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 NCAA Scouting
2009 NFL Draft
1st Round Review
by Jody Jamieson
27/4/2009
1. Detroit Lions Matt Stafford
1-1! This was a good pick for the Lions, and I’m glad they had the guts to go through with it. Over $40 million in guaranteed money is absurd, but there’s really nothing they can do about the money short of pulling an Oakland Raiders and picking Mel Kiper’s 71st ranked quarterback. Due to the Lions next picks, which I’ll get to later, I really hope Stafford doesn’t see the field in year 1 as I think he may get killed. That being said, they have their quarterback of the future.
2. St Louis Rams Jason Smith
2-2! The Rams get their replacement for Orlando Pace and there’s a slight possibility that Marc Bulger may have an injury free season! I liked either Smith or Eugene Monroe in this spot, but after flip flopping for a while, we eventually went with Smith. The biggest difference between those two is that Monroe is a great pass protector but may not be as physical in the run game. With Steven Jackson in the backfield, taking a mauler in the run game works.
3. Kansas City Chiefs Tyson Jackson
Epic fail for our mock and the Chiefs. The reason no-one had Aaron Curry going first to Detroit was that linebacker doesn’t have the positional value that a quarterback (or even a left tackle) has. So why in that case do they pass on Curry and pick a defensive end like Jackson? Can’t say I’m impressed with this pick.
 The Seahawks prosper from the Chiefs incompetence. 4. Seattle Seahawks Aaron Curry
Linebacker isn’t really a huge need for Seattle anyway, but when you’ve got a chance to pick the best player in the draft at number 4, you better have a really good reason for passing over him. Seattle didn’t, and rightly pulled the trigger.
5. New York Jets Mark Sanchez
How disappointing is it to hear the Jets make a first round pick and not hear the boos rain down? Last year the fans went wild for Vernon Gholston (who did nothing) but the Jets understand tradition is important in the NFL, trading back in to take Dustin Keller (who did well) who was booed. The Jets move up 12 places, giving up only 3 marginal players and a second rounder. Nice. I’m not as sold on Sanchez as some, but I’m more sold on him than Kellen Clemens or Brett Ratliff.
6. Cincinnati Bengals Andre Smith
Mike Carlson said Smith was born to be a Bengal, which is true. Nice to see they understood the sentiment. Smith filled a big need here and while we all have our concerns, seems to be a solid pick. If it was me I’d have taken Monroe, but this pick makes sense. Carson Palmer may be kept upright this year after all.
7. Oakland Raiders Darrius Heyward-Bey
Epic epic fail. If only I’d gone with my gut feeling, we’d have nailed this pick in the mock. I actually hinted that they’d take Crabtree here, then trade back into the first round for Heyward-Bey, but why do that when you can simply reach for DHB instead? This my friends is why the Draft is so hard to predict. Because stupid people make stupid picks.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars Eugene Monroe
They had to go offensive line here after the trouble David Garrard had staying upright, and Maurice Jones-Drew had running the ball. Don’t confuse my comments after the St Louis pick with saying that Monroe is useless in the running game. He’ll be useful. He’ll be at his best though every time Garrard drops back, and he’ll likely enjoy a clean pocket in 2009.
9. Green Bay Packers BJ Raji
3-9! When a team changes their defensive scheme, despite having hardly anyone on the roster that can play the new scheme, then they simply have to go defense. Raji steps in as the nose tackle from the get go, and has the potential to be a nightmare for interior offensive linemen.
10. San Francisco 49ers Michael Crabtree
Crabtree drops to number 10, but only because of the incompetence of others. Chiefs take Jackson, stopping Seattle considering the receiver. Raiders take the wrong receiver, allowing the Niners to swoop in. Mike Singeltary must have been laughing his de-pantsed posterior off.
11. Buffalo Bills Aaron Maybin
Dear God. They need instant offensive line help and instant pass rush help. So what do they do? Bring in the rawest project in the draft who probably is a one down player and will likely contribute nothing in year one. Way to go Buffalo. Winning in 2009 isn’t a priority for the Bills.
12. Denver Broncos Knowshon Moreno
See the Green Bay pick. When you change to a completely different defensive scheme, and don’t have any players to play said system, then you obviously draft a running back first. Denver, a team with a multitude of tailbacks and no-one to play an even competent role in their front seven, so naturally you draft a running back. Anyone see a problem here? Nothing against Moreno, who I really like, but this pick made terrible sense.
 13. Washington Redskins Brian Orakpo
The Redskins, like the 49ers, prosper from everyone else’s stupidity. This was the quickest pick of the draft because it was a no brainer. The Redskins become one of the few teams to actually pick the best player available in a position of great need. Now if everyone did this then mock drafting might actually be useful!
14. New Orleans Saints Malcolm Jenkins
The outbreak of sanity continues as the Saints complete their brand new defensive backfield by adding Malcolm Jenkins. Their secondary has been a disgrace the past few years, but with Tracy Porter coming off IR, and after the addition in free agency of Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer, the secondary could be a position of strength in 2009.
 15. Houston Texans Brian Cushing
The Texans are always making strange moves in the Draft. Some work, some don’t. For once though they went with the sensible pick. Linebacker needed upgrading, and upgrade they did with the USC product. The Texans have a chance to have a winning record for the first time in their history.
