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The Official Big Cat Country 2008 Draft Value Board!

With the SB Nation Mock Draft well under way, it's time that we start to consider who we'll pick when it (finally) comes to our podium time.  I've constructed the Official Big Cat Country Value Board, though we've got a few days to adjust it.  I'd like a little input on this so that it's set and ready to go by Friday, that way when it's time to pick all we have to do is select the highest player that's left.

Now, making a value board is pretty hard. You can't let things like "need" and "want" get in the way. It's supposed to be a strict ranking of players in order of talent and value, ignoring things like team needs and all that other superfluous nonsense. Unfortunately it's damn hard to ignore things like that. Another factor that must be ignored is the actual draft order. Just because I've got Matt Ryan ranked 8th does not mean that I think the Baltimore Ravens will select the quarterback. Though it just happens to make perfect sense. Keeping all this bias out of the board is pretty hard and it won't take long for ya'll to point out that I'm making some pretty rough judgments. But, thankfully, this is an open process and I need your input to make this better. In a perfect world I'll be simply selecting the highest rated player off this list when the Jaguars come up in the Mock Draft.

My draft board makes a few assumptions that deserve mention.

  1. Big guys are weighted higher than skill positions.  If I was stuck between a Offensive or Defensive linemen and a Cornerback, most often the big guy got the spot.  You'll notice that with a few exceptions, Wide Receivers and Cornerbacks are toward the bottom of the chart.  This is completely intentional.
  2. It's not a "Del Rio" board per se, but I'd like to think it reflects the attitude and approach of the Jaguars.  There's no way I can get into Jack's head on this, but philosophically I think it's in line with what the Jaguars are thinking.
Big Cat Country 2008 Draft Board
1. Vernon Ghoulston DE Ohio State
2. Jake Long OD Michigan
3 Chris Long DE Virginia
4. Glen Dorsey DE LSU
5. Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
6. Ryan Clady OT Boise State
7. Sedrick Ellis DT Southern Cal
8. Matt Ryan QB Boston College
9. Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
10. Keith Rivers LB Southern Cal
11. Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
12. Derrick Harvey DE Florida
13. Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
14. Jeff Otah OT Pitt
15. Johnathan Stewart RB Oregon
16. Quentin Groves DE Auburn
17. Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
18. Aqlb Talib CB Kansas
19. Branden Albert OG Virginia
20. Phillip Merling DE Clemson
21. D.R. Cromartie CB Tennessee St.
22. Dan Connor LB Penn St.
23. Devin Thomas WR Michigan St.
24. Kenny Phillips S Miami
25. Calais Campbell DE Miami
26. Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College
27. Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
28. Felix Jones RB Arkansas
29. Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
30. Sam Baker OT Southern Cal
31. Reggie Smith S Oklahoma
32. Limas Sweed WR Texas

I'm sure there are problems with this ranking.  If you've got beef, please tell me about it in the comments.  Make a convincing argument and I'll change it.  In most cases you won't have to be THAT convincing either.  

I can already see a problem with the last 7 picks, or at least see where I'll probably be reaching a bit.  If I've got the choice between say Kenny Phillips, Malcolm Kelly, Felix Jones and Kentwan Balmer, I'm going to reach for the big Defensive Tackle from UNC, and probably pass a few talented players in the process. Does that mean I should put Kentwan higher?

Drafting is hard.

-Chris