Five members of the Tennessee Journalist staff locked themselves in a room last weekend and did not emerge until they had predicted the order of selections for the opening round of Saturday's NFL Draft.

Sports editor Cliff Chartrand teamed with staff writers Matt Rock, Justin Groves, Grant Ramey and Chris Mitchell to make the picks for every team in round one.

The group rotated picks through the round, with Rock taking the second pick (since Miami already signed Jake Long). Mitchell, Chartrand, Ramey and Groves finished out the rotation.

One adjustment was made in the middle of the round, with Chartrand and Ramey swapping spots so the latter could pick for the Chicago Bears. A trade was projected in the first round, with Dallas moving up to New England's spot at No. 7 and New England getting picks 22 and 28 from the Cowboys.

Without any further ado, here is the 2008 Tennessee Journalist NFL Mock Draft. Check back during the draft Saturday for a running diary from Chartrand.

1) Miami Dolphins: Jake Long, OT, Michigan

No explanation needed here. Long has already been signed prior to the draft.

2) St. Louis Rams: Chris Long, DE, Virginia

St. Louis defensive ends combined for five sacks last year, while Long had 24 for Virginia. They can move Adam Carriker to defensive tackle and put Long it at end, something they couldn't do if they picked Glenn Dorsey.

Matt Rock

3) Atlanta Falcons: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

Although the Falcons need a quarterback, defense is the side of the ball that they will look to build first. Dorsey made plenty of plays on the collegiate level, often times while facing double and triple teams. He is disruptive and will make his teammates better.

Chris Mitchell

4) Oakland Raiders: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State

Al Davis will be tempted by the star potential of Darren McFadden, but this team already has a stable of running backs with LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes and Michael Bush. Gholston adds a pass rusher to a defense that ranked 28th in the league in sacks last season.

Cliff Chartrand

5) Kansas City Chiefs: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

The void left on the defensive line by Jared Allen's trade to Minnesota can be partly filled by this versatile defensive tackle. Kansas City has a lot of needs, so don't be surprised if they deal this pick to someone else who covets Ellis.

Grant Ramey

6) New York Jets: Keith Rivers, LB, USC

Jets coach Eric Mangini does this just to upset Bill Belichick. The Jets need someone to replace Jonathan Vilma and Rivers is the man to do it.

Justin Groves

7) Dallas Cowboys: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

It has been believed for a while that Jerry Jones covets McFadden, a possible franchise player with the speed and wow factors that have everyone talking. There are off-field questions, but for Dallas the risk is worth the reward.

Matt Rock

8) Baltimore Ravens: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

Steve Mcnair’s retirement leaves an obvious hole at quarterback. Kyle Boller hasn’t proven himself at all since he’s been in the league, and the jury is still out on Troy Smith. Ryan has great arm strength, an attribute that is widely coveted in the NFL.

Chris Mitchell

9) Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

The Bengals are hoping either Rivers or Ellis falls to this spot, and they could even move up a few spots to grab one of the former Trojans. However, that's not the case in this mock draft, so with those two off the board the Bengals take the best prospect left on the board in Clady.

Cliff Chartrand

10) New Orleans Saints: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State

DRC is one of many talented corners in this draft, and displayed his physical skills in the Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine. The Saints have spent some money at this position in the last couple years, but they can still use help. They're also a strong candidate to move up for Sedrick Ellis.

Grant Ramey

11) Buffalo Bills: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State

Josh Reed should not be a starter in the NFL and is currently listed as one on the Bills depth chart. Lee Evans needs someone to take the coverage off of him, and Thomas has been rocketing up draft boards over the past couple months.

Justin Groves

12) Denver Broncos: DeSean Jackson, WR, California

With injuries to the Broncos receivers, Denver will follow Buffalo in taking a receiver. Jackson has been a playmaker for California, not only as a receiver but also as a kick returner. He can give quarterback Jay Cutler the deep threat that Denver needs.

Matt Rock  

13) Carolina Panthers: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

Mike Rucker has retired and Julius Peppers is entering the final year of his contract. That makes defensive end a big need in Charlotte. Harvey's athleticism and speed would be a good fit with the Panther defense.

Chris Mitchell

14) Chicago Bears: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh

The Bears will be tempted to flirt with Rashard Mendenall but will decide to select Otah. Building a running game starts in the trenches, not with big name picks. If there aren't holes to run through it doesn't matter who's carrying the ball.

