2008 NFL Draft - Second
Round
- 2008 NFL Draft Breakdown and Analysis
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ROUND 2 |
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# |
Pick |
Team |
|
1 |
32 |
Miami
Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
The upside is limitless if a coaching staff is willing to be
patient and will work with him on becoming a more refined pass
rusher. He's great at getting to the quarterback and creating
pressure, but he needs to become a better closer, which likely
would've happened if he had stayed for his senior season. With
excellent size, he can be a near-perfect end in a 4-3 and has
the quickness to grow into a top pass rusher in a 3-4. Always
working and always on, he never dogs a play and is always going
full-tilt. While he was hurt and wasn't able to work out as
expected this off-season, that only got some teams excited about
the possibility to get him on the cheap. There's no real
downside, and he could become special in a few years.
CFN Projection: First Round
CFN Position Rank:
2 |
|
2 |
33 |
St. Louis
Donnie Avery, WR Houston
A slight disappointment at the Combine, he was fast, but he
didn't put up the blazing sub-4.4 time expected. That could be
seen as a slight positive; that means he just played really,
really fast. He's a gamebreaker and a polished deep runner who
can blow by any corner who doesn't get a jam right away. He'll
have to work on some basic mechanics and his hands are
questionable, but he's not pretending to be the next Wes Welker;
he's a long-ball hitter.
CFN Projection: Mid-Second to Third Round
CFN Position Rank: 13 |
|
3 |
34 |
Washington
(from Tampa Bay)
Devin
Thomas, WR Michigan State
One of the biggest boom-or-bust picks of the draft, Thomas only
produced for one year after coming to MSU from the JUCO ranks.
He has decent size, excellent speed, and great moves in the open
field. In a draft full of NFL No. 2 receivers, Thomas is the one
who could be a No. 1 if everything works out. He has the
make-up, the deep speed, and the toughness to revolve a passing
game around. However, and it's a huge however, he needs the
right coaching and a lot of breaking in. He might not be ready
to star right away, he'll need some polish to his route running
and he needs to prove he can handle the responsibility of being
the guy, but the sky's the limit.
CFN Projection: Late First to Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 3 |
|
4 |
35 |
Kansas City
Brandon Flowers, CB/FS Virginia Tech
Flowers grew into a big-time ball-hawker over his last two years
at Virginia Tech breaking up 35 passes and picking off eight
throws. A great tackler who seems to crave the assignment of
facing a top-flight receiver, he has a safety hitting mentality
in the body of a brash corner. His problem is his speed; he
doesn't have much. In a draft with so many speed corners,
running a 4.59 makes him no better than several linebackers.
He'll eventually have to be moved to safety.
CFN Projection: Second Round to Third Round
CFN Position Rank:
5 |
|
5 |
36 |
Green Bay
(from NY Jets)
Jordy Nelson, WR Kansas State
Ultra-productive in his senior year no matter who covered him or
what any defense tried to do, Nelson blew up into an unstoppable
machine any time he touched the ball. While he's not going to
blow past anyone and he's not as physical as his size might
show, but he has functional speed and can separate when needed.
Outside of a serious injury, there's no bust potential
whatsoever. He plays hurt, has nice hands, and can be used in a
variety of ways. He'll have a ten-year career as a complimentary
receiver. If he goes to a team with a star No. 1, he'll be
outstanding.
CFN Projection: Second To Third Round
CFN Position Rank: 4 |
|
6 |
37 |
Atlanta
Curtis Lofton, ILB Oklahoma
A tremendous inside presence, the 243-pound playmaker is a
consistent big-hitter who's great when the spotlight goes on.
The best pure inside linebacker in the draft, Lofton plays
better than his athleticism because he always knows what he's
doing and has great anticipation. While he might not be able to
run down too many speedsters, he takes good enough angles to
overcome his lack of raw speed. He's a flat-out baller.
