Sportsbook.com 2008 NFL Draft Review

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NFL: Draft Winners

Sportsbook.com is taking a look at the 2008 NFL Draft winners and giving you early betting opportunities including Week 1 of the regular season.

Kansas City Chiefs

The draft broke perfectly for Kansas City right from the top with defensive tackle, Glenn Dorsey falling down to the 5th pick. While Dorsey should anchor the D-line for years, the Chiefs were almost as happy to get Branden Albert on the offensive line. His addition certainly made quarterback Brodie Croyle a happy man.

Cornerback Brandon Flowers was plucked early in the second round and most teams had him as a first round selection. Their two third round picks, running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Brad Cottam could be potential starters down the line although Larry Johnson is obviously still the top back on the depth chart.

The Chiefs have a very tough task opening week as current 15 ½-point dogs at New England, but the team and the fanbase have to be energized after this weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh is long known for winning football games in the trenches, so it was surprising that their draft made headlines for two skill position players.

The Steelers picked up Rashard Mendenhall at running back as he slipped to #23 in the first round. He will provide a terrific compliment to Willie Parker. Receiver Limas Sweed was a value in the second round, and he provides a big target on the outside for Ben Roethlisberger not seen since the Plaxico Burress days.

On Day 2, the team took linebacker Bruce Davis and offensive tackle Tony Hills. No team in football is better at converting college defensive ends to OLB’s in a 3-4 defense, and the Steelers feel they have another good one in Davis.

All of those players should come in handy when Pittsburgh hosts Houston as seven-point home favorites on opening weekend.

Miami Dolphins

You have to hand it to president of football operations, Bill Parcells who knows how to build an organization from the ground up.

Miami was the benefit of his wisdom on draft day and it started with taking offensive tackle Jake Long with the top pick after not getting any good trade-down offers. Parcells’ best work came in the second round when he picked up defensive end Phillip Merling and quarterback of the future, Chad Henne. Both players could have easily been first rounders.

In the third round, Miami plucked another defensive end in Kendall Langford and got offensive guard Shawn Murphy in the 4th. Langford’s a great fit for the 3-4 defense at over 6’5”.

Another note from draft day was the team held onto Jason Taylor. It now looks like he won’t be traded, and that will certainly help the Phins’ chances in Week 1 as three-point home dogs to the New York Jets.

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas could have snapped up Mendenhall with the 22nd pick in the first round, but they felt Felix Jones’ running style offered the ‘lightning’ to Marion Barber’s ‘thunder’. The Cowboys had another first round pick from Cleveland and they got perhaps the best corner in the draft in Mike Jenkins.

Jenkins provides great insurance in case Pacman Jones has another one of his episodes, and he will not be thrown into the fire right way. Dallas continued their solid drafting with an athletic tight end in Martellus Bennett and a bruising running back in Tashard Choice.

While the Cowboys failed to address a need at wide receiver, they are looking very solid as three-point favorites opening week at Cleveland.