Posted by Rob in Fantasy Advice,NFL Mock Drafts 2009 on Feb 16th 2009 (Print This)
The 2009 NFL Draft is getting close, and with the combine on February 18th, more questions will be answered, such as “Just how fast is Michael Crabtree?” While we expect more players to rise and fall with forty and shuttle times, along with bench press reps and vertical measurements, we do expect the picture to become a little less blurry as teams start to focus in on needs, as seven of the first ten teams are in a rebuilding phase. Remember there are “sexy” picks and there are needs, ask Matt Millen what a “sexy” pick is and he will say it is why he doesn’t have a job.
1.) Detroit-Jason Smith, OT, Baylor-Smith moves into the top spot as he has the athleticism and the quick feet to take on NFL pass rushers. He is a converted tight end who is ahead of the curve on his run blocking as well as his pass blocking. This is not a “sexy” pick, but then again rebuilding is not an attractive process.
2.) St. Louis-Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi-Oher had an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl where he was “nasty.” Oher is still a bit raw technique wise, but he has the size and feet to develop into a Pro Bowl tackle in the NFL. His physicality and nastiness is what scouts were waiting to see from someone who at times seemed uninterested.
3.) Kansas City-Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest-Curry the 2008 Butkus Award winner is a good fit for a defense with no identity. He is physical and athletic, he attacks would be blockers and sheds them upon contact, look for Pioli to draft on the basis of need, and linebacker is definitely a need for the Chiefs.
4.) Seattle-Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech-This pick could very well change with the highly anticipated Crabtree forty time. Until then pencil in this playmaker as a savior in Seattle. He is a big, physical receiver, who gains most of his yards after the catch.
5.) Cleveland-Everette Brown, DE, Florida St.-Look for the Browns to address their pathetic pass rushing with the selection of Brown, who should help them improve on their 17 sacks of last season. Brown is another player who improved his stock during the Senior Bowl.
6.) Cincinnati-Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia-The Bengals have a need at both tackle positions due to continuing injuries to Jones and Andrews. Monroe has solid feet and is a good pass blocker, add that to the fact that Virginia has developed some pretty good linemen in the last few years. (D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Branden Albert)
7.) Oakland-Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio St.-The 2008 Thorpe Award recipient would be a good fit for a team that will soon be hit hard in the secondary by free agency. The fact remains that if you have your chance to leave Oakland, you take it and run. Jenkins is ready to step in and play now.
8.) Jacksonville-Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri-Maclin becomes a need for a team in flux with its wideouts. They recently parted ways with Jerry Porter and who knows what the situation is with Matt Jones? Maclin is a playmaker that this offense has sorely been missing since the days of Jimmy Smith.
9.) Green Bay-Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn St.-Maybin is still raw technique wise, but he is versatile along the defensive front and would help Aaron Kampman in the pass rush game. In the run game he is physical at the point of attack and destroys would be blockers.
10.) San Francisco-B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College-Raji was flat out dominant at the Senior Bowl and his stock is on the rise. He looked like a man among boys and the Niners have a need for a run stuffer at defensive tackle to help stop the run .
11.) Buffalo-Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas-The Bills are still in need of a solid pass rusher and Orakpo would give them youth, along with an added burst of athleticism to help the Bills defense immediately. He will develop nicely on a defense loaded with veterans.
12.) Denver-Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC-It’s time to bring back the Orange Crush defense and Maualuga is a nice start. He plays the game right, fearless and vicious, sideline to sideline, should add a little toughness they lost when they cut ties with Al Wilson.
13.) Washington-Brian Cushing, OLB, USC-Cushing has experience all along the defensive front and will give an aging defensive an injection of youth and athleticism. Keep an eye on a red flag surrounding Cushing’s use of supplements and steroid use has been questioned throughout his career.
14.) New Orleans-Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois-The Saints have minimal needs on offense so building a defense seems likely. Davis has size and is physical, not to mention his terrific man to man coverage skills. Davis plays the ball extremely well and has the necessary speed to make up ground when beaten on a play.
15.) Houston-Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU-Jackson is versatile across the defensive front, adept at stopping the run and disrupting the passing game. Jackson would be a nice fit for a defense that is on the rise, and take some attention away from Mario Williams.
