NO. 1: DOLPHINS
Jake Long, OT
6-foot-7, 315 pounds, Michigan
Bulldozer of a tackle in the run game who can also be a solid insurance policy for any franchise QB. Has the strength to move the pile and aggressiveness and smarts to clear out second-level blockers. Lacks the nimbleness of the truly great LTs, as he’ll occasionally be beaten by quick edge rushers or a strong second move.
Thumbs up: Cleveland’s Joe Thomas was a rookie Pro Bowler last season, but Long beat him out for Big Ten lineman of the year two years ago.
NO. 2: RAMS
Chris Long, DE
6-4, 275, Virginia
A versatile prospect at the position who could be a three-down player due to his array of pass-rush moves and nose for the football. Strong and athletic enough to fight off blocks, his one weak spot is a lack of edge-rush speed. Still, his quickness and anticipation are usually enough for him to overwhelm all but the most massive OLs.
Thumbs up: The son of Hall of Famer Howie Long has the work ethic and the heritage to succeed right away.
NO. 3: FALCONS
Matt Ryan, QB
6-5, 224, Boston College
Has all the tools to succeed in the modern NFL. Is tall enough to see over defenses, quick to check down through receivers, and can avoid the rush and throw on the run. His one weakness is the deep ball. Calm under pressure. Showed toughness when dealing with left foot injuries in junior year, but had surgery in January 2007 and had a successful senior year.
Thumbs up (cautiously): Ryan has the off-the-field aplomb of Peyton Manning, but it’s his arm that’s the question mark.
NO. 4: RAIDERS
Darren McFadden, RB
6-2, 210, junior, Arkansas
Has the speed and acceleration to make defenders look foolish, as well as the strength to defeat tacklers and make a strong second effort. Good vision and can run between the tackles or outside them. Excellent skills receiving — and throwing — the ball. Has developed a nice cut move for blitz pickups, but will need to improve stand-up blocks. Possible contributor on special teams, though ball-security was an issue there in college.
Thumbs up: Even with a number of character issues, the Arkansas runner was too good to pass up.
NO. 5: CHIEFS
Glenn Dorsey, DT
6-2, 316, LSU
Explosive and violent, he makes up for lack of size with his strength and energy. Astonishingly quick off the ball and strong. Quick to diagnose plays and find the ball. Demands attention from blockers, but production could be limited. Also some durability issues.
Thumbs up: Arguably the best player in the draft lasts until the fifth pick.
NO. 6: JETS
Vernon Gholston, DE
6-4, 258, junior, Ohio State
Has the speed to get upfield and past blockers in a hurry, but is less effective against the run. Raw, with plenty of potential to become a top speed rusher or linebacker.
Thumbs up: Rated off the charts due to workout performances; Jets fans just hope he helps when the season begins.
NO. 7: SAINTS
Sedrick Ellis, DT
6-1, 305, Southern Cal
Sudden off the ball, he can disrupt plays before they develop. Good at sniffing out the ball and pursuing. Probably not ideal for a two-gap scheme.
Thumbs up: A Saints team with plenty of offense realizes it has to stop the other guys sometimes.
NO. 8: JAGUARS
Derrick Harvey, DE
6-5, 252, junior, Florida
Quick to read and react, he could be a linebacker project. Either way, he shows excellent acceleration and speed, as well as football IQ.
Thumbs up: Only because of Jack Del Rio’s acumen. The Jags like tough guys; Harvey must fit the bill.
NO. 9: BENGALS
Keith Rivers, LB
6-3, 235, Southern Cal
Excellent athletic ability, but sometimes can get neutralized, especially in traffic. Persistent effort. Shows promise in pass coverage.
Thumbs up: Another team desperately in need of defense makes a smart selection.
NO. 10: PATRIOTS
Jerod Mayo, LB
6-1, 242, junior, Tennessee
Smart and agile athlete who shows good ability to change direction and stay with RBs and TEs in coverage, as well as avoid blockers. Not great in tight spaces, so his blitzing ability is limited to edge rushes.
Thumbs up: What? You’re going to question Bill Belichick? Reinforcement for ancient ‘backers Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau.
NO. 11: BILLS
Leodis McKelvin, CB
5-11, 190, Troy
Elite returner, who shows willingness, if not ability, in run support. Agile and quick. Standout kick returner.
Thumbs up: Will help out on defense and is a spectacular return man.
NO. 12: BRONCOS
Ryan Clady, OT
6-6, 316, junior, Boise State
This tackle’s strengths are mostly the opposite of Jake Long’s. Clady is quick and nimble, but not a great drive blocker. Long arms, intelligence also pluses.
Thumbs up: The offensive line gets a new designated spokesman and someone to watch Jay Cutler’s back.
NO. 13: PANTHERS
Jonathan Stewart, RB
5-11, 235, junior, Oregon
Compact, agile bowling ball of a back who doesn’t fear contact and doesn’t get brought down easily. Decent speed, but not going to blow people away. Struggled with nagging injuries.
Thumbs up: If he’s healthy, may be the toughest running back in the draft.
NO. 14: BEARS
Chris Williams, OT
6-6, 315, Vanderbilt
Nimble feet help tackle in pass protection, but needs to get more aggressive and physical in running game. Smart player who uses good technique.
Thumbs up: They now have a lineman to open holes; the problem is finding a back to run through them.
NO. 15: CHIEFS
Branden Albert, G
6-6, 309, junior, Virginia
Strong in the upper body but needs to add leg strength to be at his best. Skilled at trap-blocking, but struggles to get out to the second level. Could wind up at tackle.
