2009 NFL Draft: News & Views

The NFL draft provides plenty of newsworthy stories year after year for football enthusiasts around the world. The 2009 NFL Draft was no different when it came to day one's comings and goings.

To tackle the major stories from Saturday the Bruno Boys are bringing a Newz and Viewz approach to the draft. Let's hope that your team did better than my Detroit Lions did. I mean seriously, the worst defense in the NFL selects only one defensive player in their first four picks? Ugh.

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NEWZ: The New York Jets traded up to select QB Mark Sanchez.

VIEWZ: The Jets definitely made a very aggressive move by trading their No. 17 pick, No. 52 pick and three players (DE Kenyon Coleman, QB Brett Ratliff and S Abram Elam) to the Cleveland Browns for the 5th overall pick of the day, a pick they used on QB Mark Sanchez. 

Although the Jets paid a steep price, the consensus around the league is that Sanchez has the most upside of any quarterback, including Matthew Stafford in this draft. The Jets needed to replace the arm of retired QB Brett Favre, and it looks as if they have done it in outstanding fashion.

The only thing that could really turn this into a nightmare is the concern surrounding the fact that Sanchez has only one year of starting experience and is headed to a big-time media city, meaning he won't be given as long as a learning period as he would in a smaller market. As long as New York is supportive, Sanchez should prove to be a solid gunslinger for years to come.

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NEWZ: In a surprise move that no one saw coming, the Oakland Raiders used their No. 7 overall selection to draft WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.

VIEWZ: Wow, really? Heyward-Bey? Not Jeremy Maclin or Michael Crabtree? Come on now. I know my Lions draft like crap year after year and I guess all I can say is thank the Lord that the Raiders are there to steal some of the laughs.

I am not mocking the fact that they grabbed a wide receiver, just the fact that they passed on what is expected to be a star receiver in Crabtree. Until they change ownership, the Raiders future remains bleak.

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NEWZ: OT Michael Oher was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens at No. 23 in the first round.

VIEWZ: For those that haven't done so already, read up on Oher. He has had to overcome a ton of adversity to get to the point to where he is today.

Not only that, you can tell that he is an outstanding man as moments after being drafted he was being interviewed, during which he stated that he didn't care if he went in the first round or the seventh and that any team getting him was getting a great player that will give them all that he has.

Bravo Oher! And welcome to the NFL.

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NEWZ: Talking about good guys, LB Aaron Curry fell to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 4, becoming Julian Peterson's replacement.

VIEWZ: This is why the Seahawks are a good club. Even after having a down year. they were very smart on the way they drafted. Knowing they needed defense, they went out and got defense!

Maybe I am just bitter over what my Lions have done this draft, but one thing is for sure—Curry should have an outstanding career in Seattle.

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NEWZ: LB Rey Maualuga drops from the first round and is selected by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 38 overall.

VIEWZ: Either this is a blessing or a curse for the Bengals.

Before draft day, Maualuga was widely respected all around the draft circles as being one of the best linebackers available in this draft. It turns out that NFL execs thought both of his teammates at USC, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews were better as both were selected before him. I am not sure on the reasons behind Maualuga's fall, but this should help out the Bengals immensely.

However, they do have a history of horrible luck when it comes to the draft, so only time will tell. My prediction though is that he greatly boosts a defensive unit that is in dire need of an adrenaline shot.

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NEWZ: Only a few short weeks after finally ending the Jay Cutler merry-go-round, coach Josh McDaniels drafts rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, giving the Broncos near double digit bodies at the running back position, and then trades their 2010 first round pick to Seattle for the No. 37 overall this year (huh???) to draft cornerback Alphonso Smith.

VIEWZ: So, before McDaniels has even coached one game for the Broncos, he has already gotten into an altercation bad enough that caused the end of a great young quarterbacks tenure in Denver, drafted a running back when they had already signed a few in the offseason, and then traded their 2010 first round pick for a cornerback who is a tad undersized to probably become a star in the NFL.

People in Denver must be scratching their heads right now. I don't even come close to claiming that I can run an NFL team, but one thing is for sure—I know that I wouldn't have started my first year like McDaniels has.

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