2009 NFL Draft prospects hope to make it in the pros
Posted by The Skyliner on April 15th, 2009Cory Guinn
Staff Writer
The NFL Draft just around the corner, I cannot help but to be excited. Almost every sports fan in the nation follows the hype leading up to the Draft whether he’s a football fan or not. Each team in the NFL has the chance to improve their team by hand picking a player from a large pool of the top athletes from the college ranks who have made themselves draft eligible.
People all over the country, including ESPN experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are forming their own predictions of how the draft will shake up and I am no different. The following is my own personal mock draft with a breakdown of each player and his abilities as an athlete.
1. Detroit Lion (0-16): QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia
-The “Golden Rule of the NFL Draft” is that unless you already have a franchise quarterback you do not pass on one and the Lions do not have one. Matthew Stafford is the type of player that you can build a team around. He has everything you look for physically along with top-notch intangibles. If, for some reason, the Lions do not select Stafford here it would be a monumental mistake.
2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): OT Jason Smith, Baylor
-A great athlete and former tight end, Smith is still somewhat raw but he has a world of potential and also possesses a hard work ethic to maximize it. With Orlando Pace out of the picture, left tackle is a major concern. The Rams are leaning toward selecting an offensive tackle with this pick and the only question is which one will they choose.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
-Almost everyone seems to agree that Curry is one of the best prospects in this draft and it is pretty rare to see such a wide spread agreement on one player. Curry’s ability to play outside or inside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme only adds to his appeal. There are plenty of playmakers in this draft and Curry may just be the best one of them all.
4. Seattle Seahawks (4-12): OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
-For a while, everyone thought that Seattle would choose a wide receiver with this pick but the team addressed that problem with the signing of veteran T. J. Houshmanzadeh. Monroe is not flashy but he shows a tremendous upside and is a solid, all-around left tackle with a level of talent that should make him a staple on the line for years to come in Seattle.
5. Cleveland Browns (4-12): OLB Everette Brown, Florida State
-Last season the Browns got a grand total of eight sacks from their outside linebackers (just five from the starters) so it is obvious they need to bring in a pass rusher. Even though Brown played defensive end in college, most feel that he is better suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. While there are questions about his position, there is no question about Brown’s ability to get after the quarterback.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): OT Andre Smith, Alabama
-To say the Bengals had offensive line issues last season would be an understatement. In fact, Cincinnati finished 29th in the league in rushing and 30th in sacks allowed. On talent alone, Smith is one of the best players in the draft but there are questions about his height, conditioning, and maturity. However, the Bengals has shown that they are willing to ignore those types of flaws and take a player on how they perform on the field not off of it as well.
7. Oakland Raiders (5-11): WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
-There is always a surprise or two on draft day and this could be one of them. Most feel that Michael Crabtree will be the first wide out chosen but due to off season foot surgery that may not be the case. Maclin is an all-around great play maker who has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. His speed and ability to play on both offense and special teams make him a smart choice for the lowly Raiders.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
-Crabtree is the best wide receiver in this draft but his off season surgery could cause his stock to drop a bit. There is no question that he has the best hands and best stats but teams are concerned about his speed, something most wide outs need to be successful. Crabtree has shown that he can put up numbers without blazing speed and he should be an immediate threat in the Jaguars passing game once the season starts.
9. Green Bay Packers (6-10): DE/OLB Brian Orakpo, Texas
-The Packers are making the change to a 3-4 defense this year and it seems as though they will use this pick to acquire a piece to aid in that transition. Brian Orakpo is often referred to as a “Workout Warrior” but he gets it done on the field as well. He is a physical specimen who was dominant for the Longhorns last season as is sure to do the same in Green Bay.
10. San Francisco 49ers (7-9): QB Mark Sanchez, USC
-A local guy with elite intangibles, Sanchez has all the tools to be a great quarterback in the NFL and he is the type of guy that you can build a team around both on and off the field. Having only started 16 games in his college career, experience is a concern for Sanchez but his talent and upside override any suspicion that he can get the job done at a very high level.