CFN Projection:
Second Round CFN Position Rank: 4 |
|
7 |
38 |
Seattle (from
Baltimore)
John Carlson, TE Notre Dame
A mega-flop in off-season workouts after being considered by
many to be the top tight end prospect after the season ended, he
made up for a disastrous Combine with a decent pro day workout
to get back in the overall picture. Even so, he still timed
relatively slow and he's just not strong enough to be a dominant
blocker. On the plus side, he's big, smart, and can catch the
ball easily. After slipping in everyone's rankings, he should
bounce back to become a steady starters.
CFN Projection: Late Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 4 |
|
8 |
39 |
San Francisco
Chilo Rachal, OG USC
He could've used another year in school, leaving early due to
family medical issues, but he's just fine as a guard prospect if
he's allowed a little time to develop. He'll have problems
against quicker linemen and isn't a great pass protector, but he
has good size and nice power for the ground game. If he has to
be nimble and has to get on the move in a finesse offense, he
won't fit. Ask him to hit someone over and over again on a
second half drive and he'll get the job done.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN
Position Rank: 2 |
|
9 |
40 |
New Orleans
Tracy Porter, CB Indiana
Arguably the best corner in the Big Ten that no one paid any
attention to, Porter was a great three-and-a-half year starter
with nice 4.49 speed and good shut-down ability. He made a lot
of tackles, including 83 last season, but he's not the best run
stopper and he'll get shoved around by the bigger, stronger
receivers. He should be a nice second corner and a tremendous
third man in the mix.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN
Position Rank:
13 |
|
10 |
41 |
Buffalo
James Hardy, WR Indiana
The receiver call of the draft. A total mellonhead at times in
his Indiana career, he had a variety of off-the-field issues
early in his career, and while he's supposedly a changed man,
there will always be that question mark. However, most star NFL
receivers haven't exactly been choir boys. Hardy isn't going to
blaze past anyone and will have problems when matched up against
a physical lock-down corner, but at 6-6 and 215 pounds with
tremendous leaping skills and a nose for the end zone, he could
be a killer goal line option on jump ball. More than anything
else, he made plays. There's no projecting on what his could
do, like a Limas Sweed; Hardy produced.
CFN Projection: Second Round CFN
Position Rank: 2 |
|
11 |
42 |
Denver
Eddie Royal, WR Virginia Tech
An attractive prospect because of his return ability as much as
his receiving skills, he never really blew up as a college
target, but that was because Virginia Tech wasn't exactly Texas
Tech when it came to throwing the ball. He has good speed, but
not elite wheels, and he's not big enough to take any sort of a
pounding across the middle. He'll bust his tail to find a role
somewhere and could eventually become a nice option in the slot.
He'll be an underwhelming No. 2 but a great No. 3
CFN Projection: Mid-Third to Fourth Round
CFN Position Rank:
14 |
|
12 |
43 |
Minnesota
(from Philadelphia)
Tyrell Johnson, SS Arkansas State
Kind of like a critically acclaimed underground movie that's
finally getting a wide release, Johnson goes from being a star
that most college football junkies knew about for the last four
years to a possible big-value selection. A tremendous starter
from day one, Johnson can do it all with 363 career tackles and
13 interceptions to go along with good leadership skills. Forget
about the stigma of playing in the Sun Belt; he showed up
against the big boys, too. A huge hitter with fantastic speed,
timing a 4.44 at the Combine, he just needs a little bit of
coaching to put it all together and be a possible star. He'll be
an instant impact player
CFN Projection: Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 2 |
|
13 |
44 |
Chicago
Matt Forte, RB Tulane
Forte is the back for those who believe breakaway speed is
overrated. After all, how many backs tear off 40-yard runs?
Forte doesn't have great straight-line speed, but he's a strong
inside runner who was extremely dependable last season rushing
for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Green Wave. A big
runner who pounds away, he's a positive carry every time he
touches the ball. If you're looking for a thrilling back who'll
make the highlight reel, that's not Forte. If you're looking for
a steady, dependable all-around back who can catch, pound, and
work his tail off, that's Forte.
