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PFC draft reporter Jonathon Zenk breaks down picks 1-20 in his latest mock draft.

2008 NFL Mock Draft

1. Miami Dolphins: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Bill Parcells believes games are won in the trenches, which is why they will probably go with either Chris or Jake Long, but don’t rule out the possibility of Miami drafting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan if they are unsatisfied with John Beck. Also, who knows what is going on with Jason Taylor? He reportedly wants out of Miami and if he gets traded, that makes this pick that much easier. Long is a great talent with an even better motor. He reminds me of Green Bay Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman.

2. St. Louis Rams: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
The Rams could go with Jake Long here, but they signed offensive tackle Jacob Bell during free agency, so that makes the pick of Jake Long more unlikely. Leonard Little is getting up there in age and James Hall was cut. The Rams would preferably like Chris Long at this point, but luckily, there is another top-tier defensive end in this class, so they take Gholston, who had a monster junior season this past year and abused top five pick Jake Long in Ann Arbor at the end of last year.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Atlanta needs a quarterback in the worst way. We all know about the Ron Mexico…………errrrr Michael Vick situation. Atlanta released Byron Leftwich, which just leaves former Detroit Lion and Miami Dolphin cast-off Joey Harrington and Chris Redman. ‘Nuff said. The Falcons need a signal-caller for the long-run and Ryan looks like the real deal, and he could be especially dangerous with weapons on Atlanta like Jerious Norwood, newcomer Michael Turner, and up-and-coming wide receiver Roddy White.

4. Oakland Raiders: Glenn Dorsey, DT, Louisiana State
With the retirement of Warren Sapp, the Raiders take the run-stopping force from the National Champions. Dorsey was a consensus number one overall pick in mid-season, but injuries sidelined him late last season. But when he at full-strength, he may be the most dominant player in this year’s draft class.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
The Chiefs desperately need offensive linemen, and Long is the best one available in this year’s draft. If Long makes it number five, this is one of the only easy picks in the draft. All of their future Hall-of-Fame offensive linemen from a few years back are now retiring, so the Chiefs need to reload at the position and Long is a terrific place to start.

6. New York Jets: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Running back isn’t a major need for the Jets as they traded for Thomas Jones last off-season, but he is getting older and you just don’t pass up a talent like Darren McFadden. McFadden is the biggest playmaker in this year’s draft. A two-headed monster at running back might be just what the Jets need, as they were dreadful on offense last season.

7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco): Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
The Patriots are losing cornerbacks left and right and haven’t brought many people in that are fully capable of being a starter. The Patriots are nearly forced to take a cornerback in round one after losing Asante Samuel, Eugene Wilson, and Randall Gay to free agency. McKelvin has a ton of upside and the Patriots have terrific coaches who could mold him into a top-flight corner.

8. Baltimore Ravens: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
Rodgers-Cromartie has as much, if not more upside than anyone in this year’s draft class. Baltimore has aging corners in Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister. They need to start grooming someone to eventually take one of the spots and right now, Rodgers-Cromartie ease his way in by playing the nickel corner position. He could become the best cornerback to come out of this excellent cornerback draft class.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern California
Cincinnati is in desperate need of a defensive tackle and Ellis falling to them could become a steal. As of right now, their number one defensive tackle is Domata Peko. Yikes! Ellis could step in and become a beast. He could go top five, but if he falls down to nine, it would be a great, yet obvious pick for the Bengals.

10. New Orleans Saints: Keith Rivers, OLB, Southern California
They could use a cornerback after Jason David was awful this past year, but after McKelvin and Rodgers-Cromartie go in the top eight, there no other corners a slam dunk top ten pick. They are easily trying to upgrade the linebacker position with the trade for Jonathan Vilma. He will secure the middle, but they will need someone at the outside linebacker positions and Rivers is the best linebacker, if not the best player left in the draft.

11. Buffalo Bills: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Bills need a second wide receiver to team up with Lee Evans. And Evans will need a new contract or he may left next year via free agency, so Kelly would be a logical choice here. He doesn’t have great speed, but could be a possession receiver, which brings something different to the table than what Evans doesn’t. They would be a good tandem to help out the rebuilding Bills.

12. Denver Broncos: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Denver needs an offensive tackle after the retirement of Matt Lepsis. It depends on if the Broncos think last year’s third round pick Ryan Harris is ready to step in and be the starter. If Denver’s management think he is, they will go elsewhere in the first round, but if they don’t feel Harris is ready, Clady should be the pick.

13. Carolina Panthers: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Both Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton were free agents and retained, but rumor has it that Wharton is moving inside to guard, so Otah would be the choice here. They could also go with Chris Williams from Vanderbilt as well.

14. Chicago Bears: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
Fred Miller is all but done as a Bear, so they need to find a replacement and this year has four very good offensive tackles that most likely will be taken in the top 15, and the Bears take the last one. He will just be the starting point as the Bears try to rebuild their atrocious offense.

15. Detroit Lions: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
Detroit cut loose Kevin Jones and only re-signed Tatum Bell to a one-year deal. They will need a running back of the future and I don’t think Brian Calhoun will be able to carry the load for Detroit, and what better year to draft a running back high than this one? There are four potential first rounders in this group, not to mention Matt Millen has a knack for taking skill position players in the first round.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Antrel Rolle is moving over to safety, so the Cardinals have a gaping hole at cornerback. Eric Green hasn’t shown much since they drafted him and even though Roderick Hood was a good player for them last year, they still need another corner because they have basically no depth at the position.

17. Minnesota Vikings: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
After missing out on Justin Smith in free agency, the Vikings turn to the draft to solve their pass rush problems. They just hope for better luck than the last two defensive ends in the first round with Erasmus James and the unfortunate Kenechi Udezi, who was diagnosed with cancer this off-season. The Vikings need a defensive end and Harvey is a perfect fit for them.

18. Houston Texans: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Stewart could slip a little bit because of his injury, but I still rate him above Arkansas’ Felix Jones. The Texans paid big money for Ahman Green last off-season, but much like he did during the last few seasons during Green Bay, spent much of the season on the sidelines with an injury. Samkon Gado is a free agent and even with the recent signing of former Titan Chris Brown, I do not see him as the running back of the future for them. Stewart could sit and back and heal and come play when he is at full strength.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
Donovan McNabb already has stated that he wants a playmaker. DeSean Jackson is definitely that. McNabb gets a new target opposite of Kevin Curtis and Jackson has serious big play potential. He is a very good returner as well. With the signing of Asante Samuel, their defense is almost set, but their offense could be very good with Jackson, Curtis, and Brian Westbrook.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
After his breakout rookie season, Michael Clayton has fallen off the face of the Earth. Joey Galloway, although he is still incredibly fast, is getting up there in age, so the Buccaneers will need to draft a wide receiver early in the draft. Thomas was very productive last year and had a very solid combine, which helped boost his stock into round one. Thomas has the size and speed you want in a receiver. They could take North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer here as well.