch the explosive Arkansas RB Darren McFadden end up going #4 to the Oakland Raiders, desperately hoping he’d slip to #6. Runner-up to the Heisman, McFadden is a bit more than 6’ 1” and 211.

The Chiefs were glad to get Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU at #5, possibly hoping which his impressive mix of power and agility he can stop a Darren McFadden run.

The New York crowd which spent much of the 10 minutes before their chanting Ver-non Gholston got their wishes. The 6’ 3” 266 lb DE from Ohio State has also played LB.

The question for the Patriots was with the loss of Samuel, Wilson would they go for defense. There was also the possibility the Patriots were looking to trade down. When it came their turn, they dealt the pick plus a 5th round pick to the New Orleans Saints who took Sedrick Ellis, the DT from USC. In return they pick #10 and gain a 3rd round pick.

The Ravens caught the trade fever and gave their #8 pick to Jacksonville who jumped up from 26 to snag Derrick Harvey the 6’4” DE from Florida hoping to juice up their pass rush. It was an expensive gamble for the Jaguars who gave up 2 3rd round picks and a 4th round pick.

Keith Rivers, the durable and reliable OLB from USC went #9 to the Bengals. The Patriots at #10 took Jerod Mayo the ILB from Tennessee. Those of you who can still think back to some of the mock drafts, might remember Bob Glauber of Newsday thinking that Mayo could have slipped down to #31 to the Giants. One of the great things about Mayo is that he is extremely versatile and can play several positions.

Well let’s jump ahead to the Redskins. Mock-drafters had a host of ideas about who would be available by at #21 and who the Skins would take. Well the Skins pulled off a trade with the Falcons who took Sam Baker, the OT from USC. That didn’t work out all that well for the mock-drafters.

The Music Hall was jumping when it was announced that the Packers had traded the 30th pick to the Jets and New Yorkers were picking back-to-back. The Jets took tight end Dustin Keller from Purdue.

So what about the Super Bowl champs at #31. They did what many mock-drafters thought they did – they went to replace Gibril Wilson with Kenny Phillips, the safety from Miami. He’s 6’2” and 212.

Check your local paper and fill in the gaps.

For all the fun and the speculation of mock-drafts, there’s nothing like the unpredictability of trades and the gambling that is the real deal. Next time, we’ll do some analysis of how the teams did. At least, how they did on paper.

Because don’t forget, a few weeks into last season people were saying that Eli Manning was an over-rated bust and the Giants gave up much too much to draft him. Sometimes it just takes some time to fully learn the pro game and become the kind of player the scouts predicted.

Who is this year’s Eli Manning?

Haven’t you been checking the mock drafts, hoping to figure out who’s picking the players you’ve watched in college. Trying to get some inside dope on what your favorite team is thinking. Who they’re hoping to get?

Let’s take a short look at the mock drafts. And let’s check back after the picking is done and see who got it right and who fumbled.

First off, let’s make it a bit easier this year. Everybody gets two picks right. The Dolphins go with Jake Long, the tackle from Michigan. And crafty mock-drafters know that the Patriot get zip with pick #31, forfeiting the pick for that sneaky thing they did with video.

Now here’s where when the going gets tough, the tough get going.


For #2, Don Banks over at SI.com has Chris Long, DE from Virginia going to the Rams, figuring him to make their pass rush better on the outside, and passing on Glenn Dorsey. Bob Glauber, Newsday.com, acknowledging that Chris Long is possibility, goes with the DT from LSU arguing that Dorsey‘s “superb inside force can help a Rams’ defense that has been brutal against the run for years.”

For a long time I have had Darren McFadden here, but after looking at the Raiders depth chart, it would be hard to imagine the Raiders invest in another running back, even if the owner is Al Davis. Rumor has it that Al Davis is a big fan of Gholston, and Gholston would be the ideal pass rusher opposite Derrick Burgess.

Alder at about.com puts it this way: “rumor has it the Raiders are in love with Gholston, who would give the Raiders a pair of legitimate pass rushers when paired with Derrick Burgess.”


Now let’s took a look at mad world of mockdrafting by concentrating on a single pick and the large variety of choices. The Washington Redskins, one of the great NFL franchises, picks at #21. Of course, by #21 all kinds of wacky things have happened, and teams have a variety of backup plans. The mockdrafters, not surprisingly are all over the place with DEs, a DT, some WRs and a CB.
Newnfldraft is going with WR Limas Sweed.


Sports New SW has a different WR, James Hardy. The War Room Report thinks it will be DE Philip Merling, while Draft Tek has another DE, Phillip Merling. How about DT Kentwan Balmer, according to Draft Prospects? Confusing enough for you? Hang on a bit! Several drafters have the Skins taking DE Derrick Harvey, then add a batch of other WRs: Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, and DeSean Jackson.


One last look at the game. What about the Super Bowl Champs who lost Gibril Wilson, Reggie Torbor and Kawika Mitchell to free agency? What do the champs do with the last pick of the first round according to the pundits?


Glauber imagines Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee still on the board with the G-men gratefully scooping him up. Nfldraftcountdown gives the Giants Kenny Phillips, the safety from Miami, noting “Kenny Phillips did not have the type of big junior year most were expecting but he is still an excellent prospect with all the tools you look for.” Walterfootball also thinks Phillips will end up in the Meadowlands as does Michael Abromowitz. Calling Phillips “the next in a great line of safeties from Miami.”


James Alder has his own idea about what the Giants will be doing. He says it’s Keith Rivers, OLB USC who can be “an upgrade in talent and add some much-needed athleticism to the linebacking unit.”
And then just in case you think you’ve got it figured out, draftking weighs in with Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College:

The Giants have a few needs, such as defensive tackle and OLB, but offensive tackle is a spot that, if not a need, could use depth added to it. While not particularly strong against speed rushers, Cherilus is a smart, strong player who is especially skilled at run blocking.

At CBS Sportsline, Prisco has NY taking Jerod Mayo, the ILB from Tennessee; while Judge goes with Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas.


I don’t know about you, but I’m completely confused.


It’s time to put the mock drafts down and get ready for the real thing.