Pre-Bowl Game 2009 NFL Mock Draft (2 Rounds)
Senior Editor Chris Maier and Chief Scout Dan Wernery got together this week to conduct their Pre-Bowl Game mock draft. The mock is a little heavy on underclassmen but with a possible rookie wage scale looming we could see a record number of underclassmen declaring. At this stage predicting who is coming out is almost as hard as making the picks. We also added a 2nd round for the first time this season. Without further ado here are our picks: ( A shoutout to WalterFootball.com for their excellent updated draft order)
1. Detroit Lions – QB Matthews Stafford*, Georgia – Not giving Stanton a chance is proof Detroit is thinking QB at #1 overall. Bradford gets the pub but Stafford is the prototypical pro style quarterback.
2. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Andre Smith*, Alabama – Ohio State’s Beanie Wells will get a long look but anyone who has watched the Bengals this season knows the offensive line is the team’s #1 problem and Smith is the top lineman in the draft.
3. Seattle Seahawks – WR Michael Crabtree*, Texas Tech – The Seahawks give Beanie Wells and Michael Oher a look but take Crabtree to fill a bigger need at WR. Crabtree’s route running make him an ideal fit for the West Coast offense.
4. St. Louis Rams – QB Sam Bradford*, Oklahoma – With a new coach coming in, Bulger’s contract means less and despite a need for a left tackle, the Rams go for a franchise quarterback.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech – With just 6 sacks on the season through 13 games, the Chiefs have a major need for a pass rusher. Johnson is not esp. polished but his upside is tremendous.
6. Oakland Raiders – DE Brian Orakpo, Texas – The receivers don’t fit the vertical mold making this a choice between a LT in Michael Oher or a pass rusher in Orakpo. The smart pick for their offense is Oher but Al Davis selects Orakpo.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – OT Michael Oher, Mississippi – Oher is a no brainer for a team desperate to upgrade its offensive line.
8. Cleveland Browns – RB Beanie Wells*, Ohio State – The best way to help out a young QB is to bring in a chain moving RB. Wells is a good fit coming from the Buckeyes does not hurt either.
9. San Francisco 49ers – CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State – The 49ers will consider Maclin and Harvin if Martz sticks around but Jenkins is the best player on the board while still filling a big need.
10. Green Bay Packers – OT Jason Smith, Baylor –The Packers are known to think long-term and their tackles aren’t getting any younger. Smith is the unheralded left tackle in this draft but with his quick feet and athleticism he reminds us of another Jason Peters.
11. San Diego Chargers – RB Knowshon Moreno*, Georgia - AJ Smith has never been afraid to take a gamble and he takes advantage of the ultra-talented Moreno being on the board as a potential replacement for LT. DT, OT or pass rushing OLB are considerations if they take the conventional route.
12. Buffalo Bills – OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest – Laurinaitis and Maualuga are bigger names but Curry may be the first linebacker taken in this draft. Curry has the size, speed and tenacity to be an instant playmaker.
13. Houston Texas – DE Larry English, Northern Illinois – English has flown under the radar playing in the MAC but he is a tremendous pass rusher to put opposite Mario Williams.
14. Chicago Bears – CB Vontae Davis*, Illinois – The Bears look to improve the pass defense with the physical Vontae Davis.
15. Washington Redskins – DT Terrance Cody*, Alabama – Cody is a beast in the middle of the D-line and fills a major need for the Redskins.
16. New Orleans Saints – LB Rey Maualuga, USC – Despite the presence of Vilma, the Saints take the best defensive player available in Maualuga and look to shift Vilma outside.
17. Philadelphia Eagles – OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia – The Eagles fill a major need at tackle by selecting Monroe to be the team’s future left tackle.
18. Miami Dolphins – CB DJ Moore*, Vanderbilt – The Dolphins fill a major need at corner who is known for his versatility and playmaking ability.
19. New England Patriots – OLB Brian Cushing, USC – Patriots have needs up front on both sides of the ball esp. a pass rusher making Cushing an excellent fit.
