2009 NFL Draft Analysis - Round One

It's finally here. It's the big weekend for the college football superstars as they find out where they're going to play as a pro. Who went where and how good are each of the draft picks? Check out the CFN pick by pick look at each of the players with the analysis of each new NFL star.

 

2009 NFL Draft - First Round

- 2009 NFL Draft Breakdown and Analysis
2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round | 5th Round | 6th Round | 7th Round

- CFN 2009 Draft Central & Team-by-Team Picks and Analysis

ROUND 1
#	Pick	Team
1	1	Detroit     Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia 6-2, 225 (Jr.) Everyone knew he was going to be a pro out of high school, and he didn’t disappoint. While he failed to lead Georgia to a national title, and didn’t even get the Dawgs to the SEC championship game, Stafford showed off the arm strength and the talent from day one to make everyone assume he was going to become a NFL starter in the very near future. While he’s not the biggest passer around, NFL types tend to like the tall, 6-4ish bombers, he has an arm that can throw a pea through a brick wall. He can make all the throws and he has the character and makeup to handle the pressure of being a franchise savior. Extremely smart, he’ll be ahead of the curve when it comes to reading defenses after a little bit of time. Now he needs to be more consistent and he’ll need elite coaching to work on his accuracy. His problems are fixable, but the big issue hanging out there is why Georgia didn’t do more with Stafford under center. The Dawgs were fine, but Stafford didn’t take the program to another level. While he won’t have a Matt Ryan-like first season, he’ll end up being the better player over time. CFN Projection: First Round, First Pick Overall     CFN Position Rank: 1
2	2	St. Louis   Jason Smith, OT Baylor 6-4, 309 One of the hottest prospects since the end of the season, Smith went from being a first rounder to a sure-thing, top five type of pick after doing everything right in post-season workouts and the Combine. The former tight end is a fantastic athlete who has gotten better and better the more he’s been scrutinized. Not only is he extremely smart, but he has a nasty streak to the point of being over-competitive (re: cocky … but not necessarily in a bad way). While he needs work on his technique to be ready at a pro level, there’s nothing that can’t be tweaked a little bit and he’s more than willing to work on being the best he can be. There’s no real knock on him that should send up any sort of red flag, and the sky’s the limit on how good he can become. There’s a limitless upside. CFN Projection: First Round, Top Five Overall    CFN Position Rank: 1
3	3	Kansas City   Tyson Jackson, DE LSU 6-4, 295 More of a tackle playing end, Jackson is a dream of a 3-4 end and he could end up seeing time at tackle in the right situations. He’s not a pass rusher and if he gets to the quarterback it’ll be a fluke. His worth is as a strong run-stopper who won’t let anything get by him on the outside while getting just enough push into the backfield to warrant a second blocker. Despite playing on a great line for the last few years, he didn’t stand out as much as he should’ve despite being the second or third best player on the front four and not getting as much attention. There’s nothing special about him outside of his size, and he doesn’t have a full-tilt motor, but he’ll be around for a long time and be a great cog in the system because of his versatility. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 7
4	4	Seattle   Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest 6-2, 250 A nearly perfect prospect, he’s strong, insanely fast and athletic for his size, smart, and willing to run through a wall to make a play. He’ll have to learn how to become a blitzer and he needs to learn more how to play in the backfield. That’s easily correctable. He spent the early part of his career adding weight after coming to Wake Forest looking like a safety, and he helped make form a strong defense as the captain and eventual Butkus Award winner. There’s almost no real knock on him with a near-perfect combination of size, toughness, leadership, work ethic and character. He’s the type of all-around versatile linebacker who’ll do a little of everything and has almost no bust potential outside of a fluke injury. CFN Projection: Top Five Overall    CFN Position Rank: 1
