It will no doubt be apparent to all our regular readers that we at PaP have yet to produce a mock draft for the 2009 NFL draft, which takes place today at 8:30pm GMT (3.30pm ET). This fact is largely because we hate being wrong, and with today’s news that Matt Stafford will indeed be the first overall pick in the draft, our chances of being right have skyrocketed. Thus, we have decided to chuck in our two cents at the 11th-hour in the hope that we’re right. If we aren’t, our retractions can be swift and brutal. So, without further ado, here’s the PaP mock draft for 2009.
With the first overall pick, the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia: This is a total lock and something we know will happen. Write it down folks, Stafford to the Lions.
With the second overall pick, the St. Louis Rams select Jason Smith, OT, Baylor: This pick makes total sense for the Rams. Alex Barron isn’t the answer at left tackle and with no Orlando Pace, Smith is his heir apparent.
With the third overall pick, the Kansas City Chiefs select Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia: The Chiefs do need help on the defensive front, but this is too high for Tyson Jackson (DE, LSU) – who they wouldn’t mind trading down for – and Aaron Curry has never played in the 3-4 defense before. Pair Monroe with last year’s first-rounder Branden Albert and the Chiefs can begin to repair their once-proud O-line.
With the fourth overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks select Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest: Lots of people have the ‘Hawks taking Mark Sanchez (QB, USC), but I can’t see them tying up that much money at one position with Sanchez and Hasselbeck. My guess? The Chiefs started all the chatter about Seattle taking Sanchez so they could trade down. Curry makes this linebacking corps one of the best in the league.
With the fifth overall pick, the Cleveland Browns select Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas: The Browns are in dire need of a pass rusher and Orakpo is the best in the draft. B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College) makes some sense but they already have Shaun Rogers and again, they won’t want to tie up that much money at one position.
With the sixth overall pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech) could be the pick here if Chad Ochocinco is traded, but as it stands, the Bengals need to get a running game and protect Carson Palmer. Were it not for off-the-field stuff, A.Smith would be the first tackle taken.
With the seventh overall pick, the Oakland Raiders select Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland: The Raiders do actually need a wideout but instead of taking the far superior Crabtree, Al Davis will insist (as always) on clocked speed. Heyward-Bey ran the fastest 40 at the combine, and he’s the pick due to Davis’ quite frankly mental draft strategy.
With the eighth overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: If Crabtree is sitting there at eight, the Jags need to pick him. They have no legit offensive weapons apart from MoJo Drew, and Crabtree could be elite.
With the ninth overall pick, the Green Bay Packers select B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College: The Pack were horrible against the run in ‘08 and they’re changing to the 3-4 defense. Raji is the only quality nose tackle available, and Green Bay would love him to be there.
With the tenth overall selection, the San Francisco 49ers select Mark Sanchez, QB, USC: If Sanchez slips to ten, the 9ers will jump on him at speed. If someone jumps up to select Sanchez, they’ll look offensive tackle instead.
With the 11th overall selection, the Buffalo Bills select Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss: After trading Jason Peters to Philly, the Bills need a proper left tackle to replace him, and Oher is the last left tackle left in the draft. The pick makes itself.
With the 12th overall selection, the Denver Broncos select Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU: The Broncos have been awful against the run for some time, and the front seven figures to be their focus if they don’t trade up for Sanchez. Jackson is the only true 3-4 defensive end in the draft, and the Broncs would leap at the chance to get him.
With the 13th overall selection, the Washington Redskins select Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee: After the mammoth acquisition of Albert Haynesworth, the ‘Skins need outside pass-rush help badly, and Ayers is the best DE available. Be warned ‘Skins fans, Snyder wants Mark Sanchez <gulp>.
With the 14th overall selection, the New Orleans Saints select Malcolm Jenkins, CB/S, Ohio State: The Saints’ pass D has been diabolical for years now, and Jenkins gives them the upgrade they so desperately need.
With the 15th overall selection, the Houston Texans select Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: A bit of a surprise here, but if Maclin slips down to Houston, the thought of pairing him with Andre Johnson may be too tempting to pass up.
