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Draft Insiders' Digest '08 NFL Predictions
DraftInsiders.com - 18th Season

Giants Start NFL Title Defense

NFC

East
New York Giants - Eli has arrived to make G-Men annual threats for title.
Dallas Cowboys - The Boys have trouble winning in the postseason.
Philadelphia Eagles - Veteran club could surprise here.
Washington Redskins - Tough spot for first year coach Jim Zorn.

North
Chicago Bears - Club needs stability at the QB spot to win this even division.

Draft Insiders.com Preseason All- American Team

Photo - QB Tim Tebow - Florida

First Team
Offense

QB Tim Tebow, Florida, 6'3", 230 (Jr.)
RB Chris Wells, Ohio St, 6'0", 230 (Jr.)
RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia, 5'11", 210 (So.)
FB Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M, 6’0�, 275 (Sr.)
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, 6'3", 210 (So.)
WR Percy Harvin, Florida, 5'11", 185 (Jr.)
TE Chase Coffman, Missouri 6’5�, 255 (Sr.)
OT Michael Oher, Mississippi, 6'4", 325 (Sr.)
OG Duke Robinson, Oklahoma, 6'4", 330 (Sr.)
C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas, 6'3", 305 (Sr.)
OG Jeremy Perry, Oregon St, 6'2", 315 (Sr.)
OT Andre Smith, Alabama, 6'4", 345 (Jr.)

K Sam Swank, Wake Forest, 6'1", 205 (Sr.)
KR A.J. Jefferson, Fresno St., 5'11" 180 (Jr.)

Frank Coyle is a longtime Member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for the Super 16 College Team Polls throughout the season that will present the Grantland Rice award to the national champion in January ’09. He is also a FWAA voter for All-American teams at the conclusion of the season.

Defense

New York Giants Open Training Camp

Photo - Giants Celebrate Super Bowl Victory

The world champion New York Giants open training camp today in defense of their NFL title. The short NFL offseason has expired after numerous changes on the 32 pro rosters. The Giants will defend their title without future Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan who retired this spring after a long Pro-Bowl career. The Giants also parted with disgruntled Pro Bowl TE Jeremy Shockey who was finally traded to the Saints earlier this week. The Giants will battle in the tough NFC East which has seen each club improve signifcantly over the postseason especially the Dallas Cowboys who have become the darling of the media to win the NFL East title this season. That hopefully is the kiss of death. The Giants will look to a maturing QB Eli Manning to defend their title relying on a deep backfield and talented front four.

NFL Training Camp ’08 Reporting Dates/ Places
furnished by NFL.com

NFC
Arizona Cardinals Flagstaff, Ariz. July 23 (rookies and veterans)
Atlanta Falcons Flowery Branch, Ga. July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Carolina Panthers Spartanburg, S.C. July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Chicago Bears Bourbonnais, Ill. July 23 (rookies and veterans)
Dallas Cowboys Oxnard, Calif. July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Detroit Lions Allen Park, Mich. July 23 (rookies and veterans)
Green Bay Packers Green Bay, Wis. July 27 (rookies and veterans)
Minnesota Vikings Mankato, Minn. July 24 (rookies and veterans)
New Orleans Saints Jackson, Miss./Metairie, La. July 23 (rookies and veterans)
New York Giants Albany, N.Y. July 24 (rookies and veterans)

SEC Heads College Football
The strength of the SEC in undeniable.

Vanderbilt All-SEC OT Chris Williams

The league that went 7-2 in team bowl games and produced college football’s national champion for the second straight year demonstrated another sign of its power by sending 22 of its top senior NFL Draft prospects, more than any other conference, to the 2008 Senior Bowl. They also lead all conferences on the number of pro prospects selected in the NFL Draft '08. The SEC has annually led the nation's conferences in sending pro prospects to the NFL game.

