With the NFL Draft fast approaching and free agency well underway, team draft needs are becoming more defined by the day. Heated debate still rages over who Detroit should pick to rebuild their franchise, how far Andre Smith and Michael Crabtree should fall, and who the top offensive tackle should be. So, without further ado, here's my first shot at the 2009 draft:
1) Detroit Lions: OT Jason Smith - Baylor
I don't see any point in the Lions drafting a QB, unless they can keep him upright. If not, Matthew Stafford will have the same amount of success as Joey Harrington. I think the new coaching staff believes this too, and will focus on building the team from the inside out. While many will argue that Eugene Monroe is the best tackle in the draft, Smith brings a mean streak to the table that Jim Schwartz will love. The former tight end is fleet footed and should be able to pass protect at the next level, while bringing the strength and nastiness needed to be a dominant run blocker.
2) St. Louis Rams: OT Eugene Monroe - Virginia
The Rams would've jumped at the chance to draft Jake Long last year, and now with Orlando Pace out of the picture, have an even larger need at offensive tackle. Monroe was good enough to keep Branden Albert at guard last season, and should developing into a top pass protector in the pros.
3) Kansas City Chiefs: LB Aaron Curry - Wake Forest
Might be the best player in the draft. The Chiefs have already addressed their QB needs with Matt Cassell, and misses out on the top premier tackles in the draft. However, their consolation prize of Curry should be the building block of the Chief defense for many years. He's position and scheme versatile, which should give the new coaching staff some flexibility.
4) Seattle Seahawks: DE Brian Orakpo - Texas
I'm sure they were hoping for Aaron Curry to be here when they traded Julian Peterson to the Lions, but Detroit not selecting a QB first overall will certainly mess up the Seahawks' board. While B.J. Raji is a strong possibility here, the team just traded for Cory Redding and signed Colin Cole. With the interior line addressed in free agency, getting a pass rusher to lineup opposite Patrick Kerney would make sense here. Orakpo was a solid performer at Texas, and will give Seattle a honest effort against the run and pass.
5) Cleveland Browns: OLB Everette Brown - FSU
This might be a reach here, but with Orakpo gone, Brown is the next best conversion guy on the board. Kamerion Wimbley just hasn't gotten the job done. They need a guy who can come in and play from day one, and Brown could legitimately be a 10+ sack guy next year. It will be a hotly debated pick, but I believe the production from Brown will justify this top five selection.
6) Cincinnati Bengals: OT Andre Smith - Alabama
The flap at the combine likely cost Smith a top three selection, and his body condition at his pro-day will keep him from being a top 5 pick. Still, he was a dominating player in the SEC and should be able to play well at the next level. Good tackles are hard to find, and Smith will provide an instant upgrade over any OT on the Bengals' roster. The question with Smith is whether or not he can handle playing left tackle in the pros. With his massive size, he might not have the lateral quickness to handle NFL edge rushers, but his dominant run blocking ability should help him become a great RT down the road.
7) Oakland Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin - Missouri
Speed, speed, and more speed. Al Davis loves guys like this, and I'm sure he's dreaming of Maclin streaking down the sidelines with JaMarcus Russell launching 50-60 yard bombs down the field. I think Michael Crabtree is a better all-round player, but he wasn't able to workout. Plus, he might not be the vertical threat that the Raiders typically look for in their wide receivers.
8) Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech
The Jags have needed an elite wide receiving talent for years, and this is the year that they'll finally be able to address that. Maybe he didn't workout, but it's not like Crabtree tore his ACL or MCL. He was a stud in Lubbock and he'll continue to be a stud in the NFL. He's a great route runner, has sure hands, not afraid of traffic, and will get yards after the catch. The injury to Crabtree is the best thing to ever happen to Jacksonville.
