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MOCK DRAFT: First-round forecast could change once Dolphins pick a need, any need
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram staff writer
The Miami Dolphins could hang a sign outside their Davie, Fla., training facility: Help Wanted.
With a 1-15 record last season, the Dolphins have as many needs as wants. That's why it's hard to predict what Miami will do with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Dolphins are negotiating with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, but Virginia defensive end/outside linebacker Chris Long, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State defensive end/outside linebacker Vernon Gholston also are possibilities.
"In my mind there are a couple of areas on the team that are probably greater needs than others," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "But we have a lot of needs. We've tried to address some of those needs [in free agency], but as we go on we're going to try to fill as many holes as we possibly can. We need linebackers; we need secondary players; we need receivers; we need linemen. We need a bunch of things right now."
1. Miami Dolphins
Needs: OL, QB, TE
Jake Long, OT, Michigan The Dolphins still are looking for the next Richmond Webb, and they will find him by drafting Long.
2. St. Louis Rams
Needs: DE, WR, OT
Chris Long, DE, Virginia Defensive end Leonard Little, who turns 34 this season, is coming off toe surgery.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Needs: QB, DT, OT
Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State The Falcons could use a quarterback in the worst way, but Matt Ryan isn’t rated as highly as Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long or Gholston.
4. Oakland Raiders
Needs: OT, DT, WR
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly re-signed, but defensive tackle Warren Sapp retired, and defensive tackle Gerard Warren remains a huge disappointment.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Needs: OL, CB, WR
Branden Albert, G, Virginia Center Casey Wiegmann left in free agency, guard John Welbourn retired and right tackles Chris Terry and Kyle Turley aren’t expected back.
6. New York Jets
Needs: WR, CB, QB
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas It would be hard to pick any of the top wide receivers over McFadden, who would bring speed and versatility to Brian Schottenheimer’s offense.
7. New England Patriots
Needs: ILB, CB, TE
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy Cornerback Asante Samuel left for the Philadelphia Eagles and cornerback Randall Gay left for the New Orleans Saints.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Needs: CB, OT, QB
Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College Kyle Boller hasn’t panned out the way the Ravens had hoped, and Steve McNair retired.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: DL, OL, S
Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC The Bengals were 27th in total defense and 24th in points allowed, and they had only 22 sacks.
10. New Orleans Saints
Needs: LB, TE, CB
Keith Rivers, LB, USC The Saints, who allowed 348.1 yards per game, are expected to draft a defensive player, and the team’s new defensive line coach, Ed Orgeron, recruited Ellis and Rivers to USC.
11. Buffalo Bills
Needs: WR, CB, TE
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State The Bills’ receiving corps combined for only six touchdowns last season, and their top four wide receivers are under 6 foot.
12. Denver Broncos
Needs: DT, S, LB
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St. The Broncos, who ranked 30th against the run last season, would love Dorsey or Ellis but may have to settle for Rodgers-Cromartie as the best player left.
13. Carolina Panthers
Needs: OT, RB, DT
Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State The Panthers want to move Travelle Wharton inside and are so enamored with Clady, they might try to trade up to get him.
14. Chicago Bears
Needs: OL, WR, RB
Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh The Bears want to move left tackle John Tait to right tackle to replace Fred Miller, who was released. Left guard Ruben Brown also was released.
15. Detroit Lions
Needs: OT, DE, MLB
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois The Lions tried to sign T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones in free agency, leaving them to re-sign Tatum Bell.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Needs: CB, DE, RB
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida The Cardinals, who are moving Antrel Rolle to free safety, haven’t drafted an elite cornerback since Aeneas Williams in the third round in 1991.
17. Minnesota Vikings
Needs: DE, S, QB
Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida Defensive end Erasmus James is injury-prone; and defensive end Kenechi Udeze has been diagnosed with leukemia.
18. Houston Texans
Needs: CB, LT, FS
Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt The Texans have sought to fill the left tackle position since using the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft on Tony Boselli.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
Needs: CB, OT, S
Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas The Eagles will trade Lito Sheppard, leaving an opening opposite newly signed Asante Samuel.
20. Tampa Bay Bucs
Needs: WR, CB, DE
Limas Sweed, WR, Texas Wide receiver Joey Galloway had six touchdown catches last season, but the other wide receivers had two combined.
