Randy Inman
Bruce Bostwick
James Rickard
jesse-podoll
Robin PottratzFinal 2009 NFL Mock
April 24th 2009 22:26
Having successfully fought off the urge to release version after version of my updated NFL mock draft - with less then 24 hours remaining until the big event - I can no longer hold out. Sifting through the rumors and speculation at this point is a challenge that even the best of us cannot avoid. I'll try my best...
Here it is - without further ado - my final 2009 NFL Mock Draft:
#1 - Matthew Stafford, QB
Detroit Lions
Having heard that Detroit is in the minority of viewing Stafford over Sanchez - Stafford would be wise to get a deal done with Detroit prior to draft day to avoid a Brady Quinn style draft board slide. They have holes elsewhere for sure - and Aaron Curry has been labeled the 'safest' pick in the draft - but Atlanta's homerun with Matt Ryan last year gives the edge to Stafford
#2 - Jason Smith, OT
St. Louis Rams
Last season after the Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with Jake Long, the Rams asked the league for permission to start contract talks with eventual pick Chris Long. They were denied. This year, however, the league gave them the go ahead to talk to Smith if Detroit makes an official statement prior to the draft.
#3 - Tyson Jackson, DE
Kansas City Chiefs
It's a 50-50 here for me between Jackson and Aaron Curry - IF they don't trade out of this spot. I think the Chiefs are looking for more of a pass rusher - and the edge in that department goes to Jackson. I still think it is very likely they trade out here.
#4 - Aaron Curry, LB
Seattle Seahawks
Watching Curry fall into their laps at #4 makes new Head Coach Jim Mora and his defensive mind spin. Not expecting Curry to drop to them - the Seahawks might have already had Michael Crabtree jerseys made up. Having Curry available at this spot will also garner a ton of trade down options for Seattle - and they may bite.
#5 - Michael Crabtree, WR
Cleveland Browns
Rated as some as the top overall athlete in the draft, Crabtree doesn't get by the WR needy Browns here. Stallworth may get a few games in prior to his legal proceedings - but they shouldn't count on it. Braylon Edwards is likely on his way out of town - along with Brady Quinn. Having Crabtree on the roster might change some minds.
#6 - Eugene Monroe, OT
Cincinnati Bengals
An easy pick for the Bengals here as they were probably expecting to get the 3rd rated tackle in the draft as it was. They will gladly take the #2.
#7 - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Oakland Raiders
Al Davis is just about the hardest person to nail down prior to the draft. A typical Al Davis draft pick will have no rhyme or reason. Al Davis like them fast. May be a tad early to take Bey here - but the Raiders aren't known for making the safe pick. Jeremy Maclin is also an option here.
#8 - B.J. Raji, DT
Jacksonville Jaguars
Replacing Marcus Stroud with the highest rated DT to enter the draft in this decade is a solid move for the Jags.
#9 - Andre Smith, OT
Green Bay Packers
This may be the biggest shock of the first round - let alone the top ten. Player evaluators around the league don't see eye to eye sometimes with the media - and I think the Packers get a great OT here. However, I feel Buffalo might try and get in front of the Pack to take Smith.
#10 - Aaron Maybin, DE
San Francisco 49ers
To alleviate some of the added attention Patrick Willis will see the 49ers need to add a body on the edge.
#11 - Michael Oher, OT
Buffalo Bills
Assuming they don't move up to take an OT, they will gladly take Oher here.
#12 - Rey Maualuga, LB
Denver Broncos
I think they will try pretty hard to move up the boards to get B.J. Raji, but if that doesn't happen and Maualuga is on the board he's a Bronco.
#13 - Mark Sanchez, QB
Washington Redskins
Benefactors of team needs of those in front of them, the Redskins are able to hold onto their #13 spot and grab Sanchez.
#14 - Malcom Jenkins, CB
New Orleans Saints
The Saints grab the top CB in this year's draft to shore up the secondary and take some pressure off of Drew Brees and company on the other side of the ball.
#15 - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB
Houston Texans
Houston keeps Orakpo in Texas. They will most likely use him as an OLB rather than DE.
#16 - Chris Wells, RB
San Diego Chargers
How is that pick for making it harder on LT? Having a 1st round RB should make or break LT's career in San Diego - any decision would be better then the unknown they currently have.
#17 - Knowshon Moreno, RB
New York Jets
Missing out on Sanchez and Stafford - they might take a long look at Josh Freeman here, but the need in the backfield trumps.
#18 - Peria Jerry, DT
Denver Broncos
Switching to a 3-4 means you need size in the middle of your defensive line.
#19 - Vontae Davis, CB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa 2 defensive secondary could use some fresh legs.
