THE OFFICAL 2008 NFL DRAFT

[1inStripes]

Is Jake Long really that good though? He's pretty unproven IMO, and when he has faced decent competition, he hasn't dominated guys like Orlando Pace, or Tony Boselli did IMO. I would rather have Little Howie.

[BlueWahooChambordDevil]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1inStripes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is Jake Long really that good though? He's pretty unproven IMO, and when he has faced decent competition, he hasn't dominated guys like Orlando Pace, or Tony Boselli did IMO. I would rather have Little Howie. </div></div>
he isnt really that good and thats why the LOLphins have decided to take him

chris long is really good.....hence the reason they arent taking him

[sup-rbeast]

According to SI and ESPN, he's already signed. I don't think he's unproven..Hart owes his college yards to Long...and that's alot of yards..lol

[steer]

Long will do fine.
Now, we might get to see the top 10 mixed up a bit.

[1inStripes]

Hart had a ton of rushing yards, but good D1 backs can do that in the Big 10.

[BlueWahooChambordDevil]

NY daily news says spags "loves" kenny phillips and says shockey isnt going anywhere

April 24, 2008
Who the Giants will pick on Saturday
With the 31st pick in the first round of the NFL draft, the Super Bowl champion New York Giants select ...

Kenny Phillips, safety, University of Miami.

And I'm pretty sure I'm right about that. OK, really, you can never be sure when it comes to the NFL draft because there is twice as much misinformation available as there is actual information. But that pick makes sense on so many levels and so many people have told me that he's their guy that ... well, I'll be honest. I'm a little worried. But the Giants need a safety. He's the best safety in the draft. And there's at least a decent chance he'll be sitting there at 31 because safeties aren't typically sought after in the first round, and they often slip farther than expected.

For what it's worth, Phillips was available when I made the Giants' pick yesterday in Sports Illustrated's mock draft, which will be revealed pick by pick this afternoon on SI.com.

Here's what you need to know about the 6-2, 212-pounder: First of all, Steve Spagnuolo loves him, according to a team source. He's got terrific instincts and cover skills, knows how to read offenses, is strong enough to handle tight ends and is fast enough (4.49 in the 40) to handle most receivers. Remember, Spagnuolo came from a defense in Philly where the safety - Brian Dawkins - was an integral part. He really didn't have that type of safety in New York last year.

The only one who was close, of course, was Gibril Wilson, who is now an Oakland Raider. He left behind James Butler, who was very up and down last year, and Michael Johnson, a former seventh-rounder the Giants still consider a little raw. The Giants also signed veteran Sammy Knight, but he'll be 33 in September and obviously doesn't have a long-term future with the team.

So the need is obvious, and so is the player. He's admittedly not a very good blitzer, which could be an issue. He said he never could get his blitz timing right at Miami, so he shied away from the task. That skill will have to be taught. He also tends to be a little over-aggressive at times, which could make him susceptible to being beaten for a big play.

But the Giants' defense hasn't had a big-play, impact safety in ages and Spagnuolo really wants one for his scheme. The Giants, from what I've been told, have been eyeing Phillips since the combine. And if he's there, he's their man.

"? Phillips was a guest on Sirius NFL Radio last night with me and Gil Brandt. He's mentioned the Giants' interest in him in radio interviews before, but not this time. Asked who he thought might take him, he named two possible teams - the Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens have the 8th pick of the first round and the Panthers have the 13th, and it would be a pretty big shock if Phillips went that high. So if he's right, they're eyeing him in the second round (38th and 43rd respectively) which is another indication he could still be there at 31.

"? What if Phillips is not there at 31? I don't believe the Giants see any other safeties as being worthy of a first-round pick (most scouts agree), so if Phillips is gone they'll go in another direction. Most likely, that would be Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo, a 6-1, 237-pounder who has played mostly inside but might be able to move outside in the NFL. He's tough and aggressive and very good in coverage, but he should fit well into Spagnuolo's scheme. He's also an outstanding special teams player, which the Giants love.

What if Phillips and Mayo are both gone? I could see them trading down. They might also consider Arizona corner Antoine Cason if he's available, but I don't think they want to do that. There are some defensive tackles they like, but I'd be surprised if they took one in the first round. Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis obviously aren't falling that far and anyone else would be quite a reach.

They're much more likely to address that position in the second or third round. One surprising name to watch: Arkansas' Marcus Harrison, a 6-2, 312-pounder with a drug arrest on his resume.

***

One other prediction for the draft: Jeremy Shockey will not be traded.

It's not that the Giants aren't willing, it's that from what I can tell the bidding just won't get high enough. They have had at least three inquiries they considered serious - from the Saints, the Seahawks, and one other team I haven't quite figured out yet (I thought it was Atlanta, but I'm honestly not sure). The best offer was from the Saints - a second-round pick. But the Giants countered asking for that pick and safety Roman Harper, which one NFL source said "absolutely isn't going to happen."?

The Saints remain interested and there's certainly a possibility the Giants could lower their demands enough to make a deal. As for the Seahawks, despite their denials several NFL sources insist they were interested in Shockey and did approach the Giants about a deal, but given the Giants' demands they've decided to address their need for a tight end in the draft instead.

One word of caution: There are still people in the Giants' organization who think he'll be an ex-Giant by Saturday night. But that would take a change in the current landscape. Either the Giants drop their demands or the bidding takes off, neither of which seems likely at the moment.

***

Tomorrow: My mockery of a Mock Draft.

Saturday: Ohm Youngmisuk's live running Draft Day blog, with continuous contributions from Rich Cimini out at Hofstra and from me deep inside Giants Stadium.

I was also hoping to have some news for you later today because Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora were scheduled to appear in Central Park for the NFL Play 60 Youth Football Festival, which is part of Nike's Let Me Play program. However, the breaking news I have for you at the moment is that Strahan backed out at the last minute.

For the moment, Umenyiora is still scheduled to appear so perhaps there's a chance for some news later, after all.

[Xknight52]

It's today people!!!

Did you all see Jake Longs contract? 57.75 million for 5 years

[BlueWahooChambordDevil]

rams sound likely to take chris long

there is alot of talk about gholston going as high as 5 and also possibly slipping out of the top 10

[Unchained]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xknight52</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's today people!!!

Did you all see Jake Longs contract? 57.75 million for 5 years </div></div>

I would have felt much better had the Fins signed Chris Long instead.

[MikMo]

Well, McFadden goes to the Raiders. No hope for my Jets now unless Dorsey falls to sixth.