Because we believe we would do a better job, the Clarion editors decided to collide their brains to produce a fresh version of the 2009 NFL Draft. Here is our mock draft of the first 10 picks. The NFL Draft is held on April 25 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The first and second rounds are scheduled for the first day and rounds three through seven occur on the following day.
1. Detroit Lions – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia (Kamari Stevens, news editor)
With the first pick in the draft, the Lions have an opportunity to draft a franchise changing quarterback. But, with no offensive line that QB could turn into another David Carr. It’s not like the Lions need to win now, they just need the pieces to be able to win.
2. St. Louis Rams – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest (Rusty Pate, editor)
Close your eyes and throw a dart. The Rams have so many holes that any new blood would be an improvement. The Butkus Award (top collegiate LB) winner could make an immediate impact.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor (Joseph Stueve, assistant editor)
How Jason Smith fell past the Rams is beyond me. The Chiefs gladly pluck the best offensive line prospect and possibly the best athlete in the 2009 class.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Crabtree, WR, Seattle (KS)
I think it would be stupid to miss out on taking a stud in Crabtree, who could potentially come in this season and make an impact.
5. Cleveland Browns – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College (RP)
The Browns ranked 28th against the run last season. Raji missed one season at B.C. due to academic problems and his character issues might cause the Browns to pass, but his talent deserves a top-five pick.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama (JS)
With all the off-the-field drama Smith has brought on himself before the draft, he should blend in well with the delinquent attitudes of the Bengals.
7. Oakland Raiders – Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State (KS)
The Crypt Keeper (Al Davis) will most likely take a wide receiver with this pick, but it would be in Davis’ best interest to take Maybin. In a division with each team having or building good offensive lines, the Raiders will be in need of a player, like Maybin, that’s quick off the ball.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jeremy Macklin, WR, Missouri (RP)
Maclin’s electricity cannot be denied. The Jags desperately need a receiver that could stretch the field and Macklin definitely does that. Even if he doesn’t immediately crack the starting lineup, his special team skills make him a no-brainer for Jacksonville.
9. Green Bay Packers – Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas (JS)
Orakpo fits well into the new 3-4 scheme the Packers are putting into place for the 2009 season. Imagine Orakpo and All-Pro Aaron Kampman coming off both edges on every down. Scary.
10. San Francisco 49ers – Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California (KS)
Sanchez and 49ers would be a match made in heaven. Sanchez is a California kid and I think the Niners aren’t in a rush to throw him in front of the headlights. Sanchez will work his tail off to be this franchise’s saving grace in the upcoming years.
11. Buffalo Bills – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee (RP)
While probably a stretch at 11, the Bills desperately need someone to pressure the quarterback. Ayers lead the SEC with 15.5 tackles for a loss last season and could be an immediate impact player for Buffalo.
12. Denver Broncos – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia (JS)
Am I hallucinating? Stafford channels his inner-Aaron Rodgers as he falls to the Broncos and new coach Josh McDaniels. A great situation for Stafford to sit and learn the offense as Kyle Orton keeps the seat warm.
13. Washington Redskins – Everette Brown, DE, Florida State (KS)
Washington recently cut defensive end Jason Taylor and Brown is a great pick to come in and try to fill that hole on the Redskins D-line.
14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State (RP)
The Saints need secondary help and Jenkins is the best on the board. He started four years for the Buckeyes and he would be an asset to any NFL squad.
15.Houston Texans – Clay Matthews, LB, Southern California (JS)
Surprisingly, the Texans have put together solid drafts when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Matthews has the ability to step right in and give tackling-machine DeMeco Ryan a formidable sidekick.
16.San Diego Chargers – Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State (KS)
With their offense being one of the best in the NFL, the Chargers need to focus on improving on defense and being able to get to the quarterback. Shawne Merriman returns after missing basically all of last season due to injury. As a back-up plan the Chargers should pick up Jackson.
17.New York Jets – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (RP)
The Jets need a play maker, and Harvin brings game breaking speed to the table. A trade up to snag Malcolm Jenkins would be the best move for the 29th ranked pass defense.
18.Denver Broncos – Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern California (JS)
I’m going with another Trojan linebacker as Maualuga fills a large hole in Denver’s defense. A lack of run defense has plagued the Broncos and Maualuga has the tenacity Denver needs in their linebackers.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State (KS)
Freeman is considered a reach at 19, but with ties to new head coach Raheem Morris-who was on K-State’s coaching staff in 2006-it’s not out of the question. Freeman has the ideal size for a QB- 6-foot-6, 250-pounds-but also the potential to be a bust if taken this high.
20. Detroit Lions – Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut (RP)
Any player in this draft makes Detroit a better team.
21. Philadelphia Eagles – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State (JS)
Completely and utterly unbiased, Beanie is the pick. The Eagles have lacked a power running game since the 20th century. Wells would complement Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb beautifully.
22. Minnesota Vikings – William Beatty, OT, Connecticut (KS)
The Vikings are known for their outstanding offensive line. So, it would be in their best interest to continue to build upon their strength and draft Beatty.
23. New England Patriots – Brian Cushing, LB, Southern California (RP)
Cushing has basically practiced against an NFL offense his entire collegiate career at USC. An instinctive, young defensive player plus Bill Belicheck would mean trouble for the AFC.
24. Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State (JS)
Matt Ryan proved his potential last season as he threw bomb-after-bomb to wide receiver Roddy White. The Falcons could go defense as they have huge holes at linebacker. But, Pettigrew plugs right into the Ryan-led offense.
25. Miami Dolphins – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois (KS)
Exceeding expectations is an understatement for what the Dolphins pulled off last year. With that being said, the Dolphins still have many holes to fill and in a division with wide receivers Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, improving the secondary is probably the Dolphins best option.
26. Baltimore Ravens – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (RP)
Heyward-Bey brings decent size and excellent athletic abilities. The Ravens may want to look on the other side of the ball, but Heyward-Bey has big time NFL potential.
27. Indianapolis Colts – Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi (JS)
The Colts are still lacking on their interior defensive line and the 300-pound Jerry definitely helps. The Colts don’t have a lot of holes, so taking the best available player wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
28. Buffalo Bills – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi (KS)
With this pick, the Bills draft a tackle to replace the one they just shipped to Philly (Jason Peters). Also, Oher could have possibly gone as high as 13 and him falling into the Bills lap is probably the best luck Buffalo has had in awhile.
29. New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina (RP)
I have decided to pick nothing but wide receivers.
30. Tennessee Titans – Ron Brace, DT, Boston College (JS)
Losing monster defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was tough. The easy pick would be receiver, but the Titans are clearly a run-first team. Tennessee has to fill the void left by Haynesworth.
31. Arizona Cardinals – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia (KS)
Edgerrin James still wants out of Arizona and with Moreno being almost a sure thing prospect, the Cardinals add another offensive weapon to make for their potential nightmare-inducing offense.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest (RP)
If looking only at size and combine performance, Smith does not immediately jump off the page. Smith gets to the ball and flat out plays football. He’s no shut down guy, but I believe he belongs in the first round.