16. San Diego Chargers Larry English
The Chargers drafted for need like they always do. Shawn Merriman’s injury and the subsequent lack of pass rush killed the Chargers last year and turned Antonio Cromartie from a Pro-Bowler to a worry. English may be a bit of a reach, but he’ll get after the passer.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Josh Freeman
People are complaining about this after the signing of Byron Leftwich. Does anyone honestly believe Freeman will start in 09? Leftwich is back in the shop window for 09, and I doubt he’ll be complaining. He hasn’t started for over 18 months. Freeman is ready to take over when Leftwich either moves on or gets hurt.
18. Denver Broncos Robert Ayers
Denver takes a 4-3 guy to play in their new 3-4. Josh McDaniels rules! Ayers has tweener potential but this doesn’t seem to be the best fit here. With Everette Brown still in the mix, I shouldn’t be as surprised about this pick as I am given the moves Denver have made thus far.
19. Philadelphia Eagles Jeremy Maclin
The Eagles take a wide receiver! After fixing the offensive line, Andy Reid had the luxury of picking the best player available at a skill position. Moreno would likely have been the pick if Denver understood how bad their defense really is, but Maclin is a very good alternative. Part of me wanted Brandon Pettigrew with this pick, but taking a potential game breaking receiver who wouldn’t have been here if Al Davis was clever is good value.
20. Detroit Lions Brandon Pettigrew
The Lions spend over $70 million on a quarterback, and then entrust Jeff Backus to keep him upright. Some things never change. Pettigrew will be a good player in Detroit. That I have no doubt about. But they need to do something about keeping him from being David Carr-ed. Hands up if you mocked Pettigrew to Detroit? Of course you didn’t, because the last thing they should be drafting here is a tight end. Stafford may play sooner than intended once Danute Culpepper gets bludgeoned by someone blowing by Jeff Backus.
21. Cleveland Browns Alex Mack
They finally pick a player, but despite their awful awful defense, they take the center. Yet another case of a team picking a good player when they really should be looking somewhere else. Cleveland’s offensive line is hardly a problem, even if center could use an upgrade. Maybe with Unger, Luigs, Wood and more available in the most centre heavy class ever, taking defense in round 1 makes more sense? Hah! Sense…
22. Minnesota Vikings Percy Harvin
Unless the Vikings are playing the spread offense next year then Brad Childress needs to explain this one. No doubting Harvin’s talent, but didn’t they spend a fortune on Bernard Berrian last year? I ranted on the nfluk.com forum about the stupidity of Harvin failing a drugs test before the draft and I’m surprised was still taken in the first round. Thankfully Minnesota are already a good team so this isn’t as terrible a pick as it could have been.
 23. Baltimore Ravens Michael Oher
This is why teams like Baltimore are always competitive. Because silly teams make silly picks, and Ozzie Newsome rubs his hands together, and gets a steal. Oher has some questions, but there’s no doubting he’s a Top 10 talent. Getting him here is a great pick.
24. Atlanta Falcons Peria Jerry
The Falcons are slowly building an excellent team. Peria Jerry fits a need on the defensive line and could find themselves picking late first round for the foreseeable future. I think they’re still a year or two away from being Super Bowl contenders, but if they keep putting their team together like this, it’ll happen for them.
25. Miami Dolphins Vontae Davis
The Dolphins secondary was actually quite good last year, but they definitely needed a cornerback. I thought they would go linebacker here, but they made a really impressive pick with Davis, a guy a lot of people had as their best corner on the board.
26. Green Bay Packers Clay Matthews
See this Denver? Green Bay come back in the first round and understand that if they change their defensive system, they need to pick up personnel to fit. Matthews will be more effective as a rush linebacker than Aaron Kampman, but can now effectively get away with playing Kampman there with Matthews on the other side.
27. Indianapolis Colts Donald Brown
It’s tough to criticise Bill Polian, but this was a strange one. Nothing against Donald Brown, but the Colts have bigger needs than replacing Dominic Rhodes. They’ve, much like Denver in the past, been great at churning out running backs, so taking one in the first is strange. But Brown could end up a good back in the league, and the Colts cold have a really effective 1-2 punch going forward.
28. Buffalo Bills Eric Wood
I want to slate the Bills for this pick due to their apparent void at left tackle and they really should have taken William Beatty here. But center was a black hole last year, and Wood is a good upgrade. Despite the fact that left tackle is more important than center, I’ll give them a pass on this one.
29. New York Giants Hakeem Nicks
If they could have traded this pick for Braylon Edwards, they should have done that instead. But as has been the case recently, the big draft day rumours tend to end up not happening anymore. The Giants roster is stacked, with the only hole being receiver. They had to get one with this pick, and they got a good one.
30. Tennessee Titans Kenny Britt
Titans in wide receiver shocker! Typical Titans pick here too, taking a solid receiver rather than a dynamic, but slightly less polished wideout. I love this pick. Why is it that teams at the bottom of the Draft are making better picks than teams nearer the top?
31. Arizona Cardinals Chris Wells
4-31! There seem to be a lot of people who are down on Beanie, but the Cardinals got a good one here. People question his intensity after sitting out his Bowl Game with an injury, but we don’t really know how much he was suffering. This pick is the death knell for Edgerrin James in Arizona, not that he was coming back anyway.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers Evander Hood
This time last year there was a run on tackles and then receivers. This year the Cards and Steelers are having a mini run on nicknames. If Detroit really understood fun, they’d take Macho Harris next. Ziggy Hood is a guy I’ve been torn on in terms of his ability to play 5 technique in a 3-4. If the Steelers think he can, then that’s good enough for me. They obviously need to upgrade their offensive line, but it’s more on the interior, and there’s no value taking any of them here.
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