The South Side's Got Some Hope

One of the biggest surprises of the 2008 Major League season has been Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin. Quentin has been the biggest reason for the White Sox surge into first place in the AL Central. He currently ranks first in the American League in home runs with 14, second in RBIs with 48, second in slugging percentage (.587) and On-base plus slugging percentage (.988), and sixth in both runs (35), and on-base percentage (.402). Quentin has created a bigger impact however, in the standings. The White Sox surprisingly are perched in first place in the AL Central with a 30-23 record, 2 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins and just 1.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays (yes, you read that right) for the best record in baseball.

The more the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians falter in the early going of the 2008 season, the closer the White Sox become to putting a stranglehold on the AL Central. Picked by almost all the experts to win the AL Central, Cleveland sits 5.5 games behind and Detroit lags 7.5 games behind Chicago. The White Sox meanwhile were picked by most experts to finish in third behind Cleveland and Detroit. Chicago, coming off a 72-90 season, was seemingly forgotten by the baseball world. Just two years earlier the ChiSox had been crowned World Series Champions. They were considered an aging franchise with no chance to contend, its window of oppurtunity gone as quick as well, Carlos Quentin's rise to prominence.

Chicago went into the offseason looking to add a young, talented bat to their aging lineup. They found one cheap into Quentin. Just two years prior, Quentin was rated one of the top prospects in baseball and was one of the crown jewels of the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. Somehow, Quentin fell out of favor in the Valley of the Sun and was dealt to Chicago to make room for 20-year old superprospect Justin Upton. In Chicago, Quentin was finally given the oppurtunity to play. He quickly gave the South Side of Chicago some hope to be a World Series contender in 2008.

So far, Chicago's season has rolled on Carlos Quentin's bat. The more he hits, the more White Sox victories are tallied to the standings. Take today as an example. Quentin was right in the middle of a 5-1 victory over the Rays, going 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. The two parties are making baseball pay for writing them off. Quentin has made Arizona look foolish for essentially giving him away while the White Sox could be in position to take total control of the AL Central, as 10 of their next 13 games come against AL Central opponents. If Quentin can keep swinging well and the ChiSox can keep winning, this could end up being a memorable season, filled with a sweet taste of redemption against those who doubted them.

Jay Bruce And The Future of the Cincinnati Reds

After all the hype following Clayton Kershaw's debut on Sunday, another high-profile rookie made his debut this week. Jay Bruce, rated the number 1 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, made his debut with Cincinnati last night. For all the expectations Bruce has and will face, he did not disappoint in his debut. Bruce went 3 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs, a stolen base, and two walks. Bruce's debut inspired Reds Manager Dusty Baker to call it "One of the best debuts I've ever seen." While the Reds should not expect that kind of production everyday from the 21 year old, Bruce could begin to churn out those kinds of days routinely with some seasoning. While the 21-year old outfielder will be a tremendous hitter, he will need to make an adjustment when Major League pitchers pound a weakness in his swing. Because of this, Bruce likely will struggle for a short amount of time. This is an adjustment all rookies make at some point. Bruce, however, is a great candidate to make the adjustment quickly because he is such a natural hitter.


The city of Cincinnati may finally see some light at the end of the tunnel for its baseball team. The Reds may soon break out of the bottom half of the NL Central and into the playoffs. While they are young and they are struggling this year, this is an extremely talented team. Seeing that, Reds fans may have been disappointed with the slow start for the team this season. However, Jay Bruce brings hope for a city that has just two trips to the playoffs from its professional sports franchises since 1990. Bruce will be a guy that annually grinds out at least a .320 average, 35 home runs, and 15-20 steals.


Bruce has a lot of weight on his shoulders to turn around a Reds franchise that has not had a winning season since 2000 and has not made the playoffs since 1995. However, he will have plenty of help from a farm system that is ready to produce some possible future superstars. The Reds have the making of baseball's best rotation in a few years, one that will feature young guns Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, and Edinson Volquez along with current ace Aaron Harang. They also have the makings of a dynamic offense that will eventually feature Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, prospect Paul Janish, and Edwin Encarnacion. It could be very soon that the Reds develop into serious World Series Contenders.

Clayton Kershaw: The Debut

The much anticipated Major League deput for 20-year old Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw finally came earlier today. Pitching in front of 46,566 at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw was as cool as the other side of the pillow, going 6 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs while striking out 7. Kershaw only walked 1 St. Louis Cardinal. This start could be the start of a long and fruitful career for both Kershaw and Los Angeles. However, it could also end up being deceiving for the two parties. Only time will tell the type of pitcher Kershaw will become.

If Kershaw's first start is any indication, the 20-year old southpaw should have a stellar career at worst. Not many, if any, 20-year olds can be effective in the Major Leagues, especially when going against a lineup featuring Albert Pujols. Kershaw was very effective in pitching his first career game. The question is whether he can keep that up. Kershaw certainly has the potential to do so. He was rated the seventh best prospect in baseball this season by Baseball America, and is oozing with talent. Kershaw features a 93-97 MPH fastball, a knee-buckling curveball, and a still developing, yet extremely effective changeup. If he can stay healthy, there should be nothing that stands in the way of Kershaw being one of the best, if not the best starting pitcher in Major League Baseball within the next 5 years.

That being said, there is always the chance that Kershaw will be yet another hyped up player loaded with potential that failed. Remember Sam Bowie? Or Mike Mamula? Or Adam Johnson? Those are all players that were drafted high (Bowie in the NBA and Mamula in the NFL) yet failed to live up to the hype. In 2004, the San Diego Padres drafted Matt Bush with the first pick in first pick in the MLB First Year Players Draft. Bush has yet to make it to Single-A and will be recovering from a torn ligament until 2009. It is entirely possible that Kershaw could have just shown a flash of his potential with his start today but will never be able to consistently put that together for a whole career. It is also possible that an injury could ruin Kershaw's career. That's what happened to Mark Prior. Once an 18-game winner, Prior has not pitched since 2006. Kershaw fortunately has never had an injury concerns and the Dodgers have limited his pitch count in the minors, so hopefully injuries will not become a problem for him.

The ability and potential make Clayton Kershaw an extremely special pitcher. Like every other pitcher, there are questions about consistency and health, but Kershaw's track record suggests that he will not have any major injuries. He also is a smart kid so he should be able to make the adjustment to keep throwing well once big league hitters adjust to him. In a few years, Kershaw could be the best pitcher in baseball. In fact, Kershaw has the talent to be the best lefty since Sandy Koufax. Kershaw has the potential to be one of the best to toe the rubber. Only time will tell he can make use of his loaded potential.

The End Of A Brilliant Career

Yesterday, one of the greatest catchers of all time officially closed the book on a legendary career. Mike Piazza, after not being able to find work at age 39, decided to hang up his cleats after 16 years in Major League Baseball. Piazza went from a 62nd round selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers to eventual first ballot Hall of Famer. His 396 home runs as a catcher are by far the most of any catcher in baseball history.

Piazza's Major League career began with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which in five years, could be the team that Piazza will have on his Hall of Fame plaque. Piazza had one the greatest rookie seasons of all-time in 1993, batting .318 with 35 home runs and 112 RBIs on route to the NL Rookie of the Year award. The next year, Piazza hit .319 with 24 homers and 92 RBIs, gaudy numbers for a catcher. Those years however, were just the beginning of the greatest hitting seasons for a catcher of all-time.