Grant Ramey

15) Detroit Lions: Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois

Injury-prone Kevin Jones is gone from Detroit and Tatum Bell is listed as the top choice at running back right now. Bell is a solid change-of-pace player, but the Lions need someone else to bang the ball between the tackles. Mendenhall fits that profile perfectly.

Cliff Chartrand

16) Arizona Cardinals: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

The Cardinals will dance to the podium if McKelvin is still sitting there at this pick. Fomer top-ten pick Antrel Rolle seems to be a better fit at safety, so Arizona could use someone else to go along with Roderick Hood at corner.

Justin Groves

17) Kansas City Chiefs: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson

With Jared Allen going to Minnesota, the Chiefs now have a hole at defensive end. Merling will be a good fit to fill the hole. The Clemson defensive end was one of the keys to the Tigers success last year and would bring that to Kansas City.

Matt Rock

18) Houston Texans: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida

The Texans play in the same division as the Indianapolis Colts, who have one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL. Having a corner to put opposite Dunta Robinson is key if Houston hopes to become a playoff contender.

Chris Mitchell

19) Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

The Eagles have just three tackles listed on the roster and William Thomas and Jon Runyan are 33 and 34 years old, respectively. Williams shouldn't still be on the board at this pick, but if he is the Eagles should inject some youth into the line.

Cliff Chartrand

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

The revelation of Talib's past marijuana use has caused his stock to fall some, but he is still worth the risk in round one. The Bucs need help in the secondary with an aging Ronde Barber and unproven players making up the cornerback position.

Grant Ramey

21) Washington Redskins: Branden Albert, OT/G, Virginia

You can't win games if the quarterback is constantly running for his life. Quarterback Jason Campbell and first-year head coach Jim Zorn would be doing backflips is Albert is still available at this pick.

Justin Groves

22) New England Patriots: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State

New England's 3-4 defense relies on the strength on the linebacking core, and that core has been getting old over the past couple years.  With Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Junior Seau aging, Dan Conner would bring some youth and a similar style to the Patriots.

Matt Rock

23) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

Balmer is a versatile player who can line up at end or tackle in the Steelers' 3-4 defense. Pittsburgh struggled when Aaron Smith was injured last season because of a lack of depth, and Balmer can help with that immediately.

Chris Mitchell

24) Tennessee Titans: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas

The Titans actually need more help along the defensive line than at wide receiver, so they'll be hoping for either Phillip Merling or Kentwan Balmer to be available with this pick. If they're both gone look for the team to reunite Sweed with Vince Young, a dynamic tandem in their days at Texas. 

Cliff Chartrand

25) Seattle Seahawks: Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue

With the release of Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks could look at a running back here. However, for a team that is just a few pieces away from a chance at the Super Bowl, Keller makes more sense. He is an athletic freak and there will be running backs to draft later in this draft.

Grant Ramey

26) Jacksonville Jaguars: Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC

Jacksonville doesn't have too many needs, but starting end Paul Spicer is getting up there in age. Jackson could be the heir apparent to take over when Spicer's career is done.

Justin Groves

27) San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

The Chargers don't have many needs. Now that Michael Turner has gone to Atlanta, the Chargers do need a back up to LaDanian Tomlinson. Combined with LT, Stewart would give the Chargers a powerful rushing attack they couldn't pass up the chance to have.

Matt Rock

28) New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee

Even though the Patriots already took a linebacker in round one, they still need help at the position where they have some players close to becoming senior citizens. Mayo could become one of the league's best linebackers after learning from Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau.

Chris Mitchell

29) San Francisco 49ers: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami (Fla)

The 49ers need some help along the defensive line and Campbell has boatloads of potential. At 6-foot-8 and 290 pounds, he has the build to be a special player in the NFL.

Cliff Chartrand

30) Green Bay Packers: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College

Green Bay doesn't have many pressing needs. Cherilus is the best available offensive lineman at this point and could help open holes for the running game in the post-Favre era.

Grant Ramey

31) New York Giants: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami (Fl)

Goodbye Gibril Wilson, hello Kenny Phillips. The versatile playmaker out of Miami (Fla) would fill a gaping hole in the secondary for the defending Super Bowl champions following Wilson's departure for big money in Oakland.

Justin Groves