CFN Projection: Third Round
CFN Position Rank: 9 |
|
14 |
45 |
Detroit
Jordon Dizon, LB Colorado
An undersized, ultra-productive tackler who came up with a
whopping 297 stops, most of them solo, over the last two
seasons. He's always working, has a tremendous motor, and finds
his way to the ball over and over again. He's a good athlete,
but he's not an elite one and it'll be asking a lot to hold up
in a 16-game schedule at just 5-11 and 229 pounds. He plays
through everything, including dehydration issues, and he'll have
to prove he can handle the duties on the outside, but he'll be a
major-league producer in the right system.
CFN Projection: Third to Fourth Round
CFN Position Rank: 8 |
|
15 |
46 |
Cincinnati
Jerome Simpson, WR Coastal Carolina
With great hands, good enough size, and O.K. speed, he looks the
part of a regular starting NFL receiver. A little too thin and
not a polished or disciplined route runner, he's hardly a
sure-thing and he'll need a lot of coaching and work. However,
there's upside. He'll work to be better and he'll make plays
with the ball in his hands, but he's not going to be a deep
threat and he's not going to carry anyone's passing game. He'll
be a sure-handed third down target who could quickly become a
quarterback's best friend.
CFN Projection: Mid-Third to Fourth Round
CFN Position Rank: 15 |
|
16 |
47 |
Philadelphia (from Minnesota)
Trevor Laws, DT Notre Dame
112 tackles as a senior. For a tackle. Again, 112 tackles in one
season. While he's not necessarily a tackle to build a defense
around, he has the drive and the fire to become a bear of a
starter and a phenomenal second interior option next to a bigger
established starter. Very active and with a great motor, he can
be used in a variety of ways and will still produce. At only
six-feet tall, he's a bit of a bowling ball and he isn't a good
interior pass rusher, but he'll make plays and will always keep
working.
CFN Projection: Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 3 |
|
17 |
48 |
Washington (from Atlanta)
Fred Davis, TE USC
While he timed well, he has been underwhelming in post-season
workouts and hasn't stood out like many assumed he would
considering he was the Mackey Award winner. For all intents and
purposes he was the USC passing game last season with a great
63-catch, eight touchdown season and he can be plugged right in
and can roll from day one. He's not huge and he's not going to
dominate anyone with his blocking skills, but he's a big
receiver who could blow up in the right system.
CFN Projection: Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 2 |
|
18 |
49 |
Philadelphia
DeSean Jackson, WR California
If you're asking Jackson to be a star target to revolve an NFL
offense around, he's not going to be it. If you're asking him to
go deep five times a game to clear out the safeties and have a
gaudy yard-per-catch average, he's your guy. Make him a No. 2 or
No. 3 target against a relatively slow defensive back and he'll
hit home run after home run. The problem is his size. He's never
going to be big, he's always going to be too thin, and he's not
going to be a smallish physical receiver, like a Steve Smith.
Banged up at times, he was a major disappointment in 2007; he
didn't make the Cal offense better. Still, his blinding speed
and electrifying return skills make him a fun weapon to have in
the arsenal.
CFN Projection: Late First to Second Round
CFN Position Rank:
8 |
|
19 |
50 |
Arizona
Calais Campbell, DE Miami
Potentially the boom or bust pick in the draft, Campbell has
freakish size at close to 6-8 and 290 pounds. While he's not
fast, he's a good athlete who has functional football speed with
the ability to chase down ball-carriers. Ultra-productive, did
it all his sophomore year with a whopping 84 tackles and 20.5
tackles for loss, and while his numbers dipped a bit last year,
he still had a nice season. However, he's raw. He disappeared at
times against the better tackles and he has to learn how to play
like the biggest, baddest end around. Don't expect a Pro Bowl
rookie season, but by year three he could end up being the best
defensive lineman in this draft.
