NFL Draft Recap: Pick-By-Pick Reaction and Analysis

The 2009 NFL Draft has been exciting thus far through the first round. There have been some trades, some surprises, and perhaps some reaches.

Let's take a look at each selection.

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford - QB - Georgia

First off, this guy has bust written all over him. The documented strength of Stafford is the arm strength, while the weakness is that he is rather slow in his progressions and reads.

To me, that screams, "Bust!"

Making reads and becoming quicker in his progressions can be coached so that may not turn out to be a big deal. Unfortunately, the Lions are not well-known for sculpting talented players more than they are for ruining them. Stay tuned.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith - LT - Baylor

This is a fantastic pick for the St. Louis Rams. They were rumored to want to trade out of this pick, but since there were no takers they did the smart thing and took the best player on the board. Let’s also not forget he fills a huge need.

Smith is a big, nasty guy who will bring a certain attitude to the Rams that they have lacked for quite some time.

Look for this guy to hold down that left tackle spot for the next 12-15 years.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson - DE - LSU

This may have been a slight reach for Jackson at 3, but with that said the Chiefs got a good player here.

Jackson is a guy who’s athletic enough to play end in a 4-3, but big enough to play end in the 3-4, and play it well.

The Chiefs are looking to get tougher all-around, and Jackson helps that.

4. Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry - OLB - Wake Forest

Curry fell into the Seahawks’ lap with the number four pick in the draft, after passing by a team everyone was sure would take him with the third pick in the Kansas City Chiefs.

Curry may be the best overall player in the draft this year, and was in talks with the Lions to become the first overall pick.

If there is such a thing as a value pick in the top five, the Seahawks just got it.

5. New York Jets (from Cleveland Browns): Mark Sanchez - QB - USC

In the first blockbuster trade of the 2009 draft, the Jets traded an immense amount (swapped first-round picks, five and 17, their second-round pick, along with players Abram Elam, Kenyan Coleman, and QB Brett Ratliff) for an unproven guy.

Not just a guy unproven in the NFL, but unproven in college as well, making only 16 starts in his college career. But then again, Matt Cassel started 16 less than that.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith - LT - Alabama

The Bengals did what most people thought they would do, and that is drafted LT Andre Smith. Regardless of his problems this offseason, Smith is an incredible talent and may have been the second guy off the board if it weren’t for the aforementioned troubles.

The Bengals have acquired a guy who has the potential to be a fantastic, Pro Bowl caliber left tackle for a long time in the NFL.

7. Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey - WR - Maryland

In typical Al Davis fashion, he overlooked talent and any other sort of stat or intangible and drafted solely on speed.

So with Michael Crabtree still on the board, waiting in the draft’s green room, the Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Without getting offensive, this is just a dumb pick. Heyward-Bey may turn out to be a good player, but he was not worth the seventh pick. The fact that Crabtree was still on the board just makes it even worse.

Davis’ affinity for speed will come back to bite him.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe - LT - Virginia

Monroe was considered by many to be the best left tackle in this draft and could have gone in the top five simply based on preference.

The only knock on Monroe is that he’s not aggressive or tough enough in the run game, but the same was said about Joe Thomas; The same guy who made it to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.

9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji - DT - Boston College

With the Packers bringing in Dom Capers to switch the defense over to the 3-4, Raji was the only pick here. He can be that kind of Vince Wilfork-type nose tackle who can keep the linebackers free and clear to move around and make plays.

Raji is a great jumping-off point to get this 3-4 moving. He should be an impact player immediately. They better hope that their 2007 first-round pick DT Justin Harrell can play defensive end.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree - WR - Texas Tech

The 49ers need to kiss the ground that Al Davis walks on, then send him a thank-you letter for allowing their franchise to progress, while sending the Raiders back a few years.

Crabtree will help out whichever quarterback wins the job in camp look a whole lot better. The last time the 49ers drafted a wide receiver who was a playmaker but perhaps a little slow, it worked out just fine.

For those who don’t know, that man was Jerry Rice.

11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin - DE/OLB - Penn State

The Buffalo Bills must have a plan for Aaron Maybin, because he doesn’t really fit into a 4-3. He’s a little too small to be a 4-3 defensive end, and not quite big enough to play OLB. He’s a perfect 3-4 pass-rushing OLB.

Look for the Bills to try and bulk him up to play outside linebacker.

12. Denver Broncos: Knowshon Moreno - RB - Georgia

In one of the biggest surprises of the first round, the Broncos picked Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. Moreno is one of seven running backs on the Broncos roster heading into 2009.

This is a textbook case of simply selecting the best player on the board and not selecting for need, but was Moreno the best player on the board at the 12th pick? The Broncos are certainly starting the Josh McDaniels-era in a peculiar fashion.

13. Washington Redskins: Brian Orakpo - DE - Texas

Orakpo is another guy who was projected as a possible 3-4 OLB, but has been drafted by a 4-3 team as a defensive end.

He’s a high-motor guy who will help the Redskins get pressure on the quarterback, something they’ll need in a quarterback-heavy division with Eli Manning, Tony Romo, and Donovan McNabb.

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins - CB/FS - Ohio State

Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins could have easily been rated the best corner and the best free safety coming out of college this year. He reminds me a lot of Antrel Rolle in that he’s versatile enough to play both.

Personally I would have him playing free safety, but with the addition of Darren Sharper he may see time at corner until Sharper hangs it up.

15. Houston Texans: Brian Cushing - LB - USC

Cushing is the first of the USC linebackers to be drafted, but I’m not sold that he’s the best. I believed, and still do, that the best linebacker from that group was Rey Maualuga, then Cushing, and then Clay Matthews.

However, I do believe that Cushing is a good player and will be very good next to DeMeco Ryans. Cushing is a smart guy who plays within his assignment which will allow him to make an impact day one.

16. San Diego Chargers: Larry English - DE - Northern Illinois

This is a great pick for the Chargers who lost their defensive end, Igor Olshansky, to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.

A lot of people are screaming “reach” here at this pick, but I think this was a guy who was incredibly underrated and will make a big impact on a struggling Chargers’ defense.

He comes in listed as a defensive end, but he could play OLB in the 3-4. We’ll see if they have him bulk up and play DE or not.

To continue reading check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!