Now less than 24 hours before the annual NFL draft and since everyone and his brother has a mock draft, I figure, why not me. So here goes, my 2009 NFL Mock Draft. We'll know by 9pm Saturday EDT just how out of my mind I am.
1: DETROIT LIONS MATTHEW STAFFORD QB GEORGIA
Let's face it, the rebuilding in Detroit is going to take a long, long time. Draft a guy who'll be the face of the future. Let him sit and learn from someone else
2: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS JASON SMITH OT BAYLOR
They gave up on Orlando Pace and they need to rebuild their offense. Sound a little bit like the Bengals? Smith is a great start
3: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AARON CURRY LB WAKE FOREST
They be tempted by Michael Crabtree because their new QB Matt Cassel has to throw to somebody. But plenty of WR option are available later.
4: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS MARK SANCHEZ QB SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
OK, this is the pick that will affect what the Bengals do the most. If the Seahawks take OT Eugene Monroe, it will make the Bengals brass think real hard about taking DT BJ Raji. But the Seahawks have to think about replacing Matt Hasselback soon. Sanchez is a good options
5: CLEVELAND BROWNS MICHAEL CRABTREE WR TEXAS TECH
Kellen Winslow is gone. Braylon Edwards is going. Somebody has to catch passes. If the Chiefs don't take Crabtree, the Browns will leap on him.
6: CINCINNATI BENGALS EUGENE MONROE OT VIRGINIA
Monroe is the second best option at LT in this draft. Jerry Jones, in the "Drugstore List" says this about Monroe. "Excellent pass protecter, good balance and footwork. Won starting LT job as a junior beating out Branden Albert, who was a first round draft pick in 2008". The Bengals should be so lucky to get this guy.
7: OAKLAND RAIDERS PERCY HARVIN WR FLORIDA
Despite the report that Harvin tested positive for marijuana the the NFL Combine, the Raiders will take Harvin and his myriad talents.
8: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS BJ RAJI DT BOSTON COLLEGE
The Jags need a WR because Matt Jones is no more. Jeremy Macklin will be there. But the Jags also need to do something about their awful pass defense.
9: GREEN BAY PACKERS BRIAN ORAKPO DE TEXAS
Defense, defense, defense for this team. The Pack needs a pass rusher to be truly back
10: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ANDRE SMITH OT ALABAMA
The 49er's defense isn't bad. But it's constantly put in the position of having to always be on the field. The 49ers need to protect the quarterback better. Drafting Smith, and yes his bizarre behavior lately, gives them the strongest man in this year's draft.
11: BUFFALO BILLS TYSON JACKSON DE LSU
The Bills will be tempted by OT Michael Ohler. But Jackson gives them a legit pass rusher, something this team really needs.
12: DENVER BRONCOS REY MAUALUGA LB SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Broncos need help stopping the run. With both of the top DT off the board, Maualuga is the choice.
13: WASHINGTON REDSKINS AARON MAYBIN DE PENN STATE
The Redskins can't throw the ball and their defense can't stop the run. They liked Sanchez and Crabtree is their kind of guy. Assuming they don't trade up, they take Maybin the second best pass rusher in this draft.
14: NEW ORLEAN SAINTS CHRIS 'BEANIE' WELLS RB OHIO STATE
Let's face it, the Saints need a 'horse'. "Beanie" falls into their laps.
15; HOUSTON TEXANS MALCOLM JENKINS CB OHIO STATE
Back to back Buckeyes. Jenkins will give the Texans a 'shutdown' corner that this franchise desperately needs.
16: SAN DIEGO CHARGERS PERLA JERRY DT MISSISSIPPI
Here's my thinking. The Chargers play the run well, the pass not so well. Having Jerry handle double teams will free up the ends for a more effective pass rush. OK, so maybe that's why I'm not an NFL general manager.
17: NEW YORK JETS VONTAE DAVIS CB ILLINOIS
Davis is a corner who can attack the run. That's a valuable and scarce commodity. He also ran a 4.44 at the Combine. J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets hop on him in a heartbeat.