#20 - Eben Britton, OT
Detroit Lions
Having taken Stafford at #1, the next most obvious thing to do is to protect him. Match Britton with last year's pick, Godser Cerlius, and you have the makings of a solid line.
#21 - LeSean McCoy, RB
Philadelphia Eagles
Not much behind Westbrook anymore, and he might not make the full season as is.
#22 - Brian Cushing, LB
Minnesota Vikings
Having no more elite tackles on the board, they switch to the defensive side of the ball and take Cushing.
#23 - Everette Brown, DE
New England Patriots
I may have let Brown slip way too far here - but if he really does, the Pats don't let him stay on the board any longer.
#24 - Robert Ayers, DE
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons just got a Pro-Bowl TE in Tony Gonzalez. This may shift their sights to the other side of the ball where they need help on the edges.
#25 - Hakeem Nicks, WR
Miami Dolphins
He's visited Miami enough this off season to file as a state resident on his W-2 already. I'd be shocked if he's on the board and the Dolphins pass on him.
#26 - Brandon Pettigrew, TE
Baltimore Ravens
A big, athletic, pass-catching TE that can block with the best of them? That just sounds way too Baltimore Raven to not be the pick.
#27 - Jeremy Maclin, WR
Indianapolis Colts
Looking to get younger at the WR spot has to be at the top of the Colts wish list.
#28 - Evander Hood, DT
Buffalo Bills
Getting an OT at #11, they jump to the DL and take some size to shore up the run defense.
#29 - Percy Harvin, WR
New York Giants
The Giants loved sitting back this far in my mock and watching Harvin fall into their laps at #29. Could be a stretch come tomorrow.
#30 - Juaquin Inglesias, WR
Tennessee Titans
Not making a free agent move this off season to pick up a WR will result in them going WR here. However, at this point they could still land Anquan Boldin.
#31 - Donald Brown, RB
Arizona Cardinals
The Edge is closer to retirement than his prime. Hightower isn't the answer. At #31 you have to go with what you have to go with.
#32 – Clay Matthews, LB
Pittsburgh Steelers
Toss up for me here. Something about Matthews just seems Steeler-ish to me. I think if they are both still on the board, Vontae Davis and Darius Butler get a look as well.
Here it is - without further ado - my final 2009 NFL Mock Draft:
#1 - Matthew Stafford, QB
Detroit Lions
Having heard that Detroit is in the minority of viewing Stafford over Sanchez - Stafford would be wise to get a deal done with Detroit prior to draft day to avoid a Brady Quinn style draft board slide. They have holes elsewhere for sure - and Aaron Curry has been labeled the 'safest' pick in the draft - but Atlanta's homerun with Matt Ryan last year gives the edge to Stafford
#2 - Jason Smith, OT
St. Louis Rams
Last season after the Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with Jake Long, the Rams asked the league for permission to start contract talks with eventual pick Chris Long. They were denied. This year, however, the league gave them the go ahead to talk to Smith if Detroit makes an official statement prior to the draft.
#3 - Tyson Jackson, DE
Kansas City Chiefs
It's a 50-50 here for me between Jackson and Aaron Curry - IF they don't trade out of this spot. I think the Chiefs are looking for more of a pass rusher - and the edge in that department goes to Jackson. I still think it is very likely they trade out here.
#4 - Aaron Curry, LB
Seattle Seahawks
Watching Curry fall into their laps at #4 makes new Head Coach Jim Mora and his defensive mind spin. Not expecting Curry to drop to them - the Seahawks might have already had Michael Crabtree jerseys made up. Having Curry available at this spot will also garner a ton of trade down options for Seattle - and they may bite.
#5 - Michael Crabtree, WR
Cleveland Browns
Rated as some as the top overall athlete in the draft, Crabtree doesn't get by the WR needy Browns here. Stallworth may get a few games in prior to his legal proceedings - but they shouldn't count on it. Braylon Edwards is likely on his way out of town - along with Brady Quinn. Having Crabtree on the roster might change some minds.
#6 - Eugene Monroe, OT
Cincinnati Bengals
An easy pick for the Bengals here as they were probably expecting to get the 3rd rated tackle in the draft as it was. They will gladly take the #2.
#7 - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Oakland Raiders
Al Davis is just about the hardest person to nail down prior to the draft. A typical Al Davis draft pick will have no rhyme or reason. Al Davis like them fast. May be a tad early to take Bey here - but the Raiders aren't known for making the safe pick. Jeremy Maclin is also an option here.
#8 - B.J. Raji, DT
Jacksonville Jaguars
Replacing Marcus Stroud with the highest rated DT to enter the draft in this decade is a solid move for the Jags.
