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Randy Covitz, The Star’s NFL writer, breaks down the first round of the NFL draft.
1 MIAMI DOLPHINS
OT Jake Long, Michigan
Dolphins investing $57.75 million that Long can protect QB.
2 ST. LOUIS RAMS
DE Chris Long, Virginia
Long had 14 sacks last season; the Rams DEs totaled 5.5.
3 ATLANTA FALCONS
QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
Falcons can now totally cut ties with Mike Vick.
4 OAKLAND RAIDERS
RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
Al Davis couldn’t resist the speed and game-breaking ability.
5 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
Will Outland Trophy winner be another bust at tackle for KC?
6 NEW YORK JETS
DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
Gholston brings 14 sacks to a team that had just 29 last year.
7 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (from S.F. through N.E.)
DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
New D-line coach Ed Orgeron recruited him to USC.
8 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (from Baltimore)
DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
Jaguars spent four picks to get hero of BCS title game in 2007.
9 CINCINNATI BENGALS
LB Keith Rivers, USC
Rivers brings versatility to 27th- ranked defense.
10 NEW ENGLAND (from N.O.)
LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
Bruschi, Vrabel and Seau aren’t getting any younger.
11 BUFFALO BILLS
CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
Needed a high-quality corner opposite starter Terrence McGee.
12 DENVER BRONCOS
OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
With the retirement of Matt Lepsis, this was a no-brianer.
13 CAROLINA PANTHERS
RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
Stewart gives running game a 235-pound battering ram.
14 CHICAGO BEARS
OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
Left tackle enables John Tait to move to the right side.
15 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (from Detroit)
OL Branden Albert, Virginia
Pick for Jared Allen helped pick up much-needed left tackle.
16 ARIZONA CARDINALS
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tenn. St.
Should help the NFL’s 28th-ranked pass defense.
17 DETROIT LIONS (from Minn. through KC)
OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College
QB Jon Kitna took a beating; Detroit allowed 54 sacks last year.
18 BALTIMORE RAVENS (from Houston)
QB Joe Flacco, Delaware
Strong-armed transfer from Pitt will challenge Kyle Boller.
19 CAROLINA PANTHERS (from Philadelphia)
OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
Panthers traded up to take the tackle they wanted.
20 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
Talib, who lacks great speed, fits Tampa’s cover two defense.
21 ATLANTA FALCONS (from Washington)
OT Sam Baker, USC
Arena League Commissioner’s son gets to play indoors.
22 DALLAS COWBOYS (from Cleveland)
RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
The worst-kept secret in the draft.
23 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
Steelers’ first RB in the first round since Tim Worley in 1989.
24 TENNESSEE TITANS
RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina
QB Vince Young will throw screens to this 4.29 speedster.
25 DALLAS COWBOYS (from Seattle)
CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
Jenkins provides insurance for Pacman Jones’ antics.
26 HOUSTON TEXANS (from Jax. through Balt.)
OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech
Another attempt to solve long-running problem at LT.
27 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
A team can never have enough good corners.
28 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (from Dallas)
DE Lawrence Jackson, USC
Jackson will be a bookend for NFC sack leader Patrick Kerney.
29 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (from Indy)
DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina
Balmer fits in the middle of the 49ers’ 3-4 front.
30 NEW YORK JETS (from Green Bay)
TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
Keller can be an upgrade over Chris Baker.
31 NEW YORK GIANTS
S Kenny Phillips, Miami
Phillips extends the U’s streak of first-round picks to 14 years.
NOTE: New England forfeited its pick as part of the penalty for illegally videotaping an opponent’s signals during a game.
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