2009 NFL Mock Draft

Welcome to the 1st annual http://www.nkysportsworld.com/ NFL Mock Draft.
With the 2009 NFL Draft now less than a week away, it is time to make some predictions.

Round 1

1. Detriot Lions- Matt Stafford, QB GeorgiaAn NFL football team can only go as far as their defense and their quarterback. In order to actually win a game this year, Detroit needs a QB and Stafford is the best of the bunch.

2. St. Louis Rams- Jason Smith, OT Baylor
The St. Louis Rams have a ton of needs and could go a couple different directions with this pick. I would not be surprised if Aaron Curry went off the board at this spot instead of Smith. However, with the recent loss of Orlando Pace and the need for the Rams to reestablish Stephen Jackson in the run game I look for Smith to be the pick.

3. Kansas City Chiefs- Aaron Curry, LB Wake ForestAn OT would have probably been appropriate for the Chiefs at this spot as well, however, Curry seems to be the safest pick in the entire draft. With Derrick Johnson already pencilled in at MLB, Curry can be eased into the starting role by playing on the outside, a position that probably better suits him in the NFL anyway.

4. Seattle Seahawks- Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Crabtree and his foot will go a long way at determining his draft status. He played in a pass happy system at Texas Tech that may actually hurt him in his draft status. However, his college numbers don't lie and he could prove to create a solid tandem with new Seahawk TJ Houshmanzadeh.

5. Cleveland Browns- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB TexasOrakpo is a perfect tweener type player that would fit the 3-4 system of the Browns very well. He could line up in the lineback position in pass coverage while also having the ability to get down on the line and rush the quarterback from the edge.

6. Cincinnati Bengals- Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia
The Cincinnati Bengals would be salivating if Monroe is still available when they pick at #6. Monroe is a beast of an OT and may just be the best OT in the draft. With an inability to run the football last year, an unsteady offensive line, and a battered franchise QB in Carson Palmer

7. Oakland Raiders- Jeremy Maclin, WR MizzouThe Oakland Raider defense has been pretty strong the past few seasons. It is the Raider offense that continually leads to their year in year out losing records and top 10 draft picks. Maclin is a safe pick at WR and gives Oakland not only a deep threat for strong armed QB Jamarcus Russell but also a solid kick returner as well.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars- Mark Sanchez, QB USCThis pick is starting to become a no-brainer for the Jags. If Matt Stafford happens to fall off the number 1 pick, look for the Jaguars to possibly move up to take him. Instead, they opt for the second best QB in the draft.

9. Green Bay Packers- BJ Raji, DT Boston CollegeRaji's draft stock may have fallen a bit after the recent publications regarding his positive drug test at the NFL Combine. However, he is still the best DT in the draft and DT is a position the Packers could truly upgrade.

10. San Francisco 49ers- Andre Smith, OT AlabamaFrom one player sliding down the draft board to another. Andre Smith is a mammouth of an offensive tackle and was once considered the top overall pick in the draft. Smith's recent strange behavior has made some NFL execs uneasy about selecting him, however, his destruction on the field cannot be overlooked. Andre Smith is the most interesting pick in the draft because he could become an all-pro or a major NFL bust.

11. Buffalo Bills- Brian Cushing, OLB USCCushing is the 1st of a series of USC defensive players that will be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Though he is probably not the best of the bunch, he fills a huge need for the Bills.

12. Denver Broncos-Everett Brown, DE Florida St.The Broncos will have several high profile draft picks in this years draft after the recent trade of Jay Cutler. If Sanchez happens to drop to this spot, the Broncos would have to give him a hard look. Instead, Brown has shot up the draft charts in the past few months as a player that can play both end and outside linebacker.

13. Washington Redskins- Michael Oher, OT MississippiOher becomes the 4th OT selected in the first 13 picks. A massive OT, Oher can play both the right and left side. He has the potential to go in the top 10, but could also slide to the back of the first round. Oher isnt the elite OT that many project but he could be a very strong blocking presence for a bad offensive line in Washington.

14. New Orleans Saints- Michael Jenkins, CB Ohio St.Jenkins is the next in line on a long list of recent first round defensive backs from Ohio State. The New Orleans pass coverage is average at best, even after spending mass amounts of money and premium draft picks on the position in recent years. Jenkins has the possibility of playing corner or safety in NO so he is definitely the safe pick here.

15. Houston Texans- Tyson Jackson, DE LSUThe Texans continue to improve and lately the improvements have come through the defense. Jackson has huge upside to go along with a great combination of size and speed. He would be a definite compliment to Mario Williams rushing the quarterback.

16. San Diego Chargers- Darrius Hayward-Bey, WR MarylandHayward-Bey has the potential to be a pure #1 WR. He is still a bit raw as a WR but he will have a strong supporting cast to carry the load in the SD offense until he get grows into this role. Scouts love his blistering speed and deep threat opportunities which is why he is shooting up the draft boards.