In 1995, Piazza hit a whopping .346, while sending 32 pitches over the wall, and driving in 93 runs. Piazza's '96 season was even better. Piazza was named the MVP of the All-Star Game and finished the season hitting .336 with 36 homers and 105 RBIs. However, Piazza's best season ever was in 1997. Piazza hit .362, homering 40 times and driving in 124 runs. Somehow, Piazza finished second in the NL MVP race to Larry Walker. 1997 would be Piazza's final full season as a Dodger.

Midway through 1998, Piazza was shipped to the Florida Marlins. 10 days after that Piazza was traded to the New York Mets, who are the other team that could end up being on Piazza's Hall of Fame plaque. The next year, Piazza had his second best season of his career, hitting .303 with another 40 home runs and 124 RBIs. In 2000, Piazza was the biggest reason the Mets went to the World Series. In a era of Yankee dominance in New York, Piazza made the Mets relavent to New Yorkers, hitting 38 home runs and with 133 RBIs and a batting average of .324. Piazza would never play in another World Series, but he continued his great regular season with an even more dominating postseason. He hit .302 with 4 home runs and 8 RBIs, all in just 53 at-bats.

2001 was a year that will always be in the memory of all Americans. On September 21st, just 10 days after the terrible events of 9/11, Piazza finally gave New Yorkers some hope and a reason to cheer. The Shea crowd was awkrard that night, not knowing what to do. The Mets, donning FDNY and NYPD hats to honor the firefighters and policemen that helped save American lives, trailed the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Mike Piazza stepped to the plate against Atlanta pitcher Steve Karsay with a man on first. On an 0-1 pitch, Piazza crushed a fastball over the center field wall, sending the Shea crowd into a frenzy. It was Piazza's most memorable moment as a Met, one that will be remembered by Mets fans for the rest of their lives. He ended up finishing the season with a .300 avg, 36 home runs, and 94 RBIs.

In 2002, Piazza finally started to show a catcher's decline. For the first time in his career, Piazza hit under .300 during a full season, though he still did hit .280. 2002 was also the last season that Piazza hit over 30 home runs or had over 90 RBIs, as Piazza hit 33 homers and 98 RBIs during his '02 campaign. It would be the last great year of Piazza's amazing career.

For the rest of his career, Piazza was never the same. He stayed with the Mets through 2005, before moving to San Diego for a year and then Oakland for another year. Piazza finished his outstanding career with a .308 batting average, 427 home runs, and 1335 RBIs. While he was never known for his defensive abilities, Piazza called a very good game as a catcher and pitchers enjoyed throwing to him. In five years, Piazza will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be remembered as the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, and possibly the greatest catcher of all-time.

A Tale You Won't Believe

Jon Lester has always shown a flair for the dramatic, and yesterday he added to his already impressive resume. With what he has accomplished, on both the baseball diamond and in his life, it is almost impossible to believe that Jon Lester is still just a 24-year old kid. He shouldn't even be in the Major Leagues, let alone a member of the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. While we may not yet know whether Lester will develop into a Hall of Fame pitcher, he has a story that gives so much hope to people around the world.

The tale of Jon Lester begins in 2002. The Red Sox, a cursed organization that at the time had not won a World Series in 84 years, finally got some luck on their side. Lester slid to the 57th pick in the First Year Players Draft, where the Red Sox were happy to scoop him up. Every single Major League team had a chance to take the young lefty from Tacoma, Washington, yet somehow, fate placed Lester in the hands of the Sox.

The tale continues in 2003, where the Red Sox had finished yet another heartbreaking season without a World Series. There was talk of a Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra being shipped to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Alex Rodriquez. If the two teams had agreed to the trade, Lester would also have been headed to Texas. Yet again, fate stepped in and the Red Sox kept Lester. Boston wound up winning its first World Series in 86 years in 2004.

Before 2006, trade winds began swirling around Lester once again. Lester, now on the cusp of the majors, was rumored to be heading to Florida in a deal for Josh Beckett. However, Red Sox general manager refused to part with Lester, instead giving up Anibal Sanchez to go along with Hanley Ramirez to Florida.

Somehow, Lester had fallen into the Red Sox hands in the First Year Player Draft in 2002. Somehow, Theo Epstein had refused to trade Lester to the Texas Rangers to get Rodriquez in 2003 (the deal fell through), and again in 2006, managing to package Anibal Sanchez with Hanley Ramirez in the Josh Beckett trade with Florida. By the time of his rookie season in 2006, Lester could easily have been a Texas Ranger or Florida Marlin.

The tale continues on June 10th, 2006. On that day, Lester made his first career Major League start, against the Rangers. Lester ended up having a decent rookie season, finishing 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA. However, on August 31st, Lester was diagnosed with a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, in other words, cancer. Lester underwent treatment and by December, his cancer was in remission.

Lester reported to spring training with the Red Sox in 2007, but was sent to the minor leagues to regain the strength lost from cancer. On July 23rd, Lester was called back up to the Sox to complete his comeback to the majors. On national TV, many cancer patients watched their new role model give them more hope as Lester pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 2 runs, in Cleveland to beat the Indians. Lester finished the regular season 4-0, with a 4.57 ERA and was honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award, which is given to the player that best overcomes an obstacle and adversity. Despite the comeback and the honor, Lester's best was yet to come in 2007.

Jon Lester was a key member in the Red Sox run to the World Series in 2007. Standing on the mound in Game 4 of the World Series, Lester turned in 5.2 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits while striking out 3. Lester became just the third player in MLB history to win a series-clinching game in their first career postseason start. Just one year after Lester's dream of playing in the Major League's could have ended, Lester was celebrating his first World Series Championship after earning the victory.

That leads the tale to last night. Red Sox catcher described Lester's pregame bullpen session as "terrible", and Lester's first few innings as a "struggle". But Lester never lost poise. Maybe beating cancer can teach that. Once Lester settled in, history was in the making. As soon as his 96 MPH fastball flew by the bat of Alberto Callaspo, Lester became the first lefthanded Red Sox pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Mel Parnell in 1956.

Lester's brilliant performance brought Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell to tears. It was a performance that will inspire many who still struggle with cancer, and a performance that makes the Red Sox even happier that Lester fell into their hands, and that they kept him when the temptation was there to trade him. The tale of Jon Lester is one of the most heartwarming stories ever told. Hopefully there is still more to be told in the inspirational tale of Jon Lester.

Lee's Twisted Path To Dominance

Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee has shocked the baseball world this season, as he is 6-0 with a 0.67 ERA. Lee has allowed just 4 walks, 32 hits, and 1 home run in 53.2 innings this year. Lee also has struck out 44 hitters this year. But behind his unbelievable start, Lee has a secret. It wasn't always this way for Lee.

In 2005, Lee finished in fourth place in the AL Cy Young race, with an 18-5 record and a 3.79 ERA. At that point of his career, many baseball experts considered the 26 year old Lee to be one of the game's rising starts. However, the next season, Lee took a slight step back, finishing 14-11 with a 4.40 ERA. Many people still thought he would be able to bounce back in 2007, but that was not the case.

2007 was easily the worst year of Lee's career. Through July, Lee was just 5-8, with his ERA skyrocketing to 6.29. The Indians were baffled. They decided to send Lee to Triple-A Buffalo, where they hoped he would be able to refind his 2005 form. Though he was not exuberant about pitching in the Minor Leagues, Lee worked hard to add some consistency to his delivery and fastball. The hard work would show one year later.

In Spring Training of 2008, Lee was battling with young Indians pitchers Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey. After a solid spring, Lee won the fifth starter job for Cleveland and has yet to look back. Lee has allowed an earned run in just two of his seven starts, and if he could have gotten more run support in his last outing against Toronto (Lee went 9 shutout innings- Cleveland lost in the 10th inning), he would be 7-0. If he continues to put zeroes on the scoreboard, Lee could end up approaching a season similar to that of Bob Gibson's remarkable 1968 campaign. Baseball fans around the country should tune in whenever this lefty takes the hill, as he could be turning in a season for the ages.

