2009 NFL Mock Draft

First Round
Pick Team Selection Position College
1 Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford Quarterback Georgia
We are not yet convinced that any of the QBs in this year's draft warrant the #1 pick. However, Dante Culpepper still has a year left on his contract and should hold down the fort while the new coaching staff works out the kinks in Stafford's game. His pocket awareness is suspect and he makes some questionable decisions when going through his progressions. He has all the physical tools to be a winning QB, so let him sit for a year and learn the pro game (it will also give the Lions a chance to build a respectable offensive line so he doesn't get killed). Sitting didn't hurt Carson Palmer and it can only help Stafford.
2 St. Louis Rams Jason Smith Offensive Tackle Baylor
Bill Parcells snaked Jake Long from the Rams last year, but this year they finally get the long-term replacement for the departed Orlando Pace. We're going with Smith for now, but as draft day draws closer the name may change but the position will remain the same.
3 Kansas City Chiefs B.J. Raji Nose Tackle Boston College
Raji is a Casey Hampton style nose tackle who will stuff the run for the next 10 years.
4 Seattle Seahawks Mark Sanchez Quarterback USC
The Jim Mora, Jr. era will commence with the picking of Matt Hasselbeck's replacement. USC standout Sanchez will take a short flight north to begin what we believe will be a promising career in a West Coast style offense.
5 Cleveland Browns Tyson Jackson Defensive End LSU
Note: Expect the Browns to do just about anything to move down, possibly out of the top-10.

Now that Shaun Rogers is happy again, why not give him a partner. It looks like the best the Browns can do here is upgrade their pass-rush.
6 Cincinatti Bengels Aaron Curry Outside Linebacker Wake Forest
Even though this year's draft class is not the best we've seen over the past few years, it is not devoid of top-end prospects. Aaron Curry is immensely talented and backed it up at the combine. Therefore, he wins this year's coveted “Most Likely to Succeed” award as the safest pick of the top-10 prospects. A team this desperate for playmakers on defense cannot afford to pass on this guy, despite the many needs it has.
7 Oakland Raiders Jeremy Maclin Wide Receiver Missouri
Although the temptation will be there, Al Davis will pass on taking Crabtree. Instead, he gets a speedy receiver with return capabilities in Maclin. It's hard to imagine this team without a gifted wideout, but that's where they are, so Maclin goes in the top 10 as a result.
8 Jacksonville Jaguars Eugene Monrow Offensive Tackle Virginia
As of right now, #8 may seem way too high for Rey Maualuga which is too bad because the Jags need a defensive captain after Jack Del Rio's fall-out with Mike Peterson. Brian Orakpo is a possibility, but the Jags moved up last year to grab another D-end in Derrick Harvey. If the Jags can move down a couple of spots they may target Clay Matthews (or Maualuga) For now, we have them taking Eugene Monroe. based on talent alone. Andre Smith's Combine shenanigans are too difficult to ignore, especially for a hard-ass like Jack Del Rio.
9 Green Bay Packers Aaron Maybin OLB/DE Penn State
Dom Capers is the new defensive coordinator in Green Bay, which means it's time to install his 3-4 defense. Maybin will be a good fit as an OLB in Capers system.
10 San Francisco 49ers Michael Crabtree Wide Receiver Texas Tech
The 49ers have been without a top notch receiver since the departure of T.O. Crabtree is not a blazer, but he is a complete package. The only thing left is to find someone to throw him the ball...
11 Buffalo Bills Andre Smith Offensive Tackle Alabama
Smith's dramatics at the Combine will cause him to drop outside of the Top 10. Although issues may remain, Buffalo can feel good taking a risk on a potential Pro-bowl talent at Pick #11.
12 Denver Broncos Everette Brown Defensive End Florida State
Speaking of defense, it's hard to think of a unit more inept that the one the Broncos fielded last year. Free agent addition Brian Dawkins should help, but there are still many holes to fill. Added to which, they are transitioning to a 3-4 defense so it almost like starting from scratch. Ultimately, this shouldn't alter their draft strategy which will likely see nothing but defensive picks for the first 3 rounds. Defensive ends in a 3-man front are tough to come by, so Brown makes a ton of sense here with Tyson Jackson off the board.
