2009 Mock Draft

[porky88]

I was bored and I decided to do a draft with all the college football talk and the draft talk has begun already in Green Bay. I'm still in the process of developing some sort of rankings.

1. Detroit Lions - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Bradford vs. Stafford is the debate. I like Bradford and I don't even think it's close.

2. Cincinnati Bengals - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

The Bengals select a much needed offensive tackle to anchor their line.

3. Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

I believe Crabtree is the best player in the draft. Seattle has a huge need at receiver and Crabtree could give this offense just what it needs.

4. St. Louis Rams - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Rams could opt to go with a QB here, but I think they'll follow the same trend that the Browns set and the Dolphins followed. Take the OT and grab the QB with your 2nd pick.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Herm Edwards has said that the Chiefs need to look at a QB with the first pick. Tyler Thigpen is nothing more than a transition QB until Stafford is ready. Stafford needs at least year in my opinion.

6. Oakland Raiders - Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

Raiders probably should trade down and get more picks and then start to retool their offensive line. No way do they do that with Malcom Jenkins here. Not with Al Davis running the show.

7. Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas

Browns need a pass rusher to give their defense a boost. The debate is Brian Orakpo or Everrtte Brown. I like Orakpo.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

Mike Peterson isn't on great terms with the Jaguars coaching staff. Maualuga is the best inside backer in the draft and for some reason being overlooked.

9. San Francisco 49ers - Everette Brown, DE/LB, Florida State

Like Cleveland, San Francisco needs to generate a pass rush.

10. Green Bay Packers - Tyson Jackson, DL, LSU

Packers probably move down and take the best defensive lineman on their board. Jackson can play DE and DT. GB needs both.

11. San Diego Chargers - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

L.T. is wearing down and the Chargers can't pass up on selecting his replacement here whether it's Chris Wells or Knowshon Moreno.

12. Houston Texans - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Texans offense is quietly one of the best offenses in the league. Their defense still needs work and preferably the secondary. Vontae Davis is the No. 2 corner in the draft.

13. Buffalo Bills - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

Buffalo needs a playmaker on defense and Aaron Curry makes sense on the outside with Posluszny at inside.

14. New Orleans Saints - Taylor Mays, S, USC

New Orleans secondary is a mess and history has proven that a big play safety can be the biggest difference maker on your defense. Mays has that type of talent.

15. Chicago Bears - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Most people think receiver, but Chicago needs to shore up a defensive line that is rather overrated. I like DT for them because I think Tommie Harris needs help inside.

16. Washington Redskins - Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi

Jason Taylor and Andre Carter are aging. Greg Hardy might be the best pure 4-3 pass rusher in the draft.

17. Philadelphia Eagles - James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

Philadelphia has had a need at inside linebacker for years now and they fail to address it every time. Not this year as James Laurinaitis is an impact player from day one on a team built to contend now in my opinion.

18. New England Patriots - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Laurence Maroney just isn't cutting it and Knowshon Moreno gives them another weapon on an offense that could be very scary when Tom Brady comes back.

19. Denver Broncos - Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama

Broncos need help on the defensive line. Terrence Cody is a huge nose tackle that gives them that force inside.

20. Atlanta Falcons - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

It's often said that the best friend to a QB is his TE. Jermaine Greshman gets the nod at TE on my draft board and pairs with the likes of Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White.

21. Detroit Lions - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

If your offense starts with the QB, then your defense starts with your pass rush.

22. Miami Dolphins - George Selvie, DE/LB, South Florida

Bill Parcells has a knack for selecting 3-4 hybrids.

23. New York Jets - William Moore, S, Missouri

Jets need to upgrade their secondary and pairing Kerry Rhodes with William Moore would help.

24. Arizona Cardinals - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh

If Matt Leinart actually works out and the Cardinals land a big game back like LeSean McCoy, then the football world should look out for the Cardinals offense for years to come.

25. Minnesota Vikings - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Maclin should go higher and knowing the Vikings they'll move up to get him.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Ravens need to add some explosiveness to their offense and Percy Harvin would give them just that.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

Jon Gruden loves Quarterbacks and Mark Sanchez is a perfect fit for his offense.

28. Indianapolis Colts - Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn

Colts should take the best DT on the board. Marks is a good player, but other DL are emerging forcing him to take a tumble.

