- 09:46 AM ET 05.03
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With the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Jake Long. The famous line that starts every NFL draft was used once again to start the festivities at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, as commissioner Roger Goodell announced the rookie poster child for the upcoming season. Overall the draft had a different feel compared to its past predecessors.
Quick, name the top two superstars in the draft? Difficult right?
This is no easy task for a draft which did not have a wide receiver drafted in the first round for the first in the common era.
In the past two years for example, the spotlight was directed towards flashy position players. In 2007 JaMarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson were picked one-two, while Vince Young and Reggie Bush comprised two of the top three choices in 2006.
Many casual fans were left disappointed because it lacked the celebrity status with names similar to those of Young, Bush, or Brady Quinn who had already established a name for them in college. Yet die-hard followers of the NFL would have realized this year consisted of amazing linemen, top of the line cornerbacks and highly recruited defensive ends. It was the year where teams could fill the empty voids in their roster in areas that may not always appear on the stat sheet come Sundays.
That being said, the NFL had to be pleased with its decision to shorten the time of each round, obtaining the viewers attention rather than having them sit through five picks lasting up to an hour. Though writers may have used clever headlines claiming it to be "Long" draft, it was nearly half the length of the six-hour epic from 2007.
There were countless players taken in the first round that many never heard off, yet they should make an immediate impact their franchises. So unless your name is Mel Kiper Jr. (the college football guru), it is doubtful anyone else can name the seven offensive tackles drafted in the first round.
So here is a list of the top five teams who actually drafted multiple big names come draft time. This list is not based on team need or the grade on individual talent, but solely on the players who actually possessed a familiar name during the NCAA football season. So sorry Leodis McKelvin, not sure how many passionate Troy University fans were watching your performances this past season.
5. Cowboys-They did not pick Rashard Mendenhall and that is the decision they are going to have to standby, but they did draft two running backs with star potential. The overshadowed Arkansas running back Felix Jones is highly explosive and should be a solid backup for Marion Barber. Third round pick Tashard Choice of Georgia Tech, may have been a late first rounder if it were not for his injury senior year. Everyone knows the deal with Pacman but they also drafted USF cornerback Mike Jenkins, who has experienced his own share of off the field issues.
4. Chiefs- Kansas City has been awarded as having the best overall draft by many experts, largely due to LSU's defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey falling into their laps at the fifth overall pick in the draft. Dorsey was the playmaker for the Tiger's on their championship run and was projected to be the number one overall pick in the draft for some of the off-season. They were also able to snag all Virginia Tech, All-ACC cornerback, Brandon Flowers in the third-round.
3. Redskins-The most well known drafted player for Washington could be during the sixth round, when they chose Colt Brennan. He was a stud for Hawaii during college, but many doubt he can translate that same type of success into the pros. The skins also added to their air attack by adding wide receivers Devin Thomas from Michigan State and Malcolm Kelly from Oklahoma.
2. Steelers-Any team who drafted a top running back and wide receiver in the first two rounds should be ecstatic. Pittsburgh landed Mendenhall from Illinois followed by Limas Sweed. Sweed was a four-year started for Texas and helped Vince Young claim a national championship in 2005.
1. Ravens- Baltimore fans started the draft angered as they saw their picks being traded around, but at the end of they day they could breath a sigh of relief. First round draft pick Joe Flacco really gave a name for himself late last year as he rallied the University of Delaware to make an impressive run in the Division I-AA tournament. Ray Rice was a punishing runner at Rutgers who should cause problems with Willis McGahee. The Ravens also managed to pick Tom Zbikowski who was a dangerous return man at Notre Dame and has the same crazy attitude like veteran Ray Lewis.
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Jarah Mariano
Jullie Henderson
Comments (3) Add A Comment
Great blog. Keep up the thorough work, especially as it relates to the Steelers being draft brilliant every year.
Cassidy's Ultimate…
Whatsittoya, NO
Total Comments (13875)
I really don't think that the cowboys had that great of a draft. Felix Jones is nothing but a backup at best. And if Tashard Choice was drafted lower than Felix and has a possibility of being the Cowboy's starter that makes absolutely no sense. I like you other pick just not in that order. The Cowboys definitely did not have one of the 5 best drafts
TIMMY11989
Churchville , MD
Total Comments (20)
The cowboys drafted a wide out and a cornerback which were biggest needs. Regardles the article was on drafting the biggest names and not who had the best drafts. So my friend either way I am going to have to disagree with you.
Clarky2688
Stroudsburg , PA
Total Comments (6)
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