by Jay Glazer

Updated: April 26, 2008, 2:06 PM EST 30 comments

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Every year I pen a mock draft column and couch my predictions with detailing my absolute hatred for the assignment. The amount of phone time spent trying to decipher who's lying about what to whom and who is telling me the truth then figuring out why I'm getting the truth and how much truth I can spill to those telling non-truths and which non-truths match up with which truths being fed to me by liars and truth seekers ... you get the picture.

These teams do the same thing to each other and the players that they do to me and it's up to the pack to sift and sort through the information, misinformation and smoke screens to predict the unpredictable. Everything has a direct impact on the next several picks.

Every year I complain and then every year, like clockwork, the draft is over the smoke clears and I realize I had a blast playing NFL secret Mossad agent. With that said, the following is my mock draft. If I get 10 right this year it'll be a miracle ... or a mirage ... or I've just smoke-screened myself.

1. Dolphins — Michigan tackle Jake Long. We're going to guess on this one but I think we'll get it accurate. OK, got one right. Hallelujah.

2. Rams — Virginia defensive end Chris Long. This is the most integral pick on the board. It swings the rest of the draft because if they go with Long then there's a battle at 3 for Glenn Dorsey and Matt Ryan. Two weeks ago Glenn Dorsey seemed like he would be their guy. This week they moved to Long, who makes more sense for their defense. If they drafted Dorsey they'd have to change the way their defensive front lines up and plays and kick Adam Carriker outside to end in pass rushing situations. Plus, Long is a guy who loves the fourth quarter, a trait that would not be bad to rub off on the rest of the locker room. Although Long seemed like a lock as of Wednesday, there has been some sentiment that has swung back to Dorsey. I'm going Long with my pick but have a feeling they'll swing back to Dorsey by the time they write the name on the card.

3. Falcons — LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. Falcons had been unanimous for weeks until the team doctors gave a caution about Dorsey's leg, which they said could become problematic in a few years (he has a stress fracture in one leg that will need to get taken care of). If both he and Matt Ryan are on the board there will be a major discussion. Dorsey is rated higher but Ryan doesn't have an injury concern. In the end they may lean toward Ryan but that will screw up the rest of my mock so I'll keep Dorsey here.

4. Raiders — Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. Could also go with running back Darren McFadden. Who knows what Al Davis does?

5. Chiefs — Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert. They are hoping that Chris Long drops down to this spot but that's 50-50 at best. The team's ultimate goal is to trade down and get enough ammo to trade into the late first round to come away with three first-rounders. Could also go Boise State tackle Ryan Clady. If New England loves a guy here they could leap-frog the Jets and swap with Kansas City.

6. Jets — Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. If McFadden goes to the Raiders and Long is off the board then the Jets try to move back or go Gholston. McFadden makes the most sense and they just loaded up on O-line and have questions at quarterback so a franchise running back would make all the sense in the world. They don't go Matt Ryan.

7. Patriots — USC linebacker Keith Rivers. There are also rumors they could go corner this high but that's not the way they've done business in recent years. They have also talked to teams about jumping into the top five and make a play for Dorsey but that sounds more like a smoke screen than anything.

8. Ravens — Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. If he's not here, the Ravens already have a deal in place to drop back a couple of slots and acquire another draft pick.

9. Bengals — USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Their biggest need gets filled by a tremendous prospect. They had Derrick Harvey as their guy as early as late this week but since moved to Ellis. Also like Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall.

10. Saints — Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Saints are trying to trade up for either Dorsey or Ellis but if they stay, McKelvin should be their guy. Late this week, head coach Sean Payton took wide receivers David Patten and Devery Henderson, quarterback Tyler Palko, a corner and a few coaches and put McKelvin and two other corners through intense personal workouts. McKelvin emerged as the best and most ready for prime time of the bunch. Still, I think the Saints somehow work a trade to move up for a defensive tackle.

11. Bills — Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Bills usually take someone nobody else has rated as highly but this one wouldn't be a reach. Could also see them going after a wideout, even though this would be too high to pick one.

12. Denver — Boise State tackle Ryan Clady. I could see Denver trading back with someone here instead or going with another lineman. There are also strong trade winds that they'll look to grab a top-notch running back like Jonathan Stewart or Rashard Mendenhall as they know they can't trust Travis Henry long-term.

13. Panthers — Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey. He fits my mock here but I'm starting to lean like they will look at an offensive tackle and a running back in this slot and have a big discussion when on the clock. They already have an offer to move out if they believe they can get one of three guys down the board. One rumor I can shoot down is that they will trade up for Matt Ryan. Jake Delhomme is their guy, period.

14. Bears — Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall. Team needs help in many areas but more than anything, they need a running back to bail out whichever young quarterback they decide to go with. Could also go O-line here.

15. Lions — Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. They like Harvey, but he'll likely be gone and if Mendenhall is sitting there, he makes sense too. There are still concerns about Stewart's injured toe, but if he's healthy, he's a steal.

16. Cardinals — Pittsburgh lineman Jeff Otah. Has the same agent as both the team's head coach and Russ Grimm, their line coach. Perfect fit but there's a strong chance he'll be gone by here. Some teams have discussed jumping up to trade for him a few picks earlier.

17. Chiefs — South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins. They want to come away in the first round with a starting DE, OT and CB. They like McKelvin best but they'd have to go much higher for him. Chiefs will have a very active Saturday afternoon.

18. Texans — Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib. Only Cincinnati and Buffalo were worse against the pass in the AFC than Houston last season.

19. Eagles — Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams. The world thinks they go wide receiver in first round. I don't, simply because they are never this obvious.

20. Bucs — Michigan State wide receiver Devin Thomas. They need an upgrade at the position. If they can come away from the draft with a wide receiver and Lito Sheppard, even though he doesn't fit Monte Kiffin's mold for a corner in his scheme, they've upgraded.

21. Redskins — Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling. They need a pass rusher and will also look at a wide receiver.

22. Dallas — Arkansas running back Felix Jones. Makes sense as they need a change of pace back to complement Marion Barber.

23. Pittsburgh — Boston College tackle Gosder Cherilus. They would love for Stewart to drop here, but that is unlikely. If he does, they take him. They also love Indiana wide receiver James Hardy and a few other wideouts but they really want a lineman or pass rusher. They also like Miami defensive end Calais Campbell.

24. Titans — Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly. They'll have a handful of wideouts to choose from here. Despite horrible reports about his workout, teams believe he'll be a stud on the next level.

25. Seahawks — North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer. They haven't locked in on any one or two players, but instead will pick the best value left.

26. Jaguars — Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson. Would look at defensive end and safety here.

27. Chargers — Indiana wide receiver James Hardy. They love taking those tough, gritty linemen and would hope one slips here. Could also go wide receiver and want to come out of the draft with a replacement for departed running back Michael Turner.

28. Cowboys — Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed. Wrist problem hurt his draft stock but size-speed ratio is extremely enticing. Good kid too.

29. 49ers — Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo. Great value here. If he's gone they'll hope a tackle such as Cherilus or Williams could drop to them. They won't go Sweed here, which seems to be the popular pick in most mocks.

30. Packers — Purdue tight end Dustin Keller. They'd love to come out of the draft at one point with a backup QB as well.

31. Patriots — Matt Walsh (just kidding). Forfeited pick.

32. Giants — Miami safety Kenny Phillips. They need to replace Gibril Wilson and Phillips and Johnson are the only two safeties with first-round grades.