Arizona Caught In Webb of Success

Last night, Brandon Webb beat the Colorado Rockies to start the season 9-0, becoming the first pitcher since 1985 to win his first 9 starts. Webb has been absolutely dominated hitters this season. The key to Webb's game is his sinker, which has been perfect throughout the beginning of this season. Hitters are hitting just .198 against him, and Webb has allowed exactly 63 baserunners in 63.1 innings (a WHIP of 0.99). The sinker's effectiveness is tested by the amount of home runs a sinkerballer gives up. Webb has allowed just two this season.

One of the biggest reasons the Arizona Diamondbacks are in first place is because of Webb. Even on his worst days, Webb keeps his team in ballgames. His ERA is a miniscule 2.56, and of the 190 batters Webb has retired this season, 125 have been groundball outs, which help create double play oppurtunities to keep runners off bases. And although Webb is not a strikeout artist, he is currently 9th in the National League with 49 (6.97 K/9). Webb also goes deep into games, which help keeps the D-Backs bullpen rested, going at least 6 innings in every one of his starts this season, five of which have been for 7 innings or more.

In order for Arizona to remain serious World Series contenders, they will need more help for Webb. With Webb on the hill, Arizona is 9-0. However, without Webb or ace 1B Dan Haren, Arizona is just 13-13. However, there is good reason to believe Arizona's pitching will improve, as Micah Owings has put up solid numbers this season, Randy Johnson figures to pitch better, and Doug Davis is expected to return soon from thyroid cancer. Also, the D-Backs have rookie extraodinair Max Scherzer waiting in the wings.

As for Webb, this could just be the beginning of a historic season. If Webb wins his next start, he will be just the second pitcher in MLB history to win his first 10 starts. The 2006 Cy Young Award winner could be bidding for his second Cy Young Award, and his tremendous start has given Arizona reason to believe they are serious World Series contenders. If Webb continues to dominate hitters, he could have his first ever World Series ring.

NFL Draft- Safeties

The 2008 NFL Draft was relatively weak in terms of safeties. Teams look for the next Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu when drafting safeties, but there likely are no safeties that will end up being the playmakers that Reed or Polamalu are. However, the first safety drafted, Miami's Kenny Phillips, continued a 14 year trend of a Miami Hurricane being drafted in the first round.

Phillip's drafted by the New York Giants with the final pick in the first round, does have very good ability as a safety. Phillips is talented, and shows excellent ball skills. He has excellent range, instincts, and awareness, plus he comes from a long line of dominant Miami safeties (Reed, Sean Taylor, Brandan Merriweather). Phillips has the tendency to get beat deep too often, but his tremendous skill set could help him fix that at the NFL level. Phillips could turn out to be a dynamic starting safety for the Giants, and he was an excellent pick at 31.

The Minnesota Vikings took the only safety in the second round, Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson. Johnson is a very good athlete, which helps him excell in run support. While he does not possess great ball skills, Johnson has enough to be a starter in the NFL. However, in order to reach his starting potential, Johnson needs to stop getting beat deep, and he needs to develop more instincts and awareness, which are necessities at the safety position. At worst, Johnson should be an outstanding NFL backup.

With the 82nd pick in the draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected NC State's DaJuan Morgan. Because he was only a one year starter for the Wolfpack, Morgan somewhat lacks the experience and awareness needed to be a starting safety at the NFL level. However, Morgan does have decent upside, thanks to his great athleticism, and good ball skills. At worst, Morgan will be a very good backup for Kansas City.

The Baltimore Ravens took Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski with the 86th pick in the draft. Zbikowski is not the typical safeties height and does lack some speed. However, he might be the toughest player in the draft and he is very strong, powerful, and fiery. Zbikowski excels in the running game, as his strength and quickness allow him to close gaps against the running back. Zbikowski can also be an alternative in the punt return game, as he did have experience returning punts at Notre Dame. At worst, Zbikowski becomes an extremely good backup, but if he improves his coverage skills, he could be an NFL starter.

The 2008 safety class was very weak and thin. There were only 2 safeties taken on the first day of the draft. Only Miami's Kenny Phillips is a surefire NFL starter. The rest of the safeties taken borderline on backups, and occasional starters. This class was the weakest in years for safeties, but it should figure to get stronger again for next year's draft.

NFL Draft- Cornerbacks

The 2008 cornerback draft class was extremely strong. There were 5 corners taken in the first round, followed by another 5 taken in the second round. Although there are probably no shut down corners in this draft, there could end up being some future very good NFL cover corners that were selected in this draft.

With the 11th pick in the draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Troy's Leodis McKelvin. McKelvin is very athletic, he is very fast, and is a very good cover man. McKelvin can also be a dynamic return man for Buffalo. The knock on McKelvin is his ball skills. McKelvin does not anticipate routes well and he does have trouble coming up with interceptions, evidenced by his 4 interceptions in his whole career at Troy. Also, McKelvin may initially struggle as he did not play against the best of competition at Troy. However, once he makes the adjustment, he could form one of the NFL's better secondaries, teaming with Terrence McGee and Donte Whitner to help the Bills come up with more turnovers and stop the passing game.

With the 16th pick in the draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rodgers-Cromartie will have to deal with the same criticism as McKelvin, as he also did not play against top-notch competition in college. However, there is a whole lot to love about him. He has excellent speed and size, and he possesses very good ball skills and he has the ability to be a very good return man in the NFL, something Arizona desperately needs. If Rodgers-Cromartie can add a little bulk to his frame, he is the only corner in this draft with Champ Bailey-like potential. Rodgers-Cromartie has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks and return men in the NFL.

At pick 20, Kansas cornberback Aqib Talib was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Talib is tailor made for Tampa's Cover 2 scheme. He has excellent size, is a very good athlete, and has exceptional ball skills. Talib also could offer Tampa Bay an option to become a return man. The knock on Talib is his focus. There are some off-field drug issues, and on the field, Talib has the tendency to get beat deap too often. However, in Tampa Bay's Cover 2 defense, Talib should have much better safety help than he had at Kansas, which should allow him to come up with more interceptions and pass breakups. If Talib can put the off-field issues to rest, he will be a very good starting cornerback for the Bucs.

With the 25th pick in the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected South Florida's Mike Jenkins. Jenkins is an excellent athlete, he possesses great speed and has good size for a corner. Jenkins also offers the versatility to play safety for Dallas if too many injuries arise. While Jenkins has the athleticism to be a shutdown corner, he will need to improve his awareness and ball skills to reach his potential, which is immense.

The last cornerback taken in the first round was Arizona's Antoine Cason. Cason, taken by the San Diego Chargers with the 28th pick, had a fantastic career at Arizona, finishing his career with 71 tackles, 14 pass breakups, 5 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), and 2 forced fumbles. Cason is a very athletic corner, although he does lack breakaway speed. What separates him from other corners are his tremendous ball skills and his football smarts and awareness. Cason had 15 interceptions in four years at Arizona. Cason will also help San Diego in the running game, as he is a good tackler. Cason could end up being the missing piece on a team that seems just baby steps away from a Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs continued their excellent draft in the second round, selecting cornerback Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech. Despite his small stature, Flowers is a strong, big-hitting corner. He has shown good ball skills as well, as he had 5 interceptions and 9 pass breakups last year. If Flowers wants to be a starting NFL corner, he will need to get faster. Once that happens, Flowers will be a strong support for the Chiefs run defense, and he will also be a physical corner that will disrupt receivers' routes.

