Gonzo's Final 2009 NFL Mock Draft

by Gonzo on Apr 24, 2009 9:59 PM CDT in NFL Comment 20 comments

Again with the late start, I am, fair readers. And, again, I apologize for that. It was a long day to conclude a long week here at the Gonzo house, aided primarily by the fact that truck drivers seem to have had a lot of difficulty staying on Interstate 10 over the course of the past week. Unfortunately for me, I-10 is my main road from Keesler to home, so my commute hasn't been quite what it usually is. Throw in a few dozen other things happening all at once, and it's been quite an adventure.

Speaking of adventure, tomorrow marks the date we've been waiting for ever since the final gun sounded at Super Bowl XLIII, and that's the NFL's Annual Selection Meeting. . .otherwise known as the draft. I know I haven't done a mock draft since my pre-Combine version back in February, but now I'm finally getting my final version up there after having taken everything in over the past couple of months. There have been many significant changes since the Combine, obviously, and those will be greatly reflected in this mock draft. Here, then, is the finished product. Enjoy, everybody, and we'll see you here bright and early tomorrow to prep for the draft!

Player Power Rankings
Pick	Team	Selection	Commentary
1	Detroit Lions	Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia	I'm not sold on the guy as a franchise QB. But, the Lions apparently are. . .and that's all that matters.
2	St. Louis Rams	Jason Smith, OT, Baylor	They lost Orlando Pace, the only guy on their offensive line last year that played at a level above "awful." They're rebuilding, and Smith is their cornerstone.
3	Kansas City Chiefs	Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia	Without Tony Gonzalez, I think Crabtree is a real possibility here, but in the end the Chiefs need more of a sure thing.
4	Seattle Seahawks	Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal	Matt Hasselbeck is getting up in age, and the Seahawks are getting perilously close to having to blow things up and start over. If they have to do that, Sanchez gives them a nice start.
5	Cleveland Browns	Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest	Cleveland's defense was terrible, and they haven't done much to change that. Enter Curry. . .who, in time, could be the best defender in this draft.
6	Cincinnati Bengals	Andre Smith, OT, Alabama	A guy with huge potential, but with discipline and work ethic issues as well? If that doesn't have Cincinnati written all over it, I don't know what does.
7	Oakland Raiders	Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland	Surprised by Heyward-Bey over Crabtree AND Maclin? Let me introduce you to Raiders' owner Al Davis.
8	Jacksonville Jaguars	Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech	The Jags have drafted some real flops at WR in the first round in their brief history. I don't foresee Crabtree joining the likes of Matt Jones and Reggie Williams.
9	Green Bay Packers	B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College	The Packers are shifting to the 3-4, and don't have the personnel right now to do it. Raji would be a nice start for them as the nose in the middle of the defensive line.
10	San Francisco 49ers	Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas	San Francisco could go a couple different directions here, but they need to generate more pressure on the QB, and Orakpo can give them that.
11	Buffalo Bills	Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee	One of the biggest risers in the draft in recent weeks, he fills a spot at DE for the Bills, which is one of their big needs. What about tackle? Wait until #28.
12	Denver Broncos	Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State	The Denver defense needs some serious re-tooling, and Jackson was born to play end in a 3-4 scheme. He'll be a great fit in Denver.
13	Washington Redskins	Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi	Don't be surprised to see the 'Skins try to trade up for one of the big two quarterbacks. If they stay at this spot, they could use some help on the O-line, and Oher is a grea talent.
14	New Orleans Saints	Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State	The Saints' secondary has been awful since. . .well, for a long time. Some folks aren't sure whether Jenkins is a corner or a safety, but whichever he is, he'll be an instant upgrade in the Big Easy.
15	Houston Texans	Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State	One of the draft's more interesting players, he could be a big asset to a Houston team that needs to build a defense that's on par with their explosive offense.