5	5	New York Jets (from Cleveland)  Mark Sanchez, QB USC (Jr.) 6-2, 227 One of the toughest calls of the draft, Sanchez isn’t the talent that Carson Palmer was coming out of USC, and he appears to be more fired up about being a great quarterback, rather than a big star, than Matt Leinart. The big knock is his lack of playing experience having only been the main man for roughly a year and a half. The other knock is that he hasn’t faced a whole bunch of adversity playing with all the talent around him at USC. The Trojans weren’t nearly as talented when Palmer was under center, and Leinart had proved himself in national championships (even in the loss to Texas) and in tight battles against Notre Dame and Fresno State. Sanchez was fine, but nothing special despite a tremendous performance against Penn State in the Rose Bowl. To be a star in the NFL, he’ll have to be a gym rat and they’re going to have to kick him out of the weight room. He needs to get bigger, stronger, and faster; he’s not an elite athlete in any way. On the plus side, he has a good enough NFL arm to make all the throws, he’s used to competition, and again, he appears to be the type of prospect who wants to make himself better and will do all the dirty work needed. CFN Projection: First Round       CFN Position Rank: 2
6	6	Cincinnati    Andre Smith, Alabama 6-5, 332 (Jr.) Smith has been a textbook example of how not to handle yourself before being drafted. The character questions started after he was suspended from the Sugar Bowl against Utah, and then came the public relations disaster of leaving the Combine without telling anyone. And then there was the shirtless private workout, showing off a chest normally seen in Russ Meyer movie, which only threw gasoline on the fire for some teams. On the field, there weren’t many better over the last few seasons. It could’ve been argued that he deserved Heisman consideration in a Most Valuable Player sort of way for what he did for the Alabama line last year. Watch the Sugar Bowl again and it’ll show in dramatic fashion just how important he was. But his character questions are too great to ignore, and he could end up making most of his money as a guard and not a tackle. The bust potential is too great to invest heavily, but on talent he’s worth the risk further down the first round. CFN Projection: First Round   CFN Position Rank: 7
7	7	Oakland   Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland 6-2, 210 (Jr.) Speed, speed and more speed. There’s no questioning his athleticism, his wheels, or his raw skills that everyone knew about throughout his career, and were then shown off at the Combine and in workouts. However, he might be a one-trick pony as a speed receiver. Not a consistent playmaker for the Terps and not a do-it-all sort of performer, he’s a deep threat who’ll stretch the field and create major problems for any secondary and any top corner. However, he has work to do to become more of a short-to-midrange target to go along with the elite wheels. He’ll do what he has to. He’ll work his tail off to become more than just a track guy playing football and isn’t a prima donna. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 4
8	8	Jacksonville   Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia 6-5, 309 A superstar high school prospect and a big-time get for Virginia, he didn’t disappoint. While Jason Smith might have the best all-around combination of skills and potential, Monroe is the most ready to start right now. He played in a pro style offense and showed he could play to the level needed. When he needed to blast over a defender for the running game, he did it. When he needed to match up with a speed rusher, he did it. Great at the Combine looking polished and smooth, there’s little work needing to be done on his technique. The main concern is a nagging knee problem that could be an off-and-on issue over the course of his career. The only other question mark is whether or not he has the desire to be a killer, but that has been a bit overblown. He’s just not a screamer, get-in-your-face type of player. He simply goes out and does his job. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 2
9	9	Green Bay   B.J. Raji, DT Boston College  6-2, 335 Whether or not the drug charges are true (Raji’s agent denies any wrongdoing or a reported positive test), Raji is the biggest brick wall in the draft. A true anchor, he’s extremely strong, relatively athletic for his size, and doesn’t get pushed around. Needing to keep his weight in check, he needs to get in better overall shape to be able to handle a 16-game season and a full NFL game. Forget about much production as an interior pass rusher or too many plays in the backfield, but he doesn’t stay blocked for two long and will hold up well with everything funneled to him. It’ll be his job to sit in the middle of the line, swallow up two blockers, and let everyone else work around him. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
