MVN: Most Valuable Network

We continue making a mockery of the draft process here at Thoughts from the Dark Side with a brand new mock from another reader. I am appreciative of all the support I have gotten from all our readers with this mock draft project. Today's edition has some changes at the top from our first few. Check it out and see where Jake Long, Chris Long, Vernon Gholston and all go.

One Round Mock, No Trades

by Patrick Tobar

Special to Thoughts from the Dark Side 

1) Miami Dolphins select Jake Long (MICHIGAN) - Well for the past few moths I’ve heard the Dolphins will pick Chris Long, I doubt it. He lacks the speed that Bill Parcell’s likes his outside linebackers to have. So I doubt Chris Long will be the pick. Jake has the advantage because people will see what Joe Thomas did for the Browns last year.

2) St. Louis Rams select Vernon Gholston ( Ohio State ) - The Rams want Jake Long to fall to them but I doubt he will. So now they have to pick between Chris long, Vernon Gholston, or Glenn Dorsey. There are rumors that the St. Louis Rams are going to switch to 3-4 defense. That about explains why they’ll pick Vernon Gholston. He looks like Shawn Merriman or DeMarcus Ware clone.

3) Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey (LSU) - Many people think the Falcons will select Matt Ryan, well I don’t think so. I think Arthur Blank wants to select a QB so he can be the face of the franchise ALA Michael Vick, but I think the new head coach Mike Smith and new GM Thomas Dimitoff will convince and explain to him that the best teams can run the ball and stop the run. They acquired Michael Turner in free agency so they addressed the run, now they have to stop the run. Look at what Mike Smith did in Jacksonville Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. No more needs to be said.

4) Oakland Raiders select Chris Long ( Virginia ) – I think this has to be Al Davis dream come true. Can you picture the party they will have in Oakland if Chris Long falls to them? Hell I’m a Raider fan there’s nothing better than dreaming of Chris Long wearing the black & silver. How many jerseys will he sell in the first week if this comes true? This pick will turn out to be the easiest pick Al Davis has ever made. It’s a no brainer, but what a great story first Howie and then Chris Long playing for the Raiders.

5) Kansas City Chiefs select Ryan Clady ( Boise St .) Well the ketchup and mustard have many choices here many people would say take Matt Ryan, but it doesn’t matter who they have at QB if they don’t have the guys in front to protect them. Enough said!

6) New York Jets select Leodis Mckelvin (Troy) – Like the Chiefs people think they might need a QB so that would mean Matt Ryan. But I think Eric Mangini knows that everything starts with defense. And I don’t think Matt Ryan has the arm strength to throw the ball with the wind, rain, and snow in New York . The scouts know that and Mangini knows playing against the Patriots twice a year he’s going to need corners to match up against Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Jabar Gaffney.

7) The New England Patriots select Darren McFadden ( Arkansas ) - Well the Pats won’t select a corner other than Mckelvin with the 7th overall pick so now they’ll trade down or pick the next best talent. Dmac will be a great complement to Laurence Maroney and their passing game. He can come in as a 3rd down back catch the ball out of the backfield.

8) Baltimore Ravens select Matt Ryan ( Boston College ) - Matt Ryan should hope he slips down to the Ravens. He could have a chance to become a starter as early as week one. And he doesn’t have to be a franchise savior ALA JaMarcus Russell. He can just come in and make plays when he can. The Ravens have a solid defense, solid special teams, and a good running game.

9) Cincinnati Bengals select Sedrick Ellis (USC) - Lets face it the Bengal ’s defense is sorry which is an understatement. But Ellis is a good run stuffer and a good pass rusher both problems the Bengal ’s have had for as long as I can remember. But now that their big play guy Chris Henry’s gone, and the contract problems with TJ Houshmanzada and whatever the problems are with Chad Johnson they could also consider a wide receiver. But the defense is too big of a need to pass up.

10) New Orleans Saints select Keith Rivers (USC) - Well the Saints improved their defense a lot this off-season with the addition of Jonathan Vilma, Dan Morgan, Bobby McCray and Randall Gay. But I still think the need another outside linebacker and Rivers is the best one available at pick number 10. The Saints are a little disappointed that Sedrick Ellis didn’t fall to them, because they could really use them.

11) Buffalo Bills select Devin Thomas (Michigan St) - The Bills need another receiver whose name isn’t Lee Evans. And Thomas is use to the bad weather conditions playing at Michigan St . The Bills also need a tight end but I don’t think there’s any worth the 11th pick.

12) Denver Broncos select Brandon Albert (Virginia) - Well Brandon Albert would be a great pick up for the Broncos, he practiced against one of the best if not the best defensive end coming out of college this season Chris Long so you know he’s got what it takes to step right in form day one as a starter, but they should also consider a receiver here because all they really have at receiver is Brandon Marshall and Sammie Parker.

13) Carolina Panthers select Derrick Harvey ( Florida ) - They would like to have a line backer here but there’s none worth the 13th pick so they take Harvey to replace Mike Rucker once he leaves and relive Julius Peppers.

14) Chicago Bears select Jeff Otah (Vanderbilt) - The only reason that McFadden falls this far is because there are no trades included in my mock draft. But I bet Bears fans are jumping up and down of excitement. But the Bears need a QB but they’ll trade back up into the late 1st early 2nd round and take a Chad Hanne or Joe Flacco .

15) Detroit Lions select Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)- A few years ago the Lions picked Ernie Sims to play the outside linebacker position and now in the 1st round again they select another linebacker with speed for Rod Marenellis Tampa 2 style defense. They could also consider Rashard Mendenhall.