13 Washington Redskins Brian Orakpo Defensive End Texas
The release of Jason Taylor leaves a hole in the Redskins' high-priced defense. They need a pass rusher so they are forced to draft for need rather than talent.
14 New Orleans Saints Chris "Beanie" Wells Running Back Ohio State
With Reggie Bush spending a lot of time each season on the bench, adding to their stable of running backs can't hurt.
15 Houston Texans Clay Matthews Linebacker USC
Word out of Houston is that Matthews is their guy. They even hired his uncle to sweeten the pot. We'll see.
16 San Diego Chargers Michael Oher Offensive Tackle Ole Miss
San Diego looks to provide more protection for their franchise quarterback.
17 New York Jets Knowshon Moreno Running Back Georgia
Thomas Jones' off-season absence from voluntary work-outs has been well documented. The Jets counter by drafting his replacement.
18 Denver Broncos Brian Cushing Linebacker USC
Cushing is pretty much the best defensive player on the board at this point. He should develop into a fine 3-4 middle linebacker.
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Robert Ayers Defensive End Tennessee
Ayers' stock has seen a meteoric rise this draft season and could go higher than this when his name is finally called.
20 Detriot Lions Rey Maualuga Linebacker USC
Detroit needs to address many needs on defense, so why no start in the center of the field. Middle Linebacker Rey Maualuga will provide the character and leadership on defense to compliment the addition of a franchise quarterback on offense.
21 Philadelphia Eagles Malcolm Jenkins Cornerback Ohio State
Lito Sheppard and Brian Dawkins are gone, so why not bring in a guy who could potentially play either position?
22 Minnesota Vikings Darius Heyward-Bey Wide Receiver Maryland
Whoever wins the quarterback battle in Minnesota will need some better targets to whom to throw. Heyward-Bey should fit nicely next to the speed of Bernard Berrian.
23 New England Patriots Vonte Davis Cornerback Illinois
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24 Atlanta Falcons Branson Pettigrew Tight End Oklahoma State
It's not as if they don't have other needs, namely linebacker. Pettigrew is talented enough to warrant selection at #24, in fact he's a bit of a steal at this point. This pick should go a long way towards the continued development of Matt Ryan.
25 Miami Dolphins Larry English Linebacker Northern Illinois
The best part of last year's draft season was watching the Tuna do his 'bitter old man' routine as reporters tried to pick his brain as to who he was gonna pick at #1. While this year's pick may lack that intrigue, it'll be interesting to see who he has rated highest at #25. For now we think it'll be a running-mate (and eventual replacement) for Joey Porter.
26 Baltimore Ravens Darius Butler Cornerback Connecticut
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27 Indianapolis Colts Peria Jerry Defensive Tackle Ole Miss
Should Jerry be available at #27, we have little doubt that he'll be taken here. The Colts run defense was a liability once again last year and Jerry would be a step in the right direction.
28 Philadelphia Eagles Michael Johnson Defensive End Georgia Tech
Johnson is somewhat of an enigma. He has the measurables (6-7, 260), but his effort is inconsistent. If the Eagle's coaching staff can get this dude to play hard every down, look out!
29 New York Giants Kenny Britt Wide Receiver Rutgers
This pick is directly tied the departure of Plaxico Burress. He has been kicked to the curb, so it's time to draft a new "security blanket" for the younger Manning. Can anyone say, “Knee jerk reaction?”
30 Tennessee Titans Hakeem Nicks Wide Receiver North Carolina
The Titans address a need by drafting a talented wide-out.
31 Arizona Cardinals Eben Britton Offensive Tackle Arizona
Ken Whisenhunt knows that his offensive line could use an upgrade. Britton should develop nicely under the direction of Russ Grimm.
32 Pittsburgh Steelers Alex Mack Center California
There seems to be some debate as to who is the best center prospect in the draft. One thing that isn't up for debate is the Steelers' need for some new faces along the offensive line. For now we're going with Mack, but Max Unger is a possibility here should he still be available. Both Unger and Mack can play center or guard and both positions could stand to upgraded. Mike Tomlin loves versatile players, so either would make sense here.