NFL Draft ’08 – Trades could Decide Early Selections

Baltimore Moving Up for QB Matt Ryan, Jeremy Shockey to Buffalo

The NFL Draft ’08 weekend is here and clubs have worked the phones more than usual this year with several big deals in the making. Three clubs in the top ten, Oakland, Kansas City and New England are all interested in moving back in the first round for the right offer. Baltimore and New Orleans are the only clubs attempting to move up from their current selection. Oakland is one of the wild card selections in the first round. They hold the 4th overall pick and have many needs and they do not have a #2 or #3 selection because of prior deals. They love DT Glenn Dorsey and runner Darren McFadden here, but still need to recover top 100 selections to address their many need areas. They will sit on the pick until QB Matt Ryan is off the board. They do not want the Chiefs to land the BC passer with the following selection. They have a few deals in the making for the #4 overall selection if Ryan is still available there. They have spoken with both Baltimore and Carolina about their #1 pick. The Ravens have also spoken to the Rams and have a placed a huge offer to move up in the first round for their #1 and #2 picks this year plus later draft selections to land QB Matt Ryan. They have no #3 pick and may have to include early selections from their NFL Draft ’09 class.
The ‘08 postseason has already seen an unusually high number of trades with most high profile defensive linemen with Shaun Rogers, Kris Jenkins, Corey Williams, Jared Allen and DT Dewayne Robertson, in addition to players ‘Pac Man Jones, Anthony Fasano and Akin Ayodele exchanging teams in recent days.
There are a large number of pro players on the trade market this year with some of the biggest names in the league probably being dealt over the NFL Draft weekend. Players like Jeremy Shockey, Chad Johnson, Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin, Jason Taylor, Lito Sheppard, John Abraham, Chris Simms and J.P. Losman among others could be changing teams over the NFL Draft weekend. The Saints have a few deals in the works. They are interested in moving up in the 1st round to land DT Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis. Dorsey would command a move into the top 5 picks while Ellis may require only moving up a few slots ahead of Cincinnati. The Saints also have two deals in the works for their #2 pick, the 40th overall selection. They have a deal on the table with the Giants for TE Jeremy Shockey for their #2 pick and either late picks or safety Roman Harper. They are even more interested in the Eagles’ cornerback Lito Sheppard for the #2 pick straight up. Both of these deals are probably contingent of available prospects on the clock and other possible deals. The Giants also have a strong offer for Shockey from the Bills who have offered their #2 pick, the 41st overall selection plus a #4 pick this weekend. Both Carolina or Seattle have shown interest in Shockey who appears to be gone in a trade that will be completed on the clock in Round 2.

Oklahoma Pro Day - Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smith struggle in late Workout

Photo - CB Reggie Smith - Oklahoma

There was a special Oklahoma on-campus workout on Wednesday for several Sooner players with highly regarded juniors WR Malcolm Kelly and DB Reggie Smith the main attraction. Each player has been rated among the top prospects at their respective positions and worked out for pro scouts for the first time prior to this year’s NFL Draft. Kelly has been unable to workout because of knee and thigh problems while Smith has been unable to workout due to a broken foot that put his draft stock in jeopardy. Those injuries could cost them a first round grade on April 26th. Both were considered sure fire first round prospects prior to the injury issues that lead to an inactive postseason.
Approximately 37 scouts representing nearly every NFL team visited the campus. The OU workout was on their indoor training facility field turf surface, though not on a fast Astroturf surface. Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smith were measured and tested in several agility and non-contact football drills under the watchful eyes of the scouts in preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft.

Top 50 Pro Prospects for the NFL Draft ’08

* underclassmen - March Post NFL Combine ‘08

Photo - DT Trevor Laws - Notre Dame

1. Matt Ryan - QB - 6’4� 220 lbs. - Boston College
Savvy pocket QB retains his top ranking in this talented class since last fall. He looks to impress at his pro day throwing the ball to be the #1 overall prospect this April.

2. Chris Long - DE - 6’5� 285 lbs. - Virginia
Athletic senior ‘tweener defender had an impact workout at the NFL Combine and is the safest selection in this draft class.

3. Glenn Dorsey - DT - 6’2� 300 lbs. - LSU
Explosive senior tackle was a dominant force over the ’07 season but must answer leg injury questions at his pro day later this month.

4. Jake Long - OT - 6’7� 320 lbs. - Michigan
Physical senior tackle is one of the most developed prospects in this class and completed a fine NFL Combine workout to guarantee a top ten selection.

5. * Vernon Gholston - DE - 6’4� 260 lbs. - Ohio St
Fast junior ‘tweener defender had a very strong NFL Combine workout plus the big play ability to a pro difference maker as a sack artist.