2008 NFL Draft Report-NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1 #16 CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
Round 2 #50 DE Calais Campbell, Miami
Round 3 #81 WR Early Doucet, LSU
Round 4 #116 DE Kenny Iwebema, Iowa
Round 5 #149 RB Tim Hightower, Richmond
Round 6 #185 DE Chris Harrington, Texas A&M

Overall Grade: B

Fantasy Outlook: The Cardinals selected Rodgers-Cromartie with their first pick to allow Antrel Rolleto move over to safety. Rodgers-Cromartie gives Arizona a playmaker on defense. They also attempted to improve their defense by taking Calais Campbell in the second round and Kenny Iwebema in the fourth round. Campbell and Iwebema will give the Cardinals a much-need pass rush, and their new young talent will transform them into a sleeper fantasy defense for 2008. Arizona was also able to snag Early Doucet in the third round. Doucet will likely be their No. 3 receiver and deserves a look in keeper leagues.

San Francisco 49ers

Round 1 #29 DE Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina
Round 2 #39 G Chilo Rachal, USC
Round 3 #75 DB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
Round 4 #107 OL Cody Wallace, Texas A&M
Round 6 #174 WR Josh Morgan, Virginia Tech
Round 7 #214 LB Larry Grant, Ohio State

Overall Grade: C-

Fantasy Outlook: The 49ers may have shocked some fans when they opted not to take a wide receiver in the first round. They instead took Kentwan Balmer to give their pass rush a boost. San Francisco also found another potential starter in the third round when they took the tackling machine known as Reggie Smith. With that being said, San Francisco is still a middle-of-the-road fantasy defense. The 49ers did snag a wideout late in the draft when they selected Josh Morgan. Morgan has good speed, but he will likely only see the field on special teams to begin his rookie campaign. Therefore, he does not warrant any fantasy consideration at this time.

Seattle Seahawks

Round 1 #28 DE Lawrence Jackson, USC
Round 2 #38 TE John Carlson, Notre Dame
Round 4 #121 DT Red Bryant, Texas A&M
Round 5 #163 FB Owen Schmidt, West Virginia
Round 6 #189 LS Tyler Scmitt, San Diego State
Round 7 #233 RB Justin Forsett, California
Round 7 #235 K Brandon Coutu, Georgia

Overall Grade: B+

Fantasy Outlook: The Seahawks focused on improving their defense by taking two potential starters within in their first three picks. Lawrence Jackson will likely be on the field on passing downs to begin the year, but he should be an every down player before the season is over. Bryant is a run stuffer that should see significant action in his rookie campain on a solid fantasy defense. Seattle clearly wanted to improve their running game as they drafted a blocking tight end in John Carlson and Owen Scmitt at Fullback. They both should open holes for Julius Jones and the running game, which makes Jones a legitimate lower tier, No.1 fantasy back. 

St. Louis Rams

Round 1 #2 DE Chris Long, Virginia
Round 2 #33 WR Donnie Avery, Houston
Round 3 #65 OT John Greco, Toledo
Round 4 #101 CB Justin King, Penn State
Round 4 #128 WR Keenan Burton, Kentucky
Round 5 #157 G Roy Schuening, Oregon State
Round 7 #228 DB Chris Chamberlain, Tulsa
Round 7 #252 LB David Vobora, Idaho

Overall Grade: A-

Fantasy Outlook: The Rams got their pass rusher of the future in Chris Long. Long has a quick first step and will help improve a lower tier fantasy defense. Donnie Avery may have appeared to be a reach on the surface, but he has blazing speed and fits in well with the Rams’ system. In other words, Avery has big play potential, which means he deserves consideration as a fantasy sleeper. John Greco was a brilliant third round selection, and he instantly makes St. Louis more solid up front.