2009 NFL Mock Draft:
This is a very early look at a 2009 NFL Mock Draft.As we have seen in recent years, underclassmen will likely dominate the 2009 NFL Draft. If you see (JR) it means the prospects will be juniors for the 2009 NFL Draft. This draft will be very weak at quarterback, running back and receiver, but should be incredibly strong at linebacker, tight end and defensive end.
| 1. | Detroit | Matt Stafford, (JR) | QB | Georgia |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: RT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College If 2007 NFL Draft pick Drew Stanton doesn't work out the Lions might take another QB. If Stafford improves his accuracy he might enter the draft early and if another junior, Florida 's Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow keeps improving his accuracy he could also be in the mix. |
| 2. | Atlanta | Michael Crabtree (Soph) | WR | Texas Tech |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: QB Matt Ryan, Boston College The top receiver in the nation is a draft eligible sophomore. He is even good enough to be the first over all pick. Crabtree will give new QB Matt Ryan a big, fast target. |
| 3. | Miami | James Laurinaitis | LB | Ohio State |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: OT Jake Long, Michigan Bill Parcells loves linebackers and he will be quick to select Laurinaitis if this is how the 2009 NFL Draft plays out. He might have been the first linebacker selected in the 2008 NFL Draft if he would have declared early. |
| 4. | Oakland | Michael Oher | OT | Ole Miss |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Oher almost declared for the 2008 NFL Draft where he would have likely been a first round round pick. Oher plays with a mean streak and has nice size at 6' 6" 325 pounds. |
| 5. | Cincinnati | George Selvie (JR) | DE | South Florida |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: LB Keith Rivers Selvie is a pass rushing terror, in 2007 Selvie led the nation in tackles for loss with an amazing 31.5 and an additional 14.5 sacks. |
| 6. | St. Louis | Rey Maualuga | LB | USC |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DE Chris Long, Virginia A massive (6' 3" 250 lbs) run plugging inside linebacker with supreme speed and the Rams need some attitude on defense. Rey might have been a top ten pick if he would have entered the 2008 NFL Draft. |
| 7. | Baltimore | Malcolm Jenkins | CB | Ohio State |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: QB Joe Flacco, Deleware I was surprised Jenkins didn't enter the 2008 NFL Draft, where he would have been a top 20 selection. Jenkins is the top rated cornerback entering the 2008 season. |
| 8. | San Francisco | Percy Harvin (JR) | WR | Florida |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DT Kentwan Balmer, N. Carolina Not huge at 5' 11" 184 pounds, but Harvin is a super talent and put up huge numbers in 2007 where he ran for 764 yards and six touchdowns and also caught 59 passes for 858 yards and four scores. He had heel surgery in April 2008, but should be ready to play by the summer. A big play threat for the 49ers. |
| 9. | Chicago | Curtis Painter | QB | Purdue |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt Painter is an unknown, but the 6' 3" 224 pound quarterback has legitimate NFL potential. The Bears haven't drafted a quarterback since 2005, when they drafted Kyle Orton in the 4th round. QBs Hunter Cantwell from Louisville and Todd Boeckman from Ohio State are a couple other QBs that could play their way into the first round. |
| 10. | Kansas City | Greg Hardy (JR) | DE | Mississippi |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU/ OT Branden Albert, Virginia Hardy could give the Chiefs the pass rusher they need since the trade of Jared Allen. Hardy is only a junior, but he is a very athletic football/basketball player with nice size, (6' 5" 255 lbs). Exploded onto the scene in 2007 as a sophomore, where he finished with an amazing 10 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. |
| 11. | NY Jets | Tyson Jackson | DE | LSU |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State Jackson was not impressive in 2007, but he has the size (6' 4" 290 lbs) and athletic ability to rebound in 2008. He finished 2007 with only 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He was smart to return for his senior year. |
| 12. | Philadelphia (from Panthers) | Brian Cushing | LB | USC |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick (2nd round): WR Jackson, DeSean, California The Eagles get a potential pro bowl linebacker with nice size (6' 3" 245 lbs). He fought injuries last year, but as a soph recorded 57 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss. |
| 13. | New Orleans | Michael Johnson | DE | Georgia Tech |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DT Sedrick Ellis, USC Not huge at 6' 6" 255 pounds, but he is very explosive coming off the edge. Almost entered the 2008 NFL Draft where he was graded as a 3rd rounder despite missing most of the season with injuries. |
| 14. | Denver | Brandon Spikes (JR) | LB | Florida |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: OT Ryan Clady, Boise State Hits like a ton of bricks and has nice size at 6' 3" 240 lbs. Spikes recorded 16 tackles for loss and 7 pass break-ups in 2007. |
| 15. | Philadelphia | Greg Middleton (JR) | DE | Indiana |
| Middleton at 6' 3" 270 lbs led the nation in sacks in 2007 with 16. He also recorded 17 tackles for loss and 50 tackles. He is a playmaker. |