18: CHICAGO BEARS KNOWSHON MORENO RB GEORGIA
The Bears have Jay Cutler. They also have an offense that can't rush. That would make Cutler a sitting duck. Moreno is a great fit.
19: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS JOSH FREEMAN QB KANSAS STATE
Sure, Jon Gruden isn't there anymore but the Bucs have been searching for a franchise quarterback every since Jake Plummer told them to take a hike. Freeman will take a lot of hikes in his time in Tampa.
20: DETROIT LIONS (fr Dallas) MICHAEL OHER OT MISSISSIPPI
The Lions got a franchise quarterback with the #1 overall. They now have someone to protect his butt. Good solid choice. Which means, the Lions probably won't do it.
21: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES JEREMY MACLIN WR MISSOURI
Ha! Bet your were saying "Ken, you forgot about him". No and neither will the Eagles, who have the defense to win now....but not the offense. Maclin will help that, a lot.
22: MINNESOTA VIKINGS WILLIAM BEATTY OT CONNECTICUT
The Vikings can't pass, because they can't pass protect. They would've like Oher. But they're OK, because Beatty has the speed and footwork to pass protect like a horse. 6-6, 307 pounds and a very willing blocker.
23: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS ALPHONSO SMITH CB WAKE FOREST
Been awhile since the Patriots drafted this high in round 1. Like the Vikings, the Pats need offensive line help. But they also have a big need in the secondary. Smith is the choice, despite his 5-9 height.
24: ATLANTA FALCONS EVERETTE BROWN DE/OLB FLORIDA STATE
Once thought to be a top five pick, Brown's stock has tumbled some. But in the Falcons defense, he should flourish. He'll have to leap frog some incumbants. But Brown should have no problem doing that.
25: MIAMI DOLPHINS CLAY MATTHEWS OLB SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Aside from Curry, Matthews is the best outside linebacker in this draft. He'll be a star in Miami. Matthews gets a lot of his headlines from rushing the passer, but he's also very good against the run.
26: BALTIMORE RAVENS DARIUS BUTLER CB CONNECTICUT
With Chris McCallister gone, Butler has a chance to become the heir-apparent. The Ravens will be tempted by a local, Maryland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, still available. But they can find a WR later in the draft.
27: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS DARRIUS HEYARD-BEY WR MARYLAND
Best choice on the board for the Colts. Marvin Harrison is a memory and Peyton Manning needs a fresh target. Heyward-Bey can leap and his YAC (yards after catch) are impressive.
28: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (fr: Carolina) DONALD BROWN RB CONNECTICUT
The Eagles got a WR earlier in round 1. Now they get a workhorse running back who is also excellent at pass protection. And the Eagles had trouble with that this past season.
29: NEW YORK GIANTS KENNY BRITT WR RUTGERS
This is, of course, assuming the Giants don't make the trade for Browns WR Braylon Edwards. Britt is a big target (6-3 218) and while not a 'burner' has sure hands and runs tight routs.
30: TENNESSEE TITANS ALEX MACK C CALIFORNIA
Tennessee desperately needs wide receivers. But the best of the best are all gone by now. So, take the guy where pass protection begins. Mack will be a fixture on that Titans line for years.
31: ARIZONA CARDINALS MICHAEL JOHNSON DE GEORGIA TECH
The Cardinals need a running back and a pass rusher. But remember, all the good running backs are gone. Johnson should have been gone by now. So the Cardinalsl leap on him. His big wing span and his ability to stop the run is enticing. So too are his dimensions: 6-7 270
32: PITTSBURGH STEELERS EBEN BRITTON OT ARIZONA
They'll look hard at Robert Ayers, the defensive end from Tennessee and Paul Kruger, the defensive end from Utah. But in the end, the Steelers will opt for offensive line help. Immediately after this pick, Ben Roethlisberger will announce he's naming his first born Eben, who can play either RT or LT (not Ben's future kid, Eben Britton.)
So there you have it. We'll see, starting Saturday at 4p how far off I am.
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