10	10	San Francisco   Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech 6-1, 215 (3rd year Soph.) Everyone has fallen in love with Crabtree because of his size, desire, and his tremendous production at Texas Tech. However, there are major warning signs that he might not be the be-all-end-all No. 1 target. For one, he’s not as big as expected. Considered to be in the same category as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Andre Johnson, top receivers who went in the top three overall, Crabtree isn’t nearly as tall and he’s nowhere near as fast. And then there’s the foot issue. No one is considering for a second that there’s anything strange about the injury, the timing couldn’t be better. He’s not a 4.4 runner, and he’s more likely around a devastatingly stock-dropping 4.6. Is that for sure? No way, but it’s asking a lot to draft a wide receiver in the top 10 without knowing if he can run. He needs to get the ball in a quick-hitting passing attack and on the move. Randy Moss he’s not; he’s not going to get deep on any NFL starting cornerback. Ultra-competitive, he’s the type who’ll want to make himself better and he’s the one true No. 1 type of receiver in the draft. All the doubters out there and all the question marks are a major positive. It’ll all light a fire under him that could carry into an extremely productive pro career in the right offense. CFN Projection: First Round   CFN Position Rank: 3
11	11	Buffalo Bills   Aaron Maybin, DE Penn State  6-3, 250 (3rd year Soph.) A true-tweener, he’s a defensive end who’ll likely be morphed into a hybrid player and likely an outside linebacker. Lightning fast off the ball, at least during the season, he blows around a corner effortlessly and with a burst that most tackles won’t be able to handle. Extremely tough, he’s able to take on big blockers and come back for more even when he doesn’t win a battle. However, he needs to get stronger and there’s a huge, glaring concern that he might slow down with the added bulk. He put on weight too quickly after the season and was far slower than expected in workouts. If you’re going by how he played at around 230 pounds, he’s stunning. If you’re going by what he might become once he learns to play bigger, there’s a potential problem. He needs time before he becomes the player he should be, but there is a big-time upside. But he’s not a sure-thing, safe pick and there’s told-you-so bust potential. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 2
12	12	Denver    Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia 5-10, 217 (Jr.) Moreno just has the look of a franchise back. He’s not the fastest back around, but he has enough functional speed to bust off big runs when he gets a little room. He’s not the biggest runner, but there’s no questioning his power or his toughness. There might not be any one thing he does better than anyone else at an NFL level, but he does everything well including block, catch, run with patience and hold on to the ball. Ultra-competitive, he’ll do everything he can to become a big-time back and he’ll be the type who wants the ball in his hands in every situation. The only question mark will be durability for his size. Is he a slower Clinton Portis with the ability to handle the pounding, or will he be Cadillac Williams and do big things before getting banged up? He’s worth it. He’ll carry an offense for a few years. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
13	13	Washington   Brian Orakpo, DE Texas  6-3, 260 Either a 4-3 speed rusher or an outside linebacker in a 3-4, wherever he lines up he’ll get into the backfield on a regular basis. Extremely strong, he’s a freak of nature in the weight room and workouts with a jaw-dropping performance at the Combine. He has busted his tail to get bigger, stronger, and better since he first came to Austin. There are some durability concerns, but last year’s injury that limited him late in the season was a fluke. There’s a consistency question and there’s a huge concern about his motor, but when he’s on, he’s unstoppable. The other possible question is where to put him. He’s not really a linebacker and will probably be at his best with a hand on the ground. However, there’s no concern about how he handles himself against big tackles. Line him up, turn him loose, and let him wreak havoc as a devastating game-changer of a pass rusher. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
14	14	New Orleans   Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ohio State  6-0, 204 He has everything but speed. With good size and toughness, he’s terrific against bigger receivers ad has no problems being physical, even though he doesn’t show great weight room strength. For his size he has phenomenal quickness, coming up with a Combine best time (for the corners) in the cone drill and one of the best in the shuttle. However, he came up with a glacier-slow 4.54 in the 40 exposing his lack of pure deep speed. While he’ll be started out at corner, and will be more than fine, he could really shine down the road with a few years of experience and a move to free safety. For now, he won’t be asked to deal with too many blazers and will likely have to try to erase the bigger targets. But for where he’s picked and the money he’ll make, he needs to be a No. 1 corner and that just might not be in him. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
