Chris Maier Three Round 2009 Mock Draft - Post Senior Bowl
02-02-2009
With the Senior Bowl in the books it is time to update the mock draft and expand to three rounds for the first time.
Round 1
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit Lions | QB | Matthew Stafford # | Georgia |
| The Lions taking a QB is about as close to a given as you will find in this year's draft. For the next three months they will breakdown and compare Stafford and Sanchez. Stafford has the better measureables while Sanchez has the better intangibles. The fact that Stafford is more experienced and has played behind a porous line in the past gives him the edge. | ||||
| 2 | St. Louis Rams | OT | Andre Smith # | Alabama |
| The debate has only just begun at the offensive tackle position with 4 guys battling for the #1 slot. Eugene Monroe has been gaining a lot of momentum in recent weeks but it is hard to move up someone who skipped the Senior Bowl. Don't be surprised if Smith's footwork, size and character cause him to slide during the coming months though. | ||||
| 3 | Kansas City Chiefs | DE | Brian Orakpo | Texas |
| Taking a QB is extremely tempting but Pioli has had success with late rounders in the past and may be willing to give Thigpen a chance. I look for Pioli to try to rebuild this team from the inside out by taking a pass rusher like Orakpo who fits in a 3-4 or 4-3. | ||||
| 4 | Seattle Seahawks | WR | Michael Crabtree # | Texas Tech |
| Don't be surprised if the Seahawks take a offensive tackle here considering Walter Jones is getting up in age. That said, finding a top receiver is a must for a team that expects to turn things around quickly. | ||||
| 5 | Cleveland Browns | OLB | Aaron Curry | Wake Forest |
| The Browns take the best player available on the defensive side of the ball in Curry. Ohio State Buckeyes Malcolm Jenkins and Beanie Wells will also get long looks. | ||||
| 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | OT | Jason Smith | Baylor |
| If the Bengals are concerned about Carson Palmer staying healthy then this pick needs to be a left tackle. I expect Smith to move up the boards in coming weeks with his rare athleticism for the position. A RB, MLB or DE would not be a shock considering their past draft history. | ||||
| 7 | Oakland Raiders | OT | Eugene Monroe | Virginia |
| The Raiders are a wild card considering their propensity for drafting skill guys but this offense and JaMarcus Russell are going nowhere until they learn to protect the QB. Jeremy Maclin and a DE are possibilities as well with Al Davis calling the shots. | ||||
| 8 | Jacksonville Jaguars | OT | Michael Oher | Ole Miss |
| The Jaguars had a whole week to check Oher out at the Senior Bowl and while they know he is a bit of a work in progress, he is also a tremendous talent for an offensive line in need of an upgrade. | ||||
| 9 | Green Bay Packers | DT | BJ Raji | Boston College |
| With the team switching to a 3-4, Raji is a Casey Hampton-like building block in the middle. A 3-4 outside linebacker is also a possibility but those types should be plentiful in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. | ||||
| 10 | San Francisco 49ers | QB | Mark Sanchez # | USC |
| If Sanchez slips past Kansas City he could easily fall into the 49ers laps at #10 overall. Despite other needs, the 49ers would be hard pressed to pass on the QB here. | ||||
| 11 | Buffalo Bills | TE | Brandon Pettigrew | Oklahoma State |
| The Bills would love to have Raji fall to them here but with him off the board they debate a TE vs. a DE. Pettigrew is the safer pick and his all-around talents are a nice fit for their run-heavy offense. | ||||
| 12 | Denver Broncos | ILB | Rey Maualuga | USC |
| The Broncos have major needs on defense and none bigger than adding an intimidating MLB to the front seven. | ||||
| 13 | Washington Redskins | DE | Everette Brown # | Florida State |
| With the top 4 offensive tackles off the board the Redskins take the best defensive lineman available in Everette Brown. He is undersized but his pass rushing skills should allow him to make an immediate contribution. | ||||
| 14 | New Orleans Saints | CB | Malcolm Jenkins | Ohio State |
| The Saints have tried to fix their CB problems via free agency with little success. They finally decide to fix the leak rather than plugging it by drafting the top cornerback in the draft. | ||||
| 15 | Houston Texans | DE | Paul Kruger # | Utah |
| The Texans are looking for a DE to play opposite Mario Williams and Kruger is a fast rising prospect who will bring the heat on the QB without being a liability against the run. Center Alex Mack could also be considered here. | ||||
| 16 | San Diego Chargers | RB | Knowshon Moreno # | Georgia |
