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Here’s my updated mock based on the latest…

1. Miami Dolphins
Chris Long, DE Virginia
--Last Mock: Chris Long, DE Virginia
I’ve said Chris Long all along and nothing has changed my mind. Gholston is still a possibility for sure as Parcells may see his future version of the original LT in him, but I can’t see him ignoring the background of Long. The HC of Virginia, Al Groh, is a very close friend of Parcells and I think that will also sway the decision. Groh can give BP detailed info on Long’s strengths and weaknesses that BP otherwise wouldn’t get about other players. That info can help him develop Long faster. There are just too many signs that point to this selection.

2. St. Louis Rams
Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB Ohio St.
--Last Mock: Sedrick Ellis, DT U.S.C.
As I mentioned in my last mock, the Rams could go in several directions with this pick. After finding out that the Rams top big-wigs had dinner with Jake Long and grilled him for several hours, I'm very tempted to place him in this spot, but due to the depth of offensive tackle talent that will be available in the early second round, I think they’ll go defense. In my last mock, I put Sedrick Ellis here since he could play either DT in the 4-3 defense or the NT in the 3-4. However, at his Pro Day, he slimmed down to less than 300 and although that made him look good in his numbers, teams won’t want to draft him as a NT at that weight. Glenn Dorsey had a great Pro Day and is an option as well, but not many consider him a NT and believe he’s more of a true 4-3 DT and the Rams Jim Haslett is going to try to play more 3-4 until they can convert completely. That’s why I’ve chosen Gholston. He is a freak of an athlete that not only blew everyone away at the combine, but chose to work out at his Pro Day and did even better. I think teams will call to trade up, by the Rams will not be interested.

3. Atlanta Falcons
Glenn Dorsey, DT L.S.U.
--Last Mock: Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
Decisions, decisions, decisions. Just like the Rams can go with several available players, so can the Falcons who have a lot of holes to fill. I had Matt Ryan here and believe he’s still a viable choice, but since the Falcons have three second round picks, I believe they will trade two of those or a second and one of their two thirds to move back into the last first round to grab Brian Brohm or Joe Flacco. The choice for Atlanta comes down to Jake Long and Glenn Dorsey. I thought it would be Jake Long because of Dorsey’s health questions, but those questions have been answered and he’s been given a clean bill of health. Dorsey is considered the best defensive player in this draft and the only reason he falls to #3 is because the first two teams run a 3-4 defense and he isn’t a good fit for them. Atlanta will see the depth at Offensive Tackle in this draft and know they can get a quality guy with one of their second round picks.

4. Oakland Raiders
Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
--Last Mock: Glenn Dorsey, DT L.S.U.
I think the allure of the top offensive weapon in the draft will be too much for Al Davis to pass over and the Raiders will choose McFadden. It is possible they trade down if a team like the Cowboys come calling, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Considering they just resigned Justin Fargas to a new contract, I’d think they’d want a player like Sedrick Ellis to replace Warren Sapp or Jake Long to help protect the huge investment they made in JaMarcus Russell, but in the end, there’s no way a player with McFadden’s production will get past the old, grizzly, sun-spotted hands of Al Davis.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
Jake Long, OT Michigan
--Last Mock: Jake Long, OT Michigan
It is very possible Jake Long is taken before this spot. The latest buzz is that he’ll be taken by Miami at #1 and even if that turns out not to be the case, many mock draft “gurus” have Long being taken by either the Rams or the Falcons. It just goes to show you how important a quality Tackle is to a team. For the reasons I’ve given in the other descriptions, I think KC fans are loving life as they see the player they covet fall right in their laps. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see them take another tackle like Sam Baker in the second round. If Long is not around when the Chiefs go on the clock, I think many people will get a shock and you’ll hear OG Brandon Albert’s name called…more on him later.

