Here is my running commentary of the first round. I will blog as far into the first round as my time allows.
1) Miami Dolphins- OL, Jake Long, Virginia, 6'7", 335 lbs. Long is a stud Left Tackle that the Dolphins can build around. We have known about this pick since Tuesday. This is a classic Bill Parcells pick. This should shore up the offensive line immediately. A bunch of teams were hoping Long would slip a bit. This is a great pick for the Dolphins. Boomer called him the Pancake Blocker.
2) St. Louis Rams- DE, Chris Long, Virginia, 6'4", 266 lbs. Long , the son of the great Howie Long, is a QB sacking machine. He has a motor that will not quit. He brings enthusiasm to the field even during practice. The Rams had a hard time getting to the opposing QBs last year. Long will start right away and should continue to be a sacking machine for St. Louis.
3) Atlanta Falcons- QB Matt Ryan, Boston College 6’5”, 224 lbs. He is a very accurate passer that has a bunch of intangibles. More importantly, he is the new face of the Falcons. This is important since Michael Vick was the previous face. Many feel that he is the only franchise QB in this year’s draft and next year’s draft.
4) Oakland Raiders- RB Darrin McFadden, Arkansas, 6’2”, 210 lbs. McFadden has homerun hitting speed. Al Davis loves fast guys. McFadden’s explosiveness should be a good compliment to the other running backs for the Raiders, who lacked speed at Running back last year. There are questions if he can be an every down player or if he will do better with 15 carries a game.
5) Kansas City Chiefs- DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU, 6’1.5”, 313 lbs. Many people feel that Dorsey is the best player in the draft including Mel Kiper. He will shore up the run defense for the Chiefs. This is a bit of a surprise pick just because they need pass rushers and Offensive lineman. It appears that Dorsey was too good to pass on. This should be a great pick at number five but it does not address their key needs. They do have a bunch of picks to address those needs.
6) New York Jets- DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State, 6‘3”, 260 lbs. He is an intense pass rusher that will be converted to an OLB in the 3-4. He had great stats but appears to take downs off. He did not play football until his sophomore year of high school. He should be a great addition to the Jets.
7) New England Patriots- traded to the New Orleans Saints: The Saints trade 1st and 3rd for the Patriots’ 1st and 5th picks.
7) New Orleans Saints – DT Sedrick Ellis, USC, 6’1”, 307 lbs. He is a force in the middle. He is an impact defensive tackle. He is the man that the Saints wanted badly to stop the run. Ellis was clearly the second best DT in the draft just slightly behind Dorsey.
8) Baltimore Ravens- traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags traded their 1st, and two 3rds, and 4th round picks for the Raven’s 1st round pick.
8) Jacksonville Jaguars- DE Derrick Harvey, Florida, 6’4”, 260 lbs. Harvey is clearly the next best DE on the board. The Jags really liked him and need a DE. This may be a bit of a reach but the Jags feel that he is worth it. The Jags used to have a dominating Defense and are hopeful that Harvey can help them get back to it.
9) Cincinnati Bengals- ILB Keith Rivers, USC, 6’3”, 237 lbs. This is a solid pick for the Bengals with solid character. He is the best true linebacker on the board. He will play well in their defense. He will not be a problem in that previously volatile (may be again is Ocho Cino plays) locker room.
10) New Orleans Saints- traded to New England Patriots: (see above)
10) New England Patriots- ILB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee, 6’2”, 235 lbs. He is another solid linebacker. The Patriots should be very happy to get younger at the LB position. Mayo should come in and produce for them right away. They get a good player and get more picks by trading back.
11) Buffalo Bills- CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy, 5’10.5”, 186 lbs. This is a bit of a surprise pick because I thought they would go WR. That said, this pick makes since for their needs. McKelvin has been list as the top CB by many of the experts. Many felt he would go in the top ten.
12) Denver Broncos- OT Ryan Clady, Boise State, 6’6”, 320 lbs. He should help the Broncos immediately at LT. Clady did not play against the most challenging of defenses in college but he should still transition nicely to the NFL. Many experts also believed he would go earlier than 12.
13) Carolina Panthers- RB Johnathan Stewart, 5’11”, 230 lbs. This is a surprise pick for the Panthers. I really thought they would look at their offensive line or even add a defensive player. Stewart will give the Panthers a tandem like most teams are going to. I really thought Mendenhall would go before Stewart. Very interesting pick.
14) Chicago Bears- OT Chris Williams, Vanderbuilt, 6’6”, 317 lbs. He will help this line that crumbled last year. This is a great pick for the Bears. They could have traded it for multiple picks but they did get a top level offensive lineman.
15) Detroit Lions- Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs trade their 1st, 3rd, and 5th picks for the Lions 1st and 3rd picks.
15) Kansas City Chiefs- OT/OG Brandon Albert, 6’6.5”, 320 lbs. Albert was potentially the Chiefs pick at five until Dorsey fell to them. For them to go out and get him at 15 is a steal. Albert should have been taken earlier. This is a true steal for the Chiefs. They now have their LT for this season and the future.
