Bleacher Report Mock 2009 NFL Draft: Picks 1-10

The best time of the year is upcoming. For real draft nuts, the time of the year could not come any sooner. By the time the final picks are about to be announced, you are already looking at the next best thing coming out of the MAC.

But I am here to discuss some of the picks that I think will happen in this years draft.

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Despite every knock on poor Matty, this franchise is in dire need of an identity, oh and a quarterback. You can not count of the Jeff Garcia's of the world to always be around, but drafting a QB with the 1st overall pick is a chance sometimes. Stafford showed a lot more in his final bowl game that I think he did in years of starting for the Bulldogs. He has a rocket for an arm and Stafford to Johnson sounds like something a guy would trade for in Madden. He may not be the "safest" pick but you need him more than he needs you, Detroit.

2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor - Everyone outside of Waco, TX had a hard time hearing about this guy. In the position dominated by Andre Smith (cough) and Michael Oher, Smith seems like the biggest dark horse in this draft. Standing at 6' 5", 309 LBS. Smith has been probably the best prospect at the combine. People can argue that the Rams need a lot more that a tackle right now. With the recent release of Holt, possibly looking at a immediate playmaker or difference maker might be best, like a Crabtree or Curry. As I have always referenced in my articles, my old HS football coach always told me "the backbone of a team is the O line, without them there is no team". Smith is the real deal.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest - The best player on alot of people's draft boards, Curry seems poised to be the next best thing in this LB dominated league. Kansas City desperately needs a pass rush, since the Jared Allen deal, the Chiefs seem even more like sad sacks (Sorry, Kansas City). He seems like once in a decade kind of prospect; Curry just has all the intangibles and ability to make a good defense, great.If Curry goes 1st or 2nd, Kansas City would look to possibly take something that would help newly acquired Matt Cassel in pass protection with OT Jason Smith.

4. Seattle Seahawks - B.J Raji, DT, Boston College OR Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas - If the Chiefs did not take Curry with the 3rd pick, I believe Seahawks officials would have been running that draft card up to the commish. The offense has the ability to be good again if Hasselbeck can stay healthy a full season. A veteran O-line, capable wide receiver core, and an emerging star in TE John Carlson, Seattle looks to be more desperate on the defense. Raji, a 6'1" 330 LBS behemoth of a man, would be an excellent pick for any team. Haynesworth is the best player at his position, despite being taken with the 15th pick from Tennessee in the 2002 NFL draft. Seattle could go down this route, or take Michael Crabtree or quite possibly Brian Orakpo (of course I don't think it's a reach, he has raw talent to play either DE or LB.) Brian Orakpo showed his worth at the NFL combine and has been impressing scouts since deciding to enter. Brian is surprisingly very strong against both the pass and run; Seattle would insert him into Mora's schemes and voila! You might even argue Raji would be a reach at fourth, but fortunately for Seattle, they are not in a bad place draft wise.

5. Cleveland Browns

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