29. New York Giants - Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State

Giants have a well built team that they can do plenty of things. However if Plaxico Burress is done in New York then they'll have to get a new playmaker on the outside.

30. Tennessee Titans - Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia

Is this the year Tennessee finally ops to take a wideout?

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi.

Michael Oher is the toughest player to project right now. Some say top 10, other say late round 1. My guess is he'll drop outside of the top 15 and someone will trade up to take him. Pittsburgh makes sense. Good thing we have months to figure this out.

32. Carolina Panthers - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Duke Robinson right? Nope, Carolina has begun running a zone blocking scheme. Jeff Otah has the right side down, but the left side could use a new tackle with Jordan Gross potentially leaving. Jason Smith is this years Duane Brown.

[NYJets30]

Honestly it is way too early for me to even be thinking about the draft, and I haven't even begun researching. Therefore I'll just throw out a few random things that crossed my mind while reading this.

Now that Millen has been chased from Detroit by a mob carrying torches and pitchforks, the Lions might actually make the logical pick and take a franchise QB. I dont think Bradford and Stafford are as far apart as you do, but I do think Bradford is #1 for now.

Crabtree to Seattle is a great pick. Even when their WR's are healthy, it isnt a fantastic group. Engram is aging, the Branch experiment didnt work out. Hasselbeck when healthy is a top 7 or so NFL QB, and Crabtree would help him

Stafford is a good pick for KC. I'm tempted to say they need to take a defensive player, but I think the Chiefs will be a team that improves quickly as last years draft class matures. QB is the right pick

Not sure I like the Jenkins pick for Oakland. They have needs almost everywhere, and they already have possibly the NFL's best lockdown corner in Nnamdi Awesome-ugha

I like Knowshon Moreno a bit better than Beanie Wells. Moreno is probably my favorite player in this draft. Wells' injury history scares me a bit (although it hasnt been a concern for AP)

Speaking of Moreno, as a Jets fan I will be very upset if the Pats land him

I am actually not a huge Percy Harvin fan, but I like him to Baltimore. They dont have many other needs, they can afford to gamble and take the chance on Harvins potential. The Ravens havent had an explosive playmaker like Harvin since.......ever I guess.

[cubuffsman78]

I'm with you on Bradford. I'm not on the Stafford bandwagon at all. I'd project Colt McCoy ahead of Stafford if he were coming out.

I am not a Eugene Monroe fan. I think Michael Oher is a much better prospect. Oher would have been a first round pick last season and was a huge part of the resurgence of Ole Miss this year.

Definitely not buying on Tyson Jackson that high. I don't like him in the first round at all. He's more of a second round pick. Another Calais Campbell if you ask me. I think Greg Hardy or even Michael Johnson, who I'm also not a huge fan of, project better at this point.

I'm also a Knowshon guy. Beanie's injury history drives me nuts. That guy can't play through anything. The big difference between him and Peterson is Peterson is more elusive than Wells. Knowshon is the total package to me. I won't be surprised if he goes back for his junior season though.

I'm assuming you mean Aaron Curry instead of Aaron Mays. Never heard of Aaron Mays. He any good? Like an offspring of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays? Lol. Curry is a great pick there, btw.

I don't know that McCoy comes out after his sophomore season. I think he'd still benefit from another season at OU. But if he does, then he's definitely a possibility in the Top 15. Actually, that should be the only way he comes out is if he grades out that high.

I love the Gresham pick. I don't know how he's not in the Top 20. That kid is incredibly athletic and a much better receiver than Vernon Davis ever dreamed of being.

Selvie needs another year to figure out how to deal with double teams. Even if he comes out, watch out for TCU's Jerry Hughes as a tweener who could come off before Selvie.

Massaquoi? I think that's probably the biggest reach in your mock. I grade him as a third or fourth rounder right now. Juaquin Iglesias makes much more sense. Much better all around receiver. Even Louis Murphy, who is the nation's most underrated WR. Darrius Heyward-Bey? Kenny Britt? Two other guys I like well ahead of Massaquoi.

I love Jason Smith. Has something to do for my light affection for the Baylor Bears though. I do think there are better options, though, mainly Eben Britton.

It's all a crap shoot right now, but it's never too early to start working mocks. I've been working one a week for a couple months now. Just haven't released any due to a lack of time to put some writing to it.

