2008 DRAFT 

900 FOOTBALL LINKS
Main page

MOCK DRAFTS
Summary Table
Jay Goldberg
Larry Loschiavo

RANKINGS
Offense
Defense
Workout numbers

AFC TEAM NEEDS
East
South
North
West

NFC TEAM NEEDS
East
South
North
West

ARTICLES
All Star Game Observations
Draft Values

REPORT CARDS
(includes free agents and Jay's player scouting reports)
AFC
NFC

PRIOR YEARS
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

DRAFT LINKS
Hail Redskins (mock drafts)
Huddle Geeks (mock drafts)
Mock Draft Scorecard
Walter's Football
NFL Answers
Mel Kiper of ESPN
Scouts Inc.
Great Blue North Report
Draft Dog
The Football Expert

NFC SOUTH TEAM NEEDS
by Jay Goldberg

DAL          Major Need          Need          Upgrade         Depth Need         Not a Need

QB  Romo will be Pro Bowl quarterback for years.  Johnson is  cagey old pro, but old is part of that description.  A third quarterback to groom as Romo's future backup should be added.
RB  Jones is a free agent and will be gone.  Barber is a restricted free agent who I can't see the Boys allowing to leave.  Thompson has had his moments but a scat-back type will be added to spell Barber.
WR  Owens and Crayton will be back.  Hurd showed some skills but is still not ready to be a #3.  Glenn is injured, may not be ready, and may be cut.  A slot receiver will be added as an upgrade over Hurd.
TE Witten is as good as they come.  Fasano can block, but hasn't been a reliable option in the passing game.  Curtis is intriguing.  A camp body could be added.
OL  Adams is a free agent.  Free could be given a shot to replace him if he leaves, but another tackle could be brought to camp to challenge him for the spot should Adams leave.  A backup guard will also be added.
DL This unit is deep but lacks a playmaker.  Ratliff could grow into that player, especially if Ferguson comes back and he is kicked outside.  The Cowboys could bring in a boom or bust type of player who will either be an upgrade or cut. 
LB Ellis, Ware and Spencer are a deep and talent trio outside.  James is solid inside.  Ayodele could be replaced.  He is just okay.  Burnett could be that guy, but also look for Dallas to add a player in the offseason to compete with the two of them to start.  Carpenter, a disappointment so far, may be cut and end up with Miami.
DB Newman is a good player, even if overrated a bit.  Henry is solid, but is the type of corner teams look to upgrade, but are happy with if he plays. Look for the Boys to draft a young corner to play the nickel and challenge Henry down the line.  Hamlin had a good year, which surprised me since he gave up the big play while playing free safety in Seattle.  My comment, therefore, is show it to me again.   Williams' rep has outdistanced his performance on the field.  He still packs a wallop, but can get beat in coverage and uses the horse collar tackle too often.  It may time to look for a replacement.  His rep will not match his performance when it comes time for a new contract.
ST Kicking and punting are in excellent hands.  A punt and kick returner with the talent to take it the distance is needed.

 

NYG          Major Need          Need          Upgrade         Depth Need         Not a Need

QB  Eli finally looks like he'll be an above average NFL quarterback.  The Giants need to bring in a player to compete with Lorenzen and Wright.
RB Jacobs and Bradshaw are an excellent one-two punch.  Droughns is still a valuable reserve.  Ward is a RFA, but he is a talented player as well.  Hedgecock is a good fullback.
WR  Burress not only played up to his talent, but was a tough son-of-a-gun as well.  Toomer is still productive, but will be pushed by Smith for a starting job next year.  Tyree is a great special teams player and showed he can catch the ball when called upon also.  Moss has disappeared.  The Giants may add a player for depth, especially if Toomer doesn't come back.
TE I like the Boss selection in the draft, and I like it even more after watching him play when Shockey went down.  Matthews is a perfect third tight end.  He can block and catches okay.  No need here unless Shockey is moved.
OL The Giants' line played very well.  I'd say a bit over their heads.  Diehl did a great job a left tackle, but I still think he and the Giants would be best served with Diehl back at guard and a larger player brought in to play left tackle.  If that doesn't happen, a backup should be brought in.  Also a young center to push O'Hara could also be addressed.
DL The Giants are set at end.  If Strahan retires, they may need to add a backup end.  However, if they move Kiwanuka back to end, they may not.  The team could use depth at tackle.
LB Mitchell (WILL) is a free agent and he played well enough to warrant being a priority to resign.  Pierce is solid in the middle.  Youngsters Wilkinson (WILL) and DeOssie (SAM) are interesting prospects.  I didn't like Kiwanuka at SAM, he should return to defensive end.  If Mitchell leaves, the Giants will need to add a veteran linebacker to compete with Wilkenson.  In addition, a player to compete with DeOssie for the SAM should be brought in.  Torbor is a valuable sub, not a top starter.
DB The Giants suddenly are deep at cornerback.  Ross really stepped up in his rookie campaign and Webster improved late in the year.  Madison had a bounce back year of sorts, before the season he was trending downward.  Dockery and McQuarters are useful subs.  Safety is a different story.  Wilson was exceptional at free safety, but is a free agent.  If he leaves, there will be a big hole in the Giants' defense.  Butler is okay, but replaceable at strong safety.  Johnson showed some good things, and some bad things.
ST Both kicker and punter are free agents.  The return men (McQuarters, Hixon) are ok, but if a dynamic player can be added it would upgrade the unit.