6. New York Jets
Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
--Last Mock: Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio St.
To the disappointment of nearly all the Jets fans, Vernon Gholston is not attainable and Darren McFadden is also off the board. I think the Jets may try to trade down at this point, but there may be no takers. If they’re stuck and must make a selection, I think McKelvin is the best choice for them. There has been a lot of talk about Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but information has just been released that states he only has one kidney and that’s hurting his stock significantly. The Jets need a CB to play alongside Revis so they take the CB in the draft that is now the consensus number one.

7. New England Patriots
Brandon Albert, OG/OT Virginia
--Last Mock: Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
I think CB is the Patriots biggest need, but with McKelvin gone and the news about DRC’s healthy concerns, I think they work on an offensive line that was exposed by the NY Giants. Brandon Albert, in my opinion, will turn out to be the best lineman in the entire draft. He’s nearly 6’6” and played a couple games at tackle last year and it’s thought that he can transition there in the pros so he has the versatility that NE loves. Even if he only plays guard, I think he’ll be one of the elite within two to three years. His stock has soared up the boards more than anyone else in the draft.

8. Baltimore Ravens
Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
Last Mock: Phillip Merling, DE Florida
The Ravens have been in search of a franchise QB since they came to Baltimore. They’ve brought in veterans and tried drafting Kyle Boller, but nothing has worked. I think they take another shot at finding a QB in the draft when they see the #1 QB on most boards fall to them at #8. McNair is has lost several gimpy steps, Boller has shown flashes in about 1 to 2 games per season and last year’s fifth round draft pick, Troy Smith, will be an excellent backup in the pros, but probably lacks the size to be much else. Ryan has proven that he knows how to win and may have enough intangibles and talent to be the starter in the early parts of 2008.

9. Cincinnati Bengals
Sedrick Ellis, DT U.S.C.
Last Mock: Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
The Bengals have never been able to solve their defensive struggles and failed to land an impact player in free agency this offseason. They nearly landed Shaun Rogers, but couldn’t get the deal done and watched their division rival Browns snatch him out from under them. So they are ecstatic to see Ellis still on the board. Ellis lit up his Pro Day and was an absolute monster during the Senior Bowl as he tossed around any offensive lineman that opposed him.

10. New Orleans Saints
Keith Rivers, OLB USC
Last Mock: Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
New Orleans grabbed one of the best CBs available in FA this year when they signed Randall Gay to play opposite of McKenzie so they no longer need to use a first rounder on CB. They acquired a DE and LB as well, and traded for LB Jonathan Vilma, but they could still use another impact backer because new acquisition Dan Morgan is very injury prone and Vilma is coming off injury. Rivers is the unquestioned best LB in the draft and will make an immediate upgrade. Adding him to this group will help give the Saints a LBing corp. they haven't had in quite a while.

11. Buffalo Bills
Devin Thomas, WR Michigan St.
Last Mock: Limas Sweed, WR Texas
As you can probably tell by my mocks, I feel like the Bills will take a WR, I am just having trouble figuring out which one they’ll take. I think Thomas is the best fit for their needs. Trent Edwards is a very accurate QB, but has yet to show a huge arm. Therefore, the Bills give him the best run-after-the-catch receiver in the draft. Thomas will also bring size (6’2” and nearly 220lbs) to a very small receiving group. As the Bills have shown in the past when they took Lee Evans, they don’t care if people feel they are “reaching” for a playmaker. The Evans pick is turning out very good for them and I think they’ll try their luck at WR again. CBs DRC or Mike Jenkins are also very strong possibilities.

12. Denver Broncos
Ryan Clady, OT Boise St.
Last Mock: Ryan Clady, OT Boise St.
Denver really would like Ellis or Dorsey to be available and as they showed when they obtained Cutler, they're not afraid to move up (maybe with a team like KC if one of those tackles are still on the board) so I could see that happening. However, since they're here at 12, I think they take the best OT left on the board. They lost their LT to retirement and they need to make sure Cutler stays upright. I still think Kenny Phillips is a possibility here, but they'll probably address Safety in the third round or later (DT will be addressed in the second if Balmer is still there).

