| 2009 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 |
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I know this might have slipped up on you, what with the regular season and the playoffs distracting us all, but the 2009 NFL
draft is just 94 days hence, and that means it's time to get mocking. Don't take these selections to the bank just yet. We've
got more of these puppies coming between now and when the picking starts. That means we're only at Mock 1, and just
starting to accelerate into draft season: (Send comments to siwriters@simail.com or share your thoughts here.)
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| 1 |
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OT |
Andre Smith |
Alabama |
Jr. |
6-4 |
330 |
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Sure, it'd be a sexier No. 1 pick if I went with Georgia junior quarterback Matthew Stafford, but I'm not yet at the
point where I can see the winless Lions taking anything that resembles a risky pick with the very first selection of the
Jim Schwartz era. Plenty of questions remain about Stafford's readiness to play quickly in the NFL, and my early read
is the Lions will play it safe and start rebuilding their roster from the lines out. Smith, Virginia's Eugene Monroe
and Mississippi's Michael Oher are all in the discussion when it comes to divining the top-rated offensive tackle.
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| 2 |
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OT |
Eugene Monroe |
Virginia |
Jr. |
6-6 |
315 |
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The Rams missed out on offensive tackle Jake Long with the No. 2 pick in last year's draft, but they're assured of
coming away with one of the upper tier tackles this time around. St. Louis needs an heir apparent for Orlando Pace,
whose body has started to betray him in recent years. Monroe's game might not be as highly regarded as Smith's or Oher's, but
he's a cleaner pick who comes with fewer question marks regarding his character, maturity and size.
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| 3 |
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QB |
Matthew Stafford |
Georgia |
Jr. |
6-3 |
228 |
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Screaming in my head as I make this pick is the reality that taking a first-round quarterback is not exactly the Scott
Pioli way (see Brady, Tom, and Cassel, Matt). But the Chiefs quarterback situation has been a nightmare
since Len Dawson or so, and that might make for a scenario in which Pioli makes an exception. With Tyler
Thigpen playing serviceably last season, the Chiefs could afford to give Stafford the year or so of development that
everybody seems to think he needs. Then again, finding another quality offensive tackle to pair with Branden Albert is
much more Pioli-like.
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| 4 |
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WR |
Michael Crabtree |
Texas Tech |
So. |
6-3 |
214 |
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This could be a pick that doesn't change between now and April 25's first round. In the perfect marriage of need and draft
slot, the receiver-starved Seahawks should find Crabtree waiting. All you need to know at the moment is that Crabtree has
conjured up comparisons to Cardinals all-world receiver Larry Fitzgerald with his blend of size, hands, athleticism
and ability to make yards after the catch.
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| 5 |
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DB |
Malcolm Jenkins |
Ohio State |
Sr. |
6-1 |
201 |
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Eric Mangini's Browns (still getting used to that) could go a lot of different ways in the five spot, but it's going
to be a defensive pick. The home-state hero Jenkins would give Cleveland's shaky cornerback situation an infusion of talent,
but you can make a strong case for help in the pass rush (DE/LB Brian Orakpo of Texas) or maybe at linebacker (USC's
Rey Maualuga).
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| 6 |
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DE/LB |
Brian Orakpo |
Texas |
Sr. |
6-4 |
260 |
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The Bengals could really use help at offensive tackle or running back, but their need for an impact defensive end probably
trumps everything. "O-Sack-Po" is the consensus top-rated end, and his blend of speed, size and athleticism earned him both
the Lombardi Award (nation's best lineman) and the Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive player).
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| 7 |
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OT |
Michael Oher |
Ole Miss |
Sr. |
6-5 |
318 |
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Oher has obvious talent, but he also has just enough red flags attached to his name to make him an ideal Raider. Oher has
some maturity issues to address in the predraft scouting process, but he's a gifted pass and run blocker who would give
Oakland a book-end protector for quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
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| 8 |
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OLB |
Aaron Curry |
Wake Forest |
Sr. |
6-3 |
247 |
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Curry is a do-it-all linebacker who should walk right into an impact role in Jacksonville's defense. He can run 4.6, find the
ball all game long, and gives the Jaguars a natural replacement for soon-to-be ex-Jag Mike Peterson. Another option
would be the draft's other first-round offensive tackle, Baylor's Jason Smith.
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| 9 |
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DE |
Michael Johnson |
Georgia Tech |
Sr. |
6-7 |
260 |
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The Packers defensive line and pass rush is priority No. 1, and while we're not certain Green Bay projects Johnson as a 3-4
end in their new Dom Capers-led defensive formation, we do know Johnson's size and ability to shed blockers would seem
a natural fit for that position.
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| 10 |
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QB |
Mark Sanchez |
USC |
Jr. |
6-3 |
225 |
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While I'm well aware that new 49ers head coach Mike Singletary likes Shaun Hill's game quite a bit, if they
grade Sanchez highly enough it'll be hard to pass on the one-year USC starter. He needs some time to mature as a quarterback,
but that's where Hill figures to be the short-term answer for the 49ers while Sanchez watches and learns for a while.
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