16	San Diego Chargers	Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern Cal	The draft's best pure MLB won't have to move far to reach his NFL home, and he'll give Charger fans visions of Junior Seau sooner rather than later.
17	New York Jets	Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State	Josh Freeman would be a bit too big a reach here, in my opinion, so the J-E-T-S grab the best TE in the draft. He'll provide a nice target for whatever warm body the Jets start at QB.
18	Denver Broncos (from Chicago)	Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State	Did I mention earlier that Denver needs defense? Because they do. Brown could be a terror off of the edge if he can stay healthy
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri	The Bucs are allegedly in love with Josh Freeman, but Maclin falling to this spot would just be too big a gift for Tampa to pass up.
20	Detroit Lions (from Dallas)	Clay Matthews, LB, Southern Cal	Having passed on Aaron Curry at #1, the Lions fill one of their linebacker spots with the son of the former Cleveland Browns great. His teammate, Brian Cushing, could get a look here, too.
21	Philadelphia Eagles	Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia	The Eagles filled their OT hole by acquiring Jason Peters (for too high a price, IMO). Now, they get themselves some Brian Westbrook insurance.
22	Minnesota Vikings	Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois	We detailed this pick yesterday, and I still maintain that Davis is the best CB in the 2009 NFL Draft. Great value for Minnesota here.
23	New England Patriots	Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut	The Patriots' secondary was exposed as pretty awful when their offense wasn't scoring 50 every time out and they actually had to cover somebody. Butler is a great athlete who should start right away for the Pats.
24	Atlanta Falcons	Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi	Having acquired the TE they were looking for, the Falcons can look for some space eaters in the middle, and Jerry is a damn good one. Should start immediately.
25	Miami Dolphins	Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest	The multi-faceted Smith will upgrade a suspect Miami secondary, and can also assist Ted Ginn's family in the return game, should the need arise.
26	Baltimore Ravens	Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina	So much for receivers getting pushed to Round 2, huh? Nicks will give Joe Flacco a nice target as he continues his development from 2008.
27	Indianapolis Colts	Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State	The Colts need a better RB than Joseph Addai, and though a WR might be tempting for them here, Wells is a better fit, in my opinion.
28	Buffalo Bills (from Carolina via Philadelphia)	Eben Britton, OT, Arizona	Now the Bills can get a good value in Britton, who can slide in at RT and immediately contribute to what could be an explosive Buffalo offense.
29	New York Giants	Percy Harvin, WR, Florida	Guy that likes to smoke pot before job interviews and seems to enjoy the spotlight? Welcome to New York, Percy!
30	Tennessee Titans	Evander Hood, DT, Missouri	The Titals don't like to draft receivers in Round 1, and so they set about trying to find someone to replace Albert Haynesworth. Good luck with that.
31	Arizona Cardinals	Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut	Edgerrin James is angry, and none of Arizona's other running backs are really anything special, so the defending NFC Champs grab the best running back left in Brown.
32	Pittsburgh Steelers	Alex Mack, C, California	Mack just has "Steeler" written all over him. Tough, smart, hard-working. . .it's not every day a guy could walk in and just immediately start for the World Champs, but Mack has a distinct chance at doing so if he's the pick.

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Comments

i hope so

Skol Vikes 4 Life!

by Macdaddy4508 on Apr 24, 2009 10:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

so far so good

lions have signed stafford

NFL-Lions,Vikings,Texans,Bills
MLB-Rays,Twins,Marlins,Reds
NBA-T-Wolves,Cavliiers,Warriors,Bobcats
NHL-Wild,Penguins
NCAA-Gophers,Gators,Longhorns,Fighting Irish
all in the order in which i root for 1st

by RaysOfHope on Apr 24, 2009 10:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Let’s hope they don’t use their full 15 minutes to announce the pick.

by jianfu on Apr 25, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

That would be funny. Not ha-ha funny. But typical Lions funny.

by Odin on Apr 25, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that's how picks 1-21 shake out

I think you’re right about the Vikes taking Davis. I really think Harvin has been scratched from the Vikes board because of the Mary Jane issue, and with the guys left Davis is probably the BPA.

