2009 NFL Mock Draft

It’s almost that time where the 32 NFL teams get together and build for the future. The NFL Draft is on Saturday and I’ve decided to make my own mock draft. The reason I’m doing it somewhat late is I wanted to be as accurate as I can in the sense of if there was a trade (like there was on Thursday when the Falcons got Tony Gonzalez for a 2010 draft pick), I could say that the Falcons will focus on any position other than tight end. Anyway, here is my 2009 NFL Mock Draft:

1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. It looks as if the Lions are working out a deal to get Stafford signed before the Draft. He is going to be a good pro and he is going to be the face of the Lions for years to come.

2. St. Lois Rams – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. Smith could be considered the best player overall in the draft. He should do what Orlando Pace did for the Rams for the next 10-15 years.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. He has the size and athleticism to start right way for Kansas City who could use the help. He could play linebacker and play along with former Longhorn Derrick Johnson.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. I think Jim Mora would like to address the defense as they could use some help on the defensive line, but Walter Jones is not getting any younger and Monroe would be a good pick for them,

5. Cleveland Browns – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. I think that Curry is going to be an outstanding pro and should have no problems fitting into Eric Mangini’s 3-4 scheme. Some experts say that he is the safest pick in the draft.

6. Cincinnati Bengals – Everette Brown, DE, Florida State. One of the problems that the Bengals had over the years is they never had a pass rush. That will change if they select Brown with their first round pick.

7. Oakland Raiders – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. Crabtree had a great college career and has all the tools to be a Pro Bowl wide receiver. This is a typical pick for Oakland as Al Davis likes the fast players.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. This is not a glaring need, but the Jags need to address the quarterback spot to take over the helm when David Garrard retires. You know, he could be a better quarterback than Stafford base on intangibles.

9. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. Raji is by far the best defensive tackle in the daft and this year’s class is deeper than what it was last year. Green Bay could definitely use help on the defensive line so this should be a no-brainer.

10. San Francisco 49ers – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The 49ers could use another quarterback but I think they will go with the best available player in Smith. He has had some issues in the past, but when he is on his game, very few are better than Smith.

11. Buffalo Bills – Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss. This should be a good pick for the Bills because Oher can help protect Trent Edwards which will mean more opportunities for Terrell Owens. Oher was one of the reasons that Ole Miss had a great season in 2008.

12. Denver Broncos – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC. Denver will try to move on with Jay Cutler gone and they will address the defense in this year’s draft. Maualuga should be plugged in right away as he can tackle well react to plays better than any other linebacker in the draft.

13. Washington Redskins – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. I’ll be honest, I don’t know that the Redskins are going to do on draft day. They could bolster their defensive line and I think Ayers will be a good fit to go along with Albert Haynesworth.

14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. The Saints has made a lot of moves in the offseason, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Adding Jenkins would really help a struggling Secondary.

15. Houston Texans – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. Houston needs help on defense but not a cornerback. Davis is a great athlete and has good size for a corner so I think the Texans could not pass on him if he is available.

16. San Diego Chargers – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. LaDainian Tomlinson is still the guy in San Diego, but he is not the player that he once was. Moreno is a guy that doesn’t have top-notched speed, but can do everything else well and is the best running back in the draft.

17. New York Jets – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State. With Bret Favre gone, the Jets need a quarterback in the worst way. Freeman would be the best available quarterback in the draft ia strong arm and great size.

18. Denver Broncos – Tyson Jackson, DT, LSU. This will be a pick where Denver will once again address the defense and Jackson might be the perfect pick for them. With Denver playing the 3-4 scheme on defense, Jackson can play end or tackle.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss. Tampa’s defense is not getting any younger and the only members from the Super Bowl team are Ronde Barber and Jermaine Phillips. Jerry is a little older (24) but he is very strong and very athletic and that fits right in the
Tampa Bay scheme.

20. Detroit Lions – Clay Matthews, LB, USC. I would like for the Falcons to get Matthews but I don’t think he will go past 20. The Lions will need all the help they can get so Matthews is considered the most versatile linebacker in the draft.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State. Brian Westbrook is one of the best running backs in the game today, but he is now 30. Adding Wells will help the Eagles in the run game as he is faster than Moreno and can run between the tackles.

22. Minnesota Vikings – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. Based on the recent events, Harvin could move out of the first round and be an early second round pick. If he is still around, the Vikings have to take Harvin to give Sage Rosenfels more weapons.

23. New England Patriots – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State. New England is a team that doesn’t have a lot of needs but linebacker is an area they will address. Laurinaitis has good speed and great size so he can be a very productive starter.

24. Atlanta Falcons – Brian Cushing, LB, USC. There are reports that the Falcons will pick Cushing if he is available. Cushing would be the third linebacker out of USC picked in the first round and he will compete for one of the two outside linebacker positions.

25. Miami Dolphins – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. Miami had a surprise season last year and they are looking for a deep-threat to help Chad Pennington. Heyward-Bey has to physical tools to be that deep threat but needs to improve route-running skills.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. There is no doubt that the Raves have found their quarterback. Now they need a star receiver and Nicks could be that guy. He has good hands and can run route extremely well.

27. Indianapolis Colts – Evander Hood, DT, Missouri. The No.1 need for the Colts is defensive tackle as they had a hard time stopping the run. Ziggy Hood would be a nice addition because he can split gaps and has the ability to get into the backfield.

28. Buffalo Bills – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Trent Edwards has his deep-threat in T.O. but where is his security blanket? Pettigrew can be that guy as he can do anything any NFL tight end can do.

29. New York Giants – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers. With Plaxico Burress gone, the Giants need a No. 1 wide receiver. Britt got more lover earlier in the year, but he is a guy that has tremendous size and blazing speed. He could very well turn out to be the best receiver in the draft.

30. Tennessee Titans – Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut. The Titans could use a defensive tackle or a receiver but is Butler is still on the board they should run to the podium. Butler has that confidence that the best NFL cornerbacks have and is very physical with opposing receivers.

31. Arizona Cardinals – Larry English, LB/DE, Northern Illinois. The Cardinals shocked everyone by reaching the Super Bowl, but they can use some help defensively if they want to go back to the Super Bowl in 2009. English can play both end and linebacker and the Cardinals
need help with both positions.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. The world champions could use help on the offensive line if anywhere. Britton will not have to play right away and can work on his blocking while waiting his turn. If he improves, he can play left or right tackle.