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Posted by Rob in Fantasy Advice,Mock Drafts,NFL Mock Drafts 2009 on Feb 10th 2009 and last modified on Feb 16th 2009. (Print This)
The 2009 NFL Draft is full of questions, what draft isn’t, and many of these players will not be the answers teams are searching for. I’m sure we can all list our fair share of busts. Some of this year’s questions are: Is Mark Sanchez a top QB? Why didn’t Brandon Spikes declare? Is Michael Crabtree the real deal or just another big, slow receiver. ( Think J.J. Stokes, Mike Williams, Dwayne Jarrett, etc.) These are just a few of many questions as we head into the 2009 draft.
1.) Detroit-Andre Smith, OT, Alabama-Smith is a once in a decade lineman, an Ogden, a Pace, a nice building block for a team in rebuilding mode. A good fit with a young back like Kevin Smith. Quarterback can wait another year or later in the draft, no one said rebuilding is pretty.
2.) St. Louis-Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia-Pace is near the end of a stellar career, and the Rams offensive line is an area of concern with health and age issues, another plus for Monroe was practicing against Chris Long for most of his college career.
3.) Kansas City-Jason Smith, OT, Baylor-New GM Pioli sticks with the successful formula and drafts to improve an offensive line that has seen Willie Roaf and Brian Waters retire. Smith will make a questionable offensive line better, and maybe Larry Johnson happier.
4.) Seattle-Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech-The Seahawks are in desperate need of a receiver and they take the best one available. Crabtree is a difference maker for an offense in need of a playmaker and a team that is in rapid decline.
5.) Cleveland-Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest-Looking to improve one of the worst NFL defenses, Curry brings it all to the table and will help the Browns record more than 17 sacks on the season, about the same number as Joey Porter had last year.
6.) Cincinnati-Mark Sanchez, QB, USC-Concerned about Palmer’s health and seeing Ryan Fitzpatrick play most of last year, they invest in the future and take Sanchez as an understudy to Palmer. Was it evident Pete Carroll knew this kid was making the wrong decision?
7.) Oakland-Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio St.-The Raiders take Jenkins knowing Asomugha will walk next year as a free agent. Al Davis could take Knowshon Moreno, forgetting he drafted McFadden last year, who knows?
8.) Jacksonville-Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn St.-The Jaguars defense sputtered at the end of last season, Maybin is still raw technique wise, but is athletic and explosive at the point of attack.
9.) Green Bay-Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas-Kampman needs help, Orakpo would vastly improve the Packers defense by creating his own pressure, freeing up Kampman from taking on two blockers. One of the most versatile defensive players in the draft.
10.) San Francisco-Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia-Alex Smith is a bust and Shaun Hill is not the answer, Stafford will fit the type of offense Singletary wants to run now that Martz has been kicked to the curb. Stafford possessess the strongest arm in the draft and can make all the necessary throws, arm was overshadowed by running game at Georgia.
11.) Buffalo-Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois-Davis will help solidify a shaky secondary, and will give the Bills more athleticism in the tough AFC East. Plays the ball extremely well and has necessary speed to make up ground when beaten on a play.
12.) Denver-Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia-An injury depleted running back group and this pick becomes a necessity, fits great into their zone blocking scheme, could bring back memories of when Portis ran wild in their backfield.
13.) Washington-Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC-The Redskins have aging linebackers and he plays the game right, fearless and vicious, sideline to sideline, will add a little swagger to a defense that lost a whole lot of swagger and toughness with the death of Sean Taylor.
14.) New Orleans-B.J. Raiji, DT, Boston College-The Saints have minimal needs on offense, so a run stuffer like Raiji would help their mediocre defense improve. Raiji had a monster Senior Bowl and could be on the rise.
15.) Houston-Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri-A perfect compliment to Andre Johnson, he can stretch the field to give the Texns a more balanced attack, also helps the return game.
16.) San Diego-Everette Brown, DE, Florida St.-Merriman’s health causes concern and Brown would make a nice safety net for a defense that was torched by Pittsburgh, and Merriman’s absence created a huge void.
17.) N.Y. Jets-Percy Harvin, WR, Florida-The Jets are an offense in need of a playmaker as Laveranues Coles skills have eroded and Harvin is a big play guy. Anybody who doesn’t think this pick isn’t necessary didn’t watch the Miami game.
18.) Chicago-D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt-Health issues make this a major need for the Bears and Moore would provide them with youth and playmaking ability for an aging unit.
19.) Tampa Bay-Brian Cushing, OLB, USC-This defense was manhandled at the end of last year and is starting to show its’ age. Cushing fits their defensive scheme and provides them with youth and speed.
20.) Detroit-Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU-Jackson is versatile across the defensive front, adept at stopping the run and disrupting the passing game for a defense that didn’t do much disrupting last season.
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-Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi-Falls this far due to questionable attitude and desire to play the game, lacks fire and intensity but the Vikings can’t pass on his upside this late in the draft.
23.) New England-James Laurinitis, ILB, Ohio St.-A Belichick guy to eventually replace Bruschi, and should stop all the phone calls to Junior Seau once and for all. Laurinitis has great instincts and attacks blockers, a Mayo and Laurinitis linebacking crew is nice.
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-Sean Smith, CB, Utah-His stock rose when the Utes handled Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and he shut down Julio Jones. Smith is an aggressive defender who plays the ball extremely well.
26.) Baltimore-Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech-An athletic freak, makes a great aging defense that much better, still raw, and better technique will lead to better production. Reminds some of Jevon Kearse.
27.) Indianapolis-Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi-Indy needs him as their run defense is borderline non-existant. Jerry is a disruptive force in all facets of the game.
28.) Philadelphia-William Moore, S, Missouri-Dawkins eventual replacement, a ball hawking safety who also aids in stopping the run, a solid tackler, breaks down nice at the point of contact.
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-William Beatty, OT, Connecticut-Helps fill the void still felt by Alan Faneca’s departure, a mauler and hard worker on and off the field. You ask who it was who was plowing the road for Donald Brown at Connecticut to pile up yards, it was this earth mover.
As with anything these rankings will change with the combine, and also recent arrests, sad to say but that is the state of today’s NFL. It reminds me of something I read in the paper the other day concerning Mississippi’s basketball coach who was recently arrested for attacking a taxi driver in Cincinnati. The coach (Kennedy) was pleading with cops that this was going to make national attention, and the cops replied, “You think we’ve never arrested somebody that didn’t gain national attention? We deal with the Bengals all the time.” It made me chuckle and I just thought I would share it.
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