I can live with it. Not my first choice, (see my awesome fanpost, lol), but Davis definitely isn’t a WTF guy, like Troy Williamson was.

Thoughts on the Vikings, Buckeyes, and Cardinals

www.purplebuckeye.blogspot.com

by MilCardFan on Apr 24, 2009 10:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Evander Hood

would be a better pick for the Colts. Wells may be a more physical runner than Addai, but lacks in two key areas the Colts value in backs: Pass Protection and Receiving.

by metal_militia on Apr 24, 2009 10:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We only signed Paymah to a one-year deal, it would make sense to draft Vontae Davis.

I can outrun a mule deer.

by Gonzo2 on Apr 24, 2009 11:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Eben Britton...

I don’t think there’s any way we pass on him if he’s there. The more I have read up on this guy, the more I like him. Really smart, really physical. Equally good in run and pass blocking. Only 4 penalties in 3 years at U of A. Dominated at LT against everything the “professionals” at USC put up against him.

He played at RT for 2 years before that, so it would be an easy transition to start him there. Eventually he replaces the ridiculously overrated and overpaid Bryant McKinnie at LT. We can move Cook inside and see if that helps him stop sucking. Drafting this guy puts a lot of things into place for us.

This should be the pick. Based on all the Harvin disinformation, I’m feeling pretty good it will happen.

"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"

by mutleyil on Apr 24, 2009 11:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they’ll move down if they do want Britton, as RTs just aren’t drafted often in the first round (whether that’s right or not, I don’t know).

Word is the Giants want to move up for DHB. The Giants’ 1st and one of their late 3rd rounders might work, via the trade chart.

That said, I really like DHB, if they’re thinking WR in the 1st…

by jianfu on Apr 25, 2009 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you also really like Troy Williamson?

by Frost on Apr 25, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, the ghost of Troy Williamson…

DHB is not Williamson. Williamson was a secondary offensive option on a team that was fairly receiver friendly. DHB’s Maryland’s primary offensive option, faced constant double teams, was in a lousy system given his offense and QB play, was notable for making tough plays, and still put up decent production. And while his hands have been questioned, he’s not in Williamson’s class (nobody is, well, nobody in the NFL). Guys like Holmes don’t have elite hands but are still good enough to make enough plays to get over it.

DHB sort of reminds me of Chris Chambers. He wouldn’t be my first choice (he’s sort of redundant to Berrian, but maybe has more YAC potential, which the team desperately needs), but he’s not another Williamson.

by jianfu on Apr 25, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think he had a single 1000 yard season in college. That’s kind of bad for the main offensive weapon. Regardless of constant double-teams. I mean if the guy has trouble getting open at the college level, what’s he going to do in the pros when he’s against the cream of the crop?

by Frost on Apr 25, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i prefer yards per target, and Bey’s outstanding in that department. When the ball went his way, he did major damage.

We don’t know yet if stuff like yards per target is necessarily predictive, yet. But neither is total yards.

by jianfu on Apr 25, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Mock except for the Jets pick

They already have a possibly stud TE in Dustin Keller. They will NOT take a TE with their first pick.

by y2jayjk on Apr 24, 2009 11:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like it. Vikings pick makes sense as Davis would step right in and make our nickel defense much better. You could pick Britton and gamble that a good CB or WR will be ther in the second but it would be a big gamble.

Britton is the pick in 90% of the mocks I’ve seen, but for all we know Childress is counting on adding John Runyon to be RT next season and isn’t even considering a RT in round one this year.

Will be interesting to see. I’m just glad the damn draft is finally here. Sick of the pontificating and nitpicking from the Kipers and McShays of the world at this point.

by Bodysuit Man on Apr 25, 2009 6:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Perria Jerry

If he drops to 24 I like the Colts trying to move up a few picks to snag him and it might give the Vikings the chance to move down and snag an extra 3rd or 4th round pick. Now this is what I’d like the Colts to do but I can’t say they will. I do know they need a DT about the same way the Vikes need a QB.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Apr 25, 2009 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs