2009 NFL Mock Draft

Hard to believe, but the NFL Draft is now upon us. I've been doing mock drafts for five years now and have followed the draft for long before that, so I have some experience. I'm no Todd McShay or Mel Kiper, but maybe one day...

Anyway, here are my picks for the first round. Enjoy!

1. Detroit Lions- Matt Stafford, QB-Georgia
Fresh news from ESPN: Stafford has agreed to a six year deal worth $41.7 million gauranteed with the Detroit Lions, so he's the number one pick. It's a good job by the Lions, who need to get a quarterback to get their franchise moving in the right direction again after an 0-16 season. Nowhere to go now but up.

2. St. Louis Rams- Jason Smith, OT-Baylor
This is a toss-up between Smith and Eugene Monroe. The Rams need to replace Orlando Pace, and while either tackle would be a good fit here, I think they go with Smith, as that's the direction I've heard they're leaning.

3. Kansas City Chiefs-Aaron Curry, ILB-Wake Forest
Scott Pioli's come to Kansas City, and he's brought the 3-4 defense with him. Curry would be a perfect fit right in the heart of that defense, and should be an anchor for the Chiefs for years to come.

4. Seattle Seahawks-Michael Crabtree, WR-Texas Tech
This pick could go a couple of different directions. Seattle could go with Mark Sanchez, but I'm not sure they're willing to pay him to sit on the bench while Matt Hasselbeck finishes his career. Jason Smith could be a better choice, if Walter Jones is going to miss some time next year. However, wide receiver is a glaring need for Seattle, and despite some of the "diva" reports that have come out about Crabtree, he should be the pick here.

5. Cleveland Browns-Brian Orakpo, DE-Texas
If Crabtree falls past Seattle, I can see the Browns picking him here. If not, they could also look at Jason Smith, but the Browns only managed 17 sacks all of last season. They clearly need help in the front seven, and drafting the best rushing defensive end in the draft can certainly help.

6. Cincinnati Bengals- Eugene Monroe, OT-Virginia
Levi Jones looks like he's on the outs in Cincinnati, so a left tackle almost has to be the pick here. Andre Smith's name may come up, but his character issues should still keep him out of the minds of the Bengals and make Monroe the pick.

7. Oakland Raiders- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR-Maryland
Here comes the first changeup of the draft. First, everyone knows that Al Davis loves fast players. While Jeremy Maclin is fast, Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30 40 yard dash, and is over six feet tall. That certainly caught Davis' eye, and the thought of JaMarcus Russell finally having a tall deep threat will be too much for the Raiders to pass up, despite their other needs.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars- Mark Sanchez, QB-USC
I do not expect the Jaguars to take Mark Sanchez, but I expect him to get drafted at this spot. Denver has made it known that they will not be trading up, but the Jets and Washington are still interested, and I believe that the Jaguars will get something done with one of those teams. If they can't find a taker for this spot, Malcolm Jenkins could go here.

9. Green Bay Packers- Tyson Jackson, DE-LSU
The Packers need help on their defensive line at both the end position and at DT. They at least have Ryan Pickett at DT, but he's in a contract year. However, they are even thinner at defensive end, where there's Cullen Jenkins and then no one else. Jackson's stock has been shooting up of late, and while he isn't the prototypical defensive end, I think he lands with the Packers.

10. San Francisco 49ers- Andre Smith, OT-Alabama
San Francisco has issues at quarterback, where Alex Smith has flamed out and their other options aren't that great, either. They might take a look at Josh Freeman here, but that would be a big reach. With Tyson Jackson off the board, they'll probably look at a tackle to replace Marvel Smith, who has had injury issues. The choice will come down to Andre Smith and Michael Oher, and in the end, the big man from Alabama wins out, and Mike Singletary will get a chance to put his head on right.

11. Buffalo Bills- Michael Oher, OT-Ole Miss
After dealing Jason Peters to Philadelphia, the Bills must take a left tackle here. This will be whichever tackle the 49ers don't take, and since I have San Francisco taking Andre Smith, Michael Oher gets to go play in Buffalo. The Bills would be happy with either one, since they need that tackle now.

12. Denver Broncos- B.J. Raji, DT-Boston College
I don't know if you actually saw the Denver Broncos play defense last year, but it wasn't pretty. Now that the drug issues have been sorted out for Raji, the Broncos should be thrilled that he's here. They need a big run stopper for their 3-4 defense, and Raji would fit right in.

13. Washington Redskins- Aaron Maybin, DE-Penn State
Jason Taylor came and went in Washington, and the Redskins only managed 24 sacks as a team in 2008. Aaron Maybin has one of the highest ceilings of any player in the draft and would help the Redskins out right away. The sooner he has Washington fans forgetting about Jason Taylor, the better.

14. New Orleans Saints- Malcolm Jenkins, CB-Ohio State
The Saints really need help in the secondary, and having the best corner in the draft fall to them would be the best possible situation. Jenkins would be an immediate upgrade and should help the Saints with what was a mediocre at best defense from last year.

15. Houston Texans- Brian Cushing, LB-USC
Houston needs a linebacker, and any of the USC trio would be a solid fit here to go alongside DeMeco Ryans, I think the Texans go with Brian Cushing. Houston might also try to trade down out of this pick, but if they can't, Cushing should be their guy.