17. New York Jets- Percy Harvin, WR FloridaIt is possible that the Jets would reach for a QB in Kansas St. Josh Freeman here. However, I think the best and most sure bet is the pick WR in this spot. Harvin gives the Jets an option to replace Laverneous Coles as well as an athletic player that could return kicks or be used in all different types of formations.

18. Denver Broncos (from CHI)- Rey Maualuga, MLB USCWith their 2nd pick in the first round, the Broncos select another player in order to shore up their shaky defense. After selecting an edge rusher in Brown with the first pick, the Broncos turn to linebacker and Maualuga with their second. Maualuga is a player with a mean streak that will intimidate wide receivers as they come across the middle.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Peria Jerry, DT MississippiThe Buccaneers could go for a CB in this spot, but DT is probably the team's most pressing need. Jerry is a bit of an unknown and has shot up draft boards lately.

20. Detroit Lions (from DAL)- Eben Britton, OT ArizonaThe Lions addressed their primary need with a QB at #1 overall. Now they look to the best tackle available in order to help protect him.

21. Philadelphia Eagles- Vontae Davis, CB Illinois
Davis has the physical tools and athleticism to be a shut down corner in the NFL. Funny how we said that about his brother and SF TE Vernon Davis as well. Based on pure skills alone, Davis is probably a top 10 player in the draft, however, his character will likely cause him to slip a bit on draft day. The Eagles are in need of a CB so Davis is their guy.

22. Minnesota Vikings-Evander Hood, DT MissouriThe Vikins had probably hoped to find an OT or WR at this position, however, those spots are hard to come by at this point in the draft. The Vikings have settled for the best player available at this point and that is Hood. Nonetheless, Hood still fills a need for the Vikings defense.

23. New England Patriots-Aaron Maybin, OLB Penn StateMaybin offers a great deal of quickness, athleticism, and upside. In addition, the Patriots love players who are able to rush the passer as a DE and drop back in coverage as a LB. Maybin is a player that does just that and will fit perfectly in the defensive sceme of NE.

24. Atlanta Falcons- Clay Matthews, OLB USCThe 3rd and final player from the USC defense in the first round. Matthews went from walk on and special team ace at USC to sure fire first round draft pick. A hard nosed, high motor player in a football family, Matthews will try to light a fire on the defense in Atlanta.
25. Miami Dolphins-Darius Butler, CB Conneticut

26. Baltimore Ravens- Connor Barwin, OLB/DE Cincinnati
Barwin may just be the surprise pick of rd 1 so I am going out on a limb here. After playing only one year at DE, Barwin displayed edge rush ability as well as speed that could land him in this spot. He fits perfectly in a 3-4 defense like the Ravens. In addition, the Ravens selected a Cincinnati player in Haruki Nakamura last season and have not been disappointed.

27. Indianapolis Colts- Hakeem Nicks, WR North CarolinaSuddently, the Indianapolis Colts are looking like an aging team with a ton of holes to fill. The Colts had hoped that players such as Maybin, Hood, and Jerry would be available here to fill glaring needs on the defensive line but that just doesnt seem to be the case. With the lose of Marvin Harrison, WR is also a position of need. Nicks is a solid possession receiver in the same mold of Harrison.

28. Buffalo Bills (from CAR via PHI)- Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma St.The Bills selected defensive with a pick earlier in the round so they may elect to go offense on this one. After the recent lose of Jason Peters, OT would be a reasonable selection here as well but all of the first round tackle talent is gone by this point. Pettigrew is far and away the best TE in the draft this year and the Bills are in major need. If they dont get him here, they wont get him in round 2.

29. NY Giants- Larry English, OLB Northern Illinois
Larry English is the unknown riser of the draft. Dont know a whole lot about him so I wont tell you a whole lot except that he will be picked here. A perfect fit in the Giants 3-4 defense.

30. Tennessee Titans- Victor Harris, CB Virginia TechVictor "Macho" Harris adds to the string of CBs taken late in the first round. The class of CB are fairly weak so this may be a bit of a reach. However, the Titans need a defensive back to couple with Finnegan on next years roster.

31. Arizona Cardinals- Knowshon Moreno, RB GeorgiaArizona must be salivating that they get their pick at RB so late in the first round. Moreno becomes the 1st and only RB taken in the first round of the draft this year. The Cardinals are in desparate need of an electric RB to take the pressure off of an aging Edgerrin James and the gun happy offense of Kurt Warner. Moreno just may make the Cardinals the team to beat in the AFC again this year.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Max Unger, C/G OregonThe Steelers dont have many glaring needs as the reigning Super Bowl champions. However, offensive line is still an area that they can upgrade. Ben R. gets sacked more than any other QB in the NFL, so a lineman is a good pick here. Unger can play both C and G so he is a stable option especially with the lose of Faneca two years ago.