The 2008 NFL Mock Drafts continue, in all their glorified speculation, and we’re here to keep you updated!

We came across 2 more mock drafts posted this week, with SI.com’s Don Banks forecasting the Ravens to pick Troy CB Leodis McKelvin, while CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco has the Pats taking McKelvin at #7 and the Ravens going with Brian Brohm at #8.

Prisco thinks it is a “mistake” that Brohm is dropping on most boards, and calls him “the next Jim Kelly.” We take that to mean more that Brohm will be a smooth operator in the pocket and a whiz at running the no-huddle offense, as opposed to a bridesmaid in 4 consecutive Super Bowls. Still, Brohm is no longer seen as a top 10 pick by most experts, even factoring in what should be a strong performance at the combine. Add in the Ravens’ already crowded quarterback situation, and it seems unlikely that Brohm will land in B-More.

Let’s see what NFL Draft Scout (our usual go-to, Scouts, Inc. has no write up on him) has to say about Leodis McKelvin:

 

2007: All-Sun Belt Conference first-team choice…Started all twelve games at left cornerback, coming up with 60 tackles (50 solos), including 2.5 stops for losses of 6 yards…Caused three fumbles and recovered another, advancing that turnover 36 yards…Deflected nine passes and intercepted two others for minus 9 yards…Led the league and ranked fourth in the nation with 436 yards and three touch-downs on 25 punt returns (17.44 avg)…Finished third in the Sun Belt with 33 kickoff returns for a school season-record 765 yards (23.2 avg), topping his own mark of 634 yards in 2006…Led the team and ranked eighth in the conference with 1,228 all-purpose yards…Had 70 passes targeted into his territory, as the opposition caught 34 of those tosses (48.57%) for 407 yards (11.97-yard average per completion/5.81-yard average per attempt), no touchdowns and eleven first downs, as he prevented the receivers from getting to 25 throws while breaking up eleven others (nine deflections/two pass thefts)… Made fifteen of his plays on third-down and two more on fourth-down snaps…Turned the ball over once on three fumbles. First team All-Sun Belt honors as a return man by averaging 25.8 yards per kickoff return and 12.6 yards on punt returns in ‘05.

02/12/08 – All-Star Game Risers Team: CB Leodis McKelvin (Troy): McKelvin finally got his due as both an ever-improving corner prospect and explosive return specialist after displaying his wares in practices at Mobile. He has the hips and quickness to stick with receivers and has learned to read the quarterback and react to the play off his man. A hamstring injury kept him from playing in the Senior Bowl itself, but he did enough during the week to secure his place in line.

 

Cornerback would make a lot of sense for the Ravens at #8, and if Ozzie & Co. feel that McKelvin is the best one out there, they will probably snatch him up. The wild-card here is New England. Should they fail to re-sign Asante Samuel and lose him to free agency, they could look to address CB early in the draft. If they go with McKelvin, the Ravens may not feel that the next best CB on the board, South Florida’s Mike Jenkins (by most accounts) is worth such a high selection, in which case they could address DE or possibly trade their pick. Speaking of trading picks, New England is always very shop-happy on draft day, so they may not even end up picking above the Ravens. Ahhhh! Speculation! Where is Cajun Boy when you need him?

photo credit: washingtonpost.com