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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 11:09 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2008

NFL: Dallas Morning News mock draft

By Rick Gosselin
The Dallas Morning News

Bill Parcells loves size.

With a primary voice in his last eight NFL drafts, Parcells has used his influence to draft six defensive front seven players in eight first-round selections: linebackers Bobby Carpenter (2006) and DeMarcus Ware (2005) and defensive end Marcus Spears (2005) in Dallas, and ends Shaun Ellis (2000), John Abraham (2000) and linebacker James Farrior (1997) with the New York Jets.

In his first draft as president of the Miami Dolphins in 2008, Parcells continues to covet size. He believes you win championships up front with your offensive and defensive lines.

Parcells has four solid options with the first overall pick of the 2008 draft: defensive ends Vernon Gholston and Chris Long, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive tackle Jake Long.

The most glaring need on his roster is at offensive tackle, so give Jake Long to the Dolphins in The Dallas Morning News' first mock draft:

1. Miami — Jake Long, OT, Michigan, The safest pick on the draft board.

2. St. Louis — Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU, Won Lombardi, Lott, Nagurski and Outland trophies.

3. Atlanta — Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College, The Falcons need reason for hope.

4. Oakland — Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas, The next Adrian Peterson?

5. Kansas City — Keith Rivers, LB, Southern Cal, A player who knows how to win championships.

6. NY Jets — Chris Long, DE, Virginia, The Long family stays in the AFC.

7. New England — Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State, Best pass rusher in the draft.

8. Baltimore — Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State, Heir apparent to Jonathan Ogden at left tackle.

9. Cincinnati — Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern Cal, NFL's 27th-ranked defense starts building an identity.

10. New Orleans — Leodis McElvin, CB, Troy, The best kick returner in draft.

11. Buffalo — Branden Albert, G, Virginia, Better blocking makes Marshawn Lynch a better runner.

12. Denver — Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon, A potential NFL rushing champion for the Broncos.

13. Carolina — Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida, The heir apparent to Mike Rucker on the weakside.

14. Chicago — Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh, The best run blocker in the draft.

15. Detroit — Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois, Gives hope to the NFC's worst rushing attack.

16. Arizona — Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn. State, Help for the NFL's 28th-ranked pass defense.

17. Minnesota — Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State, The Vikings desperate for speed on the flank.

18. Houston — Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida, Help for the NFL's 25th-ranked pass defense.

19. Philadelphia — Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt, The heir apparent to William Thomas at left tackle.

20. Tampa Bay — Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina, Give the fastest player in the draft to the Bucs.

21. Washington — Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson, You need muscle to compete in the NFC East.

22. Dallas — Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas, A speed complement to Marion Barber.

23. Pittsburgh — Kentwan Balmer, DE, North Carolina, Beefing up the NFL's best defense.

24. Tennessee — Fred Davis, TE, Southern Cal, An underneath target for QB Vince Young.

25. Seattle — Kenny Phillips, S, Miami-F, Seahawks still looking to replace Ken Hamlin.

26. Jacksonville — Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville, Quarterbacking depth to compete in AFC South.

27. San Diego — Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee, The Chargers love linebackers.

28. Dallas — James Hardy, WR, Indiana, More TDs in fewer games in 2007 than Terrell Owens.

29. San Francisco — DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal, The 49ers desperate for offensive playmakers.

30. Green Bay — Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas, The Packers like big, physical corners.

31. NY Giants — Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma, The Giants like big, physical wide receivers.