15	15	Houston  Brian Cushing, LB USC  6-3, 245 Rey Maualuga got all the glory, but Cushing might be the better pro. While he ran a disappointing 4.64 at the Combine, he was one of the quickest players in the agility drills and came up with a lineman-like 30 reps on the bench. He plays even faster than he times with great range and an easy ability to blow past blockers. The big concern is a ticky-tack injury history that kept him from being a big-name college superstar. He’s also not all that strong in pass coverage and, despite his strength, needs to be on the outside. There’s no questioning his heart or his desire, but he could be unreliable. He’ll be a killer for around ten games a year, but will be dinged up/out for a few games a year. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 2
16	16	San Diego   Larry English, OLB Northern Illinois (DE)  6-2, 255 He’s the type of player that no one’s quite sure exactly what to do with, but everyone wants him. He’s not big enough to be a regular defensive end and he’s not fast enough to be a star outside linebacker, but he could flourish in a 3-4 linebacker role or as a 4-3 end if he’s asked to become a pass rusher. With a full-tilt motor, he needed to be double and triple teamed on every play after he grew into a star at NIU, and while his numbers might not have been great, he needed so much attention that he earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors two years in a row. More than fine whenever he went against the better talents, he was fine in Senior Bowl practices, he shouldn’t have a problem going from the MAC to the NFL. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 3
17	17	Tampa Bay (from Cleveland through NY Jets) Josh Freeman, QB Kansas State 6-6, 240 (Jr.) There a some teams out there hoping to steal the former Wildcat star late in the first round, but there might be some jockeying from some teams to move up. Thrown to the wolves as a true freshman, Freeman handled himself well in a tough situation. He didn’t have a defense to help him out and the talent level around him was above-average at best, outside of WR Jordy Nelson. He has the size, a little bit of mobility, and a huge arm, and he looks the part. Now he needs coaching. Still a work in progress, he needs to be more consistent and he needs to work on his mechanics with rep after rep after rep. At the next level he’ll have to learn how to get rid of the ball far faster; he took way too many hits at KSU. However, he always kept going on despite playing behind bad O lines and he rarely appeared shell-shocked. It’s going to take a few years, but he should be great on a team that has a good veteran who’s willing to be his mentor. CFN Projection: First Round      CFN Position Rank: 3
18	18	Denver (from Chicago) Robert Ayers, DE Tennessee  6-3, 275 The upside is enormous. Big, with the size to get a lot bigger, he could be just scratching the surface on what he can become. At least that’s the hope. He was fine in his one year as a major producer, but it took him a while to mature and he still has a long way to go. He made a name for himself with a strong Senior Bowl when he was great against the top offensive tackles in practices, but he struggled at the Combine with a bad bench and failing to show enough athleticism to become a consistent outside linebacker. A mediocre pass rusher, he needs a lot of work on his technique. Even so, with his size, he could be one of the boom players of the draft. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 4
19	19	Philadelphia (from Tampa Bay through Cleveland) Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri 6-1, 210 (3rd year Soph.) Does he have the ability to stay healthy and get more physical? While he’s tough, he played through an ankle injury, he’s mostly been a finesse target who’s been great on the move and in space. He has the hands, he has the top-end speed, and he has the return ability to become an instant impact playmaker in a variety of ways. It’s his speed that sets him apart with an extra gear when he gets going. How fast is he? He tore off a “disappointing” 4.4 at the Combine even though he had a dinged up leg. When he’s right, he’ll be a No. 1 receiver and a big-time playmaker, but he can’t be counted on for a full 16-game season. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
20	20	Detroit Lions Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State 6-5, 260 While he looks like a prototype NFL tight end, there are big red flags. He’s huge, a big, willing blocker, and he’s a strong receiver with soft hands and good enough skills to dominate for a passing game. However, he’s slow. Really, really slow. Totally underwhelming at the Combine, he didn’t look anything like a potential Pro Bowl tight end who deserves to be taken in the first round. His route running needs work and while he’ll work hard to be better, he could need a lot of NFL coaching before he’s close to being polished. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
