NFL Mock Draft 2009: Version 1

Here we are again, another NFL offseason.  Not much to look forward to until the draft.

So, who will be kings of the draft this year?  And who is going to set their team back even further with horrible picks?

This is my first mock draft for this year.  I will do another one the week after free agency begins, and another just before the draft.

Hey, my guess is as good as any.

1 - Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia.  There are so many needs for this team, but I have to think the old saying is true.  If you don't have a franchise QB, and one is available, you take him.

2 - St. Louis Rams - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia.  Rumor had it last year that if the Fins passed on Jake Long, the Rams were going to jump all over him.  This year, instead of finding someone to play opposite of Orlando Pace, they are drafting his replacement.

3 - Kansas City Chiefs - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech.  I firmly believe with Scott Pioli the new boss in KC, Matt Cassell will be their signal caller this year.  I don't believe this pick is going to be needed to get him.  Crabtree will be the biggest weapon the Chiefs have.

4 - Seattle Seahawks - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama.  Devastated by not being able to get Crabtree, and no other WR worthy of this pick, the Hawks shore up an average at best O-Line.

5 - Cleveland Browns - Aaron Curry, ILB, Wake Forest.  To compete in the AFC North, your have to have a solid Defense.  Clevelands is anything but. 

6 - Cincinnati Bengals - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss.  With Carson Palmer coming back from injury, the Bengals BETTER get him some protection, or in the AFC North he wont make it thru another year.

7 - Oakland Raiders - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas.  As long as Al Davis is running this team, this may be the highest pick the Raiders have.

8 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor.  I think this year Jacksonville did not play up to potential.  They will be much better this year.  If they can get better line play,that will make them that much better.

9 - Green Bay Packers - BJ Raji, DT, Boston College.  Switching to a 3-4, Raji can anchor this line.

10 - San Francisco 49ers - Mark Sanchez, QB, USC.  Honestly, if the 9ers want Sanchez they are going to have to trade up for him.  I think they will.  But since I am not trading in this mock, this is where Sanchez falls to.

11 - Buffalo Bills - Everett Brown, DE/OLB, FSU.  Brown could be a beast, if he can get some playmakers around him.  This could be a good start to re-building a solid D.

12 - Denver Broncos - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia.  I know that the Broncos need more help on the other side of the ball.  However, Jay Cutler will be a MUCH better QB with the threat of a running game.

13 - Washington Redskins - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss.  Washington disparately needs to improve their D-line.  The trade for Jason Taylor last year did nothing to help.

14 - New Orleans Saints - Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State.  With the O side of the ball set, they need to improve on their ageing Corners.

15 - Houston Texans - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU.  With Mario Williams on one side, and  Amobi Okoye in the middle, this could be a dominant line for years to come.

16 - San Diego Chargers - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State.  Lets be honest, Sproles is going the way of Michael Turner last year, and as great as LT has been, he is getting old.  If Wells can stay healthy, he can be the RB of the future is San Diego.

17 - NY Jets - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt.  Thomas Jones is almost as old as Brett Favre, and someone is going to have to POUND the ball in Rex Ryans new offence.  McCoy fits the bill.

18 - Chicago Bears - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida.  If Harvin could have stayed healthy, he would have been taken long before now.  The Bears need a playmaker on the O side of the ball, since it isn't working out all that well with Devin Hester.

19 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ray Maualuga, ILB, USC.  Derrik Brooks is getting older, and it is time to draft his replacement.  Maualuga fits the mold perfectly.

20 - Detroit Lions (from Cowboys in Roy Williams trade) - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona.  If you are going to spend the first pick in the draft on a franchise QB, you better get someone to protect him.

21 - Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina for last years first) - William Beatty, OT, Connecticut.  Though I believe this pick will be traded to Arizona for Anquon Boldon, (I have to keep telling myself) the Eagles have to get younger on their line.

22 - Minnesota Vikings - Alex Mac, C, Cal.  Matt Birk is getting older, and Mac is a perfect replacement.

23 - New England Patriots - Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State.  The Pats have to get younger on the D side of the ball.  Maybin is a perfect fit for the 3-4 the Pats run.

24 - Atlanta Falcons - Larry English, DE, N.Illinois.  With a much improved offense, the Falcons have to improve the other side of the ball if they want to go further in the playoffs than the wild card round.

25 - Miami Dolphins - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois.  Miami has made leaps and bounds over picking first in last years draft, when they used their first to picks on O.  Davis is an improvement over every corner Miami has, and will probably start from day one.

26 - Baltimore Ravens - Jeremy Macklin, WR, Missouri.  Derrick Mason is going to be 34 before next season begins.  They better get a new favorite weapon for Joe Flacco.

27 - Indianapolis Colts - James Laurinaitas, ILB, Ohio State.  Indy has a stud on the line with Dwight Freeney, and a stud in the secondary with Bob Sanders.  They need a stud in the middle and Animal Jr is just that.

28 - Philadelphia Eagles - Louis Delmas, FS, W.Michigan.  Brian Dawkins, if he comes back, will be in his 15th year.  If they don't draft his replacement this year, they will regret it next.

29 - NY Giants - Michael Johnson, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech.  Will play OLB in NY.  Johnsons stock fell this year, but will still be an improvement over last year.

30 - Tennessee Titans - Hakeem Nicks, WR, N.Carolina.  Nicks has great hands for a big man, and to be honest, with a big, physical WR, the Titans may have been playing for the Lombardi this year.

31 - Arizona Cardinals - Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane.  With the trouble they Cardinals had against the Steelers pass rushers, they better fix this need, or Warner will not be coming back next year.

32 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, C, Oregon.  Though they need Tackles desperately, C - Justin Hartwig cost them a safety in the Super Bowl, that could have cost them the game.  This isn't the first time this year Hartwig got beat.  Mike Webster, Dermonti Dawson, and Max Unger.  Sounds good to me!

Let me know what you all think!