CFN Projection: Late First Round to Early
Second Round CFN Position Rank: 5 |
|
20 |
51 |
Washington
Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
While Kelly has the look of a No. 1 receiver and he should grow
into the role, he has a ceiling. A hard one. Without the
high-end speed needed to be a star, he'll have to use his great
size to be a physical target who outjumps and outmuscles his way
for the ball. He's tough, isn't afraid to take a shot or two,
and can make some moves in the open field, but he could
potentially be shut down cold by the fastest NFL corners. He
still needs a little bit of coaching to improve his technique
and there's a knee injury that's a bit of a concern, but if
someone can light the fire, he'll be the steadiest, surest
receiver prospect. He just might not be the most spectacular.
CFN Projection: Late First Round
CFN Position Rank:
1 |
|
21 |
52 |
Jacksonville
(from Tampa Bay)
Quentin Groves, OLB/DE Auburn
Groves is a textbook example of how lazy scouts can be. He came
back for his senior year and was a bit of a disappointment,
which led to him getting downgraded. Lost in the analysis by
many was how Groves tried to play through dislocated toes, not
just a toe, along with a shoulder. If used right, he's going to
be a devastating pro with tremendous speed to be a perfect 3-4
outside linebacker/defensive end. He needs to turn up the
intensity and he could get more physical against the run, but
he's the type of toy defensive coordinators love to play with.
CFN Projection: Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 5 (as a LB) |
|
22 |
53 |
Pittsburgh
Limas Sweed, WR Texas
Outside of the wrist injury that cost him most of last year, he
has it all. Tremendous size, good enough speed, and fantastic
athleticism, he looks the part of a receiver to build a passing
game around. He's not a receiver to build a passing game around.
Too streaky and not a dominant player at any time at the
collegiate level, he was simply above-average, never special. To
compare him to a similar sized Longhorn receiver, Sweed isn't as
fast as Roy Williams and isn't even in the same league when it
comes to home run hitting potential. He'll work his tail off and
will be a very productive ten-year pro, but while there's no
real downside, it'll take a special set of circumstances to be a
star.
CFN Projection: Late First to Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 7 |
|
23 |
54 |
Tennessee
Jason Jones, DE/DT Eastern Michigan
An interesting prospect who could pay off big with a little
time, Jones was a quick, undersized tackle at EMU who was great
at getting into the backfield. He's actually more of an
oversized end at 6-5 and 275 pounds with excellent speed and
versatility. If he wants it and will work for it, he'll have the
chance to grow into a steady starter.
CFN Projection: Late Third Round to Early
Fourth Round CFN Position Rank:
10 (as a DE) |
|
24 |
55 |
Baltimore
(from Seattle)
Ray Rice, RB Rutgers
It all depends on how much of a chance someone is willing to
give him. Rice has a lot of tread on the tires. A LOT. On the
plus side, he proved he could handle a big workload and was
ultra-durable. However, if you're a believer that a back only
has so many carries in him, the 935 total touches in three years
at Rutgers might mean a short shelf live. Who cares about five
years from now? For the next few seasons, Rice could turn into a
productive, consistent runner at a high level if he's allowed to
pound away. His size, around 5-8, could be a positive as he'll
dart in and out of the line behind his big blockers. Much faster
than he looked on the field, he has the speed to hit the home
run, but that's just gravy. He'll be a consistent
positive-yardage machine if he's a featured back for a stretch.
He's not the type to get a few carries here and there; he'll
need a few series here and there.
CFN Projection: Late Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 6 |
|
25 |
56 |
Green Bay
Brian Brohm, QB Louisville
The brother of former New York Jet Jeff Brohm was groomed to be
a pro passer. He's as NFL ready as any quarterback prospect
having been a star for his entire career. The pressure was on
from day one to produce, and he did. He's not the greatest
athlete and his arm is just average, but he can make the throws
needed. The big issue will be his durability. While he's an
abnormally quick healer, he suffered a few major injuries
throughout his career and can't be counted on for a full 16-game
NFL slate. He took his lumps in a disappointing senior season,
at least for Louisville, and that could be a good thing; he
never quit on his team during a dud year.