With the 40th overall selection, the New Orleans Saints continued to strengthen their defense, selecting Indiana's Tracy Porter. Porter is an excellent athlete, possessing incredible ball skills. Porter also can benefit New Orleans in the return game, as he returned punts at IU. While he is very good in coverage, Porter will need to be able to get stronger to bump receivers and blanket the more physical receivers in order to be an exceptional NFL starting corner. That being said, there is a lot about Porter, who has the ability to become a good NFL starter.

With the 60th selection in the draft, the Green Bay Packers made Auburn's Patrick Lee the next corner selected. Lee is a corner with a lot of upside. He has good size, speed, and athleticism to become a starter in the NFL. In order for that to happen, Lee must develop his weak ball skills, and become more consistent, which plagued him at Auburn. That being said, Lee will have time to develop behind Al Harris and Charles Woodson in Green Bay, and should develop into a solid starting cornerback.

The 2008 NFL Draft was extremely deep and talented in terms of cornerbacks. Other notables selected were Colorado's Terrence Wheatley (New England Patriots), USC's Terrell Thomas (NY Giants), Iowa's Charles Godfrey (Carolina Panthers), LSU's Chevis Jackson (Atlanta Falcons), Oklahoma's Reggie Smith (San Francisco 49ers), and Penn State's Justin King (St. Louis Rams). All the corners named all have chances to become NFL starters, while others, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Leodis McKelvin, have chances to become shut down corners if they can adjust to the NFL game.

Next: NFL Draft Safeties

NFL Draft- Outside Linebackers

The 2008 NFL Draft was very strong in terms of outside linebackers. There were three taken in the first round (all in the top 10), along with one in the second. This group of outside linebackers have the potential to develop into stars in the NFL.

The first outside 'backer taken was Ohio State's Vernon Gholston. Although he was a defensive end at Ohio State, the New York Jets will use Gholston as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. Gholston is an extremely talented player, possessing great athleticism, speed, and strength. At times however, he is plagued by inconsistency because he only started playing football in his sophomore year of high school. With more experience, Gholston has a chance to make a Shawne Merriman type of impact for the Jets. He is a very good pass rusher and will help New York finally put some pressure on the quarterback.

With the 9th selection in the draft, the Cincinnati Bengals took USC's Keith Rivers. While Rivers does not possess some of the talent that Gholston, Glenn Dorsey, or Chris Long all have, his incredible work ethic helps him make a similar impact in games. Rivers has excellent athleticism, along with a very high motor, great quickness, and very good range. If Rivers can get stronger so he can be more of a power player, he will turn out to be an extremely good NFL linebacker.

One pick later, the New England Patriots selected Tennessee's Jerod Mayo. Mayo has tremendous speed, quickness, athleticism, and a high motor. However, he is slightly undersized but that should not stop him from being a very dynamic linebacker for New England. In his senior season at Tennessee, Mayo had 140 tackles, 8.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage. Also, Mayo will get the benefit of playing with some of the smartest linebackers in the NFL and under one of the NFL's defensive geniuses in Bill Belicheck, who should find a very good use for Mayo.

The next outside linebacker selected was Colorado's Jordon Dizon, taken at pick 45 by the Detroit Lions. Dizon should be an excellent weak side linebacker to team up with Ernie Sims. He has great range and a non-stop motor, and always ends up being in the right place at the right time. However, in order to become an exceptional starting linebacker in the NFL, Dizon will need to get stronger. If he can do that however, the Lions could have found a very solid and reliable linebacker for their flimsy defense.

At pick 78, the New England Patriots took their second outside 'backer of the draft, Michigan's Shawn Crable. Despite his weak work ethic and motor, Crable has great physical tools to be successful in the NFL. He shows excellent speed and strength and is very athletic. In his senior season, Crable finished with 90 tackles, 28.5 of which went for a loss, and 7.5 sacks. Belicheck should have a great use for Crable as a pash rusher, and with the older New England linebackers being used as Crable's counselors, Crable has a chance to develop into a good starting linebacker.

The last starting outside linebacker taken in the third round was UCLA's Bruce Davis. Taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Davis has the upside to develop into a good pass rusher and starting linebacker in Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme. He is very athletic and very quick, which along with a high motor allowed him to sometimes take over games in college, as he finished with 12 sacks last year. However, in order to reach his upside, Davis needs to get stronger to be able to take on NFL lineman. If he can do that, there is a lot to like about Pittsburgh's selection, which gives them very good value in the third round.

The outside linebacker class of 2008 will likely feature at least 1 star, with as many as 4 others being very reliable starters and possible Pro Bowlers. This is a group with a lot of potential, but also a lot of hit-or-miss picks. It will be interesting to see if some players drafted will develop into the potential that they possess.

Next: NFL Draft: Cornerbacks

NFL Draft- Inside Linebackers

The 2008 inside linebacker draft class was the weakest position in the entire NFL draft. There were no inside 'backers and just one drafted in the second round. In fact, there were just eight inside 'backers drafted. There likely will be only a maximum of three starters from this group.

The first linebacker selected was Oklahoma's Curtis Lofton. Lofton, taken by the Atlanta Falcons at pick 37, is a hard worker and a very smart football player. In his final season at OU, Lofton was named an All-America and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year because of his 157 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. Despite the fact that he does not possess great physical skills, Lofton should make Atlanta very happy with his ability to lead a defense and be in the right place at the right time. While Lofton will never be a superstar, he should end up being a solid starting linebacker for the Falcons.

Tavares Gooden from Miami was the next inside 'backer picked, by the Baltimore Ravens, respectively. Gooden had an excellent senior season for The U, racking up 100 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, and an interception. Gooden is a good athlete and will provide very good depth for the Ravens' aging linebacker corps as Gooden can play any linebacker position. Gooden could end up having a very long career, either as an excellent backup, or a decent starter.

With the 74th selection in the draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Penn State's Dan Connor. It was very surprising to see Connor slip all the way to the third round, as many saw him being a late first rounder. However, Carolina did a good job of taking Connor, who has great range and is a very good tackler. In his senior season at Linebacker U, Connor had 145 tackles with 6.5 sacks, 6 pass breakups, and an interception. If Connor can get a little stronger, he has the potential to be a very good linebacker in the NFL, giving Carolina a possible steal in round 3.

Philip Wheeler of Georgia Tech was the next inside linebacker taken. At pick 93, this is a solid pick for the Indianapolis Colts. Wheeler will give them a very good backup linebacker at the very least. He has very good instincts with good athleticism. Wheeler's specialty is rushing the passer, which could help the Colts free up Dwight Freeney. However, if Wheeler wants to see the field he will need to get stronger. But overall, the Colts made a good selection here, seeing that Wheeler will at the very least give them a good pass rusher and a good backup.

This class of inside linebackers was the weakest in years. There are no future stars in this group, and maybe two starters. Besides Dan Connor and Curtis Lofton, the 2008 class of linebackers will probably end up being relegated to back up duty in the NFL.

Next- Outside Linebackers

NFL Draft- Defensive Tackles

The 2008 defensive tackle class featured some of the most dominating and talented defensive tackles in recent memory. Led my LSU's Glenn Dorsey, the 2008 class also featured talented forces in USC's Sedrick Ellis and UNC's Kentwam Balmer.