16) Arizona Cardinals- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn State, 6’1.5”, 183 lbs. He is a potentially stud CB which has been a hot commodity of late. He fell a little lower than expected earlier in the week. He is not from a big time program but has shown himself well in the Senior Bowl. The Cardinals could have gone in several directions including RB. It is a good pick but it is not what I thought the Cardinals would do.
17) Kansas City Chiefs (from MIN)- traded to the Detroit Lions:
17) Detroit Lions- RT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College, 6’6.5”, 313 lbs. He is more of a RT and not a LT but should immediately help this porous line. It is a bit of reach pick since Cherilus was predicted to go in the last first or early second round.
18) Houston Texans- Traded to the Baltimore Ravens:
18) Baltimore Ravens- QB Joe Flacco, Delaware, 6’6”, 237 lbs. Mel stated that he has the strongest arm of any QB in this draft but is still able to move around in the pocket. It is said that he is a quick learner. This is the pick that the Ravens wanted. They traded down and then moved back up to ensure they would have their man.
19) Philadelphia Eagles- Traded to Carolina Panthers: The Panthers give the Eagles their 2nd and 4th from this year and next year’s 1st pick for the Eagles’ 1st round pick.
19) Carolina Panthers- OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburg, 6’6.5”, 341 lbs. He is a big boy that will help their running game. Boomer refers to him as a “mauler”. He is the last top level offensive lineman. He did not play football early in High school. He is still developing some of his skills but is quickly learning how to dominate on the O’ Line.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- CB Aqib Talib, Kansas, 6’1”, 195 lbs. Talib is a very talented CB that fell because of behavioral concerns and drug use. He is a great pick talent wise for the Bucs. We will have to see how his behavioral issues are in the NFL.
21) Washington Redskins- Traded to the Atlanta Falcons:
21) Atlanta Falcons: OT Sam Baker, USC, 6’5”, 314 lbs. The Falcons do need to address their offensive line. Baker is a bit of a reach at this point but the Falcons felt that he would not be there at the beginning of the second round. They need to protect QB Ryan that they just drafted. It is an interesting pick.
22) Dallas Cowboys (from CLE)- RB Felix Jones, Arkansas, 6’0”, 207 lbs. Okay, time for this Cowboy fan to rant about this pick. With the board falling well for the Cowboys where they could get either CB Jenkins or any WR at this spot, they reach to get Jones. Jones would have been there at 28 or maybe they could have traded up for him in the second round. RB was a need position for the Cowboys but CB is a greater one. Why not wait or consider Mendenhall if you are going RB at this position. I am sure that Jones will be a great edition to the Cowboys and will give them the speed they need as a change of pace back.
23) Pittsburgh Steelers- RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, 5’10.5”, 215 lbs. This is picking the best player on the board. This will give the Steelers the 2 back system with Mendenhall being more of a between the tackles runner. This is a good pick.
24) Tennessee Titans- RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina, 5’10”, 201 lbs. This team needs WRs but they went and picked a fast RB. He is the fastest player in the draft. This is a reach pick and did not meet the needs of Vince Young. They will now have a thunder and lightning running combination of Johnson and White.
25) Seattle Seahawks- traded to the Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys trade their 1st (28) 5th, and 7th round picks for the Seahawks 1st.
25) Dallas Cowboys- CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida, 5’11”, 200 lbs. As a Cowboys fan, I screamed in joy with this pick. I wished they would have done pick in the other order but they did get Mike Jenkins at CB. This will help shore up that secondary that struggled in the regular season and was smoked in the playoffs by the Giants. This should instantly help the Cowboys. Henry should be playing safety on passing downs instead of Roy Williams.
26) Jacksonville Jaguars- traded to the Baltimore Ravens and then traded to the Houston Texans: See above trades
26) Houston Texans- OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech, 6’4.5”, 302 lbs. Houston has needed a LT for a long time. This is about the right time for Brown to come out. This should have out the Texans who have struggled on the O’ Line.
27) San Diego Chargers- CB Antoine Cason, 6’0”, 191 lbs. This is a good pick for the Chargers. They can definitely use the help in the secondary. Cason was not the next best CB on my board but it is not really a stretch pick.
28) Dallas Cowboys- traded to the Seattle Seahawks: (see above)
28) Seattle Seahawks- DE Lawrence Jackson, USC, 6’5”, 270 lbs. I thought they would go and get either D.E. Merling, DT Balmer, or TE Davis or Keller. Jackson is a good De but I think Merling is better. I think Balmer would have been a much better pick.
29) San Francisco 49ers (from IND)- DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina, 6’4”. 295 lbs. This is a good defensive pick but this team does need some offensive help. He will help immediately in the 3-4 defense.
30) Green Bay Packers- traded to the New York Jets: Jets trade their 2nd and 4th pick for the Packers’ 1st pick.
30) New York Jets- TE Dustin Keller, 6’2”, 251 lbs. Keller is a great receiving TE. He is a former WR. He should help this team by catching the ball over the middle. He can play like a WR but is still a big boy. He is not much of a blocker at this time.
31) New York Giants- Safety Kenny Phillips, 6’2”, 210 lbs. Kenny is the best safety on the board. This is a great pick for Giants. Phillips should develop into a top safety in the NFL.
The Counselor is OUT:
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