2009 NFL Draft
Mock Draft No. 1 -
January 22
By
Pete Fiutak
Fine, so this is way silly considering the actual order hasn't been
determined yet, but it's still goofy fun (and this shouldn't be that
far off as far as needs and rough projections ... we got four of the
first six picks right in the first January mock draft last year). The
mock drafts will come in more detail after the
Super Bowl has been played, but until then ...
1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB
Georgia
This was going to be the Sam Bradford vs. Matt Stafford debate
throughout the next few months. Now there's no question what the
woebegone franchise is going to do.
2. St. Louis Rams - Andre Smith, OT Alabama
The Rams went for the D line last year with Chris Long, and this year
they'll take the far and away best left tackle on the board to be the
next star in line following Orlando Pace.
3. Kansas City Chiefs - Mark Sanchez, QB USC
Merry Christmas to Sanchez. Had Bradford come out, the Heisman winner
would've gone here (or else Stafford if Bradford had gone No. 1).
Sanchez is a late first round talent who hit the lottery at just the
right time.
4. Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
The Seahawks can't go another year without any top-flight receiving
weapons to work with. A running back could be an option here, but
Crabtree will be the choice as the team's new No. 1 target.
5. Cleveland Browns - Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest
His stock keeps going up and up and up. The Butkus Award winner will
be asked to be the cornerstone of the defense.
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Brian Orakpo, DE Texas
The Bengals will snap up Curry in a heartbeat if he falls. If not,
Orakpo would be too good a pass rusher and an all-around playmaker to
pass up. His workouts are going to be the buzz of the draft.
7. Oakland Raiders - Jason Smith, OT Baylor
The team needs studs up front to protect JaMarcus Russell and pave
the way for Darren McFadden. Smith is an athlete.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss
This is a straight need pick for the Jaguars. Oher might be a reach
here, but it'll either be him or Virginia's Eugene Monroe if Smith is
off the board.
9. Green Bay Packers - B.J. Raji, DT Boston College
The star of the Senior Bowl practices, Raji is the ideal nose
tackle and run stuffer to anchor the Dom Capers' 3-4 defense.
10. San Francisco 49ers - Everette Brown, DE Florida State
The Niners could use a pure pass rusher who could see time as a
linebacker from time to time when needed. Brown is one of the premier
quarterback sackers left with Orakpo gone.
11. Buffalo Bills - Aaron Maybin, DE Penn State
The Bills like the Nittany Lions and they need a player who can do a
little bit of everything, especially rush the passer. Pencil in Maybin,
Brown, or if he slides, Orakpo here.
12. Denver Broncos - Rey Maualuga, LB USC
The Denver defense needs a leader and a star to build around from
the inside out. After last year's disaster, starting with the
hard-hitting USC playmaker would be a good first step.
13. Washington Redskins - Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
While not really a need pick, the Redskin offense could stand to get
a bit flashier. Jim Zorn needs more weapons to work with, and Jason
Campbell would hardly be upset at getting a do-it-all playmaker to get
the ball to.
14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ohio State
This might be way, way too low for Jenkins who'll likely go in the
top ten. The Saints have to secure the defense and it'll start in the
secondary with the best defensive back in the draft.
15. Houston Texans - Vonte Davis, CB Illinois
New Orleans will take one Big Ten corner, Houston will take the
other.
16. San Diego Chargers - Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia
Beanie Wells is the better running back, but the Chargers will be
scared off by the injury issues. They can't count on L.T. and Darren
Sproles isn't a 16-game runner.
17. New York Jets - D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt
The Jet secondary was being picked clean late last year and could
use all the help it can get. An offensive playmaker wouldn't be a bad
option here, either.
18. Chicago Bears - Percy Harvin, WR Florida
The playing around is over. The Chicago wide receiving corps might
be the worst in the NFL in over a decade, starting with the disastrous
decision to make Devin Hester a No. 1 target. The Bears need offense and
they need it now.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Beanie Wells, RB Ohio State
A quarterback would be nice, but a star running back to push aside
ham 'n' egger Earnest Graham is a must. It's even more vital now that
Cadillac Williams is hurt again.
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas)
- Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State
What do you get for the team that needs everything? The best player
left on the board and another target for the No. 1 overall draft pick.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
-
William Moore, S Missouri
While his stock is sinking like a stone, Moore can be brought in as
the heir apparent to the aging Brian Dawkins. An upgrade at receiver or
No. 2 running back would be a thought.
22. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Freeman, QB Kansas State
This is a Super Bowl team with the right quarterback. Freeman may
not be that player, at least early on, but he'd be an upgrade over the
Tarvaris Jackson disaster. The Vikings will have to get a veteran free
agent as a one-year stopgap (Brett Favre in purple?).
23. New England Patriots - Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
The Patriots could go a number of different ways here. Wide
receiver, linebacker, or a boost to the defensive line would all help,
but Jackson might be too good a steal to pass up here.
24. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Cushing, LB USC
Strictly a talent pick, Cushing would be a nice steal here. He's a
top 15 pick who'll end up sliding as other teams draft for need. Matt
Ryan should be lobbying for another home-run hitting receiver like
Darrius Heyward-Bey or Hakeem Nicks.
25. Miami Dolphins - Hakeem Nicks, WR North Carolina
The offense got away with Chad Pennington and his woeful receiving
corps last year. It won't be so lucky a second time around. Bill
Parcells likes big, strong receivers.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland
If you've got a young franchise quarterback in Joe Flacco, you give
him help. Derrick Mason and Todd Heap aren't nearly enough.
27. Indianapolis Colts - Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss
The Colts have to improve their run defense to have any prayer of
getting back into the AFC title hunt. Jerry is a top 20 talent who'll
slide.
28. Philadelphia Eagles
(from Carolina) - LeSean McCoy, RB Pitt
Brian Westbrook is the real heart-and-soul of the offense, and if he
breaks down, the machine breaks down. Correll Buckhalter isn't a special
back; McCoy is.
29. New York Giants - Michael Johnson, DE Georgia Tech
The Giants won the Super Bowl two years ago by blasting everyone's
quarterback. The star pass rushers got hurt, the team got knocked out in
the first round, and now it'll be looking for reinforcements.
30. Tennessee Titans - Larry English, DE Northern Illinois
Doing something for the woeful passing game is job one, but
Tennessee is notorious for not going after receivers in the draft.
Boosting the defense with a hybrid pass rusher will beef up a strength.
31. Arizona Cardinals* - Shonn Greene, RB Iowa
Edgerrin James is old and grouchy and Tim Hightower is Tim
Hightower.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers' - Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma
The Steelers need to work on the O line including the depth. It'll be
the best O linemen available here.
*Depending on how the Super Bowl shakes out