The Kansas City Chiefs could not have been happier to see Dorsey land in their hands at pick 5. Dorsey played almost his entire senior season injured, yet he still earned a selection to the All-America. Dorsey also was awarded the Lombardi Award (nation's best lineman or linebacker), the Outland Trophy (nation's best interior lineman), the Nagurski Trophy (nation's best defensive player), the Lott Trophy (Impact Defensive Player of the Year), and was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Dorsey finished the end of his senior year with 69 tackles, 7 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and a forced fumble, not to mention a National Championship victory. Depsite all of honors, Dorsey is a tremendous teammate and a great young man who will represent the Chiefs extremely well off the field. While on the field, Dorsey's incredible power, quickness, agility, athleticism, high-motor, and awareness will make him a perennial Pro Bowler. Dorsey is the best football player in the draft, hands-down. He has the ability to be one of the best defensive players in NFL history.

The next defensive tackle taken was Ellis, by the New Orleans Saints. Ellis, like Dorsey, had a dominating college career. Despite playing in Dorsey's shadow in his senior season, Ellis still had 58 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 7 pass breakups. Ellis also earned All-America honors. He has the ability be a one-man wrecking crew at the next level. Ellis' speed and quickness is unparalled for a defensive tackle, yet he also possesses great strength and power. Ellis also makes sure to give 110%. The Saints more than filled their need for a defensive tackle with Ellis, who should end up being a perennial Pro Bowl NFL defensive tackle.

The San Francisco 49ers made North Carolina's Kentwan Balmer the next tackle taken off the board at pick 29. Balmer is a great talent, yet he is very inconsistent and was a one year wonder at UNC. However, Balmer's abilities were too good for San Francisco to pass up in a thin tackle draft. Balmer might be the strongest tackle in the draft, and also possesses good quickness. In order for him to be a starter for the 49ers, likely at end in their 3-4 scheme, Balmer will need to give his all on every play. He cannot be nearly as inconsistent as he was in college to be the defender San Francisco needs.

The Philadelphia Eagles made Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws the only defensive tackle taken in the second round. Laws does lack the upside to be a dominating tackle in the NFL, but he possesses an incredibly high motor and great quickness. In fact, Laws had one of the few good seasons for the Fighting Irish last year, making 112 tackles with 4 sacks, 5 pass breakups, and 3 blocked kicks. While Laws is not the "sexy" pick at 47, he will give Philadelphia a very solid player for years to come.

While the 2008 defensive tackle class featured some gems in Dorsey and Ellis, this class was extremely thin. Kentwan Balmer and Trevor Laws are the only tackles besides Dorsey and Ellis with a chance at being starters in their careers. However, despite the weakness of the prospects in the position, the defensive tackle position could end up featuring 3 perennial Pro Bowl players, if Balmer can live up to his potential.

Next: Inside Linebackers

NFL Draft- Defensive Ends

The 2008 NFL Draft class was very deep and talented in terms of defensive ends. The class was led by the ultra-talented Chris Long, son of NFL Hall of Famer defensive end Howie Long. Long was the first defensive end taken in the draft, and was followed by two more in the first round and four in the second round. This position has a chance to produce some very exciting players.

The St. Louis Rams spent the second overall selection on Long. Long's brilliant college career at Virginia ended with 79 tackles, 14 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception in his senior season. As well, Long earned the Ted Hendricks Award (nation's top defensive end) and an All-America selection. There is absolutely nothing not to like about Chris Long. He is unbelievable athletic ability, great size, great power and strength, and gives 110% no matter what. In other words, there is no reason to doubt that Chris Long will be a long-time Pro Bowl defensive end in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the next team to take a defensive end, using the 8th selection on Florida's Derrick Harvey. Jacksonville, looking to put more pressure on the quarterback, took a potentially good end in Harvey. Harvey does lack great speed, but he is very agile and shows great athleticism. Harvey could be the missing piece for Jacksonville, who watched Tom Brady spend what seemed like hours in the pocket, shred the defense in a New England playoff win.

The next defensive end taken was Lawrence Jackson from USC, taken by the Seattle Seahawks at pick 28. Jackson is a very big defensive end, and does provide enough burst to get to the quarterback. However, at 282 lbs, Jackson will end up being a very good run stuffer for the Seahawks, and should give them a very reliable defensive end for years to come.

With the first pick in the second round, the Miami Dolphins selected Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling. Merling had an outstanding senior season, racking up 78 tackles with 7 sacks. Merling is another big, powerful defensive who could thrive in the Dolphins 3-4 scheme. He is very athletic for his size, and he should be a very good defensive end in the NFL, especially in terms of shutting down the running game.

Calais Campbell of Miami was the next defensive end selected, with pick 50 by the Arizona Cardinals. After an outstanding sophomore year, Campbell's play took a step back last year at Miami, but he is still an extremely talented player. At 6'8" and 290 lbs, Campbell should be able to thrive in Arizona's 3-4 scheme. He has incredible athleticism for his size, and should be able to get to the quarterback, even in the 3-4. If he can pick up his play, the Cardinals may have gotten one of the best defensive players in the draft.

The Jaguars took their second defensive end of the draft with pick 52, selecting Quentin Groves of Auburn. Groves is a very inconsistent player, but he has the physical attributes to be able to succeed. He is very athletic, has great speed, and has very good
strength for his small size. If the Jaguars can make him play hard all the time, they could have found a very solid defensive end, with great ability to rush the passer.

The Tennessee Titans made Eastern Michigan Jason Jones the next defensive end taken in the draft. Jones will need to make the adjustment to playing the best in order to succede at the next level. He also is not much of a pass rusher, but is strong and good at stopping the run. Jones also has the option of bulking up to play defensive tackle for Tennessee, where is run-stuffing abilities may be better suited.

The Miami Dolphins took their second defensive end of the draft, taking Hampton's Kendall Langford. If Langford can make the adjustment from small-school to the NFL, he has the potential to be a very good defensive end in the 3-4 scheme. Even at 2887 lbs, Langford has great athletic ability and is an excellent run-stuffer. Because he was drafted by Miami, Langford could get some extra tutelage from All-Pro Jason Taylor to make the adjustment to the NFL easier.

Chris Ellis of Virginia Tech was taken by the Buffalo Bills 72nd overall. Ellis is a very good pass rusher, but fell in the draft due to his inability to help stuff the run and off-field issues. However, he does have the talent to be a solid starting defensive end for Buffalo, especially with teams double-teaming fellow defensive end Aaron Schobel.

In all, the 2008 defensive end draft class could produce some gems for some teams. Many teams may have drafted some very good future starters, but there were some ends in this draft that could end up being complete busts. However, after seeing the Giants take down the Patriots in the Super Bowl using many pass rushers, other teams are stockpiling defensive ends, looking to give quarterbacks even less time to throw the ball.

NFL Draft- Offensive Linemen

Tackles

Offensive tackle may have featured some of the most talented players in the draft. There were seven tackles taken in the first round, including the Miami Dolphins selection of Jake Long with the first overall pick in the draft. While there were plenty of tackles taken in round 1, none were selected in the second round, and only one was selected in the third round.

The Dolphins made the Michigan tackle Long the first overall selection of the 2008 NFL Draft. The Dolphins are hoping that Long will be the bookend tackle he was at Michigan, where he was called for just one holding penalty in his four years as a Wolverine. Long's impressive resume also includes two first team All-America selections and two Big Ten Lineman of the Year awards. The Dolphins hope Long will be a fixture for them at left tackle for the next 15 years, where long will likely protect his former Michigan teammate Chad Henne. Overall, the Dolphins could have made the safest pick. Long's strength and athleticism will make for a smooth adjustment to life in the NFL.