9) Green Bay Packers: DT B.J. Raji - Boston College
The Packers could go any number of directions with this pick. The OTs are old, the defensive line was bad last year, and the linebackers underachieved. With Dom Capers and his 3-4 scheme coming in, I think Raji would make the most sense. The scheme won't work without a capable NT, and Ryan Pickett is near the end, so fortifying the positiong with some youth would make a lot of sense. Going for a player like Aaron Maybin might happen, but I feel the Packers think players like Jeremy Thompson or Jason Hunter could emerge to bookend Aaron Kampman.
10) San Francisco 49ers: QB Matthew Stafford - Georgia
The 49ers might like Shaun Hill, but he doesn't have the upside to be an elite QB. Stafford brings that Pro Bowl potential with him, and thanks to Hill, won't have to be thrown to the wolves in his rookie season. People are quick to criticize Stafford for 'underachieving' this past year at Georgia, but the offensive line was in shambles from day one. He has all the tools a coach could ask for, and with the right coaching could develop into a franchise QB.
11) Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin - PSU
I'm not a huge fan of Maybin in the 4-3. I think he's too small and would be better suited to playing OLB in a 3-4. Still, he offers intriguing potential as a pass rusher, and should put more weight on as he gets older. This is a high risk pick, but Bills need more of a pass rush and Maybin has tons of big play potential.
12) Denver Broncos: DE Tyson Jackson - LSU
The Broncos are going to a 3-4 and could use help at NT, DE, and linebacker to rebuild their defense to the scheme. Ultimately, I think they'll go with Jackson, who should be able to fill the 5-technique role in the new defense.
13) Washington Redskins: OT Michael Oher - Ole Miss
The Skins could use some help at OT, and Oher offers a ton of potential. He's been inconsistent in college, but great Senior Bowl practices have begun to restore hope that he can one day realize his vast potential. Maybe he doesn't pan out on the left side, but Oher should at the very worst be a starting right tackle in the NFL.
14) New Orleans Saints: DB Malcom Jenkins - OSU
Was once seen as a top 10 selection, but a bad combine severely hurt his draft status. Now some analysts are saying he might have to play safety at the next level. It shouldn't matter to much to the Saints. Their defense and secondary, in particular, need improvement. They would gladly welcome a player like Jenkins, whether he's playing centerfield or corner.
15) Houston Texans: LB Brian Cushing - USC
The Texans have dedicated a lot of their recent draft picks to defensive line, and used free agency to further bolster the unit. Now I think they'll look to address the second level, and Cushing is a very promising pro prospect. He's a versatile guy that could play inside or outside at the next level, and would instantly start as an outside linebacker for an emerging Texan defense.
16) San Diego Chargers: LB Rey Maualuga - USC
The return of Merrimen will bolster the OLBs on this team, and adding Maualuga via the draft will give the team an inside linebacker that opposing offenses will fear. Maualuga gets caught by play-action at times, but good coaching should fix that. In the meantime, they can enjoy the bone crushing hits he dishes out to running backs.
17) New York Jets: QB Mark Sanchez - USC
With Brett Favre gone, the Jets need to once again address the QB position. Currently, the team doesn't have a QB of the future on their roster, so if Sanchez falls to them, they'd be smart to jump on the opportunity. His small body of work at USC scares some people away, but he has a good arm and worked in a pro-style offense under Pete Carroll.
18) Chicago Bears: OT Eben Britton - Arizona
The Bears could go a lot of directions with this pick. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Percy Harvin went in this spot, but the Bears lost John Tait and John St. Clair, so they need a starter opposite Chris Williams. This would also allow them to move Frank Omiyale inside, where he might be best suited.
19) Tampa Bay: DT Peria Jerry - Ole Miss
The Bucs could use an interior presense to compliment Gaines Adams on the outside. Jerry could be the disruptive one-gap player the Bucs haven't had in years. A disruptive inside force could also help Adams take the next step as a player, by giving him more chances to work on an island against opposing left tackles.