20. Atlanta Falcons – DT BJ Raji, Boston College – Raji fills a major need at DT and the team’s last selection out of Boston College has worked out fairly well.
21. Denver Broncos – LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State – A no brainer pick for a team desperate for help at linebacker.
22. New York Jets – WR Percy Harvin*, Florida – Harvin’s versatility is an excellent fit for a Jets offense looking for playmakers.
23. Arizona Cardinals – C Alex Mack, California – Whisenhunt knows the value of offensive lineman and Mack is the most talented center to come out since Nick Mangold.
24. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) – DE George Selvie*, South Florida– Selvie is undersized but pound for pound he is the best pass rusher in the draft. A bit of a gamble but he fills a major need for Detroit.
25. Minnesota Vikings – QB Nate Davis*, Ball State – After the failed Tarvaris Jackson experiment the Vikings take a 2nd chance on finding a franchise QB. Offensive line and DT get a long look as well.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR Darrius Heyward-Bey*, Maryland – The Bucs look to upgrade the skill positions with the talent Heyward-Bey who should be a good fit for their system.
27. Indianapolis Colts – LB Brandon Spikes*, Florida - Tremendous talent with sideline to sideline speed, big hitter who only falls due to this year’s talented LB class.
28. Baltimore Ravens – WR Jeremy Maclin*, Missouri – A much needed playmaker for the passing game and another dynamic kick returner.
29. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina) – TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State – An Andy Reid type of tight end and with LJ Smith likely on the way out Pettigrew makes a lot of sense.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – OT Eben Britton*, Arizona – The Steelers have a major need for a pass blocking left tackle and Britton’s stock is rising fast and fits the bill.
31. New York Giants – DE Tyson Jackson, LSU – The Giants can go in a variety of directions with this pick but Jackson’s ability to play DE or DT makes him a nice luxury pick.
32. Tennessee Titans – G Duke Robinson, Oklahoma – Wide receiver is a bigger need but Robinson is the best player available and you can never have enough offensive linemen.
Round Two
33. Detroit Lions – ILB Darry Beckwith, LSU
34. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Greg Hardy*, Mississippi
35. St. Louis Rams – OT Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
36. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
37. Seattle Seahawks – S William Moore, Missouri
38. Oakland Raiders – WR Derrick Williams, Penn State
39. Cleveland Browns – OLB Clint Sintim, Virginia
40. Jacksonville Jaguars – CB Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
41. Green Bay Packers – DT Peria Jerry, Mississippi
42. New England Patriots (from San Diego) – C Antoine Caldwell, Alabama
43. San Francisco 49ers – DE/OLB Auston English*, Oklahoma
44. Houston Texans – S Patrick Chung, Oregon
45. Buffalo Bills – TE Jermaine Gresham*, Oklahoma
46. Miami (from Washington) – ILB Jason Phillips, TCU
47. New York Giants (from New Orleans) – WR Louis Murphy, Florida
48. Chicago Bears – DT Vance Walker, Georgia Tech
49. Philadelphia Eagles – S Taylor Mays*, USC
50. New England Patriots – CB Darius Butler, Connecticut
51. Atlanta Falcons – TE Chase Coffman, Missouri
52. Denver Broncos – RB James Davis, Clemson
53. Green Bay (from NY Jets) – G Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
54. Arizona Cardinals – DE/OLB Cody Brown – Connecticut
55. Dallas Cowboys – S Rashad Johnson, Alabama
56. Minnesota Vikings – C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
57. Miami Dolphins – DT Fili Moala, USC
58. Indianapolis Colts – DT Terrill Byrd, Cincinnati
59. Baltimore Ravens – CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – RB CJ Spiller*, Clemson
61. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Victor Harris, Virginia Tech
62. Carolina Panthers – WR Jarrett Dillard, Rice
63. New York Giants – OT Troy Kropog, Tulane
64. Tennessee Titans – QB Dan LeFevour*, Central Michigan