16. San Diego Chargers-Chris Wells, HB-Ohio State
Things could get interesting here for the Chargers. They need to upgrade at their tackle positions, but the LaDanian Tomlinson issue is still looming large in San Diego. The only person that thinks Darren Sproles can be a starting running back in the NFL is Darren Sproles, so the Chargers take Wells here as Tomlinson's replacement.

17. New York Jets- Jeremy Maclin, WR-Missouri
Even though Josh Freeman could be the pick here if the Jets can't get a deal worked out for either Brady Quinn or Mark Sanchez, New York needs help at wide receiver after they cut Laveranues Coles. Plus, they missed out on signing Tory Holt, so help is needed here. If Maclin slips this far, I think the Jets take him over Freeman.

18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago)-Ray Maualuga, LB-USC
After addressing one need with the B.J. Raji pick earlier in the first round, the Broncos are able to really fix up their defense with Ray Maualuga. While he has had a few issues leading up to the draft, Maualuga would be an instant upgrade over any linebacker the Broncos have right now, and could certainly ease some of the sting of having to trade Jay Cutler for this pick.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Josh Freeman, QB-Kansas State
Tampa cleaned house and brought in a new regime for this coming season, and even though they signed Byron Leftwich, they're going to need a quarterback for the future. Josh Freeman has looked like he could be this year's Joe Flacco, only without the unibrow, so the Bucs take him here. If he's gone, expect to see a pick to upgrade their defensive line.

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas)- Eben Britton, OT-Arizona
Now that the Lions have Stafford signed, they're going to need someone to help protect him. William Beatty from UConn will be considered here, but he's a bit of a reach, so the Lions go with Eben Britton out of Arizona. He should be able to protect Stafford for years, and the Lions won't end up with another Joey Harrington.

21. Philadelphia Eagles-Knowshon Moreno, HB-Georgia
I'm not going to lie...this is really more what I want the Eagles to do, instead of what I think they're going to do. Andy Reid hasn't drafted a skill position player in the first round of the NFL Draft since Freddie Mitchell in 2001, but he could here. The Eagles need to find a successor to Brian Westbrook, and Moreno would be that guy. If the Eagles don't take him, look for a defensive lineman to go here, since that's Andy's thing.

22. Minnesota Vikings- Vontae Davis, CB-Illinois
Minnesota could also look at a wide receiver here, but with Jeremy Maclin off the board and Percy Harvin's positive drug test now over his head, I think they go with a cornerback. Vontae Davis fills a need position for the Vikings, and should start right away.

23. New England Patriots- Robert Ayers, DE-Tennessee
The Patriots struck gold last year with Jerod Mayo, and they'd like to do it again this time around. Their defense still isn't getting any younger, and Ayers' stock has been moving up of late. He can play defensive end and linebacker, making him a perfect fit in New England's system.

24. Atlanta Falcons- Clay Matthews, OLB-USC
Since the Falcons just filled their hole at tight end by trading for Tony Gonzalez, they can now focus on upgrading their defense. Both Michael Boley and Keith Brooking left in free agency, leaving them with holes at both outside linebacker positions. Clay Mathews would be an excellent pick here.

25. Miami Dolphins- Darius Butler, CB-UConn
Bill Parcells loves drafting defensive players, and with the lack of depth at corner, Daris Butler is an easy pick here. Will Allen needs someone across from him who can play, and Butler can do just that.

26. Baltimore Ravens- Kenny Britt, WR-Rutgers
The Ravens will be looking at wideout and cornerback positions in the first round, with Jeremy Maclin and Vontae Davis more than likely being their top choices. With both of them off the board, I think they go with Kenny Britt, whose stock has been rising up of late. The Ravens need to find Joe Flacco a good young weapon on offense, and Britt could be just that.

27. Indianapolis Colts- Peria Jerry, DT-Ole Miss
The Colts desperately need to address their run defense, and Peria Jerry would be a perfect way to do that. The big man from Ole Miss fits a huge need, and the Colts start rebuilding that defense again. They could also look at a wide receiver here, but if Jerry is around, he'll be the pick.

28. Buffalo Bills (from Philadelphia)- Brandon Pettigrew, TE-Oklahoma St.
With the Falcons picking up Tony Gonzalez, Pettigrew should slip down to the Bills. They need a big receiving option, and he can block as well, making him a solid double threat at tight end. Trent Edwards would have to be thrilled to have T.O. (if he's sane), and Pettigrew added in the same offseason.

29. New York Giants- Percy Harvin, WR-Florida
Even with his recent drug issues, I think the Giants take Percy Harvin here. They just washed their hands of one problem receiver, but I think that Harvin can turn himself around. Eli Manning needs that solid wideout to be a great NFL quarterback, so I think the Giants give him that back, after cutting ties with Plaxico Burress.

30. Tennessee Titans- Evander Hood, DT-Missouri
The Titans lost Albert Haynesworth in free agency, so they need to replace him. Cornerback could also be the pick here, but I think the need for a solid run stopper in the middle of their defense takes the lead.

31. Arizona Cardinals- Donald Brown, HB-UConn
Tim Hightower has a nice story, but nice stories don't get you the yards you need when it's 3rd and short. Donald Brown would be a great upgrade over Hightower and Edgerrin James, who has every little left in his tank.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Alex Mack, C-Cal
Center is one of the few places where the Super Bowl champions can stand to upgrade substancially. While picking a center in the first round isn't really the sexy thing to do, Mack is a potential once in a decade player at the position, and could step in right away.