2009 Sports Outlaw NFL Mock Draft

The NFL draft is right around the corner and there are sure to be many twists and turns as the draft unfolds in a little more than a week. The Detroit Lions are on the clock and everyone is trying to guess what is going to happen. While it seems like the NFL draft is always a case of expect the unexpected everyone likes to take a stab at what they see happening. Here at Sports Outlaw, we are no different, so this year I have put together the official Sports Outlaw Mock Draft, 2009 edition.

1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia – The Lions are in desperate need of a new face for their franchise. Stafford can make all the throws, is a fiery competitor, and a true team leader. Sounds like exactly what this team needs to build around.
2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor – The Rams missed out on their franchise tackle last year, they are not looking to make it two years in a row. Jason Smith is extremely athletic and has a ton of upside. He moves very well and should be an anchor at left tackle for years to come for the Rams. I see him as the premier offensive tackle available in this draft.
3. Kansas City Cheifs - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest – If your looking for a sure thing in the top 10, look no further than Aaron Curry.  This is the safe and sensible pick and one that seems to fit Scott Pioli. Curry is a terrerific playmaker being added to a defense in need of them.
4. Seattle Seahwaks – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC – The Seahawks seem to be this year’s wildcard in the top 5. No one seems to have a great beat on what they are looking to do. However, there is a lot of buzz out there recently that they are extremely impressed with USC’s QB Mark Sanchez. I am not a fan of Sanchez and this is not the direction I would go in, but at this point I think there is a lot of legitimacy into this rumor and the direction they will go in the end.
5. Cleveland Browns – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech – The Browns seem hell bent on getting rid of every playmaker from the previous regime. With them looking to do this they will need to bring in the new wave of playmakers and who better than Crabtree. Crabtree has good size, amazing body control and good routes. His speed may not be elite, but you do not need elite speed if you have elite receiving skills. Cleveland will look to turn the page and add one of the best offensive playmakers in this draft.
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia – The Bengals biggest weakness last season was the play of their offensive line. Adding one of the best pass blockers in the draft will be an instant upgrade to this unit. Cincinnati may not have Monroe drop in their laps as he easily could be gone by this pick, but if he is there this is a no brainer.
7. Oakland Raiders - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama – The Raiders are as unpredictable as they come and we all know Al Davis loves speed, but I’m not buying into the Maclin rumors. The Raiders have a lot invested into former first round draft picks JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden and they need someone to block for them. Smith is a very large man and has all the physical tools, but is he committed to the game? I say no, but I don’t think that will stop Al from taking a shot here.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – The Jaguars and head coach Jack Del Rio love to play a smash mouth style of football and have always been tremdous at the point of attack on defense. They have yet to find an elite replacement for Marcus Stroud to pair with John Henderson upfront. In Raji they have found this player. Raji can give them a push up the middle and clog up the running lanes. He also can man the NT position when they go to their 3-4 packages.
9. Green Bay Packers - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas - Orakpo is the perfect pick for the Packers who are looking to make the move to a 3-4. He seems to be varsatile enough to make the transition to OLB, yet I feel he has enough bulk to line up at DE at times as well. This will give the Packers versatility in their front seven and a devestating pass rusher to add to an already good group of linebackers.
10. San Francisco 49ers - Aaron Maybin, OLB, Penn St – The 49ers could go in a variety of directions with this pick and if Sanchez slides could easily go in that direction. Another area of need is a pass rushing linebacker. Maybin is a project and not my favorite one at that. However, his stock is on the rise and NFL scouts seem to love his upside. I see him as a project that is likely to disapoint, but somoene is going to take him way to early so this is where I see him landing.
11. Buffalo Bills - Everette Brown, OLB/DE, Florida St – The Bills added a playmaker on offense this offseason in TO, now they need to do the same on the defensive side of the ball. Brown in an elite pass rusher and is exactly what the Bills need.
12. Denver Broncos - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State – The Broncos are going to be the source of another large curve ball in this draft. With trading Jay Cutler in the offseason, the Broncos need to find a new identity on offense. QB Kyle Orton is not the type to carry a football team so a workhorse RB is needed to take the pressure off of him. Chris “Beanie” Wells is a rare mix of size, power and speed. His biggest questions surround his durability, but if he can answer these questions he can be the difference maker this running game needs.
13. Washington Redskins – Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss – The Redskins need to start thinking about the future of their offensive line and Michael Oher would be a step in the right direction. Oher is a tough and experienced tackle prospect that they can groom to be their LT of the future to replace 32 year old Chris Samuels.
14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB/S, Ohio State – Considering the holes in the Saints secondary this should be an easy pick if he is there. Jenkins may be switched to Safety in the NFL from his college position of corner, but with the Saints needs at both spots that should not be an issue. Jenkins has great ball skills and is a team leader. He is the type of player this secondary needs.
15. Houston Texans - Brian Cushing, OLB, USC – The Texans could use another LB to put beside DeMeco Ryans and Cushing would be an excellent fit. Cushing has a great motor and is always around the ball. The Texans are quietly building a very good defense and this is the next piece to the puzzle.
16. San Diego Chanrgers - Ray Maulauga, ILB, USC – The Chargers don’t have many glaring needs, but they need to continue to add playmakers at the LB position. Maulauga is the type of player that will excel in a system in which he is allowed to react and flow to the football. I think this is a good fit for him to simply make plays.
    