#9 - Andre Smith, OT
Green Bay Packers
This may be the biggest shock of the first round - let alone the top ten. Player evaluators around the league don't see eye to eye sometimes with the media - and I think the Packers get a great OT here. However, I feel Buffalo might try and get in front of the Pack to take Smith.
#10 - Aaron Maybin, DE
San Francisco 49ers
To alleviate some of the added attention Patrick Willis will see the 49ers need to add a body on the edge.
#11 - Michael Oher, OT
Buffalo Bills
Assuming they don't move up to take an OT, they will gladly take Oher here.
#12 - Rey Maualuga, LB
Denver Broncos
I think they will try pretty hard to move up the boards to get B.J. Raji, but if that doesn't happen and Maualuga is on the board he's a Bronco.
#13 - Mark Sanchez, QB
Washington Redskins
Benefactors of team needs of those in front of them, the Redskins are able to hold onto their #13 spot and grab Sanchez.
#14 - Malcom Jenkins, CB
New Orleans Saints
The Saints grab the top CB in this year's draft to shore up the secondary and take some pressure off of Drew Brees and company on the other side of the ball.
#15 - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB
Houston Texans
Houston keeps Orakpo in Texas. They will most likely use him as an OLB rather than DE.
#16 - Chris Wells, RB
San Diego Chargers
How is that pick for making it harder on LT? Having a 1st round RB should make or break LT's career in San Diego - any decision would be better then the unknown they currently have.
#17 - Knowshon Moreno, RB
New York Jets
Missing out on Sanchez and Stafford - they might take a long look at Josh Freeman here, but the need in the backfield trumps.
#18 - Peria Jerry, DT
Denver Broncos
Switching to a 3-4 means you need size in the middle of your defensive line.
#19 - Vontae Davis, CB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa 2 defensive secondary could use some fresh legs.
#20 - Eben Britton, OT
Detroit Lions
Having taken Stafford at #1, the next most obvious thing to do is to protect him. Match Britton with last year's pick, Godser Cerlius, and you have the makings of a solid line.
#21 - LeSean McCoy, RB
Philadelphia Eagles
Not much behind Westbrook anymore, and he might not make the full season as is.
#22 - Brian Cushing, LB
Minnesota Vikings
Having no more elite tackles on the board, they switch to the defensive side of the ball and take Cushing.
#23 - Everette Brown, DE
New England Patriots
I may have let Brown slip way too far here - but if he really does, the Pats don't let him stay on the board any longer.
#24 - Robert Ayers, DE
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons just got a Pro-Bowl TE in Tony Gonzalez. This may shift their sights to the other side of the ball where they need help on the edges.
#25 - Hakeem Nicks, WR
Miami Dolphins
He's visited Miami enough this off season to file as a state resident on his W-2 already. I'd be shocked if he's on the board and the Dolphins pass on him.
#26 - Brandon Pettigrew, TE
Baltimore Ravens
A big, athletic, pass-catching TE that can block with the best of them? That just sounds way too Baltimore Raven to not be the pick.
#27 - Jeremy Maclin, WR
Indianapolis Colts
Looking to get younger at the WR spot has to be at the top of the Colts wish list.
#28 - Evander Hood, DT
Buffalo Bills
Getting an OT at #11, they jump to the DL and take some size to shore up the run defense.
#29 - Percy Harvin, WR
New York Giants
The Giants loved sitting back this far in my mock and watching Harvin fall into their laps at #29. Could be a stretch come tomorrow.
#30 - Juaquin Inglesias, WR
Tennessee Titans
Not making a free agent move this off season to pick up a WR will result in them going WR here. However, at this point they could still land Anquan Boldin.
#31 - Donald Brown, RB
Arizona Cardinals
The Edge is closer to retirement than his prime. Hightower isn't the answer. At #31 you have to go with what you have to go with.
#32 – Clay Matthews, LB
Pittsburgh Steelers
Toss up for me here. Something about Matthews just seems Steeler-ish to me. I think if they are both still on the board, Vontae Davis and Darius Butler get a look as well.
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Comment by Randy Inman
Waxing Political
Football Dogz
NCstuff
The Right Side
Comment by Chuck H
Two Cents From Beantown
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Comment by jesse-podoll
Yeah QB's - it's a pretty weak crop this year. Of course they are both highly rated by the media - there was only really two of them to rate... When you get a crop that small it's very tough to say this guy is 'way' better than the other. I guess you could throw Freeman in there too - he's getting a little bit of late attention.
If I'm a team that doesn't 'need' a QB (like Seattle) I like the look of next year's QB crop much better.