2009 NFL Mock Draft

Quarterback, Georgia

Nobody wants to pick first overall, not only do you have to have the league’s worst record to secure the selection, but you’re going to have to shell out somewhere on the order of $40 to $50 million dollars in guaranteed money to a player who has a 50-50 chance of being a colossal bust. Stafford is generally considered to be the best quarterback available, and adding a top flight passer will go further than anything else towards making the Lions respectable again.

Other options: Jason Smith, Aaron Curry, Eugene Monroe  (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

Offensive Tackle, Virginia

After the departure of longtime anchor Orlando Pace the Rams are almost certainly going to take an offensive tackle with this pick. Whether it’s Monroe, Jason Smith of Baylor, or Andre Smith of Alabama is anyone’s guess. Andre Smith is probably the best player, but he has serious weight issues. Jason Smith has a higher ceiling but is raw and probably needs to bulk up a bit. Eugene Monroe represents the lowest risk of the three.

Other Options: Jason Smith, Andre Smith, Curry, Michael Crabtree.  (Photo by Paul Jasienski/Getty Images)

Quarterback, USC

It’s anyone’s guess at four. The Seahawks could take any one 10 or so players from as many as 5 different positions with the fourth overall pick. It’s no secret that Matt Hasselbeck is not long for the NFL and despite some stellar performances last year I don’t think Seneca Wallace is the long term answer at quarterback. Taking a QB allows the Seahawks to move Wallace back to wide receiver and kill two birds with one stone.

Other options: Curry, Crabtree, any offensive tackle, Chris “Beanie” Wells, Jeremy Maclin, Knowshon Moreno   (Photo by Ben Liebenberg/Getty Images)

Outside Linebacker, Wake Forest

And the Browns brain trust is dancing! Curry might be the best player in the draft, and the odds of him falling this far are slim, but if he makes it to five, he will not slip any further. Widely regarded as the “safest” pick in the draft, Curry has the perfect combination of speed and pass rushing ability to play outside in the 3-4 scheme. Or inside in a 4-3 scheme, or anywhere else you’d like to put him. Think Brian Urlacher, but smarter.

Other options: Crabtree, Maclin, Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown   (Photo by Paul Jasienski/Getty Images)

Wide Receiver, Texas Tech

The Raiders need a Wide Receiver in the worst way, and if Crabtree falls to Oakland, they’re all but certain to draft him. A playmaker in every sense of the word, he might have gone as high as 2nd had he not broken his foot. He’s the best wide receiver in the draft, the best prospect at the position since Calvin Johnson, and could easily turn out to be the best player drafted in 2009.

Other options: Orakpo, Oher, Andre Smith, Maclin, B.J. Raji.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Defensive End, LSU

The Packers are switching from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense and they’re going to need to make some serious investments into that scheme on draft day. Jackson isn’t the most exciting player the Packers could take at nine, but 3-4 DEs never are. What Jackson is, however, is a player who may project to 3-4 DE more naturally that any other recent prospect. Most 3-4 ends are defensive players who lack the bulk to play inside or speed to play outside in the 4-3. Jackson has just the right amount of size and speed to play outside in a 3-4. He won’t provide much in the pass rush department, but that’s not his job. He will absorb blockers and allow the Packers LB corps to move in space and attack.

Other options: Brown, Orakpo, Raji,   (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/WireImage)

Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Florida State

If Mark Sanchez is still on the board, I don’t think the 49ers will pass on the chance to solidify their quarterback position, but I don’t see Josh Freeman going this high, the 49ers will almost certainly look to bolster the defense. Everette Brown is the bizarro Tyson Jackson. He’s a pass rushing specialist who will be a rush end in a 4-3, or an outside linebacker on a 3-4 team like the 49ers. Brown is flashy, quick and powerful with some mesmerizing moves. He has a penchant for taking plays off but I’m sure Mike Singletary will convince himself he can motivate Brown.

Other options: Orakpo, Aaron Maybin, Maclin.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Offensive Tackle, Ole Miss

Several mock drafts have the Bills taking tight end Brandon Pettigrew from Oklahoma State, but after dealing Jason Peters to Philadelphia, they’ll have to go offensive tackle sooner or later. Pettigrew might still be on the board when they come around to pick again at 28, and if he’s not, the Bills can find a more than serviceable tight end in the second or third round. Pettigrew could turn out to be an excellent player, but taking him at 11 is a major reach. Oher, the subject of Michael Lewis’ book “The Blind Side” is a beast in the run game, and should make a more than adequate pass blocker.

