Biggest surprises from 2008 Draft

Shockey seemed headed from the New York Giants to New Orleans for a second-round draft choice. Sheppard was drawing interest from five teams, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. And there were even bogus internet reports that Miami had agreed to ship Taylor to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

So what's next? Those players could still be on the move before the start of the regular season.

Taylor doesn't seem a good fit with Miami's Bill Parcells-led regime. The Dolphins also selected his potential replacement (Clemson end Phillip Merling) with the 32nd overall pick.

Talk of Sheppard leaving Philadelphia surfaced even before the Eagles finalized a free-agent contract with former New England cornerback Asante Samuel. Sheppard is only 26 and a two-time Pro Bowl player but has a long injury history and may want a new contact even though his current deal runs through 2011.

As for Shockey, his reputation took a beating when the Giants surged to a Super Bowl after he landed on injured reserve in December. There is a perception that quarterback Eli Manning blossomed once he no longer had to deal with Shockey's browbeating and receiving demands.

From strictly a talent standpoint, New York is wise to keep Shockey. At 27, he is still arguably the NFL's best all-around tight end and rookie replacement Kevin Boss doesn't have the same blocking skills. But if he is going to disrupt the strong locker-room chemistry the Giants built last season, a Shockey trade wouldn't be shocking.

Maybe only having one player arrested this off-season wasn't enough. Once again, the Bengals couldn't resist talented players whose off-field baggage may have hurt their draft stock.

Fresno State defensive tackle Jason Shirley, a fifth-round pick, is facing three misdemeanor charges after allegedly driving his car into an apartment last October while intoxicated. Shirley already was suspended for Fresno State's first two games in 2007 after a conduct violation and later thrown off the team following two traffic citations.

"It's a little bit of a risk," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.

Ya think?

So is Auburn defensive tackle Patrick Sims, a third-round selection who sources told FOXSports.com comes with red flags from college. Wide receiver Mario Urrutia (seventh round) also was charged with menacing a police officer and disorderly conduct in 2004.

The Bengals had 10 players arrested in a 14-month span during 2006 and 2007, which led to Cincinnati steering clear of players with character issues in last year's draft. But as this year's class has proven, these Bengals really haven't changed their stripes.

After the first six picks, a dizzying 12 of the next 24 slots were exchanged on draft-day.

The most surprising move involved defensive end Derrick Harvey. He was considered a possible top 10 pick and Jacksonville is known to fancy University of Florida players. But a marriage between the two seemed highly unlikely until the Jaguars jumped 18 spots to No. 8 in a trade with Baltimore. By surrendering four picks (one first-round, two third and one fourth), Jacksonville appears to believe Harvey is the missing piece needed for a Super Bowl run.

Jake Delhomme is coming off serious elbow surgery and backup Matt Moore started three games as a 2007 college free agent. Yet the Panthers appear to have faith in both by not addressing the position.

Plus, embattled coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney might be worried whether they will still be around by the time a drafted quarterback is ready to play.

The Bears also stayed out of the quarterback market, content to enter the season Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton atop the depth chart. Good luck.

A slew of ballyhooed early entry juniors like Michigan State's Devin Thomas, California's DeSean Jackson, and Indiana's James Hardy might have been better off staying in school. Houston's Donnie Avery — a senior — was the first wideout selected by St. Louis at No. 33.

The last time it took that long for a receiver to get chosen was 1990 when Alexander Wright landed with Dallas at No. 26 in the second round. That draft bust foreshadowed what was to come. Of the 31 receivers chosen in a 12-round draft, Ricky Proehl is the only one that made a lasting impact.