2009 NFL mock draft with analysis | manuvsteal's Blog

1. Detroit Lions- Remember the Chargers from a few years ago? Everyone said draft Mike Vick. The Chargers said nah, got a great RB and QB in Drew Brees. Well this year Matt Stafford won't be taken #1. The Lions take OT Andre Smith, or maybe DT BJ Raji if they trade down. They pick up QB Josh Freeman or Nate Davis in round 2 to compete with Culpepper for the future.

2. Rams - The Rams were not a very good team, and perenially need defensive help. They get an OT to replace Orlando pace and take a small reach for OT Jason Smith, after trying to trade the pick, since there are about 4 first round tackles.

3. Kansas City= If there is one thing we all know the Chiefs need, its a QB. They get QB Matt Stafford to be the face of KC for the next few years. Round 2 they look at getting him a WR to grow with like Kenny Britt.

4. Seattle Seahawks- The Seahawks are one of those rare teams that are sitting at #4 because they were hit hard by injuries. They may look at getting younger at WR. But instead decide to wait since that is a deeper crop. They draft LB Adam Curry to add to a not so great LB corps. They haven't had a standout LB since Julien Peterson first joined them.

5. Cleveland Browns- The Browns are a very up and down team. With the firing of Romeo Crennel, they may be looking for a new identity. Eric Mangini favors the 3-4 and a conservative offense. He's going to want defense first. Offense 2nd. The Browns tab CB Malcomb Jenkins who is a hometown guy from Ohio State. He is the shutdown corner they need.

6. Cincinatti Bengals - The Bungles are a schizo team. You don't know what to expect. Last year they grabbed a bunch of wideouts to replace Chad Johnson who didn't go anywhere. This year they decide to grab LB Brian Cushing from USC. He's athletic and smart enough to offset whatever bad defensive coordinator they have. He will make this defense look good.

7. Oakland Raiders - Michael Crabtree has fallen out of the top 5. The Raiders have no star WR since Tim Brown retired. Match made for eachother. They play smashmouth running game, with a tough talented Crabtree catching the passes.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jags need WR help, and OL help. The problem here is that pick 8 is to high for the talent level at either. They try to trade back or pick up OT Eugene Monroe from Virginia.

9. Green Bay Packers - The Pack traded their DT to the Bills last year. We definately know they don't need a QB. They take BJ Raji who has had a small slide to pick #9. He plays the big force on the inside, absorbing blockers so AJ Hawk and Nick Barnett can clean up behind him, or penetrate the gap and get in the backfield.

10. San Fransisco - The 49'ers have a pretty easy pick here. Hometown USC guy Mark Sanchez fills the hole they have with a stable of inadequate QB's. He is also an intagibles, and leadership guy. Someone that head coach Mike Singletary will value. They try to trade Alex Smith later on in the draft or cut him by preseason game 3, by the way.

11. Buffalo Bills - The Bills are a decent team when Trent Edwards is leading them. They have all the pieces, but don't play to that level. I can't think of any glaring weaknesses they have other than some O or D lineman to compete or break into a starting role. They trade the pick away most likely, and start adding depth in the 2nd round. Other possability is they draft Michael Oher.

12. Denver Broncos - The Broncos were pretty good offensively with Eddie Royal and Brandon whats his name. They got trampled defensively, and let go alot of starters. they are looking defense on D line, LB, and CB. They take the best available of the 3 and draft Ray Mauluga from USC. He fills 1 spot, and they take a LB or CB in round 2.

13. Washington Redskins - The Skins just let go a LB in Marcus Washington. They draft a DE/LB hybrid to replace him. They grab LB Aaron Maybin from Penn State.

14. New Orleans Saints - The Saints usually need help defensively. They got a pretty good LB last year in Jonathan Vilma, now they need a good CB to help them stop the bleeding of giving up points. They grab Vernon's little brother, CB Vontae Davis of Illinois. They may also come back and try to grab another CB or most likely safety in round 2.

15. Houston Texans - The Texans look like they could be about to turn a corner. They have a great DE, good RB, QB, and wideout. I think they look to solidify their lines first and grab a LB 2nd. 1st round they decide what the hell, and draft Texas product DE/LB Brian Orakpo. He's from Texas, and gives them some teeth to the pass rush with Mario Williams. Maybe they can move him around the weak and strong side and pair him next to Super Mario sometimes.

16. San Diego Chargers - The Chargers have 2 great RB's. They came pretty far in the playoffs, but Tomlinson was banged up. They need something to get them over that deep in the playoffs hump. With Tomlinson and Shawn Merriman back this year, they will be even better, but they draft a guy named Jeremy Macklin on the other side of the field to be the slot receiver and explosive deep threat/return man. The Chargers just got a whole lot better. Offensively they have Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Macklin, Chambers, Tomlinson and Sproles. They will put up some numbers this year.

17. New York Jets - I'm a Jets fan so it's hard to be impartial. I'm going to guess the biggest needs are a backup at DTackle, and an offensive lineman to replace Brandon Moore. The DT's are too small to play in a 3-4, and the O lineman are not good enough to warrant pick 17. I think they draft DE Tyson Jackson from LSU. He's 6'5 and 300 pounds. He can rotate with the defensive ends and serves as protection for when Ellis or Kenyon Coleman leave. They look at taking a wideout or offensive lineman in round 2.

18. Chicago Bears - The Bears need a QB, WR's for the QB to throw to. There isn't a QB worth this pick, and WR's Crabtree and Macklin are long gone. Who is best after these 2? Theres a lot of debate, but I say they this pick for a 2nd round pick for a team that needs a RB. Then pick up a WR or 2 in the next round. Percy Harvin and Hakeem Nicks aren't worth this pick. If they don't trade the pick, they pick up Hakeem Nicks who is the physical receiver to offset Devin Hester.

