Dave Richard provides live draft analysis for each player selected in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 26.
Round 1 · Round 2
| Richard's Live NFL Draft Analysis - Round 2 |
| 1. Miami Dolphins select: Philip Merling, DE, Clemson | ||
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Comment: Philip Merling was a well-known talent who had a last-minute Pro Day to try and boost his draft stock. The Dolphins probably had a first-round grade on him and didn't resist getting him instead of a quarterback. It's a longshot, but he could be an eventual replacement for Jason Taylor. | |
| 2. St. Louis Rams select: Donnie Avery, WR, Houston | ||
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Comment: This pick baffles me. It's a total shock that the Rams would pass on Devin Thomas or Limas Sweed and go with Avery instead, even over DeSean Jackson. Avery is a pure speed receiver with lacking size (5-foot-11) and weight (192 pounds). He ran a 4.4 at the Combine, and the Rams obviously see him fitting into a deep-threat route to complement the possession receiving role of Drew Bennett and the all-around role of Torry Holt. Avery will also work on special teams. | |
| 3. Washington (from Oakland though Atlanta) select: Devin Thomas | ||
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Comment: The Redskins' pick of Devin Thomas was a no-brainer, and they'll be sure to send a fruit basket to the Rams. Thomas has size and speed, which the Redskins need badly. It might take 2/3rds of the season, but Thomas should do well in the Redskins' West-Coast offense. | |
| 4. Kansas City select: Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech | ||
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Comment: Flowers had a first-round grade on some teams' boards. He might be short, and he's only running at a 4.55 speed, but he's perfect for their Cover-2 defense. Should be a solid tackler and occasional playmaker for the Chiefs. | |
| 5. Green Bay (from N.Y. Jets) select: Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State | ||
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Comment: Nelson is a surprise pick here considering their WR corps as it stands. He'll not only help on offense thanks to his good set of hands, but he'll also contribute on special teams. | |
| 6. Atlanta Falcons select: Curtis Lofton, LB, Oklahoma | ||
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Comment: is a highly regarded inside linebacker who should make an impact with the Falcons sooner than later. He's a bit slow (4.8 speed) and doesn't have much explosiveness, but he's a bright player with plenty of big-game experience. Should be a Mike Smith special. | |
| 7. Seattle (from Baltimore) select: John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame | ||
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Comment: John Carlson is a well-rounded, smart player who should be a good, versatile tight end in Seattle. He's got great size (6-foot-5) but his speed is pretty average (figure him at 4.75). He could make an impact as soon as halfway through his rookie season as a blocker and red-zone receiver. He is a little injury prone. | |
| 8. San Francisco 49ers select: Chilo Rachal, G, Southern California | ||
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Comment: Chilo Rachal should work right away for the 49ers, who just had a guard, David Baas, break on them in minicamp. Rachal has the size to be a nice run blocker for them. | |
| 9. New Orleans Saints select: Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana | ||
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Comment: Excellent pick for the Saints. Not only do they get a quick cornerback who is a finesse DB, but he's a New Orleans native. He should serve as a nickelback to start 2008. | |
| 10. Buffalo Bills select: James Hardy, WR, Indiana | ||
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Comment: Saw this pick coming. Incredible stroke of luck for the Bills, who land the tall receiver they've desired to play opposite Lee Evans. Not only will Hardy play often, but he's got a shot of being the next Marques Colston -- a red-zone vertical threat with excellent change-of-direction. Mark our words -- it won't be long until Hardy starts in the NFL. | |
| 11. Denver Broncos select: Eddie Royal, WR, Virginia Tech | ||
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Comment: Eddie Royal has small size, but some excellent speed and strength. Many call him a poor man's Steve Smith. He'll be a great returner for the Broncos and could eventually be a slot wideout for them. | |
| 12. Minnesota (from Carolina through Philadelphia): Tyrell Johnson, FS, Arkansas State | ||
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Comment: Just days after getting pass-rush specialist Jared Allen, the Vikings put a dagger in the hearts of all their 2008 opponents by drafting SS Tyrell Johnson. He's an excellent Cover-2 safety and should help later on in the season. | |
| 13. Chicago Bears select: Matt Forte, RB, Tulane | ||
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Comment: Forte is a stat machine. Great blend of size, speed and versatility, and he's a high-character guy. Think of a bigger Mewelde Moore, with slightly better speed. He's going to make Bears fans forget about Cedric Benson quickly. | |
| 14. Detroit Lions select: Jordon Dizon, OLB, Colorado | ||
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Comment: Dizon is a versatile linebacker who could find a spot outside in Motown. The catch with him is that he's small and slow. Could start out on special teams and passing downs. | |
| 15. Cincinnati Bengals select: Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina | ||
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Comment: Simpson isn't a quick player but does have nice straight-line speed. We haven't heard a lot about him because he comes from Coast Carolina, but he's going to fill in for Chris Henry with that straight-line speed and excellent vertical ability. Might be good for 20 catches as a rookie. | |
| 16. Philadelphia (from Minnesota) select: Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame | ||
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Comment: Laws is a nice meaty run stuffer with a high motor and an ability to block kicks. He might not have been the Eagles' first choice, but he was the best choice at this point as many people saw him as a late-first/early second-round choice. | |
| 17. Washington (from Houston through Atlanta) select: Fred Davis, TE, Southern California | ||
