2009 Mock Draft: Version 2.0
By Nick Bishop
| # | Team | Pick | |
| 1 |  | Detroit Lions (0-16) | OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia – There’s no reason to pick a “franchise” quarterback if there isn’t one in this draft. Monroe could protect any quarterback for the next decade. |
St. Louis Rams
QB Matt Stafford, Georgia
– The Rams brass don’t receive the memo, and get some insurance for Bulger – and hopefully their QB of the future.3
Kansas City Chiefs
LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
– Curry might be the best prospect in the draft. KC needs help everywhere, so they take the best player on their board.4
Seattle Seahawks
OT Jason Smith, Baylor
– Walter Jones has been a great OT, that happens to also be on the wrong side of 35. Even if Jones has a year or two left in the tank, Smith
could play elsewhere on the line until he takes over for good.5
Cleveland Browns
DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
– Orakpo would be a very welcome addition to a defense that doesn’t do a very good job of getting to the quarterback.6
Cincinnati Bengals
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
– We liked Crabtree going to Seattle in our first draft, but Mr. Houshmanzadeh’s move to the West Coast completes the swip-swap. Capiche?7
Oakland Raiders
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri –
The Raiders complete their offensive triumvirate with this pick.8
Jacksonville Jaguars
CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
– The Jags spent their two first round picks of last year’s draft on defense. The defense got worse in 2008. They start it off right by taking the best CB in the draft.
9
Green Bay Packers
DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
– When the Packers hired Dom Capers as the new defensive coordinator, they chose to convert to the 3-4 defense that he prefers. In doing so, they have decided to move their best defenisve player, DE Aaron Kampman, to linebacker full time. Maybin will help make that a much easier transition.
10
San Francisco 49ers
DT B.J. Raji, Boston College
– Name the last great 49’ers DT. Neither can we.11
Buffalo Bills
DE Everette Brown, Florida State
– Everette Brown will help shore up the Bills D Line, taking pressure off of Aaron Schobel.12
Denver Broncos
DE Tyson Jackson, LSU –
Jackson’s versatility will help Denver’s transition to a 3-4 defense.13
Washington Redskins
OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss –
A project, but could be a real gem.14
New Orleans Saints
CB Vontae Davis, Illinois –
Even with the Darren Sharper signing, the Saints could use some serious help in the secondary.15
Houston Texans
LB Brian Cushing, USC
– Cushing, DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams could be the young nucleus of a defense that hasn’t done way too much to help out their offense in the past.16
San Diego Chargers
LB Rey Maualuga, USC
– The addition of Maualuga could help boost a linebacking corps that will already be drastically improved with the return of Merriman.17
New York Jets
QB Mark Sanchez
,
USC
– Can’t wait to see the first “Dirty Sanchez” headline on back page of the Post.18
Chicago Bears
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland –
Heyward-Bey’s combination of size and speed will help balance an offense that relied solely on Matt Forte last year.19
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB Josh Freeman, Kansas State –
The Bucs make the first “surprise” pick of the draft. Freeman doesn’t have the hype of Stafford or Sanchez, but a number of scouts like him more than either.20
Detroit Lions
DT Peria Jerry, Ole Miss
– Peria Jerry has drawn some comparisons to Albert Haynesworth, which has to be attractive to Schwartz. Plus he really won’t cost $100 million.21
Philadelphia Eagles
OT Andre Smith
, Alabama
– Smith
might have fallen off of the face of the earth recently, but with Philly’s need at the position, they can’t pass on him at 21.
22
Minnesota Vikings
WR
Hakeem Nicks, UNC –
They’ve got a burner in Berrian, so they get the wideout to help move the chains.23
New England Patriots
LB Clay Matthews, USC
– Bill Belichick likes him some white linebackers.24
Atlanta Falcons
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
– Big target over the middle will help Ryan develop even more next year.
25
Miami Dolphins
CB Alphonso Smith
, Wake Forest
– Smith is a solid all around corner, and polished enough to immediately help Miami’s secondary. A little bit more size, and he’s probably not around at 25.26
Baltimore Ravens
WR Kenny Britt, Rutgers
– The Ravens could stand to bolster a receiving corp that has no one of note signed past the coming season.27
Indianapolis Colts
CB Darius Butler, Connecticut –
Butler is one of the quieter risers on the board, but Polian has always had an eye for talent. He will help hold the secondary down with fellow little man Bob Sanders.28Philadelphia Eagles
RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
– Moreno shares a similar skill set with Brian Westbrook, and could be a complimentary back and very viable replacement once Westbrook hangs up the spikes.29
New York Giants
LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
– May have limited uspide, but he should be a solid addition to a defense with few weaknesses.30
Tennessee Titans
CB D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
– Tennessee needs to groom another CB for life after Nick Harper, but if Britt is still around here, they’ll give some serious consideration to a wideout in the first round.
31
Arizona Cardinals
RB Chris Wells, Ohio State
– So long Edge.32
Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Sean Smith
, Utah
– Smith
has been a fast riser in this draft and would be a great value pick here. He would certainly bolster a secondary short on youth and depth.