The Football Wire Mock Draft #3

This is our 3rd shot at this thing. We think this one is a little closer to reality. It's difficult to know what teams will jump up or down. There are certain positions that teams will reach on. Offensive tackle is one of those. Offensive tackles have lower bust rates so teams tend to reach more on the position.

This is also done without taking into account the possible Jared Allen to Minnesota trade. It looks as if Kansas City Chiefs GM Carl Peterson will try to pry as much as he can out of the Vikings on this one.

1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long (OT - Michigan) - Obvious need, among others, although smoke screens make this a difficult pick to judge.

2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long (DE - Virginia) - Defense all the way. Addressed the line early last year as well with Adam Carriker.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan (QB - Boston College) - Pretty obvious. Dorsey or Ryan here, but you have to take a QB when you can (even if he probably won't be that 'franchise' type of guy).

4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden (RB - Arkansas) - Al Davis type move. Most exciting player left.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey (DT - LSU) - Per Herm Edwards style, look for him to address the defense first. And per GM Carl Peterson's style, look for the Chiefs to address the offensive line later.

6. New York Jets - Vernon Gholston (DE - Ohio State) - 3-4 DE/LB should fit in well.

7. New England Patriots - Keith Rivers (LB - Southern Cal) - Old LBs make this a good fit.

8. Baltimore Ravens - Ryan Clady (OT - Boise State) - Is Jonathan Ogden retiring or what?

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis (DT - Southern Cal) - Plugs the hole in the middle. Should be able to apply more pressure up the middle giving a little leeway to their last 2 1st round picks.

10. New Orleans Saints - Leodis McKelvin (CB - Troy) - LB and CB are big needs. CB is best available at this point.

11. Buffalo Bills - Devin Thomas (WR - Michigan State) - Should team nicely with Lee Evans. These two will give Trent Edwards a good set of options.

12. Denver Broncos - Derrick Harvey (DE - Florida) - Menacing rush off the edge should help annual need at LB.

13. Carolina Panthers - Chris Williams (OT - Vanderbilt) - Addressing the line alleviates a need at RB.

14. Chicago Bears - Jeff Otah (OT - Pittsburgh) - Offensive line is getting old. Another year or two and they'll be the current version of the KC Chiefs.

15. Detroit Lions - Rashard Mendenhall (RB - Illinois) - Replaces what Kevin Jones should have been. Mendenhall can handle the full load but will have Tatum Bell around early to split time.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Dan Connor (LB - Penn State) - Solid pick with a low bust-rate.

17. Minnesota Vikings - Philip Merling (DE - Clemson) - Injury has made his stock drop but the Vikings want to capitalize on everyone else passing.

18. Houston Texans - Mike Jenkins (CB - South Florida) - OL is another need here but Jenkins adds depth to the secondary.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - Malcolm Kelly (WR - Oklahoma) - He's been slipping recently but McNabb wants a playmaker.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Aqib Talib (CB - Kansas) - Big, physical corner to add depth (and eventually replace) Kelly/Barber.

21. Washington Redskins - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (CB - Tennessee State) - Shawn Springs is getting older and Carlos Rogers isn't exactly wowing anyone.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones (RB - Arkansas) - Fast and a great complement to Marion Barber III.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Branden Albert (OL - Virginia) - Can play several positions of need for them.

24. Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed (WR - Texas) - Big, athletic target for VY.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Stewart (RB - Oregon) - Injury has scared some people off, but drafting him should spell the end for Shaun Alexander. Will look to split time with Julius Jones early.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Lawrence Jackson (DE - Southern Cal) - Big, physical DE in the mold of the other Jacksonville DL.

27. San Diego Chargers - Gosder Cherilus (OT - Boston College) - With few needs (and a trade back likely), always go offensive line.

28. Dallas Cowboys - Kenny Phillips (S - Miami) - Adding depth to a solid team. Need for a CB might depend on the Pacman Jones deal.

29. San Francisco 49ers - DeSean Jackson (WR - Cal) - Alex Smith is getting more weapons (probably won't make a difference).

30. Green Bay Packers - Antoine Cason (CB - Arizona) - Charles Woodson and Al Harris aren't getting any younger.

31. New England Patriots - Forfeited

32. New York Giants - Brandon Flowers (CB - Virginia Tech) - Hoping Kenny Phillips would fall, they'll have to continue to add more depth to the secondary.