The next offensive tackle selected was Ryan Clady of Boise State. Clady was chosen by the Denver Broncos, looking for a bookend tackle to protect young quarterback Jay Cutler. The knock on Clady is whether he will be able to make a swift adjustment to NFL defensive ends after not facing the best collegiate competition at Boise State. However, there is no reason to believe that Clady has the potential and ability to be a Pro Bowl NFL tackle. He has great athleticism and a tremendous work ethic, which will end up being a tremendous help to him as he gets adjusted to NFL life.

Two picks after the Denver selection, the Chicago Bears surprised many draft experts by not taking a running back or quarterback, instead taking Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams. While Williams is very athletic for an offensive lineman, he does have plenty of strength questions as he only did 21 bench press reps at the NFL combine. Unless Williams gets stronger, he will struggle to be an effective tackle in the NFL. However, his great athleticism and mobility give him tremendous potential if he does get stronger.

The Detroit Lions made Boston College tackle Gosder Cherilus the next tackle selected, at pick number 33. Cherilus is another athletic tackle, but he will need to be a right tackle in the NFL to be effective because his form is not great. Cherilus, however, is not afraid to finish off blocks and that mean streak will be of great benefit to him in the NFL. Overall, if the Lions put Cherilus at right tackle, they could have a very productive player at that position for many years to come.

Massive tackle Jeff Otah was the next tackle taken off the board, at pick 19 by the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers could have a very, very impressive player on their hands if Otah continues to rapidly develop like he did at Pittsburgh in college. Otah does not possess very good athleticism, but what makes him a good tackle is his strength and pure power. He is still very unpolished, as he did not start playing football at Pitt until 2006. However, if Carolina gives him time to develop, Otah has the potential to be one of the most dominant tackles in the NFL.

At pick 21, the Atlanta Falcons reached for USC tackle Sam Baker. Baker is a very reliable tackle, having been a four year starter for the Trojans. While he doesn't do anything to make him stand out, he does have enough talent to be a solid NFL starter for Atlanta. Baker has a major task at hand, having to protect franchise quarterback Matt Ryan. He should be able to handle any kind of pressure though, as a USC-alum, he has plenty of experience protecting quarterbacks in the limelight.

The final tackle selection of the first round was made by the Houston Texans, who took Virginia Tech tackle Duane Brown. The Texans may have fallen too much in love with Brown's potential, which is immense. Despite that, Brown is a former tight end that lacks strength to be a good NFL tackle right now. However, is he can add some muscle, Brown could become one of the best tackles of this draft class. He is incredibly athletic and fast, but he is way too inexperienced and not strong enough to be taken in the first round.

The rest of the tackle pool was very weak, as there were no other notable tackles taken in the draft. In fact, the next tackle selected was John Greco from Toledo by the Rams in round 3. Despite its lack of depth, the tackles in this draft class could give many teams some bookend tackles for years to come.

Guards/Center

Like that of the tackle pool, the guards and centers in the 2008 NFL Draft were relatively weak. Only one it seems, has a definite chance to be a very good NFL starter. However, the others should end up as either solid starters or very good backups for their respective teams.

The first interior lineman selected was Virginia guard Branden Albert. Albert, taken by the Kansas City Chiefs at pick 15, has the potential to develop into an extremely good NFL starter very quickly for Kansas City. He possesses great quickness and athletic ability, and also has enough versatility to move to tackle if possible. As soon as Albert learns to use some of his untapped power potential, he will become one of the dominant guards in the NFL.

The next guard taken was USC guard Chilo Rachal. Rachal, selected by the San Francisco 49ers, does not possess ideal athleticism for a guard at the NFL level. In order to develop into an adequate NFL starter, Rachal will need to continue to use solid blocking form. However, he should become an important part to a young and developing San Francisco line, and he has the potential to be a solid NFL starter.

The last guard of note was Rutgers guard Jeremy Zuttah. If nothing else, Zuttah will give the Tampa Bay Bucs the ability to play any position on the line except center. Zuttah did not allow a sack in his final two seasons at Rutgers, but despite that his lack of size and athleticism will make him struggle to be an exceptional NFL starting guard. However, Zuttah will provide for
tremendous depth for the Tampa Bay line and he will give them an excellent backup lineman.

The only center of note taken in the draft was Arizona State center Mike Pollack. Pollack, taken by the Indianapolis Colts, will be given some time to develop as the future Colt center behind current Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday. Once he begins to start, Pollack could end up being a very good center to protect future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. He is a very good run and pass blocker, and possesses very good athleticism. Despite the fact that he does not have great strength, Pollack should become a very good NFL starting center for the Colts.

The interior offensive lineman draft class was both lacking talent and depth. Branden Albert almost certainly will end up being the best interior lineman, and he has the talent to be the best lineman of the 2008 class. Mike Pollack will give the Colts a very solid starter, but all other interior lineman will likely struggle as starters, but they should make very good backups for NFL teams.

Next: NFL Draft- Defensive Tackle

NFL Draft- Tight Ends

In today's NFL game, teams are constantly looking for a tight end that can spread the field, find holes in the defense to move the chains, and be a red zone target. While this draft did not feature any game-changing tight ends in the mold of the San Diego Chargers' Antonio Gates and the Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten, there are more than a few tight ends that will be more than able to help a team's offense become more dimensional.

The New York Jets traded up to make Purdue's Dustin Keller the first and only tight end drafted in the first round. The Jets hope Keller can help young quarterback Kellen Clemens develop into their franchise quarterback. New York also hopes that Keller's athletic ability and hands make up for his lack of size so he can help the Jets spread the field, something that has been a major problem for New York. Keller has the ability to turn into an extremely productive tight end for the Jets, and their move to trade up was a wise one.

Another team in need of tight end help, the Seattle Seahawks, used the 38th overall pick on former Notre Dame tight end John Carlson. Carlson did not put up huge numbers in college, he has good size and should be a very good option for Matt Hasselback in the red zone or in third down situations. If Carlson can put a halt on dropping the football, he can turn out to be a solid NFL tight end.

10 picks after Seattle took Carlson, the Washington Redskins added yet another weapon to be used at Jason Campbell's dispense, this time taking tight end Fred Davis from USC. Davis, the winner of the Mackey Award (given to the nation's top tight end) may not make an immediate impact for Washington, but eventually, his athleticism and pass-catching abilities will make him very valuable to the Redskins. By adding Davis and receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, the Redskins suddenly have the makings of a high-powered, multi-dimensional offense.

Later in the second round, the Redskins biggest rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, added tight end Martellus Bennett from Texas A&M. Like Davis, Bennett probably will not make an immediate impact in Big D. However, Bennett has the speed, hands, and size to be a very good pass-catching tight end in the NFL. Also, with many opposing defenses already focused on stopping Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, Bennett may find openings to catch the ball.

The first tight end drafted in the third round was Tennessee's Brad Cottam. Cottam, who collegiate career was limited by injuries, was another impressive choice by the Chiefs as they try to get younger and better. Cottam's size (6'8"), speed, and pass-catching ability give Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle a huge weapon to find while in the pocket. What makes this selection intriguing is if Cottam can find a way to stay healthy. He has the most potential of any tight end of this draft, and could end being a very good tight end at the NFL level.

Other notable tight ends drafted were Texas' Jermichael Finley, drafted by the Green Bay Packers. Finley has excellent speed, and if he continues to work hard at his route running and pass catching, he could turn out to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Finley has tremendous potential.

Besides Finley, other notables include Missouri tight end Michael Rucker (Cleveland Browns) and California's Craig Stevens (Tennessee Titans). Stevens and Rucker both offer their respective teams the ability to catch the ball and be reliable blockers. They have the potential to be solid starting tight ends in the NFL, and in their worst case scenario, will be very reliable backups.