17. New York Jets - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri – With the departure of Lavernaous Coles to Cincinnati the Jets are in need of another play maker on the outside. Maclin is thought to be off the board by now in most mocks but is a guy I see dropping on draft day. The Jets will gladly stop his fall and take him here.
18. Denver Broncos – Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU – The Broncos are in need of help at every level of their defense and will be thrilled to find Tyson Jackson still avaialble. He’s not an elite pass rusher like some of the guys who went off the board ahead of him, but he’s a big and strong end who can hold down his side of the line and give a boost to the Broncos defense.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State – The Buccaneers just signed Byron Leftwhich, but most feel this is a stop gap measure that they are still in search of thie QB of the future. Word is TB loves what Josh Freeman brings to the table and Raheem Morris knows from his days at Kansas State. If Freeman makes it here, TB could be the ones to take a flyer on his potential.
20. Detroit Lions - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona – The Lions new Franchise QB is going to need someone to protect him. Britton is the best OT left on the board and Lions need help across a line that gave up 50 sacks a year ago. Britton adds much needed talent to this offensive line.
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State - The Eagles could go in a variety of directions with this pick including a trade. Pettigrew is a franchise TE who is a tremendous blocker and a sure handed receiver. He’s more of the true TE the Eagles look for.
22. Minnesota Vikings - Max Unger, C/G – Max Unger adds a versatile option to the Vikings offensive line in need of depth and a starting center to replace Matt Birk. Unger can project to gaurd or center at the next level and cold even fill in at tackle in an emergency.
23. New England Patriots - James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State - The Patriots landed a great LB last year in Mayo but still have needs on that level of their defense. Laurinaitis is a Patriot type player. He has all the intangibles you could hope for and has a nose for the football.
24. Atlanta Falcons – Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss - The Falcons were thin at DT last season and losing Grady Jackson to free agency will not help matters. Jerry is an athlethic tackle who provides a great burst up the middle. Despite coming off an 11 win season, this defense has many holes to fill leaving them various directions they could go here.
25. Miami Dolphins - Clay Matthews, OLB, USC – Matthews looks like a “Parcels guy”, and is an ideal pick for the Dolphins at this point. Matthews has a non-stop motor and great intangibles. He is still getting better and will be a good fit in this system.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland – The Ravens are searching for a big, fast and explosive WR and Heyward-Bey fit all three descriptions. He is the playmaker this offense has been looking for since they attempted to bring in TO before he forced his way to Philly instead.
27. Indianapolis Colts - Evander Hood, DT, Missouri – The Colts desperatly need help at DT and despite this being a small reach the need out weighes value at this point. Hood fits what the Colts look for in a DT. He has a non-stop motor and is strong at the point of attack. Hood should come in and start as a rookie.
28. Buffalo Bills - William Beatty, OT, Connecticut – In a trade with the Eagles the Bills sent Pro Bowl OT Jason Peters packing creating a need at tackle. With the pick they aquired for Beatty the Bills look to find his long term replacement. Beatty is an excellent pass blocker who can protect his QB’s blind side. He is a natural LT and has a lot of potential.
    
29. New York Giants - Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia – Many feel the Giants go WR here, and while it is a huge need, I think they go after a trade to fill this need and not another young guy. This pick could very well be part of a trade. If not, I think the Giants pass on the WR’s available here and fill their need at outside LB. The wildcard is Heyward-Bey, if he was still on the board I think they take a gamble on him.
30. Tennessee Titans - Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee - The Titans are known to do the unexpected in the first round so anything is possible here but I feel their best option is to look for their pass rushing force of the future. Ayers is an excellent pass rusher who can be groomed to take over for Kearse who is not the player he once was.
31. Arizona Cardinals - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia – Moreno will fall not due to talent, but to the lack of need for most teams. Moreno is a sperical talent that should make this offense scary to anyone who tries to contain it. With all the attention that has to be given to the passing game, Moreno should have plenty of room to run wild in the desert.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Alex Mack, C, California – The defending champions biggest weakness was their inconsistent offensive line, especially the interior of the line. The best pure center in the draft should be a welcomed addition as they look to rebuild this line for the future.