[NYJets30]

Originally Posted by cubuffsman78 Massaquoi? I think that's probably the biggest reach in your mock. I grade him as a third or fourth rounder right now. Juaquin Iglesias makes much more sense. Much better all around receiver. Even Louis Murphy, who is the nation's most underrated WR. Darrius Heyward-Bey? Kenny Britt? Two other guys I like well ahead of Massaquoi.

I am actually a Massaquoi fan. I think he will be a reliable NFL possesion/3rd down WR in the vein of Muhsin Muhammad. I'm not saying he will be as good as Moose was in his prime, but in that mold of player. Having said that, yes he is a reach in the 1st round. I'd probably put Britt in that slot

[mrdv1]

Im not as sold on crabtree being the best player in the draft. True he is the best WR, but I think when he runs his lack of elite speed is really going to show. Watching him I think he might have a little trouble separating from good NFL corners. True he does have great size, jumping ability, and huge hands, which will help that problem. I'm not saying he's going to be a bust, he'll be a great NFL receiver, but I don't know if he'll be in the league of Moss, Johnson, Owens, Fitzgerald, Holt. He could, but I'm not sold on it yet. I see him going from the 7-13 range once the draft roles around, instead of the top 5.

Tyson jackson is way high there I think too... I see him more around the 20's, to the Jets maybe. He probably fits better as a 3-4 DE than a 4-3.

New England is still hurtin for LB's. Bruschi might not play again, and vrabel is really getting up there. Mayo has been great and Thomas will b back, but theres still holes and no depth. If you look at what makes the steelers great, especially in the 3-4, its their over abundance of linebackers and guys who can rush the passer. Linebackers and a nose tackle are the keys to the 3-4 working. I don't think Knowshon will come out, but if he does I see new england trading down and taking Cushing. Someone will pay top prize to go up and get Moreno with wells of the board in ure draft. I know we dont predict trades, but I definately see that happening.

San Diego Beanie Wells pick is interesting, i think they can wait another year or two before they go RB, but it's possible. I think Wells is going to top Philly's draft board.

[porky88]

Couple of comments to the Jets fans

Crabtree = Larry Fitzgerald in terms of how I think he'll be evaluated.

Doesn't run real well, but will do everything else. Obviously every draft has a few players that everyone really likes and people go back and forth on whom their top guy is. Andre Smith is one of them too, but I like Crabtree. He tops my board.

I think Wells and Moreno debate will be the most interesting leading up to the draft. I like Wells because I think his blend of size and speed is scary, but Moreno could easily go ahead of him because of his elusiveness. I'm on the Chargers to take a back bandwagon. In fact I'm probably driving it. L.T. is falling apart and now is the time to grab one especially considering I think there are at least three really good ones in this draft. LeSean McCoy is the third.

Cubbs,

I agree with you on Hughes. This draft is potentially going to be very strong on 3-4 pass rushers or at least on paper it is. Guessing who's entering and not right now is tough to do since there tends to be a lot of mixed and false reporting. If Hughes enters he's easily 1st rounder as you suggest.

I don't agree with the Tyson Jackson and Calias Campbell comparison though.

Jackson has been productive for the most part. He was never a stud pass rusher and was always more of a consistent run stuffer and that he has been. He durable and great work ethic. I believe those were things that scouts questioned with Campbell. I expect the Packers to trade down which is why I projected Jackson to them. I more so am trying to match team and player and I think a team like the Packers who covet versatile defensive lineman will be more than intrigued with Tyson Jackson in mid to late first round.

[cubuffsman78]

I didn't mean to compare Campbell and Jackson as far as style of play. I was projecting a similar drop. I think there is a place for Jackson in the NFL, particularly in the 3-4. I didn't think Campbell had a place in the NFL and shouldn't have even been drafted.

[Saint33]

no Aaron Curry in the first round? Guy is an absolute beast

[cubuffsman78]

Originally Posted by Saint33 no Aaron Curry in the first round? Guy is an absolute beast

He's there. That would be who Porky calls Aaron Mays from Wake Forest.

[porky88]

Yeah.... I already had my mind on Taylor Mays for the next pick. Obviously there is no Aaron Mays or one that I know of that plays LB for Wake Forest. That's obviously Curry.