21. Washington Commanders
Needs: DL, WR, G
Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina The Commanders passed on defensive tackle Amobi Okoye to take safety LaRon Landry last year; defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin will be 32 next season.
22. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: RB, CB, WR
Felix Jones, WR, Arkansas Julius Jones, who left for Seattle, could be replaced by another Jones, who is used to sharing carries.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: OT, G, DL
Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson Merling’s stock will fall because of sports hernia surgery, and defensive ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are in their 30s.
24. Tennessee Titans
Needs: DE, WR, RB
DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal Only once since the merger — Kevin Dyson in 1998 — have the Titans used a first-round pick on a wide receiver, but they are desperate for playmakers to help Vince Young.
25. Seattle Seahawks
Needs: TE, K, DL
Fred Davis, TE, USC It’s too early to select a tight end, but the Seahawks have a need after Marcus Pollard had two drops and a costly fumble in playoff loss. (Newly signed Jeb Putzier will be the third TE.)
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
Needs: DT, DE, WR
Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC Defensive end Bobby McCray left in free agency, and defensive end Reggie Hayward had only 3.5 sacks after coming back from a torn Achilles’.
27. San Diego Chargers
Needs: OT, RB, NT
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon Stewart had turf toe surgery, dropping his stock, and allowing the Chargers to pair him with LaDainian Tomlinson after the departure of Michael Turner.
28. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: RB, CB, WR
Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona Terence Newman and Anthony Henry played hurt last season, and Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones left in free agency.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Needs: OL, DE, WR
Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College Guard Justin Smiley and tackle Kwame Harris left in free agency and guard Larry Allen is expected to retire.
30. Green Bay Packers
Needs: CB, TE, OT
Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech Left tackle Chad Clifton is 31, and right tackle Mark Tauscher is 30, and both have battled injuries the past few seasons.
31. NY Giants
Needs: FS, OLB, WR
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami Safety Gibril Wilson left for the Raiders in the off-season, leaving a void with Michael Johnson, R.W. McQuarters and Craig Dahl as candidates for the job.
New England Patriots forfeited original 31st pick; Indianapolis Colts’ first pick is 59th overall; Cleveland Browns’ first pick is in 4th round.
http://www.star-telegram.com/332/story/592980.html
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram staff writer
The Miami Dolphins could hang a sign outside their Davie, Fla., training facility: Help Wanted.
With a 1-15 record last season, the Dolphins have as many needs as wants. That's why it's hard to predict what Miami will do with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Dolphins are negotiating with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, but Virginia defensive end/outside linebacker Chris Long, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State defensive end/outside linebacker Vernon Gholston also are possibilities.
"In my mind there are a couple of areas on the team that are probably greater needs than others," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "But we have a lot of needs. We've tried to address some of those needs [in free agency], but as we go on we're going to try to fill as many holes as we possibly can. We need linebackers; we need secondary players; we need receivers; we need linemen. We need a bunch of things right now."
1. Miami Dolphins
Needs: OL, QB, TE
Jake Long, OT, Michigan The Dolphins still are looking for the next Richmond Webb, and they will find him by drafting Long.
2. St. Louis Rams
Needs: DE, WR, OT
Chris Long, DE, Virginia Defensive end Leonard Little, who turns 34 this season, is coming off toe surgery.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Needs: QB, DT, OT
Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State The Falcons could use a quarterback in the worst way, but Matt Ryan isn’t rated as highly as Glenn Dorsey, Jake Long or Gholston.
4. Oakland Raiders
Needs: OT, DT, WR
Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly re-signed, but defensive tackle Warren Sapp retired, and defensive tackle Gerard Warren remains a huge disappointment.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Needs: OL, CB, WR
Branden Albert, G, Virginia Center Casey Wiegmann left in free agency, guard John Welbourn retired and right tackles Chris Terry and Kyle Turley aren’t expected back.
6. New York Jets
Needs: WR, CB, QB
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas It would be hard to pick any of the top wide receivers over McFadden, who would bring speed and versatility to Brian Schottenheimer’s offense.
7. New England Patriots
Needs: ILB, CB, TE
Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy Cornerback Asante Samuel left for the Philadelphia Eagles and cornerback Randall Gay left for the New Orleans Saints.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Needs: CB, OT, QB
Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College Kyle Boller hasn’t panned out the way the Ravens had hoped, and Steve McNair retired.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: DL, OL, S
Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC The Bengals were 27th in total defense and 24th in points allowed, and they had only 22 sacks.
