TBR’s First Annual 2008 NFL Mock Draft (Picks 21-24)
We’re back for Week 2 of our 2008 Mock Draft. We will close out the first round with the playoff qualifiers. Don’t be fooled; in spite of their successful seasons these teams have major needs as well. Lets look to see how things unfold.
The Washington Redskins are on the clock…
21.
What do the Redskins need?
- Defensive End
- Wide Receiver
- Safety
- Middle Linebacker
What will they do?
I have to commend the Redskins’ players and organization for pulling together in the tragic death of Pro Bowl Safety Sean Taylor. The ‘Skins won four out of their last five games to earn a trip to the playoffs before bowing out to the Seattle Seahawks. As the game wore on you could see that the players were physically and emotionally spent. They laid everything on the line for their fallen teammate the last month of the season just to get to 9-7 and enter the playoffs.
For as much as the team was unified the last month of the season, the decision not to hire defensive coordinator Gregg Williams as Joe Gibbs’ replacement may have rubbed some players the wrong way. Williams was close to Taylor and it seemed that Williams had enough invested in the team to be given a shot. Instead, Owner Daniel Snyder went outside of the organization, hiring Detroit Lions quarterback’s coach Jim Zorn.
Other than safety, the ‘Skins need a wide receiver with some height. While Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El are efficient quarterback Jason Campbell needs a big target at this point you have James Hardy from Indiana at 6’6″, and Limas Sweed who is 6’4″ from the University of Texas are still on the board and would probably be starters on Opening Day. Washington could also use help at the defensive end position to take some pressure off of Andre Carter, Phillip Merling from Clemson or Miami’s Calais Campbell are viable options. Middle Linebacker London Fletcher is an aging warrior and now wouldn’t be a bad time to get his replacement. Penn State’s Dan Connor or Tennessee’s Jerrod Mayo could fill that need.
The Pick: The Redskins will look for a DE between the 2nd and 3rd rounds since the major names are off the board. Miami Safety Kenny Phillips is definitely someone that they will consider. But if the ‘Skins are drafting for an immediate need they’re taking a wideout.
(Getty Images)
The ‘Skins take a page out of the New York Giants book and go with a tall wideout able to win a jumpball with any DB in the NFC East. James Hardy also runs a 4.6 40 to boot. With the deep ball ability of Jason Campbell, Hardy could be a threat in or out of the red zone.
22. 
What do the Cowboys need?
- Wide Receiver
- Cornerback
- Running Back
What will they do?
With two first-round picks (22,28) so close to one another the Cowboys have the luxury of filling a need with one and trading the other to possibly get Chad Johnson from the Bengals, they can package both to move up in the first round, or they can stand pat and still come away satisfied. The Cowboys have to address the wideout position — Terrell Owens is 34 and Terry Glenn isn’t a guarantee to stay healthy the entire season, so bringing in a young receiver is essential at this point. The Pokes also need help at relatively weak cornerback position. Julius Jones’ exit to Seattle has left a hole at running back that may be addressed in the 2nd round.
The Pick: The Cowboys haven’t had a shutdown corner since Deion Sanders, and that’s not to say that this pick will become one but he gives them flexibility and I believe he will give a boost to a below average secondary.
(NFLdraftdog.com)
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may be the best athlete in the draft. He wowed scouts at the combine with his workout and 40 times. If he falls this far the Cowboys would be foolish to pass up this talent.
23. 
What do the Steelers need?
- Offensive Guard
- Cornerback
- Defensive End
What will they do?
The Steelers really don’t have a glaring need outside of guard where Alan Faneca signed with the New York Jets. Other than that the Black and Gold will be drafting for depth. The areas in mind are the defensive line and at cornerback.
The Pick: There is more left to choose from at #23 than the Steelers bargained for, able to address any of the three positions of need. They will go after a guard in the 3rd round and a defensive lineman in the 2nd with the 23rd pick the Steelers take…
(Getty Images)
Aqib Talib, the All-American cornerback from Kansas is going to improve the Steeler secondary immensely. The secondary should be able to pin it’s ears back more than last season allowing Troy Polamalu to blitz and cause havoc. With Talib back in coverage, the Steelers have that opportunity.
24. 
What do the Titans need?
- Albert Haynesworth as GM
- Wide Receiver
- Tight End
- Running Back
What will they do?
Anytime your defensive tackle calls out the front office for their lack of providing franchise Vince Young quarterback with any help in the free agent period, something is wrong. When you have $43 million to spend on free agents and draft picks and don’t make any significant changes; something is definitely wrong.
The Titans have five picks in the first four rounds and will spend the bulk of them on offense, the Titans will be able to draft a wide receiver or two and a backup to LenDale White. What they should be looking for is a change of pace back that can get to the outside to counter White’s between-the-tackles running style. Defensive tackle is also a need that will be addressed in the later rounds.
The Pick: Much to his credit, Vince Young has been silent through this free agent period. The lack of help that he’s been given has raised eyebrows throughout the league. The Titans try to right the ship with the 24th pick…I hope it’s not too late.
(Media Credit: Jordan Gomez)
Limas Sweed from the University of Texas is the best receiver in the draft when it comes to breaking press coverage at the line of scrimmage. Therefore, teams that want to blitz Young will have the 6’4″ Sweed to worry about. Sweed also runs a 4.5 40 and should be a threat down field as well. I would love to see Vince air a few out this season.
