In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Texans have the 18th pick in the first round. While their roster on the whole is strong, there is one major weakness – running back. Ahman Green was brought in last year but he didn’t solve the problem. Ron Dayne isn’t the long-term answer.

At running back, the best player in the 2008 draft is no doubt Darren McFadden, however he’ll long be off the board for the Texans. Rashard Mendenhall is the next best running back and there’s not a very good chance he’ll be there at 18. If he is, he’d be a no-brainer pick for the Texans.

Two players that will likely be on the board and should tempt the Texans are running backs Jonathan Stewart and Felix Jones. Stewart is a bit bigger and a tougher runner, while Jones has better speed and is more explosive. Either player would see plenty of action in 2008 for Houston.

If the Texans don’t like the available running backs, look for them to go with a cornerback (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Leodis McKelvin?) or an offensive tackle (Gosder Cherilus, Jeff Otah?).

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2) Leodis McKelvin, Troy
While Leodis McKelvin doesn’t possess great size, he’s extremely quick and has all the skills to be a successful cornerback on the NFL level. He could very well be the first cornerback picked in the 2008 NFL Draft.

3) Mike Jenkins, South Florida
Mike Jenkins is a true speedster who can make plays when the ball is in the air. He’s an erratic run stopper but he has enough bulk to eventually improve in that area. He has very good natural instincts when it comes to playing cornerback.

4) Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech
Although he’s relatively short for the position, Brandon Flowers is a very aggressive cornerback who has a knack for making big plays. He also has an NFL-ready mentality because he typically doesn’t make the same mistake twice.

5) Aqib Talib, Kansas
If it weren’t for some off the field issues, Aqib Talib would be ranked as a top three cornerback in the 2008 NFL Draft. He has great size and is an outstanding physical specimen. On the field, there’s not much to not like about how he plays.

Read more 2008 NFL Draft information.

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In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Ravens should get some help. With the eight pick in the draft, there should be a solid player still on the board when it comes their turn to pick.

The good news for the Ravens is they aren’t that far away from being a playoff team yet again. Defensively, they have a lot of star players and have great coaches. Offensively, the team has some decent enough pieces and has built a good amount of chemistry over the years.

With the eighth pick, the Ravens could decide to go in any number of directions. Although, there is a slight problem for the Ravens – their biggest weaknesses on their team are also the biggest weaknesses at their spot in the first round. The Ravens need a quarterback of the future but only one quarterback (Matt Ryan) is expected to go in the top ten, and Ryan will likely be off the board when it becomes the Ravens turn to pick. Wide receiver is another weakness of the Ravens but there aren’t any wide receivers in this draft worthy of a top ten pick.

If Ryan were to drop to the Ravens, the Ravens should definitely snatch him up. At the eighth pick, that is great value. If Ryan isn’t available, the Ravens should look at adding a cornerback. The team suffered a lot of injuries at cornerback last season and bringing in a young gun at that position will help. Names such as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Aqib Talib and Leodis McKelvin would make sense at eight for the Ravens.

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2) St. Louis Rams – Jake Long
The biggest problem for the Rams in 2007 was their offensive line. Jake Long can step right in and start right away for St. Louis in 2008.

3) Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan
The Atlanta Falcons need a quarterback and Matt Ryan is the best quarterback in the draft. While he won’t start right away, he has great potential down the line.

4) Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is arguably the most talented player in the draft and the Oakland Raiders usually value talent as much as any team. He’d split carries with Justin Fargas.

5) Kansas City Chiefs – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Perhaps the player whose stock is rising quickest, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could be the Chiefs’ pick if both Long and Ryan are off the board.

6) New York Jets – Chris Long
The Jets desperately need to pressure the quarterback more in 2008 and Chris Long should help the team do just that.

7) New England Patriots – Vernon Gholston
Vernon Gholston looks like a perfect fit for the Patriots at the seventh pick. He can play linebacker in their defense and start as a rookie.

8) Baltimore Ravens – Leodis McKelvin
While the Ravens do need help at quarterback and wide receiver, there are no quality prospects at this point in the draft. Instead they’ll go with Leodis McKelvin.

9) Cincinnati Bengals – Sedrick Ellis
The Bengals desperately need some defensive line help and Sedrick Ellis should be able to provide just that. (And he has a cool last name.)

10) New Orleans Saints – Rashard Mendenhall
Reggie Bush needs a new partner in the backfield and Rashard Mendenhall is the best running back on the board at this point.

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