13. Carolina Panthers
Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
Last Mock: Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon
Carolina managed to resign one of their OTs and franchised the other; however, they plan on shifting Wharton to Guard so there is still a need at tackle. Chris Williams is the only true left tackle still on the board and his athleticism would fit very well in the Panthers zone-blocking scheme. I still think they would have loved my last mock’s choice of Jonathan Stewart, but with his offseason surgery and a deep RB class, I don’t know if they’d want to take the chance this high on a RB that won’t be able to work out with the team until Training Camp.

14. Chicago Bears
Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh
Last Mock: Brian Brohm, QB Louisville
The Bears lost their RT and although they could use another QB and a highly talented WR, I don’t think they pass up Jeff Otah, who is a natural RT and could start immediately. If the Bears do decide to go QB, I think they would choose Joe Flacco over Brian Brohm. Flacco has the strongest arm in the draft and you need to be able to throw hard in the hostile elements of the Windy City. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Malcolm Kelly’s name listed as their pick either. They’ve got the speedy CB turned WR Devin Hester, an old Marty Booker, and a perennial underachiever in Brandon Lloyd. Quality youth at WR is needed badly.

15. Detroit Lions
Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
Last Mock: Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
The Lions made some moves this offseason in an attempt to resolve their secondary issues. They’ve signed FA DBs Brian Kelly, Keith Smith and Travis Fisher so I think if they bring in additional secondary help; it won’t be in the first round. After releasing Kevin Jones, they are left with Tatem Bell and Brian Calhoun at RB so I believe they’ll jump at Rashard Mendenhall if he’s available. Mendenhall is the #2 RB on most draft boards and is even ahead of Darren McFadden on NFL Network’s Mike Mayock’s board. This offense should get a boost from Mendenhall who has the full compliment of abilities you look for in a first round back.

16. Arizona Cardinals
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Tennessee St.
Last Mock: Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
With the move of Antrel Rolle to Safety, a top CB is the Cards biggest need. DRC has the qualities you find in a top 10 pick, but the fear of a career ending, or even fatal, injury due to his lack of one kidney has him sliding down boards. It’s very possible that the Cards take Jenkins or Talib and DRC slides into the 20’s or even further, but I think his abilities are just too much to pass up. They’ll draft him, have him sign a medical waiver and be rewarded with the most talented defensive back in the draft.

17. Minnesota Vikings
Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
Last Mock: Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
In this mock, Phillip Merling is still available and could be picked instead of Harvey, as with a lot of the other picks; it will depend who the Vikings like better. I think they go with Harvey as he seems to be more the prototypical 4-3 DE where Merling is more of a tweener DT/DE who could play DE in the 4-3 or 3-4. They are both regarding highly for their relentlessness and high-motor style of play, but Harvey has been hyped as having a little more explosion off the line. That's what the Vikings need and that's what they go after with this pick. They've been going after FA DEs recently so they may want a proven commodity there. If that's the case, I think they'll draft Safety Kenny Phillips who also fills a major need.

18. Houston Texans
Last Mock: Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
Last Mock: Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
In my last mock, I had the Texans taking Mendenhall, but unless they trade ahead of Detroit and possibly Chicago, they won’t get him. They may take the chance with Jonathan Stewart, but I think at this point, they’ll use their first round pick for immediate dividends and solidify their secondary by taking Talib. He’s a true ball hawk that will help fill the void that exists because of the injury to Dunta Robinson. When Robinson returns around midseason, the Texans will have a very formidable secondary and make a strong push towards a wild card birth if the rest of the team can stay healthy. I think they’ll look for a RB in the third or forth round.