Next: 2008 NFL Draft- Offensive Tackles

2008 NFL Draft- Wide Receivers

While the wide receiver pool was not very deep in the 2008 draft, it was shocking to see no wide receiver drafted in the first round of the draft. The first receivers drafted will most likely end up as good number 2 receivers for NFL teams, but there are a few guys that will be good enough to carry the load as a number 1 receiver in the NFL.

The first receiver selected was former Houston wideout Donnie Avery, drafted by the St. Louis Rams. Avery could possibly be the fastest player in the draft this year, and the Rams were looking to give quarterback Marc Bulger a deep threat and Torry Holt some help at the receiver position. Avery had an outstanding senior season for the Cougars, catching 91 balls for a total of 1456 yards. In addition, Avery caught 7 touchdown passes. While Avery could have been a reach as the first receiver selected, he will give the Rams a much-needed deep threat to spread the field and a possible kick returner.

With the next pick in the draft, the Washington Redskins took Michigan State receiver Devin Thomas. Thomas had an outstanding junior season at Michigan State, catching 79 passes for 1260 yards and 8 touchdowns. Thomas should be a very good fit for the Washington offense as a number 2 receiver behind Santana Moss. He also gives young, developing quarterback Jason Campbell another weapon to use on opposing defenses. Thomas could end up being the number 1 receiver eventually for what could be a dangerous Washington offense.

Two picks later, the Green Bay Packers made another surprising pick in Kansas State wideout Jordy Nelson. The Packers, looking to bolster their offense as Aaron Rodgers replaces the legendary Brett Favre, took Nelson, who will give them a possession receiver. Nelson had an outstanding senior season at K-State, catching 122 passes for 1606 yards and 11 touchdowns. While Nelson is not very athletic or fast, he is a fairly tall receiver (6'3") who will be an excellent number 3 receiver for the Packers.

The next receiver selection was made by the Buffalo Bills at pick number 41. The Bills added Indiana wideout James Hardy. Buffalo was looking for someone to step in as their number 2 receiver and help Lee Evans carry the load of the Buffalo offense. Hardy is plenty big enough to shoulder some of the responsibility of producing for the Bills offense as he will be a giant target for young quarterback Trent Edwards. Hardy, standing at 6'7", will be a huge red zone target and possession receiver as the Bills offense continues to take steps in becoming one of the more dangerous offenses in the league.

One pick after Buffalo's selection, the Denver Broncos added a receiver of their own, drafting Virginia Tech speedster Eddie Royal. Royal does not figure to be able to play as a receiver much in the Broncos offense besides as a home-run hitter. However, despite this limited role at least in the beginning of his rookie year, Royal should be a very valuable punt returner for Denver. Also, Royal will allow the Denver offense to spread the field to give more options for young, cannon-armed quarterback Jay Cutler. Despite the limited role Royal may play in the offense, he could be a dangerous returner similar to that of Chicago's Devin Hester.

The Cincinnati Bengals took the next receiver off the board, Coastal Carolina's Jerome Simpson. Simpson will not ring a bell to the normal football fan. Playing at Coastal Carolina, Simpson did not play against any of the nation's top collegiate competition in college. However, he impressed the Bengals with his athleticism and speed, and if given some time, he could be a very good wideout in the Bengals wide open, pass heavy offense.

The Philadelphia Eagles made the electic DeSean Jackson (California) the next receiver taken off the board. Jackson was one of the most, if not the most exciting player in college football. He has the ability to take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Jackson is not a very big receiver, and therefore may struggle in the Eagles offense, especially in the beginning of his career, but his big play ability will be invaluable to Philadelphia. Jackson is another guy with return ability on the same level as Devin Hester. The Eagles may get the most immediate impact from a receiver in the draft, and Jackson has the potential to be an extremely good NFL player.

After Jackson was taken by Philadelphia, the Redskins took their second receiver of the draft, this time Oklahoma's ultra-talented Malcolm Kelly. Kelly is a very tall (6'3") receiver with the best hands in the draft. The reason Kelly slipped in the draft was injuries. He was plaqued by injuries throughout his career at OU. However, the Redskins have reason to believe that if Kelly can stay healthy, he can team with Devin Thomas to form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. This pick also surrounds Jason Campbell yet another weapon to throw to. The Redskins are obviously trying to make sure Campbell has everything he needs to be their quarterback of the future.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made their second excellent selection of the draft, this time adding Texas wideout Limas Sweed. Sweed is another extremely talented player who was plaqued by injuries throughout his career. However, Sweed's height (6'5"), and altheticism could give the Steelers reason to believe that he could be one of the best receivers in the NFL, if he can stay healthy. As in the case with the Steelers selection of Rashard Mendenhall, they capitalized by selecting a player that slipped a bit in the NFL draft. With their draft class, Pittsburgh has the possibility of selecting the best running back and wide receiver in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Appalachian State wideout Dexter Jackson the final wide receiver selected in the second round. Tampa Bay was looking to give aging Joey Galloway more help at the wideout position, and they hope the speedy Jackson is the answer to their number 2 receiver woes. Jackson is one of the fastest players in the draft, and at the very least, Tampa Bay is expecting an impact in the return game from Jackson this season. Once he makes the adjustment to playing in the NFL, Jackson has the potential to be an excellent slot receiver for Tampa.

The receivers drafted in the third round have the potential to be very solid NFL wideouts. Chicago took Vanderbilt wideout Earl Bennett, who is a very good route runner with great hands. The Arizona Cardinals then took the very talented Early Doucet from LSU. Doucet has the potential to be one of the best number 2 receivers in the NFL, and he will have plenty of time to develop in Arizona, as he will start behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in the Cardinals offense. The next receiver taken off the board was Louisville's Harry Douglas. Like Bennett, Douglas is a very good route runner with good hands. The Atlanta Falcons gave future franchise quarterback Matt Ryan a very good slot receiver, as they look to rebuild their team. Douglas gives Atlanta a solid number 2 receiver behind Roddy White. The New York Giants took the next receiver off the board, Michigan's Mario Manningham. Had it not been for some well-documented off the field problems, Manningham could have been one the first receivers off the board. He is very talented, and gives Eli Manning yet another weapon in the Giants' quest to defend their Super Bowl Championship.

While there were no wideouts taken off the board in the first round, teams began to select wide receivers in bunches from the second round on. The Redskins and Steelers could end up being very happy by selecting Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly (Washington), and Limas Sweed (Pittsburgh). As well as the traditional wideouts, many teams decided to take the speedy deep threat and return specialist receivers, hoping they will have a similar impact to that of Devin Hester. While only a handful of the receivers have the potential to be game-breaking players, teams should get solid depth and production from those wideouts selected.

Next: 2008 NFL Draft- Tight Ends

NFL Draft- Running Backs

The 2008 NFL Draft was filled with quality running backs. Five backs were taken in the first round, while two others were taken in the second round. The third round also featured some selections of backs that were very prolific in college. The runners drafted this year give teams good reason to believe they could have a dominant back for years to come.

The first back chosen was two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden (Arkansas, 4th overall) by the Oakland Raiders. McFadden's game is speed. If McFadden can take care of his off-field issues, the Raiders could have an extremely potent offense in the near future. This selection was extremely important for Oakland. It gives them an exciting player and another weapon for second year quarterback JaMarcus Russell. McFadden is also a player that plays his best in big games. Against the vaunted LSU defense, McFadden ran for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Razorbacks upset. McFadden has the potential to bring the Raiders back to excellence, and he should make their offense very exciting.

At pick 13, the Carolina Panthers took Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. Stewart is the anti-McFadden. He has had no off the field issues and his greatest strength is well, his strength. Stewart pounded through opposing defenses this year for 1722 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, it was surprising to see Stewart being the second running back drafted. He is expected to miss about 6 months due to toe surgery. When he returns, Stewart should be an excellent complement to current running back, the speedy DeAngelo Williams.

