Boom or Bust: Predicting the 2009 First Round Draft Class

(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Predicting the NFL draft has never been an exact science, especially when preparing mock draft boards. Even after the dust settles, predicting which newly selected NFL prospect will have a great career, an average career, or will be bagging groceries within three years is even tougher.

So with that said, here are my meaningless predictions of the 2009 first round draft class, and how things might shake out. Please keep in mind that if I call a player a bust, it doesn’t necessarily mean I think he’ll be another Ryan Leaf, it just means he won’t live up to the lofty expectations of a first round pick, especially if he was drafted much higher than he should have been.

Conversely, if I call boom on a player, it doesn’t mean he’s going to be a perennial pro bowler, and punch his ticket to the hall of fame on the first ballot. He could just end up being a solid, yet unspectacular player who lasts ten years in this league and never really achieves greatness.

1) Lions - Matthew Stafford - QB

Boom: He might not end up being the next Peyton Manning, but if Detroit develops him the right way and doesn’t force him into the starting lineup, he should turn out ok and eventually lead the Lions back to the playoffs. Has this team ever even had a true franchise QB?

2) Rams – Jason Smith – OT

Boom: Should be a franchise cornerstone for years to come, and will help immensely in pass protection. Look for Smith to have a Ryan Clady type of impact as a rookie and also open some nice holes for Steven Jackson who is in the prime of his career.

3) Chiefs – Tyson Jackson – DE

Bust: He might end up being a serviceable player, but definitely not a top 5 pick caliber player. Pioli has made some bold moves and is rolling the dice big time here as he tries to distinguish himself from "The Hoodie Empire", and make his mark in KC. This would have been a better pick if he could have traded down and took Jackson later in the first round.

4) Seahawks – Aaron Curry – OLB

Boom: Should be a complete stud from day one and might have been the best overall player in the entire 2009 draft. There’s absolutely nothing here that indicates Curry will bust unless an injury derails his career early on. There’s also a lot of good defensive talent around him in Seattle to work with.

5) Jets – Mark Sanchez – QB

Bust: Might be one of the more over-hyped prospects in quite some time. With his new head coach already predicting big things, there is going to be a tremendous amount of pressure for him to produce from day one in a very demanding sports city. I don’t see it happening and the Jets offense could be an epic disaster in 2009.

6) Bengals – Andre Smith – OT

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