Welcome to Day 3 of our NFL Mock Draft, so far the only surprise has been that the top two defensive tackles are still on the board — we’ll see if they finish in the Top 10 selections.

Selecting today will be Cincinnati, New Orleans, Buffalo and Denver…

9.

What do the Bengals need?

• Defensive End
• Defensive Tackle
• Linebacker
• Cornerback
• A Happy Chad Johnson

What will they do?

Head Coach Marvin Lewis begins his sixth campaign in the Queen City with an uncertain future. His Bengals have fallen off the Championship radar, while some of his players are spending more time in court than I care to mention.

The Bengals defense needs to be rebuilt and they will begin from the inside out. The Bengals play in a division that has Willie Parker (Pittsburgh) Jamaal Lewis (Cleveland) and Willis McGahee (Baltimore) so a run-stuffer with this pick is essential. Five of the Bengals ten picks are in the first four rounds — the defensive woes that have plagued this team will be addressed.

The Pick: LSU’s Glenn Dorsey looks more relieved than he did five minutes before his name was called. He’s eager to prove the other eight teams that passed over him wrong.

10.

What to the Saints need?

• Cornerback
• Defensive Tackle
• Tight End
• Safety
• Offensive Tackle

What will they do?

Believe it or not the Saints are still a good team and are a few pieces away from returning to 2006 form. The areas of concern for the Saints are primarily at cornerback and defensive tackle. The need for an inside linebacker was met when they signed free agent Jonathan Vilma. The Saints are decent on the ends with Charles Grant and Will Smith but the need a push up the middle from someone other than Hollis Thomas whose better days are behind him. The Saints also signed corner Randall Gay away from New England, it doesn’t solve all of the secondary issues, but it’s a good start.

The Pick: USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis will inject life into a defensive line that needs it. His ability to move laterally mixed with his quick bursts off of the line will allow the Saints to open up their blitz packages more often without getting burned.

11.

What do the Bills need?

The Buffalo Bills are a team that needs maybe one more stud on each side of the ball before they can start thinking playoffs. They’re comfortable with Trent Edwards, had a successful rookie season, thanks in large part to wide receiver Lee Evans and fellow rookie Marshawn Lynch. If they can somehow find a receiver to compliment Evans along with some help on the defensive line and linenbacking unit. The Bills should be in decent shape. The Bills hold five picks in the first four rounds, I have a feeling that they will package two of those picks to move up in the second round if someone is there that can make an immediate impact.

The Pick: Oklahoma’s stud wide receiver Malcolm Kelly has the size (6′4″) speed (4.5 - 40yd dash) and talent to turn a decent Bill’s offense into a dangerous one. Kelly would compliment Evans perfectly, leaving him in more man to man coverage, thus opening up the door for the running game and the physical workhorse Lynch. With Roscoe Parrish as a third receiver, Edwards should be able to add on to the success of his rookie season.

12.

What do the Broncos need?

• Defensive Tackle
• Wide Receiver
• Safety
• Linebacker

What will the Broncos do?

Season two of the Jay Cutler Experiment is underway, nothing jumps out at you when it comes to him — but overall, he’s on the right path. He ’s minus one of his game breakers in wideout Javon Walker and is left with Brandon Marshall who suffered a freak injury about a month ago and has been involved in a few incidents that have the front office questioning his maturity. There is no question when it comes to his ability, he is a player that will draw a double-team and that’s where the Broncos will need help.

Defensively, there are holes everywhere, defensive tackle, linebacker, safety and defensive end. With 7 picks after the second round (they do not hold a third) expect Mike Shanahan to be pretty busy on the first day.

The Pick: Auburn linebacker Quentin Groves has drawn comparisons to the San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman in reference to the havoc that he can cause against the run or the pass. With an ailing pass rush Groves along with D.J. Williams and Jarvis Moss are the building blocks in a rebuilding Bronco defense.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pm and is filed under 2008 NFL Mock Draft, Auburn, Blogroll, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnatti Bengals, Denver Broncos, Glenn Dorsey, LSU, Malcolm Kelly, Mock Draft, NFL Mock Draft, New Orleans Saints, Oklahoma, Quentin Groves, Sedrick Ellis, USC. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.