2009 NFL Mock Draft
By Brian Miller
UPDATED DRAFT HERE (CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DRAFT)
Early? You bet it is. With the NFL playoffs beginning a short 4 weeks from now, teams are finding themselves falling into slotting for what could be a very interesting draft. Our very own Shane Ford has his first “Mock” of the season up and ready to roll to press.
2009 NFL Mock Draft
1. Detroit – Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia. Detroit needs a young QB to build this franchise around they have a young receiver in Johnson and RB in Smith, Stafford could give them the young trio they need.
2. Kansas City – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. KC, could go defense here, but they have to shore up the offensive line. Albert has had a solid season, but he needs help.
3. Cincinnati – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. They will lose one of if not both Ocho Cinco and Houshmandzadeh, so they will put weapons in for Palmer.
4. Seattle – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. Seattle could go many ways here, but the bottom line is Walter Jones is in his 12th season and as great as he has been he has shown this year he is not longer what he once was.
5. St Louis – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. They could also go DB and take Davis Jenkins or Mayes here, but I think they know they must build the offensive line for Jackson.
6. Oakland – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. Who knows what Al is going to do here, but Hall did not work out and he could very well lose Asomugha to free agency.
7. San Francisco – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. They could throw a wrench into the mix and shock everyone to draft a QB here, but not sure any of the other rate out high enough here.
8. Cleveland – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. He is a younger version of Jamal Lewis. Wells can be the guy to pound it between the tackles to keep the LBs honest.
9. Houston – Taylor Mayes, FS, USC. Mayes is Roy Williams with coverage skills. He could be the playmaker that Houston is missing in the secondary. At 6’3″ 230lbs he’s a LB with 4.45 speed.
10. Jacksonville – Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC. Jags could go a lot of different ways, but Peterson will not be back next year and they will need a leader on the defense and Maualuga fits that bill.
11. San Diego – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. Losing Turner was much more of a hit than most thought. LT is not the same LT he once was and will turn 30 in the off-season.
12. Green Bay – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. GB needs a pass rush off the edge for the other side of Kampman. Orakpo would give them stability on the DL.
13. Philadelphia – William Moore, FS, Missouri. No telling what is going on in Philly in the off-season, but Dawkins is a free agent and Moore is just a shad rated below Mayes, so this is a solid pick for them.
14. Buffalo – Tyson Jackson, DL, LSU. Buffalo needs depth along the defensive line, and Jackson is versatile enough he could play anywhere in a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme.
15. Chicago – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. Maclin will more than likely post the fastest 40 time at the combine. Devine Hester has not been effective at WR or in the return game this year, so they need a WR and move Hester back to what he does best.
16. Denver – Sen’Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn. Denver can’t stop the run at all, so they will invest picks in the defensive line.
17. Miami – Everett Brown, DE/OLB, FSU. Brown may be the most athletic of the DE’s that have come out of FSU. Brown is already dropping into coverage and is just too fast for a tackle to handle one on one. He is a perfect fit for a 3-4 rush OLB.
18. Minnesota – Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. Minnesota needs to improve the pass rush and Johnson will do just that. He has great ability and could provide an already dynamic defense another weapon.
19. New Orleans – Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest. Is there much doubt that the pick here will be defense? The Saints may have one of the best offenses in the league, but they also have one of the worst defenses. Curry is a good mix of size and speed and plays both the run and pass well. He would be a solid addition for the Saints.
20. Arizona – George Selvie, DE/OLB South Florida. Just like New Orleans there is not much doubt AZ will be looking defense in the draft. Selvie give them and edge pass rusher that can help Docket pressure the QB. AZ play a hybrid 3-4, and Selvie should be about to fit in well.
21. Atlanta – Brian Cushing, OLB, USC. Atlanta could also go offensive line here, but I think Cushing is a better value. Cushing is in the same mold as Keith Brooking who just turned 33 and is in his 11th season. Cushing will give additional youth to go along side with Lofton and Boley.
22. Baltimore – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. Baltimore stays at home and gives Flacco another weapon to throw to. They could also look OL and DB but in the in Heyward-Bey gives them a bigger target to get the ball to.
23. Indianapolis – B. J. Raji, DT, BC. Raji has had a great senior campaign and the Colts need help in the middle. Raji is big enough to stuff the run, but is also quick enough on his feet the pressure the QB. He is a perfect fit for Dungy’s Tampa 2 defense.
24. New England – James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State. They would have loved for Mayes or Moore to fall to them here, but since they did not they continue to give a youth movement to the linebackers. Mayo and Laurinaitis could give them 2 young very good ILB’s for years to come.
25. Washington – Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma. The Redskins have done a very good job of getting young, now it’s time to build depth and youth along the offensive line. Robinson could come in and challenge for a starting job from day one.
26. Detroit (f/Dallas) – Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi. Detroit could go anywhere, and they need help along both lines. At this point in the draft Hardy is very good value and he play the run well and can get pressure on the QB.
27. Philadelphia (f/Carolina) – Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest. Philadelphia continues to add to the secondary. Smith has been outstanding in college but his size has been a question mark. DeSean Jackson has shown that size can sometimes be overlooked, so Smith should be a good addition to the defensive backfield.
28. New York Jets – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. Favre can only play for so long, and while he is coming into his own in New York there is only so much tread on those tires and the Jets have no on to hand the reigns over to. Bradford could sit a year and be ready in 2010 when Favre finally does walk away.
29. Pittsburgh – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. Pittsburgh doesn’t have many needs, but LT is a glaring one for them. They are thrilled that this year is very deep for offensive tackles and Smith will give them and athletic LT to help keep pressure off of Big Ben, assuming he will throw the ball
30. Tampa Bay – Colt McCoy, QB, Texas. Tampa Has to find a QB that can play. Garcia and Griese wont be there much longer. McCoy gives them a QB with mobility and a true NFL arm. Don’t count out Tebow here.
31. Tennessee – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. Harvin gives Tennessee a playmaker on the outside. He can line up as a RB, split wide and in the slot. Harvin will add an explosive threat the Tennessee offense is missing.
32. New York Giants – Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia. It’s hard to find any position of need for the G-Men but Sintim will be a very good fit to the athletic defense they already have.