21	21	Cleveland (from Philadelphia) Alex Mack, C California  6-4, 315   Very tough and very strong, the ultra-productive college star should translate into a long-time starter at the next level at either center or guard. He’s great in the weight room, a hard worker, and has a nasty streak able to punish defenders when he gets his hands on them. While not an elite athlete among centers, he’s good enough. He makes up for any deficiencies with his toughness and intensity. Think Olin Krutz of the Chicago Bears with the same sort of leadership and chip on his shoulder. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 1
22	22	Minnesota  Percy Harvin, WR Florida 5-11, 195 (Jr.) A smaller, better running version of Jeremy Maclin, Harvin was an elite playmaker when he was able to stay on the field. Oh sure, Tim Tebow had the speech and has been the signature star, but Florida doesn’t win the SEC title or the national title without Harvin. While he’s not all that big, he’s strong, well-built, and tough. However, he gets hurt way too often to be a top target to build a passing game around. He’ll have to be a complementary weapon who’ll do a little of everything for an offense, and he’ll likely be tried out and used as a returner. A top offensive coordinator will drool at the possibilities, and there will be some big games when Harvin explodes, but he’ll have a tough time being consistent and he’s not going to stay healthy. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 2
23	23	Baltimore (from New England)   Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss 6-5, 310 There’s absolutely no question that from the neck down, with a year in a pro weight room and with a little bit of work, he has perennial Pro Bowl written all over him. But from the neck up … well, from the neck down he’s a great physical talent. There’s a major concern about his desire to be the best in the game and there’s a bigger concern that he could struggle to handle everything that goes with being a franchise-caliber tackle who’s supposed to stick on a left side for the next decade. He needs the right coaching staff and a mentor who’s willing to provide a bit of a push, but to be fair, he was groomed by one of the best in the business, former Ole Miss head coach and current Tennessee assistant, Ed Orgeron. Orgeron isn’t exactly known for being soft and is peerless when it comes to line development. It might take a little while, but Oher will be solid as long as he’s able to overcome adversity quickly and easily. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 3
24	24	Atlanta  Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss  6-1, 295 Jerry is either the star of the draft and a sure-thing Pro Bowl performer for the next ten years, or he’s a mega-bust waiting to happen who’ll never be 100% healthy. The talent in undeniable with tremendous quickness across the line and into the backfield, and he’s a hard worker who’ll try to become a cornerstone of a front wall, but he’ll be 25 when he starts his career, isn’t anchor-strong, and he’ll struggle to stay healthy, He had a variety of little bangs and bruises throughout his career that turned out to be limiting for stretches. When he’s on the field he’ll be an instant-impact performer who’ll do a little of everything well, but he’s a piece of the puzzle and not necessarily the tackle you can count on game-in-and-game-out for a full year. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 2
25	25	Miami  Vontae Davis, CB Illinois  5-11, 205 (Jr.) Without question, in terms of pure physical skills, Davis is the best corner in the draft with 4.4 speed (in a class that has problems finding sub-4.4 prospects), a linebacker-like 25 reps on the bench, a 36” vertical, and fluid quickness. His older brother, Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers, was also a workout marvel. However, they both seem to have the same dog streak. He played last year like he was counting the minutes before he could turn pro and wasn’t nearly the playmaker he should’ve been. Had he not been a pain in the butt for the coaches (try to get a strong word out of the Illini coaching staff about him) and had he focused on having a great year, realizing the mega-payday he would’ve received as a top ten pick, he would’ve been everyone’s No. 1 corner off the board. He’ll go relatively early based on pure physical talent, but he’ll bounce around the league teasing teams with his raw skills. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 5
26	26	Green Bay (from New England) Clay Matthews, LB USC 6-3, 245 One of the hot rising prospects coming through the off-season draft cycle, Matthews was smooth as silk at the Combine with decent numbers and great agility for his size. Very fast off the snap and smart enough to not have much wasted motion, he’s an instinctive playmaker who’s always working, always moving, and always doing whatever is needed. Very versatile, he can be used at any linebacker spot and could even see time as a pass rushing end in a 4-3. But is he a workout warrior type? He only really produced for one year and has been more of a try-hard type who went from a walk-on to a very strong, very athletic NFL prospect in a big hurry. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 6
