2009 NFL Mock Draft - v3.0
Updated: 4/15/091. Detroit Lions
The Pick: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Could Draft: Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe
When push comes to shove, the Lions go with a QB they can let develop for a season. They do have more pressing needs, but a fresh start for Detroit means a fresh face under center.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
The Pick: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Could Draft: Eugene Monroe
Smith can get plain nasty in the trenches and is a terrific replacement for OT Orlando Pace.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Could Draft: None
I feel he is the best player in the entire draft. The Chiefs would be foolish to pass up on Curry here; teaming him up with LB Derrick Johnson would put some serious speed and hard-hitting behind a weak line.
4.Seattle Seahawks
The Pick: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Could Draft: B.J. Raji, Michael Crabtree
The Seahawks most definitely need a big run stuffer, but protecting QB Matt Hasselbeck is of utmost importance at this point. Monroe is the obvious selection.
5. Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Could Draft: B.J. Raji, Brian Orakpo
The writing is most likely on the wall regardless of whether the team trades Braylon Edwards before draft day. With the star wideout unlikely to remain with the team after the 2009 season, the Browns need to look seriously at this position and go defense with the picks they may acquire for Quinn and/or Edwards.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Could Draft: Michael Crabtree, Eugene Monroe, Chris Wells
I know I have been hammering Andre Smith lately and the Bengals are hoping Eugene Monroe falls to them, but they need some serious line help. I think if both Jason Smith and Monroe are gone, the Bengals try to trade down a few spots and land Andre there.
7. Oakland Raiders
The Pick: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Could Draft: Michael Crabtree
If Al Davis has the final say, Maclin is the guy. Speed is his first true love and Maclin in pads is incredibly explosive. It doesn’t hurt he is a heck of a return man as well.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Could Draft: Mark Sanchez, Michael Crabtree, BJ Raji
While I don’t think the Jags stay at this spot if Sanchez is still on the board and Crabtree gone, the pick should either be Orakpo or Raji. Both are top-5 talents that fill areas of need for the team.
9. Green Bay Packers
The Pick: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Could Draft: Brian Orakpo, Aaron Maybin, Everette Brown
The Packers need D-line and need it badly. Versatility is a must with DC Dom Capers installing his solid 3-4 scheme; bringing the heat would help a secondary that has been left out to dry for far too long. Raji is an absolute beast that would anchor the line at NT.
10. San Francisco 49ers
The Pick: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Could Draft: Aaron Maybin, Andre Smith
It would be extremely difficult for the 49ers to pass up on Sanchez if he’s still sitting here. Sanchez’s skill set is off the charts and his stock is going through the roof.
11. Buffalo Bills
The Pick: Aaron Maybin, DE, Florida State
Could Draft: Malcolm Jenkins, Brandon Pettigrew, Everette Brown
Whether or not Maybin ends up putting his hand down or standing up outside, he can bring the heat and his pursuit is relentless. The Bills need playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and Maybin most certainly fits that bill.
12. Denver Broncos
The Pick: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
Could Draft: Tyson Jackson, Mark Sanchez, B.J. Raji
The Broncos need to look defense here and Brown would be a very nice fit in a 3-4 and having the versatility to move inside and outside with ease.
13. Washington Redskins
The Pick: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
Could Draft: Andre Smith, Brian Cushing
One of the oldest lines in the league would improve in a hurry with Oher anchoring. His speed and agility are unheard of and, if he improves upon his consistency, could end up being the best tackle in this class.
14. New Orleans Saints
The Pick: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Could Draft: Knowshon Moreno, Chris Wells
Jenkins is an outstanding defensive back that could play CB and FS for the Saints, and his versatility improves a secondary that has been lit up the last two seasons. RB Chris Wells has a very outside shot of going here with Payton wanting to complement RBs Thomas and Bush.
15. Houston Texans
The Pick: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
Could Draft: Vontae Davis, Robert Ayers
Cushing can play any LB position for the Texans and can rush the passer. He would fit DC Frank Bush’s flexible defensive scheme perfectly.
16. San Diego Chargers
The Pick: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Could Draft: Knowshon Moreno, Chris Wells, Malcolm Jenkins
As expected, I am swapping Maualuga and Wells with this pick. He can be an extraordinary middle linebacker for the Chargers. The Chargers have some freedom here and this pick will allow them to take the best player available.
