Fri Apr 4 11:52:15 2008

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Line of Scrimmage: Inside the 2008 Draft - The NFC

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Below we take a brief look at the Draft day needs and probable strategies of each of the NFC's 16 teams (AFC capsules can be found at: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page= nfl/news/news.aspx?id=4142757).

The Sports Network's updated mock draft can be found at:

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page= nfl/news/news.aspx?id=4142755

NFC EAST

Dallas (13-3)

First Pick: No. 22

Number of Selections: 8 (1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Summary: Dallas is the only team with two first-round picks (No. 22 and No. 28), which has fueled speculation that owner Jerry Jones will seek to trade up to make a big splash with a player such as Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. Jones has stated publicly that he is not interested in doing so, which is the prudent move, especially with fine rusher Marion Barber already on the roster. One of the Cowboys' two first-round picks will almost definitely go to a receiver, with Michigan State's Devin Thomas, Cal's DeSean Jackson, and Texas' Limas Sweed among the possible selections. Next on the Dallas list should be a cornerback, and this happens to be a deep draft at that position. Help on the offensive and defensive lines is always nice, and will probably be a mid-round focus. Also, don't be totally shocked to see the Cowboys take a quarterback in the early rounds, since Brad Johnson turns 40 in September and the team needs a credible Plan B.

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N.Y. Giants (10-6)

First Pick: No. 31

Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6)

Summary: The usual player exile befalling Super Bowl champs afflicted the Giants, who lost linebackers Kawika Mitchell (Bills) and Reggie Torbor (Dolphins), safety Gibril Wilson (Raiders), and defensive tackle William Joseph (Raiders) to free agency. The G-Men have people to replace the LBs (holdovers Mathias Kiwanuka and Gerris Wilkinson) as well as Wilson (free agent pickup Sammy Knight), but need to add depth behind those players. The secondary was a particular trouble spot last year, and a player like Miami- Florida safety Kenny Phillips would give the team some additional flexibility in that regard. The biggest need on offense is on the line, which overachieved last season but can't expect the left-side tandem of tackle David Diehl and guard Rich Seubert to hold up forever. Don't be surprised to see New York use an early pick on a trench guy.

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Philadelphia (8-8)

First Pick: No. 19

Number of Selections: 11 (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7)

Summary: The Eagles own a league-high-tying 11 picks in the 2008 Draft, and that number could swell to 12 if the team deals cornerback Lito Sheppard for a mid-round pick, as expected. Because Philadelphia doesn't have any absolute crying needs, it can afford to select based on overall value rather than for position, though if the team fails to pick a receiver, a versatile defensive end, and a starting safety candidate fairly early in the proceedings, it will be a surprise. Elsewhere on defense, a young linebacking corps could use some additional depth, and a potential nickel corner would be nice as well. Apart from the receiver slot, the biggest offensive concern has to be along an aging line, where Jon Runyan (34 years old) and the recently re-re-named Tra Thomas (33) are among the oldest tackle tandems in the league.

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Washington (9-7)

First Pick: No. 21

Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7)

Summary: This is a critical draft for first-year head coach Jim Zorn, who needs to have more hits than misses to keep owner Daniel Snyder from ruining team chemistry with a hasty free agent buying spree next winter. Zorn must locate a good possession receiver for Jason Campbell to throw to in the club's new west coast scheme, and the team's offensive line corps is average at best as currently configured. Another of the Redskins' four early picks is likely to go to a pass rusher, since Washington again ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks a year ago. At the back end of the defense, a secondary playmaker should be coveted, as five of the team's 14 interceptions of 2007 were recorded by the late Sean Taylor. Also, some depth behind 33-year-old middle linebacker London Fletcher would also be a good thing.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta (4-12)

First Pick: No. 3

Number of Selections: 11 (1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7)

Summary: How the new Falcons braintrust of GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith performs in its first draft will have much to say about how quickly the franchise is able to rebuild. With six picks in the first three rounds, Atlanta must locate multiple immediate starters to help change the face of the roster. The team wouldn't be wrong to pick Michigan tackle Jake Long or LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey at No. 3, though it stands to reason that a team in need of both a marketing magnet and a good player will select Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan in that position. After that, the Falcons will be one of the few teams paying little attention to filling specific positional holes - other than at running back, Atlanta needs help absolutely everywhere.

