Meredith predicts choices for weekend NFL draft: “defense wins championships”

The National Football League’s (NFL) annual draft takes place during the last weekend in April, and for many, it is the first dose of football they’ve had since Eli Manning’s incredible performance in Super Bowl XLII. Many think that watching NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell walk up to a podium and monotonically announce draft picks is about as exciting as watching paint dry. For a handful of people, however, the NFL draft provides one of the most exciting experiences of the entire football season.

By Steve Meredith,

Staff Writer

The National Football League’s (NFL) annual draft takes place during the last weekend in April, and for many, it is the first dose of football they’ve had since Eli Manning’s incredible performance in Super Bowl XLII. Many think that watching NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell walk up to a podium and monotonically announce draft picks is about as exciting as watching paint dry. For a handful of people, however, the NFL draft provides one of the most exciting experiences of the entire football season.

The first draft kicks off at 3:00 p.m. on April 26, 2008.

After being hailed as one of the elite teams in the NFL during the 2007 pre-season, the Cincinnati Bengals had a disappointing showing. Finishing with seven wins and nine losses. They failed to make the playoffs. As with any sport, the adage remains the same: defense will always win a championship. That’s why I look for the Bengals to draft a defensive player.

My gut feeling tells me that they’ll go with former University of Southern California (USC) standout defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Ellis improved his times at the USC pro day, and should be a solidifying force to a defense that ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed last season.

The Baltimore Ravens had a few setbacks in 2007, mainly due to frequent injuries to quarterback Steve McNair. In last year’s draft, it appeared that the Ravens were going to move away from using McNair as their starter when they drafted quarterback Troy Smith out of Ohio State University.

That may be why I’m puzzled to see that a quarterback is still listed as one of the team’s main needs according to the NFL website. The Ravens need to solidify their offensive line and try to give either McNair or Smith a chance to prove themselves. I think they’ll go with an offensive lineman, which is why I chose them to pick former Boise State University offensive tackle Ryan Clady. Clady should be able to give either McNair or Smith more time to throw the football, which, will open up more options in the Ravens offense.

One of the brighter spots in the 2007 AFC North was the Cleveland Browns. After drafting offensive tackle Joe Thomas in the first round of last year’s draft, quarterback Derek Andersen went on to have a stellar season.

The Browns don’t pick until the fourth round of this year’s draft, but I think they can still fill some needs and have some rookies make an immediate impact. The Browns need a running back that can share the load with an aging Jamal Lewis. I think the man that can share that load is former Rutgers University running back Ray Rice.

Rice reminds me of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Rice has a small frame, (5’8” and 199 pounds), but with that small frame, became the all-time leading rusher at Rutgers with 4,926 yards. If he comes on board with the Browns, I think they will be able to use the two running back system to their advantage in 2008.

The AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs last season, but lost in the first round to a Jacksonville Jaguars team that I think the Steelers could have beaten. The Steelers have a history of drafting well in the first few rounds of the draft. For instance, when they needed a franchise quarterback, they went to a small school in Ohio and got a guy who not many people knew, with a last name that not even a Harvard scholar could spell.

Two years later, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hoisted the Lombardi trophy as head coach Bill Cowher looked on. The Steelers need to fill the void left by guard Alan Faneca’s departure, which is why I think they’ll draft former University of Virginia guard Brandon Alpert. With Roethlisberger continuing to drop back and pass, he’s going to need protection on his weak side. Alpert can do that, and much more.