Thumbs up: After taking Dorsey, the Chiefs fortify their offensive line.
NO. 16: CARDINALS
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB
6-2, 182, Tennessee State
Hard worker with good game instincts and the athletic ability to stick with WRs or close on the ball. Technique is raw.
Thumbs up: Running back was a bigger need but in today’s NFL, you can never have too many good cornerbacks.
NO. 17: LIONS
Gosder Cherilus, OT
6-7, 315, Boston College
Four-year starter at tackle (first three on the right side) who is better in the running game. Huge arms and hands. Needs coaching to fix poor technique in pass protection.
Thumbs up: A massive player, there are questions about his athletic ability.
NO. 18: RAVENS
Joe Flacco, QB
6-7, 236, Delaware
Raw ability is there, but footwork and mechanics need improvement. Comes from shotgun system (after transferring from Pittsburgh). Elite arm strength, and improving vision moved him up boards at workouts and postseason games.
Thumbs up: Ravens made some impressive maneuvering, but they haven’t had much luck picking QBs in the draft.
NO. 19: PANTHERS
Jeff Otah, OT
6-6, 340, Pittsburgh
Bulk and lack of athleticism point to his future as a right tackle for a run-heavy team. Raw, but has the tools (including nearly 3-foot-long arms) to become a nice choice.
Thumbs down: Panthers look to have given up too much to get someone to block for Stewart.
NO. 20: BUCCANEERS
Aqib Talib, CB
6-1, 202, junior, Kansas
Great athleticism and ball skills, he has the ability to see time at WR, not to mention in the return game. Needs to improve footwork and technique. Has some off-field issues.
Thumbs down: Talib talks a good game, but is he good enough to eventually replace Ronde Barber?
NO. 21: FALCONS
Sam Baker, OT
6-5, 312, Southern Cal
Big and can get bigger. Plays technically sound, with good pop off the ball. Struggles when asked to pull and trap, and getting out to the second level.
Thumbs down: Falcons panicked after Otah’s selection and scrambled to find someone to protect Ryan.
NO. 22: COWBOYS
Felix Jones, RB
6-0, 200, junior, Arkansas
If he didn’t play on the same team as McFadden, he’d be much more known. As it is, he’s an explosive, shifty back who does his best work in open space. Needs to run with a lower pad level, gain strength to shake initial tacklers. Could be factor on kick returns.
Thumbs up: Looking for depth, the Cowboys get a player some scouts felt was a better all-around player than McFadden.
NO. 23: STEELERS
Rashard Mendenhall, RB
5-11, 210, junior, Illinois
A load who relies on superb vision more than quick cutting or outright speed. Downhill, one-cut style runner, but not totally a runaway truck type.
Thumbs up: Steelers faltered last season when Willie Parker was injured. Mendenhall is a pretty good Plan B.
NO. 24: TITANS
Chris Johnson, RB
5-11, 195, East Carolina
Explosive outside runner with natural hands and plenty of experience running routes; he even lined up at WR some. Could be a nice weapon in the right scheme and on kick returns.
Thumbs down: Granted wide receiver wasn’t a glamour position in this year’s draft, but to ignore it to take Johnson is something of a stretch.
NO. 25: COWBOYS
Mike Jenkins, CB
6-0, 200, South Florida
Has the speed to stay with anyone and the strength to play good press coverage. He’s the top CB in the draft, though he needs to improve tackling, especially in run support, as well as ability to read routes.
Thumbs up: Perhaps a better player than Talib, Cowboys add depth defensively.
NO. 26: TEXANS
Duane Brown, OT
6-4, 315, Virginia
Raw, but nimble and athletic, he knows how to use his body to keep defenders at bay. Coaching to improve his technique and motivation is almost a must.
Thumbs down: Caught up in their peers’ offensive-tackle fever, the Texans make a stretch of their own.
NO. 27: CHARGERS
Antoine Cason, CB
6-0, 190, Arizona
Quick, but not necessarily fast. Good ability to leap for interceptions and batted balls, as well as a good eye for the game. Hard worker; needs to add some size.
Thumbs down: May not be a starter, but Cason could have impact right away on special teams.
NO. 28: SEAHAWKS
Lawrence Jackson, DE
6-5, 268, Southern Cal
Strong, hard-working player who will put in the extra hours to be a menace on the edge. More of an interior player, he could even bulk up and shift to DT.
Thumbs down: After dealing down, this couldn’t really have been the guy the Seahawks coveted.
NO. 29: 49ERS
Kentwan Balmer, DT
6-5, 298, North Carolina
Good off the snap, and shows impressive ability when the effort is there. Possible underachiever, though, or could just be a project.
Thumbs up: The Niners need help everywhere, and Balmer has a tremendous amount of potential.
NO. 30: JETS
Dustin Keller, TE
6-3, 242, Purdue
Can develop into a productive receiver with more reps. Hands, speed and athletic ability are there. Some durability concerns.
Thumbs down: With quarterbacks and wide receivers — both positions of need — available, the J-E-T-S select . . . a TE?
NO. 31: GIANTS
Kenny Phillips, S
6-2, 208, junior, Miami
Good speed and ability to read plays. Effective in the running game and in coverage, though isn’t great in man coverage. A playmaker.
Thumbs up: Arguably the best player still available, the defending Super Bowl champs get another player to defend Randy Moss.
The Associated Press