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Carolina (7-9)

First Pick: No. 13

Number of Selections: 10 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7)

Summary: Like the Ravens and Bears, the Panthers are a team that needs a ready-to-play quarterback but isn't likely to find value for one at its current position in the first round. Thus, expect Carolina to wait until the 43rd pick to select its QB of the future, and to address other needs at No. 13. The Panthers had major trouble rushing the quarterback last year, so a complement to Julius Peppers figures to be the first-round target for the embattled John Fox and his club. Another possibility, depending on how the dominoes fall, is offensive line help. Ex-starters Justin Hartwig (Steelers) and Mike Wahle (Seahawks) have both changed addresses in the offseason. Locating additional depth in the secondary and in the backfield figure to be later-round priorities.

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New Orleans (7-9)

First Pick: No. 10

Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)

Summary: After taking an offensive player in each of the past three first- rounds, New Orleans is almost certain to address the defense with its No. 10 pick this year. Specifically, a long-underachieving secondary requires some reinforcements, and the Saints should be able to get a very good corner - Mike Jenkins (South Florida), Leodis McKelvin (Troy), or Aqib Talib (Kansas) - with its initial selection. A pass rusher to take some pressure off of the hot-and- cold Will Smith could be another early-round target, a move that would allow Charles Grant to move inside and help fix a shaky interior line. Trench help would also be a good addition on offense, where the team lost reliable center Jeff Faine to division rival Tampa Bay in free agency. If the Saints draft a skill player, it could very well be a wideout, since the team did not have a consistent complement to Marques Colston a year ago.

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Tampa Bay (9-7)

First Pick: No. 20

Number of Selections: 5 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Summary: Picking wide receivers in the first round is a tricky thing indeed (see: Charles Rogers, Mike Williams), but with Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard both on the decline, the Bucs seem certain to roll the dice in that regard. Tampa probably won't get Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly with this pick, meaning the choice could be among Devin Thomas (Michigan State), Limas Sweed (Texas), and DeSean Jackson (Cal). That's not to say the Bucs don't have other needs (offensive tackle, defensive end, cornerback), but they have a better chance of finding ready-to-play figures at those positions in the second, third, and fourth rounds. As for the quarterback spot, Tampa sent a message about their plans when they traded for Brian Griese last month. The Bucs look certain to wait another year before locating Jeff Garcia's heir apparent.

NFC NORTH

Chicago (7-9)

First Pick: No. 14

Number of Selections: 11 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7)

Summary: Chicago has an unbelievably poor history of picking backs and receivers in the first-round (Cedric Benson, Rex Grossman, David Terrell, Cade McNown, Curtis Enis, Rashaan Salaam), and you have to go all the way back to Curtis Conway in 1993 to find such a player that was a consistent pro contributor. And, here the Bears find themselves again, needing an offensive playmaker and trying not to make another major mistake. Running back and local favorite Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) is a possibility, but a team with Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd (yikes!) penciled in as the starting receivers might be better served by targeting a wideout. Conventional wisdom suggests that the club will wait until the 44th pick to select a quarterback, with Joe Flacco (Delaware) or Chad Henne (Michigan) possible options. Offensive line is next on the priority scale, and the defense needs both tackle and safety help. Good thing this team has 11 picks.

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Detroit (7-9)

First Pick: No. 15

Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Summary: The Lions struggled mightily on defense throughout most of 2007, and the fact that Rod Marinelli's area of expertise is on that side of the ball might lead you to believe that Detroit would look in that direction with the No. 15 pick. Defensive line and secondary help are among the top priorities in that realm. However, the Lions' offensive line was also poor, meaning that if a player like tackle Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) is available in the first round, the team could also seek to go in that direction. A third possibility, following the disappointing 2007 season turned in by Tatum Bell and the subsequent jettisoning of Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett, is that the team will be consider the likes of Felix Jones (Arkansas), Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) or some other running back. Whatever order the team comes up with to address those needs, all must be tended to.

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Green Bay (13-3)

First Pick: No. 30

Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7)

Summary: The Packers' most-scrutinized pick of the 2008 Draft won't come in the first round, as the potential backup to quarterback Aaron Rodgers figures to be tabbed no earlier than the third. It is unlikely that the team would undermine Rodgers' confidence by drafting a QB any earlier, and it remains likely that the club will bring in a veteran arm (Byron Leftwich? Daunte Culpepper? Former Mike McCarthy pupil Aaron Brooks?) to be the short- term Plan B. Instead, at least one of Green Bay's three first-day picks should be a cornerback, as Charles Woodson (31 years old) and Al Harris (33) can't be expected to play at an elite level much longer. Defensive line help also figures to be a priority after the team dealt Corey Williams to the Browns, and a tight end to back Donald Lee would also be helpful to the Pack.