Other options: Pettigrew, Orakpo, Maybin   (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)

Defensive tackle, Boston College

I fully expect the Broncos to try and move up to draft a quarterback, especially if the Lions pass on Stafford, but mock drafts are a big enough crapshoot without trying to factor in trades, so assuming they stay at 12 and 18, they’ll need to bolster the defense. Raji may very well be the best defensive player left on the board.

Other Options: Orakpo, Maybin, Peria Jerry, Rey Maualuga.   (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Defensive Back, Ohio State

This is a very intriguing selection. The Saints have a handful of options, including trading down if Josh Freeman is still on the board. The Saints could also draft a running back as Deuce McAllister is a free agent and Reggie Bush is not an every down back, however offense has not been the Saints’ problem in recent years. Jenkins was a top ten pick before he posted some disappointing 40 times at the Combine in February. He played cornerback in college, but is big enough to play free safety in the NFL. The Saints could use both.

Other options: Wells, Moreno, Alphonso Smith   (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Wide Receiver, Missouri

The Chargers are the deepest and most talented team in the NFL. They have no real needs and have younger talent at almost every position. Finding the eventual successor to LaDanian Tomlinson might take precedence over another wide receiver, but you don’t end up with a roster this stacked by drafting for need, you do it by drafting B.P.A. -Best Player Available- year after year after year, and if Maclin is on the board at 16, he’s almost certainly that. Maclin to the Chargers doesn’t seem fair, but it’s what San Diego does best.

Other options: Wells, Moreno, Maualuga   (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Quarterback, Kansas State

The Jets need help at all the skill positions on offense. Thomas Jones is getting up in years and Nate Washington is a free agent next year. Their wide receiver corps is brutal and unless they think Kellen Clemens is the answer, they’ll need a quarterback too. Had they been sold on Clemens, they don’t make the Brett Favre trade last year. Freeman might be a reach at 17, but he has the kind of physical tools that make teams drool. He runs a 4.97 40 at 6-5, 248. He’s got a big game arm and played in a pro style offense in college. He’ll need to improve his mechanics, accuracy and decision making, but when you possess all the things that can’t be taught, teams will be willing to invest in you.

Other Options: Wells, Moreno, Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Darrius Heyward-Bey  (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)

Linebacker, USC

If the Broncos land Raji at 12 there’s almost no question they’ll go linebacker at 18, and Maualuga is the best left on the board. Maualuga and Raji would go such a long way toward improving the Broncos porous defense, it seems like a no-brainer. Then again, finding a way to keep a 26 year old Pro-Bowl quarterback happy seems like a no-brainer too.

Other options: Jerry, Maybin, Robert Ayers.  (Photo by Ben Liebenberg/Getty Images)

Linebacker/Defensive End, Northern Illinois

The Bucs need help all along their defensive line. They’d love to find a way to land Raji, but he’ll probably be long gone. Peria Jerry is probably the second best defensive tackle, but I see them going with an end. English probably projects more to a 3-4 rush linebacker, but because of their smaller speedier builds, 3-4 rush linebackers can usually fit in 4-3 one gap schemes without missing a beat.

Other options: Michael Johnson, Connor Barwin, Ayers, Jerry, Maybin.  (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Offensive Tackle, Arizona

If they take Stafford first overall, look for the Lions to find someone to protect their new investment at 20. Britton isn’t flashy, he’s not going to be a drive blocker, he’ll struggle against elite NFL defensive ends, but he might not have to if Gosder Cherilus can slide over to the left side.

Other options: William Beatty, Ayers  (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Tight End, Oklahoma State

L.J. Smith has moved on, and Pettigrew should fill his roll nicely. He’s not as flashy as other recent tight end prospects but he’s a big target and a good blocker. The Eagles could find it hard to pass on the running backs as Brian Westbrook isn’t getting any younger and Correll Buckhalter left in free agency.

Other options: Wells, Moreno  (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

Wide Receiver, Maryland

Well… Troy Williamson failed miserably, so you might as well take a flier on his second coming… right? Right? Ehh. I think the Vikings would like a quarterback, but with Freeman off the board there’s no one else worth taking this high. If you can’t get a quarterback, the next best option is to get better wide receivers. Bernard Berrian is a nice option but not a true number one. Heyward-Bey struggles to catch the ball at times, has questionable instincts and is very, very raw, but he can fly and he’s got decent size. He is the quintessential low floor, high ceiling player who is more likely to be excellent or awful than average.