27	27	Indianapolis  Donald Brown, RB Connecticut 5-10, 210 (Jr.) The ultra-productive Brown led the nation in rushing last season and has quickly grown into a hot prospect. While he’s not all that huge, and is a bit too thin, he’s ridiculously strong for his size and is fantastic at making the quick cut through the hole, any hole. He’s fast, but he doesn’t have breathtaking wheels like a Chris Johnson. While he might not built to be a workhorse at the next level and he might not do anything that stands out from the other top prospects, he’s a very good, very reliable runner who isn’t going to be for anyone. If he’s on the right team, particularly one that needs a one-cut runner and doesn’t need a whole bunch of power on a consistent basis, he could become a star. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 5
28	28	Buffalo (from Carolina through Philadelphia) Eric Wood, Louisville 6-3, 310 Any and all problems are with his technique, and they can all be easily fixed with a little bit of work and the right coaching. He has the size, the bulk, and strength, and as he showed at the Combine, the agility. With the great set of tools, to go along with a good work ethic and a toughness to be an anchor of the Cardinal line for four years, there’s no down side. He’ll be a rock in the middle of a line for a long time. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 3
29	29	NY Giants  Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina 6-1, 212 (Jr.) With great hands, a No. 1 target attitude, and good size and toughness, he has the look of a possible Cris Carter-type who could grow into a superstar if he can stay in shape. That’s been an issue since the end of the year after beefing up, and not necessarily in a good way. His speed is average at best as is, and he might have big problems if he’s not in tip-top shape at all times. Even so, if it all comes together, and if he has the right attitude, it’s all there for him to be a major steal. He’ll demand the ball, will go get it when it’s thrown to him, and will make the highlight reel play when he’s on a roll. He’s a difference maker who could become special. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 6
30	30	Tennessee   Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers 6-4, 215 (Jr.) There are two questions: speed and character. Everything else is there. He produced even though he was the target of every defense, QB Mike Teel wasn’t always great, and Ray Rice and the running game dominated the offense until last year. Extremely strong, he’ll beat up defensive backs fighting for the ball and as a blocker. While he doesn’t have top-end speed, he’s a better deep threat than he probably could be. He’s a fighter, and not just on the field. He might rub coaches the wrong way and he could check out if he’s not a No. 1 option. However, he could be a No. 1 option. If he can harness his energy and be focused full-time, he has Pro Bowl potential. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 8
31	31	Arizona  Chris Wells, RB Ohio State 6-1, 235 (Jr.) Based on pure talent, size, speed, and skills, Beanie’s the best back in the draft. However, he has major durability questions and despite showing good character and saying all the right things, there’s a question mark about how much he really wants to be a superstar. Is he going to be the run-through-a-brick-wall type like Knowshon Moreno? He’s such a rare talent that he’s worth all the risks. It’s not a stretch to say that from day one only Adrian Peterson will have the better combination of size and home run hitting ability. When Beanie’s on, he’ll barrel over everything in his path and will take over games. But when he’s not into the big game, he won’t fight for the hard yards and could disappear at times. The other problem is his blocking ability … there isn’t much. He has to be developed as a receiver and needs to prove he wants to hit someone, but if he doesn’t have to be a No. 1 back who carries the entire workload, he should be terrific. CFN Projection: First Round    CFN Position Rank: 2
32	32	Pittsburgh  Ziggy Hood, DT Missouri  6-3, 300 A great character player and a team-leader, Hood has the make-up of a steady producer who’ll be an excellent No. 2 lineman if he plays next to a superstar. Ultra-productive for the Tigers, he showed he has the raw tools to become a tremendous pro with 34 reps on the bench at the Combine to go along with surprising quickness, speed, and agility. However, with all his skills and athleticism, he’s not going to get into the backfield on a regular basis and he doesn’t always play up to his size and strength. There might be a concern that he’s a Combine/workout warrior who won’t be able to play up to the numbers once he hits the field, but he should be a solid performer and a steady starter for a decade. CFN Projection: Second Round    CFN Position Rank: 3

- 2009 NFL Draft Breakdown and Analysis
2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round | 5th Round | 6th Round | 7th Round