The next running back taken was Arkansas' Felix Jones by the Dallas Cowboys. This pick was no surprise to anyone. Many figured that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was going to take Felix Jones because Jerry Jones went to school at Arkansas. However, that's not the only reason Dallas took Felix Jones. Despite backing up McFadden at Arkansas for his whole career, Jones still ran for 1162 yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging a staggering 11 yards per carry. The lightning-quick Jones should make an immediate impact as he complements the rugged Marion Barber III in the Dallas backfield.

At pick 23, the Pittsburgh Steelers added Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois. Mendenhall might end up being the best back of what was a very good running back class. He combines great power and speed, with great vision. There are no weaknesses in his game and he should make the Terrible Towel waving fans very happy. Last year, Mendenhall ran for 1681 yards and 17 touchdowns, with a 9.4 yards per carry average. The Steelers got incredible value from a pick in the last half of the first round, as Mendenhall could be a Pro Bowl back for years to come.

One pick after the Steelers took Mendenhall, the Tennessee Titans pulled the first shocker of the draft and took East Carolina running back Chris Johnson. The Titans were obviously impressed by Johnson's speed, as he ran a 4.24 second 40 yard dash time at the NFL combine. However, in the first round, Tennessee could have used this pick on a wide receiver, which is something they desperately need to get quarterback Vince Young some weapons. The jury is out on Tennesee's pick, although Johnson did run for 1423 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. The Titans should have tried to address their glaring weakness at wide reciever.

Johnson was the last running back selected in the first round, but the first running back taken in the second round was Tulane's Matt Forte, by the Chicago Bears. The Bears desperate need for any kind of offense could be partly solved by Forte, who rushed for 2127 yards and 23 touchdowns for a subpar Tulane team. Forte could get immediate playing time in Chicago, depending on how the recent Cedric Benson arrest plays out. If all goes well for Chicago, they should have a quality running back for the next 8 years in Forte.

Rutgers running back Ray Rice was the next back selected, at pick 55 by the Baltimore Ravens. Rice closed out an excellent collegiate career with a 280 yard, 4 touchdown performance against Ball State in the International Bowl to finish his final season at Rutgers with 2012 yards and 24 touchdowns. Rice finished 12th on the NCAA All-Time rushing list and he should give the Ravens an excellent complement to Willis McGahee with his powerful style of running.

Central Florida's Kevin Smith was the next back taken, by the Detroit Lions. Smith had a phenomenal senior season, nearly breaking the legendary Barry Sanders' record for most rushing yards in a season. While Sanders ran for 2628 yards with 39 touchdowns in 1988, Smith wasn't too far off this season, finishing 2567 yards and 29 touchdowns. Like Sanders, Smith will spend his NFL days playing for the Lions. Despite his incredible production, there are some question marks on Smith, which include his character, long-term durability, and his ability to compete against the best of competition. However, Smith is very athletic and has very good vision, which should bode well for him as an NFL running back.

The steal of the 2008 NFL Draft could well be former Texas running back Jamaal Charles, drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs at pick number 73. Charles has unbelievable speed and vision, and his numbers showed it this past season, in which he ran for 1619 yards and 18 touchdowns. Charles should fit in extremely well in the Chiefs offense, as the complement to the more powerful Larry Johnson. If Johnson continues to struggle as he did last season, Charles has the ability to be a very, very good NFL running back. Kansas City quite possibly could have taken the best running back in the draft, in Jamaal Charles.

The last running back selected in the third round was former West Virginia Mountaineer Steve Slaton. Slaton was selected by the Houston Texans, who employ a similar zone-blocking scheme to that of the one that Slaton thrived in at WVU. However, there are some concerns about Slaton, after his junior season was significantly worse than in his sophomore season. In his sophomore year, Slaton ran for 1744 yards (averaged 7 yards per carry) with 17 touchdowns. However, in his junior year, Slaton stumbled as he only gained 1051 yards (5 yard per carry average) and 16 touchdowns. Houston is hoping that Slaton can rebound from his junior year and be a key component for the Texan offense in the future.

This running back class was one of the deepest in years. There are about 8 backs drafted that have the potential to be Pro Bowlers at some point in their careers. Even some runners drafted to be backups should be extremely valuable to their teams. Overall, the teams that drafted runners could be set at that position for the next 10 years.

Next- NFL Draft- Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

NFL Draft- Quarterbacks

The 2008 Quarterback Draft Class was on the weaker side. While there are some quarterback's that could have great career's, almost every quarterback has some reason to doubt their ability to be able to play in the NFL.

The first quarterback taken in the draft was Matt Ryan from Boston College, taken third overall by the Atlanta Falcons. While Ryan has the talent to be a very good NFL quarterback, there are reasons for doubt. He has a pretty good arm, but what separates him from other quarterbacks is his accuracy and leadership. Ryan did throw 19 interceptions this past season at BC, but part of the reason for that was his surrounding talent. BC's line did not give him as much time to throw as say, Chad Henne of Michigan, and the Eagle receivers and backs are not the most talented players in college football. Overall though, the Falcons may have made a mistake not drafting LSU DT Glenn Dorsey. However, Ryan should be a very good starting NFL quarterback, and he will give the Falcons some stability after the Michael Vick incident.

The second quarterback taken was Delaware's Joe Flacco (18th Overall, Baltimore Ravens). Flacco shot up teams' draft boards with stellar pre-draft workouts. He has great upside, as he has an extremely good arm. The knock on Flacco is the competition he faced. Playing in Division 1-AA, Flacco has not faced any NFL talent. It will be interesting to see if he will be able to adjust to the much faster speed of the NFL game. Overall, the Ravens made a wise choice taking Flacco, because of the draft picks they got from trading down, and because of the immense upside he possesses.

In the second round, the Green Bay Packers took QB Brian Brohm from Louisville. The Packers, obviously not sold on Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre, made a wise move taking Brohm. Brohm severly hurt his draft stock by sticking around at Louisville for his senior season. Instead of a top-10 pick, he slid all the way to number 56. Brohm should be a good, if not very good, starting quarterback for Green Bay if Rodgers falters. If all goes well, Brohm could end up being one of the great steals of the draft.

The final quarterback taken on the first day of the draft was Chad Henne (Michigan) by the Miami Dolphins. Henne had a very solid, but unspectacular, career at Michigan. Henne could end up being a good NFL starting quarterback if he is given some time before he takes over as the Dolphins signal-caller. Despite being very talented and playing for a talented Wolverine squad, Henne was never able to beat arch-rival Ohio State, and his Michigan teams never seemed to live up to expectations. Despite this, Henne has more upside, and is probably better than current Dolphins quarterback John Beck. However, on a weak team on which the quarterback will take many lumps, it will be wise for Miami to take its time developing Henne on the sideline for at least a few games in order to make sure he is ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

The quarterbacks on the second day will most likely spend the majority of their careers as backups in the NFL. John David Booty (USC) has the best chance to become a starter, especially if current Minnesota Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson continues to go through growing pains. The Vikings selection of Booty in the 5th round gives them extremely good value for a 5th round pick.

Other notable quarterbacks selected were Tennessee's Erik Ainge (New York Jets), Hawaii's Colt Brennan (Washington Redskins), Kentucky's Andre Woodson (New York Giants), and LSU's Matt Flynn (Packers). While these four will probably spend the majority of their careers as backups, they could make decent starters if given the chance by an NFL team.

Coming up tomorrow: NFL Draft Review- Running Backs