Two-Thirds of the way through the draft. Is it me, or are we flying through the First Round???
#21 Atlanta Falcons -- OT Sam Baker -- Another trade, another surprise. I felt that Baker would be available early in the 2nd round, but it's obvious the Falcons didn't agree. The Falcons need help on the O-line if new quarterback Matt Ryan is to stay alive.
#22 Dallas Cowboys -- RB Felix Jones -- Jerah Jones went to Arkansas, Felix Jones went to Arkansas. How cute is that. Seriously, Jones provides a worthy replacement to Julius Jones and much needed insurance for Marion Barber III.
#23 Pittsburgh Steelers -- RB Rashard Mendenhall -- What a pick for the Steelers. Great value for Mendehhall, who slips all the way to 23. With Willie Parker already there Mendenhall won't have to come right in and perform. A perfect situation for him and the Steelers.
#24 Tennessee Titans - RB Chris Johnson -- That is a shock. an absolute shock. It makes little, if any sense. Everyone knows I love Johnson, but the Titans don;t need another "athlete" on offense. They already have one in Vince Young. An odd pick to say the least.
#25 Dallas Cowboys - CB Mike Jenkins -- The Cowboys move up a couple slots to get the Corner they need. Anthony Henry is becoming less and less effective and will probably move to safety. Terrence Newman is still up and down. Jenkins will solidify the defensive back.
#26 Houston Texans - OT Duane Brown - Give credit to Kubiak, he knows what he needs and he goes and gets it. The Texans need to infuse that O-Line with youth and Brown, while overshadowed by the other OT's in this draft, is a solid prospect. Add this selection with the picks acquired when they traded down, and this is a good move.
#27 San Diego Chargers - CB Antoine Cason - The Chargers have a solid corner on one side, and add another here. Their hope was a running back would fall to this spot. It didn't happen, so they went defensive back, a position of need on a team with few.
#28 Seattle Seahawks - DE Lawrence Jackson - The Seahawks signed Patrick Kerney last year to improve the pass rush. They add some more pass rush, this time through the draft. Many thought the 'Hawks qould go QB. I didn't and neither did Mike Holmgren.
#29 San Francisco 49'ers - DT Kentwan Balmer - The Niners have all kinds of needs on the offensive side of the ball. Because of that, the Niners went D-Line. A lineman that, on the surface, doesn't appear to fit their scheme.
#30 New York Jets - TE Dustin Keller - It just wouldn't be a First Round in the NFL Draft without the Jets taking a TE. Classic. The booos rained down inside the ESPN Zone, boos that only a J-E-T-S fan could do.
#31 New York Giants - S Kenny Phillips - The Giants had one glaring need, at safety. Phillips should come in and play right away for a team that has pretty good depth, especially on defense.
That ends the First Round of the 2008 NFL Draft!!! Time to eat!