Mel Kiper's 1st mock draft

[A.J.]

can someone with espn insider please post the 1st round of kiper's mock draft?

thanks

[Monkeyfeng06]

1 Miami Dolphins Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU
2 St. Louis Rams Chris Long, DE Virginia
3 Atlanta Falcons** Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
4 Oakland Raiders** *Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
5 Kansas City Chiefs** Jake Long, OT Michigan
6 New York Jets *Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio St.
7 New England Patriots (from SF) *Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
8 Baltimore Ravens Sedrick Ellis, DT USC
9 Cincinnati Bengals *Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
10 New Orleans Saints Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
11 Buffalo Bills *Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
12 Denver Broncos *Ryan Clady, OT Boise St.
13 Carolina Panthers Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh
14 Chicago Bears Sam Baker, OT USC
15 Detroit Lions Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
16 Arizona Cardinals *Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon
17 Minnesota Vikings *DeSean Jackson, WR California
18 Houston Texans Mike Jenkins, CB South Florida
19 Philadelphia Eagles Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers *Felix Jones, RB Arkansas
21 Washington Redskins *Calais Campbell, DE Miami
22 Dallas Cowboys (from CLE) *Mario Manningham, WR Michigan
23 Pittsburgh Steelers *Chilo Rachal, OG USC
24 Tennessee Titans Limas Sweed, WR Texas
25 Seattle Seahawks Fred Davis, TE USC
26 Jacksonville Jaguars *Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
27 San Diego Chargers *Reggie Smith, CB Oklahoma
28 Dallas Cowboys *Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
29 San Francisco 49ers (from IND) *James Hardy, WR Indiana
30 Green Bay Packers Keith Rivers, LB USC
31 New York Giants Dan Connor, LB Penn St.
32 New England Patriots Forfeited pick

[dms269]

I have always disliked Kiper. Comes around once a year and does nothing else.

[studcrackers]

he normally does espn radio throughout the year and you know he's watching hours on end of film etc...its not like he works for 3 months out of the year

[Icness]

That mock looks eerily similar to the one I'm working on. Although I can tell you (and Mel) that the Saints are not that high on Kentwan Balmer--they would take Ryan Clady or Mike Jenkins in that spot if it fell that way.

The Pittsburgh selection certainly raises some eyebrows, as Chico Rachal is not rated higher than 3rd-4th round by pretty much anyone. But Mel does tend to know a great deal about what PIT/BAL/WAS/PHI/BUF are going to do...

[hermes]

I have always disliked Kiper. Comes around once a year and does nothing else.

he scouts players the whole year

[ReasonablySober]

Plenty of curious picks and exclusions.

Only one QB in round one? No Brohm? Personally I've never been all that impressed with him but I'm surprised to see someone in the media keep him out of round one.

Not much time to look at it this morning so I'll just comment on his pick for Green Bay...I think it's interesting.

At the bottom of the first I'm more than happy to just go BPA regardless of position. We could use help at CB, a backup LT, possibly another TE or a LB to send Poppinga to the bench. Had Jones or Mendenhall fallen I'd be content with either of those two as well. If the draft shaped out this way and the Packers had their choice of the drafts 5th best CB or the top linebacker, I'd hope they go for Rivers or Connor.

[lpsevier]

I pray to jebus the Falcons don't pass on McFadden if he's still there.

[CJ_18]

yea umm, no Brohm? No Kenny Philips?

[GameTime_3]

Very weird mock..Brohm is going mid First round and kenny phillips will go same area. Also Glen Dorsey does not seem to be the pick anymore here in miami.The Change of Sceme and Coaching style hurts the pick.

[Icness]

Do not, I repeat, do not be surprised if Kenny Phillips is not in the 1st round. A lot of people I've talked with just aren't that impressed.

Be shocked, however, if Brian Brohm falls past the Bears. The only thing I can think of that would hurt his stock that much is the injury issues. He is missing the Senior Bowl with yet another one.

Looking at it again it seems Mel is pretty bullish on Merling; I can't see him going higher than about 15th

[A.J.]

I for one dont mine us taking mike jenkins..but i perfer us to get a rb, such as stewart if he falls at 18

[GameTime_3]

Do not, I repeat, do not be surprised if Kenny Phillips is not in the 1st round. A lot of people I've talked with just aren't that impressed.

Be shocked, however, if Brian Brohm falls past the Bears. The only thing I can think of that would hurt his stock that much is the injury issues. He is missing the Senior Bowl with yet another one.

Looking at it again it seems Mel is pretty bullish on Merling; I can't see him going higher than about 15th

Icness whats the knock on kenny phillips.Im here in miamia nd when i saw him at the "U" he looked pretty good. Stats were down but he made a impression on me. Do you think the Dolphins would look at him top of the 2 round? What postion do you see him playing in the NFl?Strong saftey or Free? Also Any buzz about Derek Anderson at the Senior bowl or rumors ?

[ReasonablySober]

Very weird mock..Brohm is going mid First round and kenny phillips will go same area.

I think if Phillips would have played for nearly any other school you wouldn't continue to see him in the first. He's not Ed Reed or Sean Taylor. He's certainly not Laron Landry.

[Icness]

The big knocks on Phillips:
1. Miami tailors their D around the safety, letting him freelance a lot and make plays. Phillips didn't make as many plays as guys before him, and made too many poor reads and decisions.
2. His size/speed package is not ideal, and lets just say he's not going to be in Mensa anytime soon.

He's still the best overall safety in this draft, definitely a free safety as his cover skills are well behind his run support. He could go anywhere between about 20th and 40th. The Dolphins don't appear to be looking at safeties as hard as they are CBs and LBs for those 2nd rounders. I'm actually thinking they go QB with the 1st pick of round 2 right now, and that would be Joe Flacco.

Very little trade talk or FA talk. Do expect to hear more about a Shaun Rogers-for-Jon Vilma deal, because neither guy will be in their current unis next season and they are ideal fits for the other team.

[CJ_18]

Ive seen mocks where he has gone to NE at 7?

[OAKTREE NYK1]

I would HIGHLY HIGHLY doubt that the Dolphins take another 2nd round QB. If they go QB I can see someone like Erick Ainge in the 3rd or 4th as the pick. He has the size 6'6 220 that Parcells looks for.

[OAKTREE NYK1]

Based on your observations of Kenny Phillips I am going to have to tweak my Hot off the Press Mock because I had him going as high as 6th to the Jets.

[OAKTREE NYK1]

Iceness......What are your thoughts on OLB Shawn Crable of Michigan and Beau Bell of UNLV. I am thinking both would be great fits in the 3-4 for the Dolphins. Would the Phins favor them over Mayo and Lofton?????? That 1st pick in the second round is also going to have great value for a team wanting to grab some very talented offensive lineman like Chris Williams and Sam Baker. I feel pretty good that Parcells will deal that pick and move down in the second round and possibly aquire an extra third.

[OAKTREE NYK1]

Never mind about Beau Bell I hear he is playing terrible at the Senior Bowl. Fails at coverage severely is what I am hearing.