9. Buffalo Bills - Eugene Monroe (OT-Virginia) The Bills have been mired in the lower half of the league for a while. The Bills haven't spent high picks on the offensive line in a while. Coincidence? No. It's a coin flip between Andre Smith and Monroe at this point, I'll take Monroe today…don't ask me tomorrow. 10. Detroit Lions - George Selvie (DE-South Florida) The Lions have lots of needs. But someone needs to put pressure on the quarterback and Selvie might be just the man for the job. Expect the 2009 Lions defense to be better than 2008…but they will still need a lot of help. 11. Baltimore Ravens - Brian Cushing (OLB-USC) Brian Cushing can play just about every position on the football field and has taken collegiate snaps at DE/OLB/SS. That is the type of versatility that Baltimore has always craved and Cushing could step right in and spruce up an aging LB corps. 12. Philadelphia Eagles (from CAR) - Michael Jenkins (CB-Ohio State) Is he going to go this low? Nah, probably not. Even with a mediocre season he will wow people at the combine and go top-10. The Eagles don't need a CB but if he were to fall this low there is no way they would pass him up. 13. Denver Broncos - Percy Harvin (WR-Florida) Denver has to be scared about Brandon Marshall and his inability to change his ways. Hopefully for the mile high city he can, but either way Percy Harvin immediately improves the special teams and can stretch the field to keep safeties off of Marshall and Stokley. 14. Washington Redskins - Myron Rolle (S-Florida State) Washington has a shorter window than most people realize with their aging offensive line and linebacking corps. Restocking those positions would be wise but Myron Rolle could help them win now. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Andre Smith (OT-Alabama) The Buccaneers are in the same boat as the Redskins above them only the diametrical opposite scenario. Their Offensive skill players are not getting any younger and they will be lacking WRs very soon. However, Andre Smith immediately improves the offensive line and would be a steal at #15 .
16. Cincinnati Bengals - Tyson Jackson (DE-LSU) This is a bad Bengal defense that can't get to the QB. Tyson Jackson is an amazing athlete who scares the piss out of most quarterbacks. This would be a decent fit. 17. Arizona Cardinals - Knowshon Moreno (RB-Georgia) Edgerrin isn't getting any younger and Tim Hightower is his best backup right now. Knowshon is making some noise right now and some are saying he's better than Beanie Wells. The reason NFL teams will like Moreno is because of the things he does above and beyond running. He is an above average receiver and an excellent blocker. 18. Tennessee Titans - Mike Mickens (CB- Cincinnati) The Titans definitely need a WR still…but there isn't a #1 receiver in this draft class not named Crabtree. Any of the top wide receivers on the board would probably be a duplicate of Chris Johnson without his size. They also need a CB and Mike Mickens is one of the top athletes of the class, he's adding size and will be very scary for the Bearcats this year. 19. Chicago Bears - Fili Moala (DT-USC) I know, I know the Bears need a QB. I agree, but at this point I think they would rather have a veteran come in to lead the team (Garcia/Losman/Simms). Actually, Bradford (Okalahoma) could be a possibility here but Moala would be a great pick up as well-keeping blockers off of Urlacher. 20. Cleveland Browns - Keiland Williams (RB-LSU) Never heard of him? Well, put this name in your memory bank for a year or so. With Jacob Hester at LSU, Williams never rushed the ball more than 10 times a game, but he averaged 6.8 YPC doing it. He'll get the bulk of the work this season and will convert it to a lot of NFL dollars.