20) Detroit Lions: QB Josh Freeman - Kansas State
If Jay Cutler keeps pushing for a trade, then this pick could be part of a package for him. If not, the Lions address their need at QB by taking Freeman. By taking their QB of the future at 20, the Lions won't feel the same pressure to thrust him into a starting role, like they would if they took Stafford at number one. Freeman has the tools to start in the NFL, but he'll need some practice in a pro-style offense before he can become the full-time starter. Going OT first, and taking Freeman at 20 might not be sexy, but it could pay off for the Lions in the long-run.
21) Philadelphia: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey - Maryland
Desean Jackson is a great vertical threat, but he's too small to be a number one guy. Heyward-Bey adds length and athleticism to the Eagle offense. He'll give McNabb a target in the redzone and, along with Jackson, stretch defenses out to open up lanes for Westbrook.
22) Minnesota Vikings: C Alex Mack - California
They need a guy to replace Matt Birk. He was a standout player at Cal, and I was impressed by his predraft practices. The Vikings favour the run, so it would be to there benefit to keep the offensive line in top shape.
23) New England Patriots: LB Clay Matthews - USC
This might be a reach, but I think he's the type of player that Belichick will fall in love with. Matthews is a high motor guy that would look good playing OLB for the Pats. I liked what I saw of him at the Senior Bowl, and his versatility will allow Belichick to play the hybrid 3-4/4-3 that he prefers.
24) Atlanta Falcons: DT Evander Hood - Missouri
Mike Smith comes from a defensive background, and the Falcons don't have a great defense yet. So, I think the Falcons will come out this year and look to address that side of the ball. I think the Falcons could look to linebacker at this spot too, since the position has been hit hard by free agency.
25) Miami Dolphins: OLB Clint Sintim - Virginia
Joey Porter had a great season last year, but the Dolphins could still use some depth at OLB. Sintim would be a good outside rusher in their system, and would help combat the excellent passing game of Tom Brady and the Patriots.
26) Baltimore Ravens: CB Vontae Davis - Illinois
He needs some work, but Davis is as good an athlete as any defensive back in this draft. The Ravens have signed Foxworth, but they still need another starting corner. Davis could be a steal at this point, if he pans out to his potential.
27) Indianapolis Colts: LB James Laurinaitis - Ohio State
The Colts would much rather pick Hood or Peria here, but neither guy falls this far in my draft, so the Colts try to improve their run defense with a linebacker. Laurinaitis hurt his draft status a lot by coming back this season, but he's still a good prospect who was productive in college. He should be a solid, although not amazing, starter in the NFL, like former Buckeye A.J. Hawk.
28) Philadelphia Eagles: RB Chris 'Beanie' Wells - Ohio State
The Eagles could use a player to compliment Westbrook. Wells could definitely give the Eagles a 'smash & dash' combo in the backfield. Injury concerns are the only reason he falls this far. Wells has shown he can be a stud when healthy, and sharing the carries in the NFL should keep him off the IR.
29) New York Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks - North Carolina
Everybody has seen the highlights of Nicks by now. He's a sure-handed receiver that runs great routes. He's great insurance for Burress not coming back, since Nicks can come in and start right away.
30) Tennessee Titans: WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers
He has been very productive for Rutgers, and will give a lot of help to a less than stellar Titans' passing game. He has a good body type too, which should help him become a big physical number one wideout in the pros.
31) Arizona Cardinals: RB Knowshon Moreno - Georgia
The Cardinals need help in the running game. Their passing offense is a thing of beauty, but a starting tailback is a must. I like Tim Hightower, but he's more of a number two to me. Moreno has gamebreaking ability, and the Cardinals will be delighted that he dropped down so far.
32) Pittsburgh Steelers: OT William Beatty - UCONN
The Steelers are the champs, so they don't have too many holes, but the offensive line is the one unit on this team that could use some help. He has good size, I liked what I saw from him in predraft practices, and I think he can start for the Steelers in week one.
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