19. Philadelphia Eagles
Phillip Merling, DE Florida
Last Mock: Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
I think the Eagles would really love an offensive tackle at this spot, but with four already taken, I think they look at the other side of the ball and take the best lineman available. They have terrific pass rushers already, but Merling is Jevon Kearse's replacement and will work in a rotation at DE. He’s an exceptional athlete that is very versatile. He can hold his own on first and second down and is big enough to shift to the inside in a nickel situation to be a pass-rushing DT. I really wanted to choose Malcolm Kelly or Limas Sweed or even DeSean Jackson for the Eagles, but they seem to have an aversion to taking WRs in the first so I chose Merling based on their past of going with linemen the majority of the time.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida.
Last Mock: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Tennessee St
Last mock, I had DRC in this position, but he’s moved up in the rankings even with his medical issues. I think Tampa still goes CB since they lost Brian Kelly in Free Agency and Rhonde Barber is getting up there in years. Jenkins was a front runner on many draft boards as the #1 CB in the draft at end of the 2006 season, but as usual, the Senior Bowl, Scouting Combines, and Pro Days have vaulted some players up draft boards. Jenkins has done nothing to hurt his stock and the Bucs may be getting quite a bargain at #20.

21. Washington Redskins
Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
Last Mock: Limas Sweed, WR Texas
With a new offensive-minded HC, I think the Redskins take the best playmaker on the board for their needs. Many people will feel DeSean Jackson is the most explosive WR in the draft, but the Skins already have too many undersized WRs and Kelly will be a huge target for Jason Campbell. Malcolm may have hurt his stock by not running the 40 in the Combine, but if he has a great pro day, he may not be here at this point. If he’s gone, I think they’ll choose WR Limas Sweed. It is possible that they take Safety Kenny Phillips here, but I think that would be a little weird for the fans considering this is pick 21 (Taylor's number), Phillips (age 21) would be used to replace Taylor and Phillips went to Miami (Taylor's school).

22. Dallas Cowboys
Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon
Last Mock: Kenny Phillips, S Miami (FL)
The Cowboys will be hoping one of the top four CBs falls to them, but getting Jonathan Stewart is a terrific consolation prize. Stewart has fallen after getting surgery on his big toe. He’ll be unavailable to practice until close to training camp and many teams will not want to use a first round pick on him because of that. The Cowboys have two first round draft picks and a great RB in Marion Barber already so they have the luxury of taking the best player available. Stewart will more than adequately step in for Julius Jones as he has speed (4.45 40) and size (235lbs) to be a devastating weapon. He also has KR skills that can be put to use. Not only would Stewart be a good weapon for the offense, he will give the Cowboys some bargaining power in working out a long term deal with Barber. If Barber wants more than they are willing to pay, Stewart may become the featured back in ’09.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers
Limas Sweed, WR Texas
Last Mock: Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh needs some help along the offensive line, but the only lineman still available that may have a first round grade is Gosder Cherilus and he’s had some minor off field issues and I think the Steelers will stay away from players like that. So, I think they listen to their $100+ million QB who’s been asking for a big WR and they get him the best WR that’s left, who also happens to be nearly 6’5”. All rookie WRs need time to develop and Sweed can develop behind Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. He will be a great addition to this offense.

24. Tennessee Titans
DeSean Jackson, WR California
Last Mock: DeSean Jackson, WR California
Former teammate Limas Sweed is taken right out from under them by Pitt, but they still want to bring in a weapon. They have Justin Gage who appears to have developed good chemistry with Young as the season progressed and they brought in TE Alge Crumpler for a possession guy and red zone threat. So what they lack is a playmaker. Despite Jackson's small stature, he is one of the most explosive players in the entire draft. In his college career, over 20% of the plays he was in went for over 20 yards. He's been compared to Ted Ginn Jr (10th overall pick last year), but he's said to be a better return man and a more polished as a WR. The Titans need some explosive potential on offense and Jackson could be a nightmare matchup as a slot receiver. He just needs to prove to whatever team takes him that he can beat the jam at the line.