21. Seattle Seahawks - Ciron Black (OT-LSU) I fully expect the Seahawks to make waves in 2009 because it will be the beginning of the twilight for Matt Hasselbeck and they will make a strong push. The Hawks grabbed a couple of d-linemen in the '08 draft who should be pretty good. Expect a cache of offensive skill positions in '09 free agency (TE/WR) and a draft along the O-line. 22. Green Bay Packers - Vontae Davis (CB-Illinois) The Green Bay Packers are about as happy with their offense as any team in the league. The rest of this draft will probably be young depth along the lines or in the linebacking corps but what they really need is to get younger in the defensive backfield. A lot of scouts really like Vontae Davis and some think he could go higher than even Jenkins. My only knock on Vernon's younger brother is his stiff hips and his ball pursuit, but if he has a combine like his older bro, he could go MUCH higher.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Vince Oghobaase (DT-Duke) Who? Meet Vince, he's 6'6" 310lbs and looks like he could be a middle linebacker if he wanted to drop a little weight. Many of the other DTs on the board are classic 4-3 under tackles. Oghobaase, the big mamma jamma could be a great replacement for the out of favor Casey Hampton at NT. 24. Minnesota Vikings - Greg Hardy (DE-Mississippi) The Minnesota Vikings have done a lot in the past year to attempt to get to the opposing quarterback. It's still a concern in the Twin Cities however, and Greg Hardy is a rising star after a 10 sack campaign in 2007. If he repeats that, don't expect him to be on the board at 24. 25. New Orleans Saints - Duke Robinson (OG-Oklahoma) Probably the best offensive guard prospect in a while, Robinson has the opportunity to go as high as Branden Albert did in '07. Robinson is a road grader who can open a lot of holes for Reggie Bush in the Dirty Souf. 26. Philadelphia Eagles - Taylor Mays (S-USC) The defensive backfield is getting a lot better if the Eagles get Mays and Jenkins in this '09 draft. Mays is 6'4", 225lbs, and can reportedly run a 4.3. Mays is a natural playmaker and can make an impact even on the talent Eagles. 27. New York Giants - Jeff Owens (DT-Georgia) If you have a formula, work with it. And the Giants like playmakers who can break down an offensive line. Owens is a big reason people are high on Georgia right now. He benches over 500lbs and runs a 40yrd under 5 seconds…bueno. 28. Jacksonville Jaguars- Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR-Maryland) Jacksonville is an elite receiver away from being the best offense in the league. Maybe they did enough in '08 getting Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter, but I doubt it. Bey runs a 4.3 at 6'2", 210 and has amazing hands. Lack of quarterback help at Maryland is going to cost him and Maclin (Missou) could rise above him pretty quick. 29. Indianapolis Colts - Brandon Spikes ILB Florida The cover-2 defense demands a weakside linebacker who can wrack up tackles like nobody's business. Indianapolis doesn't particularly have one of those and Brandon Spikes can hit (131 tackles in '07). Spikes is also above average in pass coverage and will make the switch to OLB in the pros. 30. San Diego Chargers - William Moore (S-Missouri) The San Diego Chargers could probably trot out their second team defense and still hang with most NFL offenses. Its not that they have the best talent, but that they've stocked it with a lot of depth. William Moore will continue that trend. He is a great talent who can play both safety positions. 31. Dallas Cowboys - Jeremy Maclin (WR-Missouri) The Cowboys have a developing #2 receiver in Patrick Crayton but Tony Romo would love a slot receiver with Maclin's ability. Maclin also has Cribbs/Hester like returning ability and can rush the ball as well. If he runs a 2.8 like he thinks he will, he will be much sought after. 32. New England Patriots - Gerald McRath (OLB-Southern Miss) The Patriots scout talent different than just about everyone else and they're always a threat to pick up some I-AA QB and switch him to FS or some jazz like that. McRath is one of the top linebackers in this class and questions about competition will scare away some, but never the Pats.
2009 NFL Mock Draft - Submitted by Michael Schottey 8/15
*order based on Vegas projected odds to reach Superbowl*
1. Atlanta Falcons -Michael Oher (OT-Mississippi) The Falcons will need a lot of help after another bad season. Expect Matt Ryan to struggle and many might ask for Michael Crabtree here. However, Michael Oher was a possible top-10 pick last year and has the ability to make some serious impact. This move will kick Sam Baker to the RT spot where he will excel. 2. Miami Dolphins - Michael Johnson (DE- Georgia Tech) Passing on Chris Long in 2008 was probably the right decision but that still leaves them with a need at DE. Although Laurinaitis might be too big of a stud to pass up, I expect Michael Johnson to turn a lot of heads this season. Barring injury he should go in the top 5. 3. Oakland Raiders - James Laurinaitis (LB-Ohio State) Perfect? His dad even has the required black hole outfit. Kicking Robert Thomas to the bench means that Oakland could definitely bring its defense around to tops in the league. 4. Kansas City Chiefs - Michael Crabtree (WR-Texas Tech) Brodie Croyle probably isn't the QB of the future in KC, but don't tell them that. Stafford/Tebow could be a possibility here, but I fully expect Kansas City to acquire an offensive weapon or two. 5. New York Jets - Matthew Stafford (QB-Georgia) This one could go a bunch of ways and I haven't seen the updated Vegas odds, but I don't think the Jets are this low after the Favre trade. Anyways, Kellen Clemens has looked horrible since training camp and Favre will actually stay retired eventually. 6. San Francisco 49ers - Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC 49ers will probably be better than this as well, but it's still a pretty bad defense. You might be wondering why they need another LB with Willis kicking butt left and right but in a 3-4 defense another playmaker is key. If someone steps up as a good NT, they could go that direction as well. 7. St. Louis Rams - Tim Tebow (QB-Florida) Most people either love Tebow or they hate him. Scouts are the same way but you can guarantee that if he doesn't fall flat on his face this season, some team pretty high will like him. The Rams have to prepare for Orlando Pace leaving eventually but Bulger isn't exactly the picture of durability. 8. Houston Texans - Chris Wells (RB-Ohio State) If Wells falls to Houston, they would pick him up before three seconds fell off of the clock. A lot is going right in Houston but they need a running back to keep the offense rolling.