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Comment: Fred Davis is a player I watched a lot of in college. He reminds me of Alge Crumpler, which is why I am surprised that the Redskins would take him when they have a guy BETTER than Crumpler at tight end in Chris Cooley. No doubt, Davis is a terrific West-Coast Offense tight end, but I don't know how he'll fit into Washington's plans. | |
| 18. Philadelphia Eagles select: DeSean Jackson, WR, California | ||
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Comment: It was only a matter of time before Jackson was off the board. While he doesn't have ideal size, he has amazing speed. Expect him to work on special teams as well as play in a situational role on offense in 2008. If this offense made Kevin Curtis a 1,000-yard receiver, Jackson can do it too. | |
| 19. Arizona Cardinals select: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami (Fla.) | ||
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Comment: Calais Campbell will work out nicely in Arizona. He's a really tall D-end from Miami who will help cramp the run, and also would work as a 3-4 end if the Cardinals switch to that type of scheme. The Cards needed to get younger at DE, and they just did in a BIG way. | |
| 20. Washington Redskins select: Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma | ||
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Comment: Suddenly, Washington's receiving corps got a lot bigger. Between Devin Thomas and Kelly, the average size of their receiving corps went up three inches. Kelly appears to be a quality possession-type receiver with good hands and decent speed. He might take a little while to develop, but he should be fine in the long run. Washington's WR corps is really intriguing now. | |
| 21. Jacksonville (from Tampa Bay) select: Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn | ||
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Comment: Jacksonville adds another pass rusher to help them get to Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub and Vince Young. Groves has a strange personality, but there's no doubt that he's a great pure pass rusher that could work only on third downs. Also had a heart operation but that isn't a big concern at this point. | |
| 22. Pittsburgh Steelers select: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas | ||
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Comment: What a steal for the Steelers. Sweed has tons of big-game experience with great size and adequate speed. Durability is a huge issue, but he's also an incredible deep threat. Ben Roethlisberger can shut up now -- he's got his big target. | |
| 23. Tennessee Titans select: Jason Jones, DT, Eastern Michigan | ||
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Comment: Pretty good value pick here. Jones is a project-type player who could eventually develop into a premier pass rusher. He's got great size, lower-body strength and speed (4.7 40-yard dash) to make for a heck of a defensive end one of these days. The Titans make a living off of these types of defensive ends. | |
| 24. Baltimore Ravens select: Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers | ||
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Comment: I'm surprised the Ravens chose to invest a pick in Rice, but they must have given him a high grade and figure they can use him as a third-down back. That stinks for Willis McGahee, but Rice's hands, burst and field vision make for the perfect type of rusher in Cam Cameron's offense. Baltimore gets some much needed depth at running back. | |
| 25. Green Bay Packers select: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville | ||
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Comment: bl I didn't think that the Packers would pull the trigger on Brohm, but it makes sense for a number of reasons. For starters, he's a great fit for the West-Coast Offense. He's a nice playmaker who could probably do a nice job in a pinch. Exactly what you want from your backup QB. And, he could carry some trade value in a couple of years. urb | |
| 26. Miami Dolphins (from San Diego) select: Chad Henne, QB, Michigan | ||
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Comment: Chad Henne has got a strong arm and good size and could contend someday, possibly this year. Moreover, he'll be going to Miami with teammate Jake Long. Henne's experience could help him earn the starting job this summer. Not a bad choice considering they lost Chris Chambers for this player. | |
| 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian State | ||
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Comment: Not to be confused with DeSean Jackson, Dexter Jackson played an instrumental role in beating Michigan as a member of Appalchian State. Jackson will fit in as a slot receiver for the Bucs and give them a nifty set of hands and legs to help the pass attack. | |
| 28. Indianapolis Colts select: Mike Pollak, C, Arizona State | ||
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Comment: Mike Pollak has nice bulk for an offensive lineman and will get coached up by Colts O-line coach Howard Mudd. Nice quality player who will someday enjoy having Peyton Manning's hands under his tush. There are worse places to be. | |
| 29. Green Bay Packers select: Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn | ||
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Comment: Patrick Lee has decent size and speed to go with an aggressive, physical nature. Will need to be coached up some after minimal college experience. Might be a dimeback in Green Bay this season, but at least the Packers have injected a little youth into their CB corps. | |
| 30. Dallas Cowboys select: Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M | ||
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Comment: Bennett will be Anthony Fasano's replacement as a heaping tight end with a wide frame, decent speed. Not only can he block, but he can also catch the ball and should be good for a couple of touchdowns in 2008. Nice home-state pick for Big D. | |
| 31. New England Patriots select: Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado | ||
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Comment: Wheatley is a speedy corner without a lot of physicality, and he can also work as a returner on special teams. He's almost the poor man's Leodis McKelvin, whom the Patriots struck out on earlier. | |
| 32. N.Y. Giants select: Terrell Thomas, CB, Southern California | ||
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Comment: Terrell Thomas is a nice size/speed cornerback with the big-game experience that teams are craving (hence all the USC players taken in the first two rounds). Nice press corner, which is what the Giants run. He's is injury prone and probably will have a hard time breaking camp as anything more than the Giants' dimeback. | |
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