| 16. | Arizona | George (Duke) Robinson | OG | Oklahoma |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State A massive guard that could replace Leonard Davis and finally give the Cardinals a running game. Robinson is light on his feet and massive at 6' 4" 330 pounds. |
| 17. | Washington | Victor Harris | DB | Virginia Tech |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick (2nd round): WR Thomas, Devin, Michigan State Harris can play corner or safety and at 6' 0" 208 pounds, has excellent ball skills. |
| 18. | Minnesota | Darrius Heyward-Bey (JR) | WR | Maryland |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: S Johnson, Tyrell, Arkansas State WR Troy Williamson, the seventh pick in the 2005 draft, has been traded to the Jaguars, so the need at receiver in Minnesota is great. |
| 19. | Green Bay | Alex Boone | OT | Ohio State |
| 2008 NFL Draft: WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State Many thought Boone and Laurinaitis would enter the 2008 NFL Draft. Boone (6' 7" 325 lbs) is an excellent prospect and grades out favorably to Jake Long, who was drafted number one over-all in the 2008 NFL Draft. |
| 20. | Houston | William Moore | FS | Missouri |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech Moore is the epitome of a ball hawk, recording 8 interceptions in 2007 which was tops in the country. He is also a big time hitter with nice size at 6' 1" 215 lbs. |
| 21. | Buffalo | Andre Smith (JR) | FS | Alabama |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: CB Leodis McElvin, Troy Smith has emerged as an elite offensive tackle and has started at left tackle since he was a freshman. He is huge at 6' 4" 345 pounds and very mobile. |
| 22. | Pittsburgh | Brian Robiskie | WR | Ohio State |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois The Steelers could use some more youth at receiver and Robiskie should be one of the top senior receivers available for the 2009 NFL Draft. He is the son of former NFL player and current coach Terry Robiskie and had 55 receptions for 935 yards and 11 TDs in 2007. |
| 23. | Cleveland | Chris Wells (JR) | RB | Ohio State |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick (4th round): LB Beau Bell Wells has all the talent in the world and will be the starter again for the Buckeyes in 2008. Wells is 6' 1" 225 pounds with 4.46 speed. |
| 24. | Tampa Bay | Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (sophomore) | WR | Rice |
| 2008 NFL Draft: CB Aqib Talib, Kansas Coach Gruden likes offense and Maclin will provide just that. An eligible soph, if he comes out early he will be a hot commodity. Maclin (6' 1" 200), exploded for a team high 1,055 receiving yards last season. Blazing fast, Maclin ran a 4.32 this spring. |
| 25. | New England | Vontae Davis (JR) | CB | Illinois |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: ILB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee The younger brother of 49er TE Vernon Davis. He (Davis) has as much talent as any DB in the nation. Yes the Patriots did draft CB Terrence Wheatley in the 2nd round in the 2008 NFL Draft, but Wheatley was a slight reach and might not be starting material. |
| 26. | Tennessee | Aaron Kelly | WR | Clemson |
| 2008 NFL Draft: RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina The Titans get an excellent receiver with a lot of potential, tall and thin (6' 4" 190 lbs), but tough as nails. Kelly caught 88 passes and 11 TDs as a junior. |
| 27. | NY Giants | Max Unger | Center/OT | Oregon |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: S Kenny Phillips, Miami Centers don't normally get drafted this high, but Unger (6' 5" 308 lbs.) is special. Unger is very versatile, he started at left tackle his freshman and sophomore years and then converted to center last year. |
| 28. | Seattle | Jermaine Gresham (JR) | TE | Oklahoma |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DE Lawrence Jackson, USC 2009 might be considered the year of the tight end if Gresham comes out early. At 6' 5" 255 pounds he doesn't have any weakness; he caught 11 TDs in 2007. |
| 29. | Jacksonville | Fili Moala | DT | USC |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: DE Derrick Harvey, Florida USC has a history of producing talented defensive lineman and the massive Moala (6' 4" 298 lbs) should be the next in line. A worthy replacement for Marcus Stroud. |
| 30. | San Diego | Jeremy Perry | OG | Oregon State |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: CB Antoine Cason, Arizona A powerful offensive lineman (6' 2" 324 lbs) that sustains his blocks very well. Injured in 2007, but if healthy he could be a first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. |
| 31. | Indianapolis | Chase Coffman | TE | Missouri |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick (2nd round): C Pollak, Mike, Arizona State Living in the shadow of Martin Rucker last year, who was drafted in the 4th round by the Browns. Coffman (6' 6" 254 lbs), will be the go-to guy for the Tigers and should put up lofty numbers in 2008. TE Travis Beckum is also a possibility. |
| 32. | Dallas | Herman Johnson | OG | LSU |
| 2008 NFL Draft Pick: RB Felix Jones, Arkansas / CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida A complete monster at 6' 6" 350 pounds, but he is not fat. Johnson has great feet and balance, he just needs to play with a mean streak. A replacement for struggling Kyle Kosier. |
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