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Draft: 10 best marriages of talent, team needs

The best drafts reflect ideal marriages of talent and team needs. Here are 10 players in the 2008 draft who have found the ideal places to display their talents.

Originally Published: April 27, 2008
By Jeffri Chadiha | ESPN.com

The end of this year's NFL draft means we finally can start giving serious thought to how these prospects might measure up in the coming season.

It's one thing to evaluate them based on how they compete at the combine or their respective pro day workouts. But the real indication of a player's success is whether he winds up in the right situation. If he doesn't land on a team that is best-suited to utilize his talents, then it really won't matter what Mel Kiper thought of him. His chances ...

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2008 NFL DRAFT

The 2008 draft lasted 14 hours, 26 minutes. Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long (above), selected by Miami, was the No. 1 overall pick. This year's Mr. Irrelevant -- the last pick in the draft -- is David Vobora, a linebacker from Idaho selected by St. Louis with the 252nd pick.

Round-by-round, team-by-team picks

• Round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

• AFC East: Buffalo | Miami | N. England | NY Jets
• AFC North: Baltimore | Cinc. | Cleve. | Pitt.
• AFC South: Houston | Indy | Jax | Tennessee
• AFC West: Denver | K.C. | Oakland | San Diego
• NFC East: Dallas | NYG | Philadephia | Wash.
• NFC North: Chicago | Detroit | G.B. | Minnesota
• NFC South: Atlanta | Carolina | N.O. | Tampa
• NFC West: Arizona | S.F. | St. Louis | Seattle

Inside Radio City Music Hall

• Panoramic views

Commentary/Features

• Wickersham: Bears, Ravens take opposite turns
• Williamson: Remembering Heath Benedict
• Yasinskas: Falcons should be patient with Ryan

Day 2
• Clayton: Six draft trends
• Chadiha: 10 great marriages
• Walker: NFC East draft review
• Sando: NFC West draft review
• Willamson: NFC North draft review
• Yasinskas: NFC South draft review
• Sando: AFC East draft review
• Williamson: AFC West draft review
• Walker: AFC North draft review
• Yasinskas: AFC South draft review

Day 1
• Clayton: Day 1 winners and losers
• Williamson: Davis couldn't resist McFadden
• Walker: Ravens had to work for Flacco
• Sando: Long addresses Rams' D-line needs
• Chadiha: AFC East hustle continues on draft day
• Yasinskas: Ryan gives Falcons hope, identity

Mel Kiper Insider

• Kiper's team-by-team draft grades
• Day 1 good, bad moves: Questionable Titans

News

• 2008 breaks previous trade record
• Jets sign NCAA career rushing leader Woodhead
• Lions pick Smith with first pick of second day
• Miami, Long make it official | NFL Local

Video

• Green: First-round pick instant analysis
• Complete draft analysis
• One-on-one with Jake Long
• One-on-one with Chris Long
• One-on-one with Matt Ryan
• One-on-one with Darren McFadden
• One-on-one with Glenn Dorsey
• One-on-one with Vernon Gholston
• Ed Werder on Cowboys
• Norv Turner interview
• Fantasy Spin

Audio

• Jake Long | Chris Long | Matt Ryan
• Darren McFadden | Vernon Gholston
• Glenn Dorsey | Keith Rivers | Chris Williams
• Lawrence Jackson

SportsNation

• Vote: Best first-round pick? | Potential busts?
• Grades: How did your team fare?

Scouts Inc. Insider

• Analysis: Round 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Cheat Sheets: RB | DL | DB | LB | OL | REC | QB
• McShay: Seven-round mock draft
• Revisiting the 2005 draft | 2005 re-draft


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