17. New York Jets
The Pick: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Could Draft: Moreno, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman
Complete wildcard here. I think it would be hard to pass up Moreno if he’s sitting here, but the Jets need a deep threat and a signal caller. His size and speed will be a nice pairing with Cotchery.
18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago)
The Pick: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Could Draft: Josh Freeman, Clay Matthews
Tyson Jackson is a heck of a player that can be moved around quite easily. He is the only elite five-technique player in this draft. Also look to see if the Broncos move up above the Chargers to select Maualuga.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
Could Draft: Aaron Maybin, Josh Freeman
Tough for Raheem Morris to pass up a player he coached at Kansas State. I am not convinced the Bucs feel comfortable with the QBs on board and Freeman has a huge arm, but he is inconsistent.
20. Detroit Lions
The Pick: Robert Ayers, DT, Tennessee
Could Draft: Rey Maualuga, Peria Jerry
Defense, defense, defense. The Lions have been seriously shopping this pick, but if they hold onto it, defensive line or linebacker are priorities. Ayers has an insane ceiling and can get in the backfield in a hurry.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Could Draft: Donald Brown, William Beatty
Some experts have said the Eagles should not go RB here, but if Knowshon falls into their laps, he will be hard to pass up. I think Moreno becomes the #1 rookie draft pick if he lands here.
22. Minnesota Vikings
The Pick: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Could Draft: Michael Oher, Hakeem Nicks
Harvin is an athlete and the Vikings feel he is THE game-changer in this draft. His speed and playmaking ability are going to make it incredibly difficult for them to pass on him; QBs Jackson and Rosenfels need another weapon.
23. New England Patriots
The Pick: Clay Matthews, LB, USC
Could Draft: Alphonso Smith, Connor Barwin
There isn’t much to complain about with Clay Matthews as he is a prototypical NFL linebacker. In all the tape and workouts I have seen, not once did he give up on a play. That is New England defense in a nutshell.
24. Atlanta Falcons
The Pick: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Could Draft: Michael Johnson
Giving Matt Ryan a reliable player like Pettigrew is a no-brainer. If he is off the board, the Falcons would probably select Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson, whom they have fallen in love with.
25. Miami Dolphins
The Pick: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Could Draft: Percy Harvin, Brian Cushing
GM Bill Parcells loves Davis’ combination of speed and athleticism and feels he has more drive than his brother, San Francisco’s TE Vernon Davis. It’s impressive when you can land an early entry to the draft with two-time first-team All-Big Ten selections this late.
26. Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Could Draft: Vontae Davis, Rey Maualuga
Assuming Maulaluga is taken at this point, James Laurinaitis is the type of player with a huge motor and heart that the Ravens covet. If he can prove his consistency, this could be the steal of the draft considering Laurinaitis was projected as a top-5 pick coming into the 2008 season.
27. Indianapolis Colts
The Pick: Peria Jerry, DT, Boston College
Could Draft: Evander Hood
Jerry is a great talent who brings incredible inside pressure and runs a quick and clean three-technique. He absolutely dominated Senior Bowl week.
28. Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Could Draft: Michael Oher, William Beatty
The Eagles still need an offensive tackle after OT Tre Thomas left for Jacksonville. Britton is a mammoth anchor (6’6 5/8, 306) that can put another 10 to 15 pounds on his frame and keep his quickness.
29. New York Giants
The Pick: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
Could Draft: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Kenny Britt, James Laurinaitis
Assuming the Giants keep this pick, I think it would be hard to pass up on Nicks. New York likes Kenny Britt’s ceiling, but are most definitely not sure about taking the time to develop him. Nicks can step in right now and contribute: he is big, he is strong and he has amazing hands.
30. Tennessee Titans
The Pick: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
Could Draft: Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin
I think HC Jeff Fisher looks to replace his DT Albert Haynesworth instead of investing in a first-round wideout. Britt is awfully tempting though….
31. Arizona Cardinals
The Pick: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Could Draft: Larry English, Michael Johnson, Chris Wells
With Edge on the brink, the Cards need to add someone to the mix. Wells is a great pick if he falls this far and can be a lead back for the Cardinals for years to come.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: Darrius Butler, CB, UCONN
Could Draft: William Beatty, Louis Delmas, D.J. Moore
It appears Pittsburgh has shored up the O line nicely this off-season and Darius Butler is amazing in zone coverage and mid-pointing high-low routes. His loose hips are what Mike Tomlin loves most as Butler changes direction on a dime.
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