CFN Projection: Late First Round CFN
Position Rank: 2 |
|
26 |
57 |
Miami
Chad
Henne, QB Michigan
With the right coaching and a little bit of time to fine-tune
his arm and his mechanics, he could turn out to be a steal.
Strong with a gun of an arm, he can make any throw and can drive
the ball to any spot needed at a high NFL level, but he needs
time to throw and he needs a good line to work behind. He's not
going to move too much and he needs to step up and fire or else
his accuracy wavers; he's not going to make anything happen on
his own. He could become another Matt Schaub who sits behind
someone for a little while and builds a big buzz before getting
a big payday in the free agency market.
CFN Projection: Late Second Round CFN
Position Rank: 3 |
|
27 |
58 |
Tampa Bay
(from Jacksonville)
Dexter Jackson, WR Appalachian State
Unreal speed, he cranked out a 4.36 to build on the brewing buzz
building after the Michigan win. Stronger and more physical than
his size, he won't be afraid to take a hit and is more than
quick enough to avoid tacklers on the move. Just get him the
ball in a variety of ways and let him go to work. The problem
will be his size at 5-9 and 182 pounds. He's not going to block
anyone and he'll get shoved around by the stronger NFL corners.
Even so, he'll be a killer slot receiver if he's not the focal
point of a passing game.
CFN Projection: Mid-Second to Third Round
CFN Position Rank:
10 |
|
28 |
59 |
Indianapolis
Mike Pollak, C/OG Arizona State
Able to play center or guard the big, strong anchor of the
Arizona State line is great on the move and is the type of
player who'll be plugged into a lineup and won't leave for ten
years. It's not his fault the Sun Devil line had such a lousy
year in pass protection. While he's not a brutish run blocker
and isn't going to flatten too many defenders at the pro level,
he can be a dependable cog in a finesse attack.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN
Position Rank:
1 |
|
29 |
60 |
Green Bay
Patrick Lee, CB Auburn
With great speed and excellent size, he looks the part of a
top-flight corner and he's not afraid to play like it both
against the run and when the ball is in the air. He'll do
whatever is needed and is a very willing worker who'll try to do
whatever is needed to help the team. He only started for one
year and he needs time to learn how to be an elite corner, but
it's all there for him if someone is willing to be a little bit
patient.
CFN Projection: Second Round to Third Round
CFN Position Rank: 12 |
|
30 |
61 |
Dallas
Martellus Bennett, TE Texas A&M
A big, imposing target, even if he's a big thin on a 6-6 frame,
Bennett looks like an NFL tight end. Athletic with the moves of
a big receiver, he's smooth and strong when the ball comes his
way. He's not all that fast and he needs to prove he can produce
at a high level after being underutilized at A&M, but the former
basketball player could be another Antonio Gates if he reaches
his potential.
CFN Projection: Late Second Round
CFN Position Rank: 3 |
|
31 |
62 |
New England
Terrence Wheatley, CB Colorado
While he's not all that big at just 5-9 and 187 pounds, he hits
like a much bigger player and has elite speed. Because of his
size he'll have injury problems, and missed all of 2005 with a
wrist injury, but he's not going to stop hitting and he should
play a role in some was as a nickelback or as a No. 2
cover-corner. As long as he knows what his role is and doesn't
try to be something he's not, he should last in the league a
long time.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN
Position Rank:
16 |
|
32 |
63 |
NY Giants
Terrell Thomas, CB USC
Strong with good size and good quickness, he's a good form
corner who isn't afraid to take chances, for good and bad, and
isn't afraid to hit. While he's not a blazer, he's able to keep
up with the speedier receivers and can bully the smallish ones.
He's had injury problems and he doesn't have the talent to be a
No. 1 NFL corner, but he'd be a good two and he could end up
moving to safety as his career goes on.
CFN Projection: Third Round CFN
Position Rank: 15 |
- 2008 NFL Draft Breakdown and Analysis
1st Round
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