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 NFL Draft 2008:
First Day Thoughts
by Chris Brophy
27/4/2008
The hype is (half) over, the intense build-up has passed and day one of the 2008 draft is in the book. As always, it was a draft that had its fair number of surprises and plenty of moving and shaking. Here’s some of the key things I felt made day one of this year’s draft.
Trade Madness
Every draft sees trading but I’m not sure I recall a first round where it was so frantic. The reduced pick time of ten minutes threatened to put the boot into early trading and that may actually be true because nothing happened for the first six picks, as teams picking this high were being very careful and using all their time. The Chiefs got a fantastic offer off the Saints at #5 (#10 overall, a 2nd rounder and a 1st in 2009) but instead took Glenn Dorsey who I am sure they never expected to fall into their laps. Once we got to the Patriots at #7 though, things started moving. The Pats dealt back with the Saints who obviously wanted a DT and were going to get one of Sedrick Ellis or Dorsey come hell or high water. Then the Jaguars made a big jump from #26 to #8 with the Ravens glad to get out of the top ten now Matt Ryan was gone.
 The middle of round one saw lots of movement, the Lions got the Chiefs spooked enough to move up and secure Branden Albert, then the Eagles and Redskins took advantage of teams concerned by the rush on offensive tackles. The Eagles coaxed a first rounder in 2009 out of the Panthers as part of their trade whilst the ‘Skins got two second rounders out of the Falcons.
After trading down, something must have sent alarm bells ringing in Baltimore as they also moved up to secure their QB of the future, Joe Flacco. Rumours floating round about several other teams trying to get back into the first round for the Delaware prospect meant the Ravens felt they couldn’t take any chances.
Even the bottom of the first round saw teams sliding back. The Seahawks went back a few spots and the Packers got out of round one allowing the frantic New York crowd another first round pick to abuse.
All in all, there were 14 trades on day one (eight in round one). Roger Goodell must have being struggling to keep up with who was on the clock and getting sick of saying “*Insert Team* has traded their selection…”
REAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCHH!!!!
Of course, we call them reaches because the general feeling is that they were going to be drafted later but until they actually play, we’ll never know. Regardless, once Gosder Cherilus went off the board to the Lions at #17 and the Panthers traded up to get Jeff Otah, offensive tackle seen Sam Baker come off the board earlier than projected and then the Texans took a massive chance on Duane Brown. Brown is very much a project who Houston’s OL Coach Alex Gibbs apparently loves but I do wonder if the Texans regret trading down now knowing they could have had a safer pick in Otah.
The first reach belonged to the Patriots, who despite trading back three spots, still took Linebacker Jerod Mayo very early. Mayo was a player who most mocks struggled to pin down his value, some having him early second round/late first round but very few had him inside the top half of round one. Add in the fact the Patriots usually like veterans at the linebacker position and it is a bit of a doubled edged surprise.
 The Titans selection of Chris Johnson at #24 was also a shock. With no wide receivers off the board, they had their pick of players to add a target for Vince Young but instead chose a guy with great speed but doubts over whether he can take the pounding the NFL will bring. Proof indeed that track times still have some influence on draft stock. Some reports made him out as very similar to current Titan Chris Henry, which makes the choice all the more puzzling.
Day One Winners
The Kansas City Chiefs had plenty of picks but until you use them wisely it means very little. Herm Edwards stated he expected to get as many as six starters out of this draft and with Glenn Dorsey falling into their laps at #5 instantly giving them impact in the middle of their defense, they were probably right to reject the Saints advances. Branden Albert should be starting on the OL from day one (though where he plays will be of interest). In round 2 they got Brandon Flowers who should be able to get playing time and possibly challenge the starters from the get go. Herm is half way there.
The Philadelphia Eagles only made one selection, trading down twice but they got the Panthers first round choice in 2009 within those trades. Their lone selection of Trevor Laws was a wise one; the Eagles needed depth on their DL. They also traded a 4th round pick to the Dolphins for running back Lorenzo Booker, who was a 2nd round pick only last year. The Eagles are loaded for picks in day two in a draft that has depth if not so much top end quality.
Day One Losers
The Titans reached in round one and whilst they addressed a real need in round 2 with DT Jason Jones, I feel they missed the boat on receivers. They could have had their pick of any of the wide receivers at #24 and it would have being decent value, but instead they passed and by the time their second round pick came around, the value at the position had been crushed.
The Ravens are usually an excellent drafting team, but they got bad value trading down from #8 to #26, and then spent some of it getting back up to #18 to reach on a QB who needs a lot of work. Moving down eighteen spots netted two thirds and a fourth but they then gave up one of those thirds and a sixth to move back up to #18. In effect, they got a third and fourth to move down 10 spots, also losing a sixth in the process. Not great value for me. Also, I’m surprised by their selection of running back Ray Rice in round 2: they needed help at corner and in areas where age is catching up with them.
Who’s Left?
Dan Connor at linebacker was close or just in the first round in many expert mocks. Tavares Gooden is another linebacker who should get off the board pretty quick in round 3. Jamaal Charles or Kevin Smith should be among the first running backs off the board on day two and cornerback Justin King should find a home pretty quickly.
Random Thoughts
Was it just me or after Jake Long was taken did I see nearly every defensive linemen who went shortly afterwards abusing him on game tape? Defensive line was the rush early on, followed by offensive line and in round two, the wide receiver rush turned into a stampede! My mock was killed by pick 3 when the Falcons took Matt Ryan. Is Charles Davis of the NFL Network Brandon Albert’s agent? Is Mike Mayock Rashard Mendenhall’s agent? Does anyone see Deion “I play for the highest bidder” Sanders as a mentor?
Looking forward to day two already.
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