10. New Orleans Saints
Needs: LB, TE, CB
Keith Rivers, LB, USC The Saints, who allowed 348.1 yards per game, are expected to draft a defensive player, and the team’s new defensive line coach, Ed Orgeron, recruited Ellis and Rivers to USC.
11. Buffalo Bills
Needs: WR, CB, TE
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State The Bills’ receiving corps combined for only six touchdowns last season, and their top four wide receivers are under 6 foot.
12. Denver Broncos
Needs: DT, S, LB
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St. The Broncos, who ranked 30th against the run last season, would love Dorsey or Ellis but may have to settle for Rodgers-Cromartie as the best player left.
13. Carolina Panthers
Needs: OT, RB, DT
Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State The Panthers want to move Travelle Wharton inside and are so enamored with Clady, they might try to trade up to get him.
14. Chicago Bears
Needs: OL, WR, RB
Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh The Bears want to move left tackle John Tait to right tackle to replace Fred Miller, who was released. Left guard Ruben Brown also was released.
15. Detroit Lions
Needs: OT, DE, MLB
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois The Lions tried to sign T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones in free agency, leaving them to re-sign Tatum Bell.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Needs: CB, DE, RB
Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida The Cardinals, who are moving Antrel Rolle to free safety, haven’t drafted an elite cornerback since Aeneas Williams in the third round in 1991.
17. Minnesota Vikings
Needs: DE, S, QB
Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida Defensive end Erasmus James is injury-prone; and defensive end Kenechi Udeze has been diagnosed with leukemia.
18. Houston Texans
Needs: CB, LT, FS
Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt The Texans have sought to fill the left tackle position since using the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft on Tony Boselli.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
Needs: CB, OT, S
Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas The Eagles will trade Lito Sheppard, leaving an opening opposite newly signed Asante Samuel.
20. Tampa Bay Bucs
Needs: WR, CB, DE
Limas Sweed, WR, Texas Wide receiver Joey Galloway had six touchdown catches last season, but the other wide receivers had two combined.
21. Washington Commanders
Needs: DL, WR, G
Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina The Commanders passed on defensive tackle Amobi Okoye to take safety LaRon Landry last year; defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin will be 32 next season.
22. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: RB, CB, WR
Felix Jones, WR, Arkansas Julius Jones, who left for Seattle, could be replaced by another Jones, who is used to sharing carries.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: OT, G, DL
Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson Merling’s stock will fall because of sports hernia surgery, and defensive ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are in their 30s.
24. Tennessee Titans
Needs: DE, WR, RB
DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal Only once since the merger — Kevin Dyson in 1998 — have the Titans used a first-round pick on a wide receiver, but they are desperate for playmakers to help Vince Young.
25. Seattle Seahawks
Needs: TE, K, DL
Fred Davis, TE, USC It’s too early to select a tight end, but the Seahawks have a need after Marcus Pollard had two drops and a costly fumble in playoff loss. (Newly signed Jeb Putzier will be the third TE.)
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
Needs: DT, DE, WR
Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC Defensive end Bobby McCray left in free agency, and defensive end Reggie Hayward had only 3.5 sacks after coming back from a torn Achilles’.
27. San Diego Chargers
Needs: OT, RB, NT
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon Stewart had turf toe surgery, dropping his stock, and allowing the Chargers to pair him with LaDainian Tomlinson after the departure of Michael Turner.
28. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: RB, CB, WR
Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona Terence Newman and Anthony Henry played hurt last season, and Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones left in free agency.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Needs: OL, DE, WR
Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College Guard Justin Smiley and tackle Kwame Harris left in free agency and guard Larry Allen is expected to retire.
30. Green Bay Packers
Needs: CB, TE, OT
Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech Left tackle Chad Clifton is 31, and right tackle Mark Tauscher is 30, and both have battled injuries the past few seasons.
31. NY Giants
Needs: FS, OLB, WR
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami Safety Gibril Wilson left for the Raiders in the off-season, leaving a void with Michael Johnson, R.W. McQuarters and Craig Dahl as candidates for the job.
New England Patriots forfeited original 31st pick; Indianapolis Colts’ first pick is 59th overall; Cleveland Browns’ first pick is in 4th round.
http://www.star-telegram.com/332/story/592980.html
