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Here are the Top 10 picks in the draft with analysis from ESPN's Scout's Inc.
Also, links for the complete first 2 Rounds at the bottom, plus the winners and losers from Day 1, and the best remaining prospects.
Round 1
PK(OVR) TEAM NAME POS SCHOOL
1(1) Miami Jake Long OT MICHIGAN
Jake Long's not the best overall player on the board, but the Dolphins needed a left tackle. Some people say he's a better fit on the right side, but we disagree. He's fundamentally sound enough in pass protection to be a capable blind-side protector from Day 1, and while he's certainly not as athletic as Joe Thomas -- Cleveland's first-round pick a year ago -- Long is a better run blocker than Thomas was coming out of college. Long can play a similar role to the one Jumbo Elliot played with Bill Parcells with the Giants in the 1980s. Video Complete analysis
2(2) St. Louis Chris Long DE VIRGINIA
Chris Long doesn't have elite size or as much upside as the aforementioned Gholston, but he's a tough run defender and a relentless pass-rusher, who has good but not great speed. He also does an excellent job of using his hands to control blockers. He's capable of stepping in and making an immediate impact because he's so fundamentally sound, as you would expect from the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. Video Complete analysis
3(3) Atlanta Matt Ryan QB BOSTON COLLEGE
Matt Ryan doesn't have the arm strength of a JaMarcus Russell, and he isn't a dynamic open-field runner, but he is clearly the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft class. He has better-than-average arm strength, he's accurate and he understands the game. A lot has been made of the amount of interceptions he threw during his senior season at Boston College, but it's important to remember that he didn't have a strong receiving corps and that BC put the ball in the air far more often in 2007 than in years past. Video Complete analysis
4(4) Oakland Darren McFadden RB ARKANSAS
Although we think defensive line is a bigger need, and Glenn Dorsey is still out there, this is still a very good pick for Oakland. It appears the Raiders have good depth at running back, but McFadden gives them the big-play threat they lack at the position. He's quick around the corner and he shows rare speed when he gets into the open field. Obviously, McFadden has been compared to Adrian Peterson a lot. Critics are correct to point out that McFadden isn't as powerful of a runner as Peterson is. But this weakness has been overstated; McFadden is still a tough runner who can pick up yards after contact. Video Complete analysis
5(5) Kansas City Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
The thought was that Kansas City would address the defensive end and offensive tackle positions with its two first-round picks. However, the Chiefs need help at defensive tackle and they have to be excited that Glenn Dorsey fell. Dorsey lacks elite size, but he is on the shorter side and his ability to get under offensive linemen allows him to control the point of attack. It's also noteworthy that he plays with an excellent motor for a big guy. Chances are his stock dropped some because of concerns stemming from a leg injury. But it doesn't look like the injury is a serious concern -- it caused him to miss one half of one game in college -- and he should be healthy for training camp. Video Complete analysis
6(6) NY Jets Vernon Gholston DE OHIO STATE
No prospect at this or any other position in the draft has more upside than Gholston. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive end ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, and showed excellent upper-body strength at the NFL scouting combine. He's also athletic enough to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. However, he is a boom-or-bust prospect, especially this early. He's just not as consistent on film as a player with his talents should be. Video Complete analysis
7(7) New Orleans (From San Francisco through New England) Sedrick Ellis DT USC
Sedrick Ellis isn't ranked quite as high as Dorsey on our board. But make no mistake about it: Ellis is an excellent pick here. New Orleans is ecstatic it was able to move up to get him. He doesn't have elite size or top-end speed, but he?s more quick than fast and he excels at getting into gaps to disrupt plays in the backfield. He also shows rare athletic ability for a player of his size. This allows him to make plays while scraping down the line of scrimmage. Although Ellis doesn't have great closing speed, he has the ability to drive interior blockers into the quarterback. Video Complete analysis
8(8) Jacksonville (From Baltimore) Derrick Harvey DE FLORIDA
Jacksonville is yet another team drafting for need in the first round. Harvey isn't as explosive or dangerous off the edge as former college teammate Jarvis Moss, whom Denver took with the 17th pick last year. On the other hand, Harvey is a more complete player than Moss. He has the power to hold his ground against the run and the quickness to make plays in the backfield, and he shows good athletic ability for a 271-pounder. In addition, he has very long arms and he times his jumps well. So Harvey can disrupt pass plays even when he doesn't get to the quarterback, which is important because he doesn't have great closing speed. Video Complete analysis
9(9) Cincinnati Keith Rivers OLB USC
Rivers doesn't have as much potential as some of the other linebackers in this class, but he's clearly the most complete player in this year's outside linebacker class. Also, he is the kind of player a team wants in its locker room representing the organization. He doesn't have elite top-end speed and he isn't much of a playmaker, but Rivers reads his keys quickly, gets to the ball and doesn't miss open-field tackles. He's going to be better in zone coverage than in man coverage, but he isn't going to get caught out of position very often. Video Complete analysis
10(10) New England (From New Orleans) Jerod Mayo OLB TENNESSEE
Mayo isn't quite as instinctive as Rivers, and he has to improve his cover skills. But Mayo has more upside than Rivers. He has very good top-end speed for his size, and although he lacks ideal strength, he explodes into hits. In addition, he's versatile enough to line up on the inside or the outside, depending on how a team wants to use him. Video Complete analysis
Round 1
Round 2
Winner and Losers: I also thought the Chiefs did really well grabbing Glenn Dorsey along with the offensive lineman of their choice in Virginia's Branden Albert.