16.) San Diego-Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia-LDT is going by way of Shaun Alexander, and Darren Sproles is not an everydown back. The Chargers look to the future and grab the explosive Moreno who fits their running scheme perfectly.
17.) N.Y. Jets-Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia-The retirement of Favre and the Jets never being high on Kellen Clemens make this a steal at 17, Stafford has the big arm Pennington did not, do I dare say the Jets have finally found their QB of the future?
18.) Chicago-Mark Sanchez, QB, USC-The Bears are not happy with either quarterback they have right now, and look for a move away from Orton or Grossman. Sanchez doesn’t have the experience of Stafford, but with seasoning he could develop into a better signal caller than Stafford.
19.) Tampa Bay-Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi-The Bucs defense was manhandled at the end of last year and is starting to show its’ age. Jerry is disruptive in all facets of the game and would improve a run defense that was vulnerable last year.
20.) Detroit-D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt-Moore is a playmaker with a good football I.Q. The Lions are looking for help on defense and Moore will contribute right away. His strong work ethic should help bring about change in Detroit.
21.) Philadelphia-Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St.-Injury history pushes him down the board, but his talent is top five. The Eagles have an aging Westbrook and they find their back of the future. Eagle fans will remember that Westbrook wasn’t exactly the pillar of health at Villanova.
22.) Minnesota-Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St.-Some believe the Tarvaris Jackson project is over and Gus Frerotte is headed out or to the bench. Freeman is big, about 6’6 and 240 lbs., bring any comparisons, you guessed it, Culpepper! Will soon make Freeman to Berrian a catch phrase.
23.) New England-Clay Matthews, OLB, USC-Matthews is an instinctive playmaker, always around the ball. He gives the Patriots a versatility on defense that they prefer. Some scouts say that Matthews in two to three years will be the best linebacker out of the USC “Three Amigos.”
24.) Atlanta-Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.-The best tight end in the draft, gives Matt Ryan another weapon in the passing game, a solid blocker, has soft hands, and is a physical specimen, though in a good way, not a Vernon Davis type of way.
25.) Miami-Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest-The Dolphins have an aging defensive backfield and Smith provides them with youth and athleticism, not to mention some swagger. Smith is an excellent coverage guy and can get to the QB in blitz packages.
26.) Baltimore-Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois-The Ravens are going to take a hit in their linebacking corp and English is the best pass rushing linebacker left in the draft. He is explosive and will often disrupt plays in the backfield, shows a talent for rushing the passer, takes on offensive tackles well, an all around solid player.
27.) Indianapolis-Paul Kruger, DE, Utah-Kruger would be a good fit for a defense in need of a hard nosed, blue-collar type guy. We call these guys, lunch pale guys, because they come to work everyday and work hard. Kruger is a character guy, an extremely hard worker with deceptive strength and speed, he plays the game smart.
28.) Philadelphia-Eben Britton, OT, Arizona-Britton is a beast, at 6’6-310 lbs. he locks onto an opponent and controls him. He is an excellent pass blocker and will use a combination of moves to push the rusher wide or pancake block him into the ground.
29.) N.Y. Giants-Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina-The Plaxico situation makes this a necessary pick as Coughlin clearly doesn’t want Burress back with the team, that or he will be in jail. Nicks is a big receiver who is great after the catch and can create.
30.) Tennessee-Darrius Heyward Bey, WR, Maryland-The Titans are in search of a more consistent and productive wideout to aid in their mediocre receiving corp. Heyward Bey is a receiver who can gain seperation and help stretch the field.
31.) Arizona-LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh-James is probably out, Hightower seems destined as a goal line vulture, and Arrington is a return specialist. McCoy gives this team an added dimension in their potent aerial attack.
32.) Pittsburgh-Alex Mack, C, California-Mack is this year’s top interior lineman and would be an upgrade over Justin Hartwig. There is not much improvement needed for the Super Bowl Champs, but if there is one area of need, this is it.
As with anything, these rankings will change, as you can see some players are notably missing, Percy Harvin being one and James Laurinitis being the other. The combine will undoubtedly change things, and while Harvin and Laurinitis were great college players, it does not necessarily mean there game translates to the NFL.
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