2009 NFL First Round Mock Draft

Each spring, the NFLdraft brings an aura of sanguinity to football organizations and their fans across the country. The event is both a literal and symbolic representation of a new beginning, with teams making selections that will shape their futures. The draft has special meaning for fantasy owners as well, as a new batch of players means new choices in the quest for their own championship. Though winning a fantasy title doesn’t come with the benefits – women, parties, fame, women – of winning a Super Bowl, it has its own payoff. And whether that’s $1,000, $10, or just bragging rights, it’s satisfying all the same.

So we’re here to help you achieve that with a look at the 2009 NFL draft, and the potential fantasy football impact of each selection.

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1.  Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia – Despite the fact there there’s enough history (both for the Lions and the NFL in general) to fill the Library of Congress that says picking a QB No. 1 overall is an extreme gamble, all indications are the Lions are leaning on taking the player who has completed only 57 percent of his career passes. Expect zero fantasy football contribution out of Stafford this year. Matt Ryan he is not.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor – The Rams are in desperate need of an anchor to their offensive line, and Smith can provide that. He should be of great benefit to running back Steven Jackson and especially quarterback Marc Bulger, which is great news for fantasy owners. Now if only both can stay healthy.
 
3. Kansas City Chiefs:Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest – Maybe the best player in the draft, Curry should be an IDP wonder from the get-go.
 
4. Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia – Monroe will eventually take over for the aging Walter Jones on the Hawks’ left side. He’s a more adept pass-blocker than run blocker at this point.
 
5. Cleveland Browns:Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas – The Browns simply could not get to the quarterback last season, as their 17 sacks were the second-fewest in the NFL, trailing only the Chiefs’ 10. Orakpo could be of use to IDP owners for that stat alone.
 
6. Cincinnati Bengals:B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – Forget the fantasy angle with Raji, as with most other defensive tackles. He’ll be the one clogging the interior to free up the likes of Keith Rivers.
 
7. Oakland Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech – Some people are convinced that the Raiders will take Jeremy Maclin over Crabtree, but we don’t buy that. Crabtree immediately becomes their best receiving option on a team that really only has Zach Miller as a threat. The key for Crabtree’s fantasy stock is if JaMarcus Russell continues to progress like he did at the end of last year. If so, 60+ catches, 900-1,000 yards, and five scores isn’t out of the question.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars:Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri – It’ll be much tougher for Maclin to get the kind of numbers we listed for Crabtree, because he’s not as refined as the Texas Tech wideout. He’ll be dangerous on returns immediately, but may take a year or two to pay off for fantasy owners.
 
9. Green Bay Packers:Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU – The Packers transition to a 3-4 defense, a scheme in which Jackson is perfectly suited to play end. Just don’t expect huge numbers from him in IDP leagues.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama – The odd saga of Smith’s offseason continued with the news he fired his agent. Though he has made some errors, none have been especially arduous(except for when he ran the 40-yard dash with his shirt off, exposing larger breasts than Dolly Parton … that hurt). He seems a better fit for the right side, and despite the team signing Marvel Smith recently, Smith will eventually work his way there.
 
11. Buffalo Bills: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State – Brown goes to a team that is also in need of a big-time pass rusher. The Bills simply did not make many big plays on defense last season, and Brown may change that.
 
12. Denver Broncos: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC – Sanchez is a better prospect than Stafford in some people’s eyes because of his accuracy. We saw what an accurate quarterback could do in Josh McDaniel’s offense last year, and in time Sanchez could do the same thing Matt Cassel did last year, and quite possibly more. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him as one of the top QB’s in fantasy in two or three seasons. 
 
13. Washington Redskins: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee – The Redskins need an infusion of youth on defense, so let’s just hope Daniel Snyder doesn’t trade this and other picks away to try and move up to grab Sanchez.

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State – That screaming you hear outside your window is Jenkins in his free fall. Some mocks have him out of the first round entirely, but it’s hard to believe that a 4.5 40-yard dash can make him go from potential top-five pick to second round, especially when it was expected that he was going to run a time like that.
 
15. Houston Texans:Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois – The opposite of Jenkins, Davis is a workout warrior like his brother, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis. The Texans can only hope he shows up more on game days.

16. San Diego Chargers:Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State – Should Maybin fall here, he should be considered a sleeper choice in IDP leagues. Shawne Merriman is coming back, but there are enough sacks to go around in San Diego, as last season 11 different Chargers accumulated a sack.

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