PHI          Major Need          Need          Upgrade         Depth Need         Not a Need

QB  McNabb will continue to heal and will return to Pro Bowl form.  The Eagles better hope they don't move him in the offseason.  Kolb was a bit of the reach in the draft and I'm not sure he will ever be a star NFL quarterback.  Feeley is a solid backup.  If McNabb is moved, a quarterback will be needed.
RB  Westbrook is a great player.  Buckhalter is a very good backup, but Philly keeps looking to replace him.  Hunt is not the answer as Westbrook's backup because he is too slow.  He could develop into a short yardage back.
WR  I get annoyed every time I hear that the Eagles don't have good receivers.  Curtis is a very good player.  He has excellent hands, is a tough kid, and has game breaking speed.  He was a great free agent signing.  Brown is also a solid player.  While I agree, a big target with more skills and speed than Baskett would be an upgrade, it is far from a crying need.  Avant has the look of a reliable slot receiver.  Lewis makes this unit five deep.
TE Smith is a free agent who the eagles won't break the bank to resign because he has gotten nicked up a bit too much recently.  Celek has good hands and is a valuable player, but does not have the ability to stretch the field.  Look for the Eagles to bring in a tight end who can push to start. 
OL  This is a good unit with decent depth, particularly at guard.  The Eagles could take a shot with a tackle who could challenge Justice to be the eventual successor at left tackle.
DL The Eagles have good young talent on their defensive line.  They could add a defensive end with size to play opposite Cole, and a backup tackle to compete for playing time.
 LB The Eagles have a solid vet in Spikes and some good young players at this spot.  Spikes will carry a big price tag next year so it will be interesting if he is invited back.  If he is let go, the Eagles may look to add a veteran presence to their young corps.
DB This unit may get a facelift in the offseason.  Brown and Sheppard are no longer one of the top pair of corners in the league.  Sheppard gets banged up too much and Brown may be best served going forward as a slot corner.  At safety, Dawkins is still a very good player but he is getting up there in years.  Considine has some skills at strong safety, but is small for the position and was injured for the second year in a row.  Look for Philly to add a corner or two, a string safety to compete to start, and possibly a young free safety to apprentice behind Dawkins. 
ST The Eagles need a return man and a punter to challenge Rocca.

WAS          Major Need          Need          Upgrade         Depth Need         Not a Need

QB  Campbell has shown enough to be handed the starting job back next year, even if Collins, a free agent re-signs.  Brunell's roster spot could hinge on whether or not Collins comes back.  I like Hollenbach.  He is an ideal player to groom as a third quarterback but is also a free agent.
RB  Portis has become a too hot and cold for my taste, but still has good skills.  I thought Betts would step forward and continue his growth from two years ago but he didn't.   Costanza errr Cartwright has looked good when given a chance but hasn't been given enough and will most likely leave in free agency.  The Redskins need to bring in a running back.  They most likely think for depth, but I think they need to bring in a player who could be a factor in their offense next year. 
WR  This is a confusing position to evaluate.  Moss and Randle El are both good players, but would be better if playing opposite players other than each other.  A bigger, true #1 is needed.  Caldwell is an underrated player who helps whatever team he is on.  In the best of all worlds, the Redskins need to move Moss or El and grab a big wideout with the skills to be a true #1 and another player for depth.  Since trades are difficult, they should add that big receiver and move Moss or El to the slot.  Whoever they move, however, will not be happy.
TE Cooley is a very good receiving tight end and Yoder is a solid sub.  A third tight end could be added this offseason.
OL  This unit is a strength for the team.  They have a deep unit beacuse of players that had to step in for injured starters.  Heyer, a rookie free agent played well when called on, and the team would like to add some more young players to develop for the future.
DL The team has some good young tackles in Montgomery and Golston to pair with the veteran Griffin.  At end it may be time to find a replacement for Daniels.  Carter had a good year, but it's questionable if he will follow it up with a double digit sack season again next year.  A pass rushing end is needed. 
LB Fletcher-Baker and McIntosh are set in the middle and on the weak side.  Washington is still okay, but is in decline and if a better option can be found, he could be replaced.  A young backup more suited to play on the outside than in the middle could also be added.
DB Washington has four corners who can play in this league.  Springs carries a big cap number next year, but needs to be brought back for his accomplishments on the field and off the field.  Rogers is a good young corner who will only get better.  Smoot and Torrence also have above average skills.  If Springs leaves, another corner could be added.  Landry and Doughty are a good young safety tandem, but expect the Redskins to bring in competition for Doughty.  Whoever loses that competition will serve as the team's nickel safety.
ST The Redskins' kicker, punter and long-snapper should be the same next year.  If Cartwright leaves in free agency, a kick returner will need to be added.  If Randle El starts next year, a punt returner should be added.  The extra snaps on offense took a toll on his punt return ability.