Best Day 2 Prospects
Also, links for the complete first 2 Rounds at the bottom, plus the winners and losers from Day 1, and the best remaining prospects.
Round 1
PK(OVR) TEAM NAME POS SCHOOL
1(1) Miami Jake Long OT MICHIGAN
Jake Long's not the best overall player on the board, but the Dolphins needed a left tackle. Some people say he's a better fit on the right side, but we disagree. He's fundamentally sound enough in pass protection to be a capable blind-side protector from Day 1, and while he's certainly not as athletic as Joe Thomas -- Cleveland's first-round pick a year ago -- Long is a better run blocker than Thomas was coming out of college. Long can play a similar role to the one Jumbo Elliot played with Bill Parcells with the Giants in the 1980s. Video Complete analysis
2(2) St. Louis Chris Long DE VIRGINIA
Chris Long doesn't have elite size or as much upside as the aforementioned Gholston, but he's a tough run defender and a relentless pass-rusher, who has good but not great speed. He also does an excellent job of using his hands to control blockers. He's capable of stepping in and making an immediate impact because he's so fundamentally sound, as you would expect from the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. Video Complete analysis
3(3) Atlanta Matt Ryan QB BOSTON COLLEGE
Matt Ryan doesn't have the arm strength of a JaMarcus Russell, and he isn't a dynamic open-field runner, but he is clearly the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft class. He has better-than-average arm strength, he's accurate and he understands the game. A lot has been made of the amount of interceptions he threw during his senior season at Boston College, but it's important to remember that he didn't have a strong receiving corps and that BC put the ball in the air far more often in 2007 than in years past. Video Complete analysis
4(4) Oakland Darren McFadden RB ARKANSAS
Although we think defensive line is a bigger need, and Glenn Dorsey is still out there, this is still a very good pick for Oakland. It appears the Raiders have good depth at running back, but McFadden gives them the big-play threat they lack at the position. He's quick around the corner and he shows rare speed when he gets into the open field. Obviously, McFadden has been compared to Adrian Peterson a lot. Critics are correct to point out that McFadden isn't as powerful of a runner as Peterson is. But this weakness has been overstated; McFadden is still a tough runner who can pick up yards after contact. Video Complete analysis
5(5) Kansas City Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
The thought was that Kansas City would address the defensive end and offensive tackle positions with its two first-round picks. However, the Chiefs need help at defensive tackle and they have to be excited that Glenn Dorsey fell. Dorsey lacks elite size, but he is on the shorter side and his ability to get under offensive linemen allows him to control the point of attack. It's also noteworthy that he plays with an excellent motor for a big guy. Chances are his stock dropped some because of concerns stemming from a leg injury. But it doesn't look like the injury is a serious concern -- it caused him to miss one half of one game in college -- and he should be healthy for training camp. Video Complete analysis
6(6) NY Jets Vernon Gholston DE OHIO STATE
No prospect at this or any other position in the draft has more upside than Gholston. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive end ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, and showed excellent upper-body strength at the NFL scouting combine. He's also athletic enough to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. However, he is a boom-or-bust prospect, especially this early. He's just not as consistent on film as a player with his talents should be. Video Complete analysis
7(7) New Orleans (From San Francisco through New England) Sedrick Ellis DT USC
Sedrick Ellis isn't ranked quite as high as Dorsey on our board. But make no mistake about it: Ellis is an excellent pick here. New Orleans is ecstatic it was able to move up to get him. He doesn't have elite size or top-end speed, but he?s more quick than fast and he excels at getting into gaps to disrupt plays in the backfield. He also shows rare athletic ability for a player of his size. This allows him to make plays while scraping down the line of scrimmage. Although Ellis doesn't have great closing speed, he has the ability to drive interior blockers into the quarterback. Video Complete analysis
8(8) Jacksonville (From Baltimore) Derrick Harvey DE FLORIDA
Jacksonville is yet another team drafting for need in the first round. Harvey isn't as explosive or dangerous off the edge as former college teammate Jarvis Moss, whom Denver took with the 17th pick last year. On the other hand, Harvey is a more complete player than Moss. He has the power to hold his ground against the run and the quickness to make plays in the backfield, and he shows good athletic ability for a 271-pounder. In addition, he has very long arms and he times his jumps well. So Harvey can disrupt pass plays even when he doesn't get to the quarterback, which is important because he doesn't have great closing speed. Video Complete analysis
9(9) Cincinnati Keith Rivers OLB USC
Rivers doesn't have as much potential as some of the other linebackers in this class, but he's clearly the most complete player in this year's outside linebacker class. Also, he is the kind of player a team wants in its locker room representing the organization. He doesn't have elite top-end speed and he isn't much of a playmaker, but Rivers reads his keys quickly, gets to the ball and doesn't miss open-field tackles. He's going to be better in zone coverage than in man coverage, but he isn't going to get caught out of position very often. Video Complete analysis
10(10) New England (From New Orleans) Jerod Mayo OLB TENNESSEE
Mayo isn't quite as instinctive as Rivers, and he has to improve his cover skills. But Mayo has more upside than Rivers. He has very good top-end speed for his size, and although he lacks ideal strength, he explodes into hits. In addition, he's versatile enough to line up on the inside or the outside, depending on how a team wants to use him. Video Complete analysis
Round 1
Round 2
Winner and Losers: I also thought the Chiefs did really well grabbing Glenn Dorsey along with the offensive lineman of their choice in Virginia's Branden Albert.
Best Day 2 Prospects
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