Other options: Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Beatty, Jerry  (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Running Back, Georgia

Even with last year’s first round draft pick Jerod Mayo making a big impact in his rookie season, the Patriots biggest need is probably Linebacker, but chances are, there won’t be a linebacker on the board worth spending the 23rd pick on. New England has a ton of picks in the first three rounds and they can fill that need later on. If the draft falls right, they can have their pick of running backs. Lawrence Maroney has been a bit of a let down, and even if he improves, Moreno (or Beanie Wells) would make for a better one-two punch than Maroney and anyone else on the Patriots roster.

Other options: Wells, Barwin, Ayers, James Laurinaitis  (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss

The Falcons almost took Glenn Dorsey over Matt Ryan last year. They made the right choice, but they still need a defensive tackle. Jerry is arguably the second best defensive tackle in the draft after B.J. Raji and the Falcons would love to land him at 24.

Other options: Evander Hood.  (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)

Cornerback, Illinois

The Dolphins could run use a pass rushing defensive end/outside linebacker but it looks like most of the good ones will be gone by the time their pick comes up. Having locked down center with the signing of Jake Grove, cornerback will probably be next on their wish list. Odds are, there will only be one off the board when their pick comes up at 25. Vontae Davis is Vernon Davis’ brother, and he’s as gifted an athlete with almost as much room to grow.

Other options: Barwin, Ayers, Sean Smith.   (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Wide Reciever/Running Back, Florida

With the possible exception of the Chicago Bears special teams, no unit in the NFL has been as consistently dominant in recent years as the Baltimore’s defense. The other side of the ball, particularly the passing game, has held the Ravens down. They seem to have found a solution at quarterback with Joe Flacco, now it’s time to give him some new targets. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton have been serviceable, but the Ravens need a playmaker and Harvin fits the bill. Very similar to Devin Hester, Harvin is an undersized speedster who can stretch the field and will be dangerous on kickoff returns.

Other Options: Nicks, Britt, Robiskie.   (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Defensive Tackle, Missouri

The Colts defensive line is very thin, especially on the inside, and Evander Hood would be the best option on the board at 27. I’m sure they’d rather have Peria Jerry and will take him if Atlanta passes, but Hood will be a solid contributor Hood has the speed to and the power to play the three technique, which is the more marquee position in Indy’s cover 2, but he might need to develop further if he’s to excel there. Either way, he’s good enough to play the nose.

Other options: Laurenitis   (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

Center, California

The Bills need a tight end and they desperately want Pettigrew. If he’s still on the board the Bills will not pass on him here, but any other tight end is a monumental reach at 28. If the Bills can land Oher and Mack, they shouldn’t miss Pettigrew at all. Mack is one of the few centers to come along in the last decade worthy of a first round pick, and he would help the interior of the Bills line immensely.

Other options: Max Unger, Jared Cook Eric Wood, Duke Robinson   (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Wide Receiver, North Carolina

Don’t be shocked if this pick gets traded to the Cleveland Browns for Braylon Edwards, and don’t be surprised if the Browns take Nicks or another wide receiver at 29 if the deal goes down. The Giants need a receiver after releasing Plaxico Burris and Nicks fits the Burris mold perfectly. He’s a large target with sure hands who runs excellent routes. He’s not a speed burner, but neither was Michael Irvin.

Other options: Britt, Robiskie   (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Receiver, Rutgers

Add the Titans to the list of teams that could use another target in the passing game. Kenny Britt is a good route runner. He’s not fast enough to burn past cornerbacks, but makes up for that with his strength. Britt thinks he’s the second coming of Jerry Rice, which means he’ll fit into the wide receiver fraternity just fine, but his cockyness shouldn’t be confused with a lack of desire. Britt might be the best blocking wide receiver in the draft, and he isn’t afraid to go over the middle, which means most coaches will be willing to put up with his personality.

Other options: Robiskie, Derrick Williams, Joaquin Iglesias   (Photo by Charles LeClaire/Getty Images)

Running Back, Ohio State

Tim Hightower’s a nice start, but the Cardinals could really use a complementary back. Not only would it give them extra punch on the ground, it will allow them to cut Edgerrin James which will open up some cap space. If the Cardinals would rather have Moreno or any other player picked any later than 10 or 12, they’ll probably be able to land him. The team has announced their intention to trade Anquan Boldin, who will undoubtedly command a first round pick.

Other options: Donald Brown   (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Center, Oregon

The Steelers don’t have many immediate needs, but they do have a lot of positions where they could use some depth. Almost all of the defensive front seven is getting up in years, and even with Holmes, Ward and Sweed, I could see them taking another wide receiver so they can have another top target ready as insurance for a declining Ward and any potential off the field issues that might hamstring Santonio Holmes. The move that makes the most sense, however, is an interior offensive lineman. Max Unger will fit nicely.

Other options: Robinson, Robiskie   (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images)