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Minnesota (8-8)

First Pick: No. 17

Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7)

Summary: The most-publicized problem for the Vikings of late has been an inability to both throw and catch the football, and conventional wisdom suggests that a quarterback, receiver, and perhaps a tight end will be high on the team's priority list. At the same time, no Minnesota player tallied more than five sacks last season, and with Kenechi Udeze expected to miss time with a reported case of leukemia, and Erasmus James still a question mark due to a perpetually injured knee, the Vikes might draft a first-round defensive end for the third time in the last five years. If available, Florida's Derrick Harvey is a real possibility. After addressing the QB and wideout situations, Minnesota might want to target some offensive line depth given the age (32), injury history, and contract dissatisfaction of center Matt Birk, the recurring legal problems experienced by left tackle Bryant McKinnie, and the shaky play of recent first-day draft choices Ryan Cook and Marcus Johnson.

NFC WEST

Arizona (8-8)

First Pick: No. 16

Number of Selections: 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Summary: The Cardinals' reported interest in Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard is an indication that they're not happy with that area, and if they can't swing a deal for Sheppard, expect the team to look long and hard at the cornerbacks available at No. 16. It's not out of the question that the team would pick a safety such as Miami's Kenny Phillips either. The recent signing of ex-Steeler Clark Haggans mitigates the free agent loss of Calvin Pace (Jets) somewhat, but the fact that Haggans is effectively a one-year rental means the club might look at a versatile LB like Keith Rivers (USC) if one of their coveted secondary figures isn't available in the first. Some mock drafts have Arizona taking a running back early, given the age of Edgerrin James (30 in August) and the lack of depth behind him. But we expect that Ken Whisenhunt, who had great success with undrafted free agent Willie Parker while in Pittsburgh, will put far less of a premium on running back talent.

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St. Louis (3-13)

2007 Record: 3-13

First Pick: No. 2

Summary: The Rams had a mind-boggling confluence of offensive line issues last season, beginning with the season-ending injury to left tackle Orlando Pace, and only signed one new o-lineman - ex-Titans guard Jacob Bell - during the subsequent free agency period. Inasmuch, it would be strange for a team that gave up 48 sacks a year ago to do anything other than pick Michigan tackle Jake Long at No. 2. The other big needs reside within the defensive front seven, where the team must find a reliable complement to Leonard Little at defensive end, and need a linebacking contributor [or two] following Brandon Chillar's free agent defection to the Packers. Receiving talent is not generally among this team's trouble spots, but the respective ages of holdovers Torry Holt (32), Drew Bennett (30), and tight end Randy McMichael (29) might prompt the team to select another set of hands in the middle rounds.

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San Francisco (5-11)

First Pick: No. 29

Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7)

Summary: The 49ers have to win in 2008 in order for Mike Nolan to keep his job, and for that to happen, new coordinator Mike Martz's offense must take hold. Since the Niners look set to gamble with either Alex Smith or Shaun Hill at the quarterback spot, the next potential trouble spot to address is along the line. With the No. 29 pick, the club ought to take the best lineman - preferably a tackle - available. Elsewhere, San Francisco brought in a couple of receivers (Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson) to help out, but needs at least one more contributor in that area. The defense is better following the signings of end Justin Smith (Bengals) and Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings), but the club still lacks a high-level edge pass rusher, and needs depth throughout all areas of the defensive two-deep.

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Seattle (10-6)

First Pick: No. 25

Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7)

Summary: Though this draft figures to be colored more by heir apparent Jim Mora's vision for the Seahawks than that of short-timer Mike Holmgren, the team simply can't afford to take a defense-heavy approach. Wideout Bobby Engram is past his sell-by date (he turned 35 in January), D.J. Hackett defected to the Panthers via free agency, and there is a major void at the tight end position that needs attention. In addition, the offensive line has never been the same since Steve Hutchinson left for Minnesota, and longtime line stalwart Walter Jones is 34. Don't be surprised to see Seattle go offense with its first three or four picks. The major problem area on defense is on the interior line, where Ellis Wyms (Vikings) and Chuck Darby (Lions) were both lost to free agency, and the club needs to restore some depth.