19. Tampa Bay Bucs- The Bucs seem like they are always getting older. Do they draft senior citizens? I've heard they need DT help. The best DT available is Jerry Peria from Mississippi.

20. Detroit Lions - The Lions get the Cowboys pick for Roy Williams trade. They drafted an OT with the first pick. With the 2nd first rounder they continue to solidify this team with good "team players". The best guy to help this saggy defense is LB James Lauranitis from Ohio State. He is a great LB, and will help the defense greatly. Round 2 pick 1 they pick up DT Ron Brace (6'2 330 pounds). Brace will play the role that Shawn Rodgers played a few years ago. Lauranitis will love playing behind this wall of a man.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - I would like to say RB Chris "Beenie" Wells, because he is a great RB to groom behind the constantly banged up Brian Westbrook. Did you see the NFC Championship game? It hurt me to watch Hank Baskett drop 32 passes in a row. The Eagles are stinging and need a playmaking WR to place opposite Desean Jackson. A guy who can catch a pass. They pick up WR Darius Heyward - Bey or possibly Percy Harvin to be that guy. Round 2 they look at getting a diamond in the rough RB like Donald Brown out of UConn, or Shon Green of Iowa.

22. Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings have RB in place, a pretty good defense. But none of the other pieces on offense to go with it. They need a QB and a WR to go opposite up and coming Sidney Rice. I think they make a play for a QB in free agency like Byron Leftwich, and look at getting him a weapon to stretch the field like Percy Harvin with pick 22. They may also look at trading pick 22 for Patriot's QB Matt Cassell.

23. New England Pats - The Pats could use some help at CB, and Safety. As not many of these have been drafted yet, they get their choice. CB DJ Moore of Vanderbuilt fills a need, and gives them a CB that can cover the slot receivers of the AFC East.

24. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons had a great run last year, and hit big on Matt Ryan. How do they follow that up? John Abraham is getting old, and there are a slew of LB/DE hybrid guys. They get the best of the bunch in Larry English from Northern Illinois. He both helps the pass rush, and provides a replacement down the road at a cheap cap salary.

25. Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins have a great foundation, but had to find ways to score and win. They were scoring points with WR's like Greg Camarillo. This year they look to get help offensively. There are no good WR's with 1st round grades, and the best players available are RB's and O lineman, which they have. I think they trade this pick in true Bill Parcells fashion. If not they get a reach player like WR Kenny Britt out of Rutgers. Possibly DE/LB Everett Brown from hometown program Florida State. He could replace Jason Taylor's pass rushing ability, even though it's not an extreme necessity with Joey Porter coming off a 18 sack season.

26. Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have the young QB in place, the RB, TE, and WR's in place. Ray Lewis is getting older and Bart Scott may leave, and weaken the LB corps which is phenomenal. Chris McCallister was also cut. This pick will almost certainly be defensive and LB or CB most likely. The best at either position is CB Alonso Smith. Although he's short, he has a ton of INT's and is a playmaker to repace McCallister at CB.

27. Indianapolis Colts - The Colts are looking at Marvin Harrison's succesor, and don't know if it is Anthony Gonzalez. They are set at RB with Addai and Dominic Rhodes, even though there are some great ones out there like Wells, and Moreno from UGA. This team has some supremely sub par DT's in Eric Foster and Kenyatta Dawson. They look for a DT like DT Terrance Taylor from Michigan or more likely Sen'derrick Marks from Auburn.

28. Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles have a 2nd pick from the Carolina Panthers. They can go a number of directions, all of them good. The first thing they should think of is often injured Brian Westbrook. They draft "Beenie" Wells, or Knowshon Moreno, whoever is available. They could also take the best available player O-Tackle Michael Oher. He is the long term solution for John Runyon. First round success for the Eagles!

29. New York Giants - I have heard the Giants liked both Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt as a big receiver to replace Plexico Burress. In my mock, I have both these players gone already. I think they get an upgrade at SS over James Butler who they currently have. They pick up Louis Delmas from Western Michigan.

30. Tennessee Titans - Their center Kevin Mawae is about 84 years old now. They have no back up for him. They pick up C Max Unger from Oregon, to replace him in a year.

31. Arizona Cardinals - The Cards should have won the Super Bowl but couldn't run the ball offensively to finish the team off. This team is extremely solid. The only place I can see them greatly improving at TE where Brandon Pettigrew has languished through the first round. He is a complete TE, and an outstanding player, who will help Kurt Warner spread it around even better.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - I don't know how the Steelers did it. How did they win the SB? This team is not at the top of the talent heap, but is a perenially good team. how do you make this team better? I don't know but I would get insurance for Max Starks who they just franchised. The best guy to do that would be Duke Robinson or Eben Britton for the OT spot.

Guys I may have left out:

Beenie Wells, Knowshon Moreno, Lesean Mccoy. While all these RB's are great and first round talent, for the past few years at least 4 or 5 RB's have been picked in the first round. That is not including the 2nd round gems like Matt Forte and Steve Slaton. Teams may not have the immediate need for them as they do for other positions, knowing they can come back for the RB position later.

2nd tier QB:

After Stafford and Sanchez there is no clear #3. Josh Morgan and Nate Davis are Pretty good, but Cullen Harper and Curtis Painter could have a great workout and shoot up the board. As of right now the Jets, Vikings, 49ers, Lions, Bears, Bucs, and Rams may be looking for QB help/depth/replacement. That is 6 or 7 teams that may look to replace a starting QB. I'm sure 1 of these 2nd tier guys will get a chance to sneak into the first round.

Thank you for reading, and if I have not nailed your favorite team, you are welcome to correct me. Until then, Jets Super Bowl Bound in 09 season!!!!!!!!