2009 NFL Mock Draft

I tried to predict these picks, without bias, on what I believe each team will do. Of course no draft goes without trades occurring, but they are harder to predict than the date of the apocalypse, so give me a break as far as trades are concerned. Here it goes to having a higher percentage of picks right than Mel Kiper!!!

* = underclassman

1. Lions: QB Matt Stafford* (Georgia) The Lions need just about everything with the exception of a #1 WR. After seeing the success that rookies Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are having, the Lions can’t afford to screw this up.

2. Rams: LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) Before the combine, this pick was
reserved for Andre Smith; but he committed seppuku on his stock and the Rams have hired Steve Spagnuolo the former Defensive Coordinator for the Giants, he will go with defense.

3. Chiefs: OT Jason Smith (Baylor) With the surprise move of the Rams drafting Curry instead of Jason Smith, the Chiefs decide to build a wall for new franchise centerpiece Matt Cassel. Personally I go with Orakpo here, since they only had 9 sacks all of last season, but this pick will solidify the line and put the KC offense one step closer to becoming a powerhouse.

4. Seahawks: OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia) It’s too early for a running back in this draft. The signing of TJ “Who’s your momma” allows the Seahawks to beef up their O line and get the future replacement of Walter Jones.

5. Browns: DE Brian Orakpo (Texas) With Curry gone, the Browns have to choose between the best player (Crabtree), and their two neediest positions DE and RB. I believe the Browns know the RBs in this draft aren’t top 10 picks. If the Browns trade Edwards this pick will be Crabtree.

6. Bengals: OT Andre Smith* (Alabma) The Bengals need just about everything, and the best thing to do in the NFL is start up front. The Bengals will take a chance on Smith and it will probably turn out well, I don’t think that skipping out on the combine means he is the next Pacman Jones. Though the Benglas do not need even more off the field problems.

7. Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin* (Missouri) A few months ago Al Davis would have gone into cardiac arrest at the excitement of seeing Crabtree on the board still, but now it’s expected for him to drop to this spot, but the Raiders always draft for speed and will take the electrifying Maclin to help in the downfield passing game and on special teams. The Raiders should have a sick offense next year if they actually USE McFadden.

8. Jaguars: WR Michael Crabtree* (Texas Tech) Jags fans go crazy that Crabtree is still available and solidify a horrible WR corps, especially after the release of Matt “crack head” Jones.

9. Packers: DE/OLB Aaron Maybin* (Penn St.) The Packers need offensive line help and they need a pass rushing LB for their new 3-4 scheme, so they take the best player available of the two positions.

10. 49ers: DE/OLB Everette Brown* (Florida St.). The niners wish Andre Smith were still available and believe that they have enough competition at the QB position to add a pass rushing LB that will get to opposing QBs, like former niner Julian Peterson.

11. Bills: DE Robert Ayers (Tennessee) The Bills could go a lot of ways here, but they will draft the best player on the board and give them the pass rush that their defense is looking for.

12. Broncos: DT B.J. Raji (Boston College) The Broncos had a horrid pass defense last season and need a Running Back more than Mark Mangino needs a diet. But, they can’t believe that Raji is still available and get the biggest steal of the draft.

13. Redskins: OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss) The Redskins need a WR and could draft Harvin, but Moss and Randel El are both 5’10, do they really need another short, downfield receiver? Instead they draft Oher to take pressure off of Campbell and allow him time to go downfield to these receivers.

14. Saints: CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio St.) The Saints will draft not only the best defensive player available, but a position of great need for them.

15. Texans: RB Chris “Beanie” Wells* (Ohio St.) Harvin would be a fantastic compliment to Andre Johnson, but in a two running back league, the Texans need someone to split carries with Slaton. The Texans need a safety, but figure they can wait until the second round.

16. Chargers: LB Rey Maualuga (USC) The 2nd worst pass defense in the NFL calls for an upgrade at the safety position, but like the Texans they can wait until the second round. They also need a LB to beef up the middle and give assistance to Merriman in the run game.

17. Jets: WR Hakeem Nicks* (Maryland) The Jets have a solid team, their main weakness is at WR (besides having Brodie Croyle start at QB) and they have a good selection of receivers to choose from. Heyward-Bey is the most athletic of the bunch, but Nicks has proven the most.

18. Broncos (from Bears): DE Tyson Jackson (LSU) With-in an hour the Broncos have managed to give themselves the best young D-line in the league.

19. Buccaneers: QB Mark Sanchez* (USC) The Bucs have been looking for a quarterback for the future for a while and have yet to strike gold. Could Sanchez be the one? I would not be surprised to see the Bucs take Peria Jerry at this spot.

20. Lions (from Cowboys): OT Eben Britton (Arizona) The Lions need all the help they can get on the offensive line and will probably spend their second or one of their third round picks on a guard. With Stafford coming in, they will need to give him all the protection they can.

21. Eagles: RB Knowshon Moreno* (Georgia) The Eagles need someone to come in and assist the aging and injury prone Westbrook.

22. Vikings: WR Percy Harvin* (Florida) The Vikings have been here before, drafting speedster Troy Williamson in 06, but Harvin is the real deal.

23. Patriots: LB Clay Mathews (USC) Mathews will be the second linebacker picked with a Patriots top pick (Jerod Mayo) who will come in the next few years to replace the traded Vrabel and the other aging Patriot LBs. He will contribute immediately and is the kind of linebacker the Patriots like on the outside, big.

24. Falcons: DT Peria Jerry (Ole Miss) The Falcons will fill their most pressing need while also taking the best player available.

25. Dolphins: CB Vontae Davis (Illinois) The Dolphins need to fill a few empty slots in the defensive backfield after losing Goodman and Hill to free agency.

26. Ravens: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey* (Maryland) The Ravens need a WR to help the young Joe Flacco better establish himself as a solid starting NFL QB.

27. Colts: DT Evander “Ziggy” Hood (Missouri) The Colts need an inside compliment to Dwight Freeney to give the pressure up front that their defense needs to succeed and to assist in stopping the run.

28. Bills (from Eagles): TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma St.) The Bills traded their starting LT for this pick and will use it add the best all around TE in the draft.

29. Giants: WR Kenny Britt* (Rutgers) The Giants have a question mark at WR with Plaxico Burress shooting himself and getting cut. Amani Toomer is getting old, and David Tyree is a one hit wonder so they get the big receiver who will go up for the jump ball.

30. Titans: LB Brian Cushing (USC) The Titans are lacking a group of strong receivers, but do not want to pick any of the available receivers in the 1st round. With Haynesworth gone the Titans need a DT, but with Ziggy gone there are no more first round caliber DTs. So they take Cushing to beef up their linebacker depth.

31. Cardinals: RB LeSean McCoy* (Pittsburgh) Edge is done and Hightower is better suited as a goal line back like Lendale White. The Cardinals will need some defensive help, but will save that for later rounds.

32. Steelers: C Alex Mack (California) The insanely talented Steelers draft based on their biggest problem last year, offensive line.