With the 16th overall selection, the San Diego Chargers select Rey Maualuga, LB, USC: The Bolts need middle linebacker help to take the heat off of Shawn Merriman and Shaun Phillips on the edges. Maualuga is a thumper who will remind them of Junior Seau.
With the 17th overall selection, the New York Jets select Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State: The J-E-T-S are in dire need of a future at QB, and Freeman is the last first-round signal-caller left on the board.
With the 18th overall selection, the Denver Broncos select Brian Cushing, LB, USC: After taking Jackson, Denver continues to rebuild its front seven with the athletic Cushing. Between the two of them, they should better the Broncos’ run D.
With the 19th overall selection, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss: The Bucs probably want Freeman, but if he’s gone then Jerry gives them a disruptive interior force they’ve lacked since Warren Sapp left.
With the 20th overall selection, the Detroit Lions select Evander “Ziggy” Hood, DT, Missouri: This is a bit of reach, but since they traded Cory Redding to Seattle, Detroit needs a defensive tackle. Hood is the last good one available.
With the 21st overall selection, the Philadelphia Eagles select Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia: Personally, I think the Eagles should draft a receiver here like Percy Harvin (Florida), but it seems increasingly likely that Moreno is the pick. He’s super-quick and should be a nice compliment to Brian Westbrook.
With the 22nd overall selection, the Minnesota Vikings select Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: Harvin has had some off-the -field issues, but his gamebreaking ability can’t be overlooked. He’ll take the pressure off of Adrian Peterson and help the passing and return games.
With the 23rd overall seleciton, the New England Patriots select Clay Matthews, LB, USC: Matthews is a high-character, high-motor linebacker who can help Jerod Mayo galvanize what was an aging positional group.
With the 24th overall seleciton, the Atlanta Falcons select Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn. State: The Falcons lost Keith Brooking and Michael Boley in the offseason, and can use Maybin to rush the passer from multiple spots, including the now-depleted outside linebacker position.
With the 25th overall seleciton, the Miami Dolphins select Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers: The Fins need a complimenting receiver to the speedy Ted Ginn who is now starting to emerge as a wideout. Britt is tall, strong and unafraid to make the tough catches in traffic.
With the 26th overall seletion, the Baltimore Ravens select Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois: Davis is another huge talent with off-the-field questions. The Ravens’ pass D broke down for much of last season, and they lost Corey Ivy in free agency. Davis is a great athlete who will instantly contribute in the nickel and dime packages.
With the 27th overall selection, the Indianapolis Colts select Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State: With all the top receivers gone, the Colts look elsewhere on offense. Joseph Addai had a bad year in ‘08, and Wells is a bruising back who can compliment and help Addai’s production.
With the 28th overall selection, the Buffalo Bills select Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State: If the Falcons hadn’t traded for Tony Gonzalez they would have picked this guy but instead the Bills get the best TE in the draft whose size and speed combination could be deadly at the NFL level.
With the 29th overall selection, the New York Giants select Hakeem Nicks, WR, N.C. State: Since Plaxico Burress is no longer with the team, the G-men need a big target for Eli Manning. Nicks has got some of the best hands in the draft and has the frame to go up and grab the 50/50 jump balls.
With the 30th overall selection, the Tennessee Titans select Darius Butler, CB, UConn: The T’s need a wideout but it’s not their style to draft one in the first round. They need D-line rotational help too, but there’s not much left. Thus cornerback becomes the new priority. Butler is an athlete who will eventually replace Nick Harper.
With the 31st overall selection, the Arizona Cardinals select Donald Brown, RB, UConn: The Cards need to be able to run the ball better, and Edgerrin James is too old to be the answer here. Brown is an every-down back who can carry the load.
With the 32nd overall selection, the Pittsburgh Steelers select William Beatty, OT, UConn: Beatty becomes the third UConn player off the board in a row, and gives the Steel City help at tackle, where they just lost Marvel Smith.
So there it is, the PaP 11-th hour mock draft. Enjoy!
Posted by distantblues 
