NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Round 1

With Free Agency starting in a week, I thought I’d break down the first three rounds of the draft. Team needs, best available athlete and possible connection of NFL teams to college programs where all taken into consideration. Please post your thoughts or email me directly at Patrick@footballdialogue.com

1. Miami Dolphins: Chris Long DE Virginia....Hard working player who played for a former Parcells associate, Al Groh, and has a Hall of Fame Dad in Howie Long. All of that adds up to a Bill Parcells type player.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jake Long OT Michigan…No team got decimated more with offensive line injuries than the Rams last year and its obvious Orlando Pace can’t play forever. Long will be the future leader of this group and should have a Pro Bowl career.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan QB Boston College..Time to turn the page for this franchise and get a new identity. Ryan may not start from Day 1 but is the type of guy to lead this team back to respectability. (Granted some questionable hires so far haven’t instilled great confidence so far).

4. Oakland Raiders: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU …The perfect replacement for Warren Sapp. Dorsey gives them the player to build their defense around as they continue to try to become respectable again. (They may want to get a new owner too).

5. Kansas City: Ryan Clady OT Boise State …Chiefs needed to upgrade talent on the offensive line if they hope to get any kind of return on the Larry Johnson extension. Clady should be an instant starter.

6. NY Jets: Sedrick Ellis DT USC ..Mangini continues to tinker with the defense and needs a disruptive force up the middle for teams to think twice about trying to pound the ball down their throats. Ellis should create that force for them having started on a great USC defense and become a perennial Pro Bowler for many years for the Jets.

7. New England Patriots: Mike Jenkins CB South Florida …With Samuel and Gay free agents and no LBs warranting this pick, it makes it very easy for Bill to add this young talent to the secondary. Jenkins should be a starter no later than mid-season.

8. Baltimore Ravens: Brian Brohm QB Louisville …Need to give up on the Steve McNair and Kyle Boller years and start to groom someone to become a real QB for this team. Brohm is a smart QB who can make all the throws.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State …Cincinnati knows they need to bring the heat and Gholston has only started to scratch his potential. Should be a great student for Marvin Lewis (hopefully Lewis will be in Cincinnati for more than the 2008 season).

10. New Orleans Saints: Leodis McKelvin CB Troy …Saints need to improve secondary and McKelvin is the next great thing coming from the University of Troy (see DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora). McKelvin played well at the Senior Bowl and excels in special teams too.

11. Buffalo Bills: Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma….The perfect fit for the Bills. Kelly is that big target they desperately need to balance out Parrish, Reed, and Evans. Should have a huge impact on the offense early this season.

12. Denver Broncos: Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt…Broncos need to upgrade the offensive line to give Jay Cutler a fighting chance and adding Williams to the line will improve both the passing and running game.

13. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Harvey DE Florida…With Mike Rucker's career winding down (at least in Carolina) and Julius Peppers a major question mark, the Panthers can add a guy like Harvey to start and rebuild the defense around for the future.

14. Chicago Bears: Darren McFadden RB Arkansas If Dmac starts to slide this far a certain owner in TX may be burning up the phones. Assuming they stay here the Bears can add two-time Heisman runner up to the offense and move Cedric Benson back to the role as #2 tailback.

15. Detroit Lions: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State.. With the constant quest in the NFL for shut down corners the Lions would be wise to snatch up one of the hottest players this off-season. DRC performed well at the Senior Bowl and looks poised to jump into the first round.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon…...Suddenly Edgerrin James has been looking for old and JJ Arrington hasn't distinguished himself enough to be trusted. Stewart played in the spread offense at Oregon and can certainly be a dual threat and great addition to the offense.

17. Minnesota Vikings: DeSean Jackson WR California…Explosive player who will give them an outside threat for their offense and go great with ROY Adrian Peterson.

18. Houston Texans: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois…Need a #1 HR threat behind Schaub and since Ahman Green couldn’t stay healthy, landing Rashard at this spot is a steal and should help the offense significantly.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh…Philly is a hard team to predict but with the tackles getting older, adding a bodyguard for McNabb and Westbrook would be a nice addition.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Hardy WR Indiana…Checkered past might scare some teams but not Gruden. Hardy is a freak of talent and will bring an added dimension to the offense.

21. Washington Redskins: Calais Campbell DE Miami (Fla.) …Skins will be looking for a big wideout but a talent like Campbell is hard to pass up. Will alter passing game without even getting near the QB because of his long arms. He’s a basketball player playing football.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones RB Arkansas…Jerry gets to make this call and jumps to add another Arkansas player to the roster. Perfect #2 to go with Barber and can help with the struggling special teams.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Anthony Collins OT Kansas..Steelers offensive line needs some new talent with Fancea and Starks likely leaving. Collins showed what he could do this season as he helped Kansas have their best season in several decades.

24. Tennessee Titans: Early Doucet WR LSU…..To fairly grade Vince Young you need to give him some real weapons and Doucet is the kind of guy that will be making the phrase “Vince Young has really stepped this season improving his accuracy” heard throughout network sports TV.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Sam Baker OT USC…The running game has struggled and the Seahawks need to improve the talent in front of the backs as much as they need a new back. Baker is a West Coast guy who got outstanding coaching college and contrary to some “experts” I think will be a starter early on.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Phillip Merling DE Clemson..Still need consistent pressure for the end and Merling is under the radar a little and should make an early appearance in the starting line up in Jacksonville.

27. San Diego Chargers: Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina…SD could really go a lot of way with this pick but getting a guy like Balmer to rotate with the rest of the line will make running against SD that much tougher. (Remember NC coach Butch Davis and Norv Turner where on the Cowboys staff together).

28. Dallas Cowboys: Antoine Cason CB Arizona…Terrance Newman will be a free agent next year and Dallas is losing any depth behind him this off-season. Cason is a special talent who should make an immediate impact on the defense and special teams.

29. San Francisco 49’ers: Andre Caldwell WR Florida…Mike Martz needs wide receivers and Caldwell showed what he’s about at the Senior Bowl. Would be a steal at this point and a candidate for Rookie of the Year.

30. Green Bay Packers: Kenny Phillips FS Miami (Fla.)…GB needs to improve the secondary especially safety position and Phillips has show all characteristics to be a great QB for the defense.

31. NY Giants: Keith Rivers OLB USC…With Mitchell and Torbor free agents the G-Men will need to add some talent to the LB core. Rivers is a boom or bust player that the Giants can roll the dice with and if he plays close to his potential may be the steal of the first round.