16) Arizona Cardinals select Rashard Mendenhall ( Illinois ) - The Cardinals also need corners and they might consider Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie, Mike Jenkins, or Aquib Talib. But their need for a running back over rules the need a corner.

17) Minnesota Vikings select Phillip Merling (Clemson) - The Vikings are clearly one of the best if not the best run stopping team in the league right now but they need help getting to the QB and Merling can be plugged in right away.

18) Houston Texans select Jonathan Stewart ( Oregon )- Well I think its to early to select Stewart but Ahman Green just isn’t getting the job done, another consideration would be Chris Williams tackle out of Vanderbilt but I think they need a running back ASAP.

19) Philadelphia Eagles select DeSean Jackson ( California ) - Jackson biggest upside his that he’s also a good kick and punt returner. And Number 5 in Philly needs some weapons Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown aren’t enough. Jackson can come in and play the slot.

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Limas Sweed (Texas) – We all know Jon Gruden likes big receivers and Sweed is about 6;4 and runs about a 4.6 40.

21) Washington Redskins select Kenny Phillips (Miami Fl) - The Redskins wanted a good receiver and they might consider Malcolm Kelly or Mario Manningham but their not worth the 21st pick. They need a safety to play alongside LaRon Landry and Phillips is a solid tackler and has nice speed. The skins have a good defense but they need another solid safety.

22) Dallas Cowboys select Aqib Talib ( Kansas ) - Well if the Boys trade for Pacman Jones this pick could change, but it’s clear they need a corner across from Terrence Newman because Anthony Henry will probably move to safety. Also Talib could come in and play the nickel right away. Expect the Boy’s to address their wide receiver need early in the 2nd round. Maybe a guy like James Hardy or Early Doucet.

23) Pittsburgh Steelers select Jeff Otah ( Pittsburgh ) - Well the Steelers lost Alan Faneca and Marvel Smith their right tackle has battled some injuries the past few years. They don’t have to go far they’ll bring in a local guy to fill in one of their biggest needs now that all-pro guard is gone. But also don’t be shocked if Brandon Albert slips past the Denver Broncos the Steelers attempt to trade up for him. Also if Limas Sweed is still there at 23 the Steelers might give Roethlisberger what he’s been asking for. A tall physical receiver.

24) Tennessee Titans select Malcolm Kelly ( Oklahoma )- Well the Titans need to help Vince Young. Kelly slips down this far because of his bad 40 times but I think he could be a very good pro. The Titans might also consider a cornerback here but they know they need some one to help Young with his development a QB.

25) Seattle Seahawks select Kentwan Balmer ( North Carolina ) - The Seahawks have a great defense but they have trouble stopping the run. This is a need pick they might also consider a receiver.

26) Jacksonville Jaguars select Calais Campbell (Miami Fl.) Well last year the Jags had trouble putting any pressure on Tom Brady because they were to conservative with defensive coordinator Mike Smith, but now Greg Williams the new coordinator likes to blitz a lot more and get pressure on the QB. So that’s why the Jags will select Campbell . He’s athletic enough and can stand up and play the 3-4 and he can put his hand on the ground and become a solid pass rusher. And the Jags also lost their best pass rusher this off-season Bobby McCray.

27) San Diego Chargers select Gosder Cherilus ( Boston College ) Well the Chargers just lost their nickel corner Drayton Florence to the Jaguars. So you can make a case for Brandon Flowers being the pick, but the Chargers in my opinion are getting the steal of the draft with Cherilus. Also their solid on the left side of the line with Marcus McNeil at the left tackle position but they could use a tackle on the right side of the line.

28) Dallas Cowboys select Felix Jones ( Arkansas )- Now that Julius Jones is gone, they need a another RB to play alongside with Marion Barber. Barber’s best year statiscally came in 2006-07 with Jones as the starter and him coming in the 3rd or 4th quarter and milking the clock. Also consider the Cowboys taking a receiver if there’s someone they like. Or maybe a trade for Chad Johnson and they give the Bengals their 2 1st round picks. I doubt it but it’s a possibility.

29) The San Francisco 49’ers select Dan Connor (Penn St.)- The 49’ers selected Patrick Willis with the 12th pick overall last year. And he became a beast at the middle linebacker position. But now they need some one to play along side Willis. And Connor is ready to relive some pressure off of Willis. Now Willis doesn’t have to be the only playmaker.

30) Green Bay Packers select Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) - The Packers weakness was exposed last year in the NFC championship last year. Al Harris played man to man coverage most of the game against Plaxico Burress, and he was burned most of the game and the same thing happened when they played the Cowboys in one of the most anticipated games during last years regular season. Harris didn’t play very physical against bigger receivers like Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burress. Woodson and Harris aren’t getting any younger.

31) New England Patriots forfeited this pick for being a bunch of cheaters.

32) New York Giants select Mario Mannigham ( Tennessee St .)- Not many people think Manningham will be picked in the 1st round, but with Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer aren’t getting any younger. They can pair up Manningham with Steve Smith for the future. They might also consider James Hardy, but I think Manningham playing in bad weather in Michigan will help him. The Giants were hoping for Kenny Phillips to fall to them but since he didn’t they’re going to take care of their offense.

Patrick Tobar is a regular reader and commenter on Thoughts from the Dark Side. IF you would like to contribute a mock draft or other post to Thoughts from a reader's side email me at mvnraider at yahoo.com.

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