| LT is showing wear on the tires and Darren Sproles is not an every down back even if he re-signs. Moreno is a good runner and receiver for a team that likes its backs to do both. If Moreno is off the board then look for them to take LeSean McCoy. | ||||
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| 17 | New York Jets | CB | Vontae Davis # | Illinois |
| A RB or WR is tempting considering the talent still on the board but CB is their top need and Davis is the type of physical man corner Rex Ryan likes. | ||||
| 18 | Chicago Bears | WR | Jeremy Maclin # | Missouri |
| The Bears will consider defensive ends and defensive tackles but adding a playmaker like Maclin will stretch defenses and give them another dangerous kick returner as well. | ||||
| 19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB | Chris Wells # | Ohio State |
| The Bucs need to add playmakers on offense and Wells gives them a power back to wear down opposing defenses and take pressure off of the QB position. Darrius Heyward-Bey or Percy Harvin are intriquing options if they want to go with a receiver instead. | ||||
| 20 | Detroit Lions | OT | Eben Britton # | Arizona |
| The Lions follow the Falcons model from a year ago and take a LT to protect Matthew Stafford as the new staff hopefully realizes Jeff Backus is not the answer on the left side. A defensive end is a possibility but the ones on the board are all undersized. James Laurinaitis would be an intriquing option in a Chris Spielman sort of way. | ||||
| 21 | Philadelphia Eagles | RB | Lesean McCoy # | Pittsburgh |
| The Eagles are disappointed to see Britton go off the board in front of them and turn their attention to finding a running mate for Brian Westbrook. McCoy is a good all-around back who can share the job in the short term and protects the Eagles in the event Westbrook begins showing his age. | ||||
| 22 | Minnesota Vikings | CB | DJ Moore # | Vanderbilt |
| After considering offensive linemen, the Vikings take a best player available at a position of need approach to select DJ Moore. Moore is a top cover cornerback who can also provide help in the return game. | ||||
| 23 | New England Patriots | OLB/34LB | Brian Cushing | USC |
| Cushing is an excellent fit for the Patriots defense with his ability to play inside and out. Similar to Mike Vrabel, he continues the team's re-loading effort on the defensive side of the ball. | ||||
| 24 | Atlanta Falcons | DE | Tyson Jackson | LSU |
| While most people think Jackson is more of a 3-4 DE, I think the Falcons will take a hard look a Jackson as a DT considering he is taller, heavier and more talented than the other defensive tackles on the board. | ||||
| 25 | Miami Dolphins | DE/34LB | Aaron Maybin # | Penn State |
| After building up the trenches last year the Dolphins look to add a young pass rusher to develop on the outside of their 3-4. | ||||
| 26 | Baltimore Ravens | WR | Darrius Heyward-Bey # | Maryland |
| The Ravens don't have to look far to fill their need at WR with the former Maryland Terrapin. Heyward-Bey has the combination of size and speed teams crave and is one of the fastest rising prospects on the board. | ||||
| 27 | Indianapolis Colts | DT | Peria Jerry | Ole Miss |
| Jerry is an undersized defensive tackle in the Tampa 2 mold. His ability to provide an interior pass rush and anchor against the run fills a long-time need for the Colts. | ||||
| 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | OT | Will Beatty | Connecticut |
| The Eagles are not thrilled to be reaching a bit for Beatty but if there is one thing the Eagles expect to get with one of their two first round picks it is an offensive tackle. Beatty has the athleticism to play left tackle but remains a bit of a work in progress. | ||||
| 29 | New York Giants | WR | Kenny Britt # | Rutgers |
| The Giants consider taking a MLB like Laurinaitis but realize if they want one of the top receivers they may have to reach for one here. Britt is a big tall receiver with a physical style that would help fill the void left by Plaxico Burress. | ||||
| 30 | Tennessee Titans | WR | Percy Harvin # | Florida |
| The Titans finally grab a wide receiver whom defenses will have to account for in Harvin. His route running is a little raw but Harvin is an excellent playmaker in the open field and should make an impact as a slot receiver and returner a la DeSean Jackson. | ||||
| 31 | Arizona Cardinals | RB | Donald Brown # | Connecticut |
| Many have not heard a lot about Brown but he is a good all-around back who can run inside and out plus catch passes out of the backfield. His versatility should combine well with Hightower's sledge hammer style. | ||||
| 32 | Pittsburgh Steelers | G | Duke Robinson | Oklahoma |
| The Steelers really want an offensive tackle but they do the next best thing which is draft the best guard in the draft in Robinson. | ||||
# Denotes Underclassman
