Line of Scrimmage: Mock Draft 4.0 - Blowing Up the Board?

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Thanks to the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs, the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft just got markedly more interesting.

In case you missed it, the Vikings and Chiefs reportedly completed a trade on Tuesday night that sent Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to the Twin Cities in exchange for Minnesota's first-round draft pick, two third-round picks, and a swap of sixth-round picks, all in 2008.

The move makes Kansas City the second team in the league with two 2008 first- rounders (No. 5 and No. 17), along with Dallas, and also changes the Chiefs' Draft day approach in terms of personnel.

Herm Edwards' club now needs a pass rusher to potentially pick up some of Allen's now-vacant production, and either Vernon Gholston or Chris Long figures to be available for K.C. at No. 5, barring a trade.

The Chiefs also have an excellent chance at finding a game-ready offensive lineman, arguably a bigger need than pass rusher at this point, at No. 17.

The deal looks like a boon for Edwards' current team, though his former employer is not likely to send ol' Herm a kind letter of congratulations.

The New York Jets are now in a position where all of their presumed targets - Gholston, Long, and Darren McFadden - could be gone by the time they're on the clock at No. 6. That means New York might have to take the drastic step of trading up for a top five selection, a maneuver that would guarantee the club the burden of shelling out more millions of contract dollars for a guy that has never played a pro snap.

St. Louis is a potential trade partner, now that their coveted o-lineman, Jake Long, is off the board.

Oakland might be willing to swap picks as well, since they've already spent major money this offseason and might not want to dole out top-five money for a second straight year.

If the Jets can't pull off such a deal, don't be surprised to see them move down in an effort to accrue an extra early-round pick or two.

An aftershock of the Allen deal will be felt in the middle of the draft, where the Chiefs' presence is bound to scare a number of teams with offensive line needs. Kansas City is likely to steal one of the trench mavens targeted by a team like the Eagles or Steelers, perhaps causing one or both of those teams to work the phones in an effort to move ahead of the Chiefs at No. 16.

To be sure, the draft games have begun - and we're still 72-plus hours from Roger Goodell's announcement of Jake Long's name.

Our fourth and most updated attempt at a 2008 mock first-round is below:

1 - Dolphins - Jake Long, T, Michigan (6-7, 313) - First No. 1 tackle chosen since Orlando Pace will have to develop quickly.

2 - Rams - Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia (6-3, 272) - Rams' choice will be among Long, Ohio State pass rusher Vernon Gholston, and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and (barring a trade) they'll end up with Long because he's the safer pick.

3 - Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College (6-5, 228) - Don't believe the hype about Atlanta taking a lineman, a leader like Ryan is a perfect fit for this franchise.

4 - Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (6-1, 211) - Honestly, who are the Raiders going to pick if not McFadden?

5 - Chiefs - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State (6-3, 266) - With Jared Allen now a Viking, Kansas City needs someone to team with Tamba Hali coming off the edge.

6 - Jets - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU (6-2, 297) - If Jets can't swing a deal out of this spot (and believe me, they're trying), they'll take the best player on the board and find a spot for him.

7 - Patriots - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy (5-10, 190) - Even if New England makes a run at Philly's Lito Sheppard, it will need to add another quality corner.

8 - Ravens - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State (6-2, 184) - Steve McNair's retirement doesn't change the program at all for Baltimore - unless Matt Ryan is available at No. 8.

9 - Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC (6-1, 309) - Chad Johnson soap opera can't overshadow Cincinnati's need for defensive help.

10 - Saints - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida (5-10, 197) - Jenkins might be a bit of a reach at No. 10, but New Orleans can't get by with its current group of corners.

11 - Bills - Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State (6-2, 215) - Thomas should send Malcolm Kelly a ******mas card this year - he's about to be a lot richer due to Kelly's free fall.

12 - Broncos - Ryan Clady, T, Boise State (6-6, 309) - Denver should have its pick of the second-best offensive lineman in the draft.

13 - Panthers - Jeff Otah, T, Pittsburgh (6-6, 322) - Injury concerns hampered Otah at the combine, but he projects as a standout left tackle at the next level.

14 - Bears - Branden Albert, G, Virginia (6-6, 309) - Chicago will pick the Draft's biggest climber of recent weeks due to his ability to play guard or tackle.

15 - Lions - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois (5-10, 225) - Detroit's best move could be drafting a 30-carry-a-game back like Mendenhall, in the interests of keeping that horrid defense off the field.

16 - Cardinals - Keith Rivers, OLB, USC (6-2, 241) - Versatile Rivers could team with Karlos Dansby and Clark Haggans to give Arizona scary speed coming off the edge.

17 - Chiefs - Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt (6-6, 315) - Extra pick acquired in the Jared Allen trade gives Kansas City an opportunity to draft a much- needed o-lineman at No. 17.

18 - Texans - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas (6-1, 202) - Talib has revealed himself to be a major character risk, but Houston has to take a chance due to his talent.

19 - Eagles - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami-Florida (6-2, 212) - Birds will take a long look at wideouts Malcolm Kelly and Limas Sweed, but will ultimately reach in order to shore up a thin safety corps.

20 - Buccaneers - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida (6-5, 271) - Bucs just drafted pass rusher Gaines Adams last year, but their reported attempt at acquiring Jared Allen proves they're not happy at the position.

21 - Redskins - Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma (6-4, 224) - He's not a burner and looks to have a bit of an attitude problem, but his good hands are a perfect fit in Washington's west-coast scheme.

22 - Cowboys - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas (6-4, 215) - He's not ready to be a 1,000-yarder out of the chute, but he'll have time to develop behind Dallas' veteran receivers.

23 - Steelers - Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College (6-7, 314) - Pittsburgh might want to trade up in the interests of finding a more game-ready lineman in the middle of the first round.

24 - Titans - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas (5-10, 207) - No way is Tennessee relying on LenDale White to carry the entire rushing load in 2008.

25 - Seahawks - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina (6-5, 308) - Patrick Kerney and Julian Peterson would be that much tougher to block with another space- eater up front.

26 - Jaguars - Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn (6-3, 259) - The revelation that Groves recently underwent heart surgery has given a few teams pause, but Jacksonville has to like his ability to attack off the edge.

27 - Chargers - Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee (6-1, 242) - Recent four-game drug suspension of troubled Stephen Cooper alters the direction of the club's linebacking corps.

28 - Cowboys - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon (5-10, 235) - Dallas will luck out when one of their potential targets at No. 22 falls to No. 28 due to concern over a recent foot surgery.

29 - 49ers - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (5-10, 169) - Has a chance to catch a ton of balls in Mike Martz's pass-happy offense, and will also be a major help in the return game.

30 - Packers - Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson (6-4, 276) - Good run-stopper has a chance to play either at right end or on the inside at the next level.

31 - Giants - Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech (5-10, 190) - G-Men just got by with their cornerback group last season, and need more depth, talent, and youth in that area.