New Kiper Mock Draft

wow...check out pick #5. And this would be great....

Updated: April 1, 2008




For the third time in as many mock drafts, I'm projecting someone new to go No. 1 overall. My initial mock draft had LSU DT Glenn Dorsey going first, then I had Virginia DE Chris Long going No. 1.



Now it's Michigan OT Jake Long's turn to reside atop the draft board.


But whether it's Dorsey, Chris Long or Jake Long, one thing's for certain: Miami executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells wants to take a lineman with the No. 1 overall pick. Also, the one word you can expect to hear a lot leading up to the draft is sign-ability. All indications are Parcells will draft the player who he can sign and get into camp.



Two other notable changes from my last mock draft deal with the emergence of Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert and Boston College QB Matt Ryan.





Albert was a guard at Virginia, but he did play two games at left tackle. His individual workouts have been phenomenal and Albert has convinced teams he can play left tackle in the NFL. I have him going No. 5 to the Chiefs, and they aren't going to draft him that high to play guard.


As for Ryan, if Miami, Atlanta and Kansas City all pass on this year's No. 1 quarterback prospect, the Baltimore Ravens would love to see him on the board when it's their turn to pick. One thing to watch on draft day: I'm hearing if the Falcons pass on Ryan, they might try and trade back into the first round (Atlanta owns two second-round picks) in an attempt to get Delaware QB Joe Flacco.


The three new names appearing on my mock draft are: Purdue TE Dustin Keller; USC DE Lawrence Jackson; and Arkansas St. safety Tyrell Johnson. Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly and Miami's Calais Campbell and Kenny Phillips dropped out of the first round.


My final mock draft will appear on the eve of the NFL draft, April 25.

* denotes underclassman
Kiper's First-Round ProjectionNo.TeamPlayerSchool
1Miami DolphinsJake Long, OTMichigan
2St. Louis RamsChris Long, DEVirginia
3Atlanta FalconsGlenn Dorsey, DTLSU
4Oakland Raiders*Darren McFadden, RBArkansas
5Kansas City Chiefs*Branden Albert, OT/GVirginia
6New York Jets*Vernon Gholston, DEOhio St.
7New England Patriots (from SF)*Aqib Talib, CBKansas
8Baltimore RavensMatt Ryan, QBBoston College
9Cincinnati BengalsSedrick Ellis, DTUSC
10New Orleans SaintsDominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CBTennessee St.
11Buffalo Bills*Derrick Harvey, DEFlorida
12Denver BroncosKeith Rivers, LBUSC
13Carolina Panthers*Ryan Clady, OTBoise St.
14Chicago BearsChris Williams, OTVanderbilt
15Detroit Lions*Rashard Mendenhall, RBIllinois
16Arizona CardinalsLeodis McKelvin, CBTroy
17Minnesota Vikings*Phillip Merling, DEClemson
18Houston Texans*Jonathan Stewart, RBOregon
19Philadelphia EaglesJeff Otah, OTPittsburgh
20Tampa Bay BuccaneersMike Jenkins, CBSouth Florida
21Washington Redskins*Devin Thomas, WRMichigan St.
22Dallas Cowboys (from CLE)*Felix Jones, RBArkansas
23Pittsburgh SteelersKentwan Balmer, DTNorth Carolina
24Tennessee Titans*DeSean Jackson, WRCalifornia
25Seattle SeahawksDustin Keller, TEPurdue
26Jacksonville JaguarsLawrence Jackson, DEUSC
27San Diego ChargersGosder Cherilus, OTBoston College
28Dallas Cowboys*Justin King, CBPenn St.
29San Francisco 49ers (from IND)*Jerod Mayo, LBTennessee
30Green Bay Packers*Brandon Flowers, CBVirginia Tech
31New England PatriotsForfeited pick
32New York GiantsTyrell Johnson, SArkansas St.

 

This guy has BUST written all over him. No one would care if he was just Dom Rodgers, throwing the Cromartie in there gets him some name recognition.

 

It seems everyone is getting a stiffy for Albert because handled Long.

 

I don't know much about Albert or Long. I just hope I can reach 10,000 posts.

 

Have you got your 10,000th post YouTube lined up? If not, you should start planning. Maybe even start a thread for it.

 

I agree with the bust comment but in fairness his name got him to the Senior Bowl and the combine but what he did then is what vaulted him up draft boards.

 

Trust me, that's not the only reason...the guy is a damn good football player.

 

I know. I think it didn't hurt to get noticed.

 

Hell you got 10,000 youtubes, don't they count?

 

10,000 I'm just trying to get to 100