The titans need a WR and they have Crumpler as a TE and Bo Scaife so TE is no where near a weakspot. Haynesworth is locked in, with the Fran Tag. They have three RBs, White and C. Brown as a change of pace back.
They really need a star RB, CB, and more quality OLinemen.
“They really need a star RB, CB, and more quality OLinemen.”
not star RB, star WR.
What do I have listed as their first need? If Bo Scaife was holding his own they wouldn’t need Crumpler who has 2 seasons tops at a decent level left. That’s enough time to groom a tight end.
Do you even know this team? Chris Brown plays for the Texans now so they do need another back like I said before.
Wide receiver and running back are two of the bigger needs on this team.
I know you wanna debate or whatever, I may slip up when it comes to the NBA as a whole because I don’t follow it like I used to. But when it comes to this (NFL) you better know your sh*t, you’re coming with an argument and dude doesn’t even play for the team anymore.
To add on, yes Haynesworth does have the Franchise Tag meaning that the chances of him not being there next season are good. So you draft defensive tackle just in case, it’s called insurance. If he re-signs, you pair them up in the middle. Last time I checked the Titans play a 4-3.
I don’t care what you have listed for their first need, I wasn’t talking about what you had listed for their first need, I’m talking about why you had RB, TE, and Haynesworth listed as needs.
Bo Scaife is holding his own, and doing a damn fine job, Crumpler only increases their TE depth, might even allow them to run double TE sets and make use of VY’s excellent short range passing. Regardless, TE is not a need since they have 1 great TE and 1 good and getting better TE.
As for RB, I mistyped, I meant Chris Henry, not Brown. So like I said before, they have a nice RB core of White with a change of pace back in Chris HENRY.
WR is the only need. You obviously don’t know your shit when it comes to the NFL because you have fucked up big time in some of your team evaluations, I just chose to comment on this one.
As for Haynesworth, who gives a damn if he won’t be there after the next season. He was sucking up until last season, seems to me like he is a contract player and only plays hard when he wants to renegociate. They’ll use him for this season and hopefully he puts up the same numbers, if he does, he’ll probably get his big contract.
As for what the Titans play, yeah they play 4-3, what is your point though. We weren’t discussing what defense they run any way. Oh I get it, you are trying to demonstrate your crack NFL knowledge I got you. Keep working on that brah.
Like I said, Titans need to concentrate on their CB core, Safeties as well, more than the RB, TE, and Haynesworth. My $.02
I had Haynesworth as a GM since he seems to be the only one in the organization to acknowledge that Young needs help that was done in jest.
Tell me how Chris Henry is a nice change of pace back when he hasn’t had enough touches for anyone to see that. 7 games played 31 carries 119 yards 2 tds. He was suspended 4 games and inactive for five. WHAT GAMES ARE YOU WATCHING!!!
Reason for me saying that the Titans play a 4-3 was because if they chose to draft a DT they would be better than anyone other than Haynesworth that they have now.
And it’s not brah, it’s Bruh.
You’re whiter than I give you credit for.
I really don’t care why you had Haynesworth for whatever you had him for.
Chris Henry is a nice change of pace back because he does not run anything like LenDale White, I know this from watchin him split carries last year, and from watching him in college. Its very easy. It seems you do not even know he played last year, how sad for you, you NFL uber-knowledge must have missed that.
As for the Titans LB core and Line, I think it is solid enough as is, providing Haynesworth continues his monster play. If he does, they would simply need CB help to cut down on people airing it out on them constantly.
Its brah where I’m at,
. bruh = brewha, WTF, you from the islands or something?
Mr. White — I just gave you his stats from last season.
I’m from Philly where we talk with base in our voice. I’m about as far away from the Islands as you are being black.
I tell you what give me YOUR mock draft.
You gave me his stats, I’m talking about his running style, they are very different, this is why he is a change of pace back, he brings speed, catching, and elusiveness while LenDale is a straight ahead runner.
Yes he missed four games, and sat out 5, he still played the other 7 games splitting with Brown and White.
I don’t know how Philly people talk, I only know you all specialize in crime and cheese steaks. Scratch that I do know a Philly chick.
I really don’t do draft picks, I look at team needs more than who they will select.
TBR:
I would be shocked if the Steelers took the DB out of Kansas. I like his game – but I’m not sure he’s even a Steeler-type DB. Also, Kiper has him going as high as #10 to New Orleans. The needs on the O-line are tremendous – but knowing them, they’ll look in the 3rd to 5th rounds to make their pick. The Steelers need tackles and guards. They don’t get much push, they’re not good at pass protection and the running game is inconsistent.
If the Steelers draft a corner in the first round – he better be head and shoulders above the competition. Also, if Ike Taylor could catch, he’d be a household name because he drops 7 or 8 balls every year. The thing that assured the end to their season was the injury to Aaron Smith. With their scheme, there are only 3 guys on the entire defense that cannot be replaced: Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, and Troy Polamalu — all 3 were injured last year.
(I’d add Farrior, but the Steelers have been replacing legends at linebacker since the 70′s. They haven’t missed a beat.)
I’d don’t think he would fall that far either, I just made the picks based on team needs and selected the best guy available. No way do I expect the draft to play out like this.
Yeah they do need to replace Faneca. Talbi will be the 2nd or 3rd corner taken.
Correction on the name: Talib.
The Cowboys need to ignore all the hype and just go out and play football.. one game at a time.