25. Seattle Seahawks
Dustin Keller, TE Purdue
Last Mock: Branden Albert, OG Virginia
With the top three RBs off the board, the Seahawks look to juice up their offense. The WRs they have are known for their speed, but they really don’t have a chain mover. Dustin Keller is one of the biggest Scouting Combine winners as his performance overshadowed all other TEs. He’s not going to be a great blocker as he’s a little undersized, but he is 6’2” and ran the 40 in 4.55 and will give Hasselbeck a great option over the middle.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars
Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
Last Mock: Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
The Jags traded DT Marcus Stroud to the Bills and let Bobby McCray walk this offseason so they have a few holes to fill on the defensive line. There choices come down to Calais Campbell, Lawrence Jackson, and Kentwan Balmer. Campbell couldn't even break 5 seconds in the 40 so his stock is dropping and he'll go somewhere in the second round. Jackson, an alum of HC Jack Del Rio’s alma mater, may be the pick, but I think he lacks the explosiveness needed from a DE to crack round 1. I think the choice will be Balmer, who was a classic underachiever most of his college career, but came to life at the right time as he had a very good senior year. He's not the typical massive DT you're use to seeing in Jacksonville, but he's not a small guy either, weighing in at 308lbs.

27. San Diego Chargers
Kenny Phillips, S Miami (FL)
Last Mock: Reggie Smith, S/CB Oklahoma
The Chargers let Marlon McCree go in the offseason so Safety is their #1 priority. Phillips has a lot of talent, but his subpar Junior year has caused him to slide on many boards. The decision the Chargers have to make is whether to take Phillips, Reggie Smith and offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus. As tempting as Cherilus would be, I think they have to jump on the #1 Safety in the draft. They pair him with Eric Weddle to form a very strong tandem in their secondary.

28. Dallas Cowboys
Tracy Porter, CB Indiana
Last Mock: Tracy Porter, CB Indiana
With the fortune of having Jonathan Stewart fall to them earlier in the draft, they can take the best CB still on the board. It will be a tough decision between Brandon Flowers, Antoine Cason and Tracy Porter. I think they go with Porter because he has the most upside and his biggest knock is not being strong enough. Pro teams can help players get stronger and if that’s his biggest downfall, he will be a bargain for whatever team grabs him in the late first or second round.

29. San Francisco 49ers
Early Doucet, WR L.S.U.
Last Mock: Devin Thomas, WR Michigan St.
During the Senior bowl, the coaches for the Niners got a glimpse first hand of all the players and it’s reported that they really liked what they saw from Early Doucet. Doucet has exceptional route running ability, hands and blocking. His timed speed isn’t impressive so he falls behind some other WRs, but he was very effective in college and will have a great mentor in Isaac Bruce to learn from.

30. Green Bay Packers
Jerod Mayo, ILB
Last Mock: Dan Connor, OLB Penn St
Mayo has surpassed Connor on many draft boards and I don’t think he’ll get out of the first round. If GB decides to go with a CB, Mayo will go to the Giants. He’s versatile enough to play inside or outside and has experience in the 3-4 defense as well as the 4-3. His versatility will be welcome in GB and he’ll play alongside Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk to form one of the best LB trios in the league.

31. New England Patriots
Sly Shutterman, CM, Film & Arts Academy
Last Mock: Sly Shutterman, CM, Film & Arts Academy
One of the biggest needs on this team has to be a Camera Man that can be stealthy enough to video opponents without getting caught, and quick enough to get away before being discovered. In his Pro day workout, Shutterman performed very well in the Blending In and the Hiding in Shadows drills. He also ran an amazing 4.72 in the 40 (with camera in hand). This guy will definitely help rebuild this great franchise and restore their Super Bowl winning ways.

32. New York Giants
Dan Connor, OLB Penn St
Last Mock: Patrick Lee, CB Auburn
The Giants were linked to Asante Samuel, D’Angelo Hall and so they obviously feel CB is a primary need. However, with the depth at CB in this draft, I think they’ll address their need at LB and take Dan Connor who is arguably the best ILB in the draft. Connor will bring a lot of quality to this defense and make them even more formidable than last year. I expect CB to be addressed in round 2.

OK, how’d I do?