In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to focus on adding
Defense: Defensive Tackle (DT)
Offense: Wide Receiver (WR)
Offense: Quarter Back (QB)
Defense: Outside Linebacker (OLB)
2009 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
by Craig Jacobin
- as of the morning of 4/25/2009
1. Detroit Lions: QB Matt Stafford, Georgia
Hard to believe but the Lions actually made the right decision and not only decided on the top QB in this draft but also managed to sign him before the draft. Ok, clearly there’s something wrong in Detroit.
2. St. Louis Rams: OT Jason Smith, Baylor
There’s been some buzz this am about the Rams trying to trade down to a team Jonesing for this year’s “it girl”, Mark Sanchez. But nobody wants to get too high in the draft these days, so look for STL to stand pat and snag Mr Smith.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
Jackson is a reach here in my opinion but the Chiefs are going to a 3-4 and this beast can play ever DL position well—just none of them spectacularly. Personally, I’d stick with Aaron Curry but Jackson has a very high chance for success, so it’s not a totally bad choice.
4. Seattle Seahawks: OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
All the talk right now is that Sanchez is heading to the Emerald City. I for one am not buying it—the Hawks can still get a few good years out of Hasselbeck. And they’re not that far off talentwise to be able to compete in the putrid NFC West next season.
5. Cleveland Browns: OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
Curry at #1 overall would have made sense. CLE getting him at #5 is a terrific pick. Watch for a possible Brady Quinn deal that could lead the Brownies to pull the trigger on Sanchez here.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Andre Smith, Alabama
The book on this Smith is a bit undecided still—early on, he was the #1 overall OT, but some goofy behavior at the combine cost him slide down the draft and about $5 million dollars. Dude is a dumbass—he’ll make a perfect Bengal.
7. Oakland Raiders: WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
With lots of safe stud options still on the board, the Raiders will again take the path of least success and choose a WR within the top 10. And about a 35% success rate amongst first round WR’s and a 10% success rate amongst first round Raiders at any position, I’m calculating Maclin’s odds for success at about 0.00003%. And there’s a rumor they’re looking at Darius Heyward-Bey here—that would be an all-time classic. Nice work, Al.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Mark Sanchez, USC
Great pick. Sanchez will be a solid player, Jags have a QB need and they manage to sit tight and have him drop right in their lap.
9. Green Bay Packers: DT BJ Raji, Boston College
Packers have a load of options at this spot. They’ll opt for Raji because a stud NT is much harder to find than a stud DE.
10. San Francisco 49ers: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
They’ll be praying for Sanchez to slide but won’t be too bummed when they find the wildly athletic Crabtree available in this position.
11. Buffalo Bills: OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Last week, this pick would have been Aaron Maybin or Brian Orakpo. But after unloading their Pro Bowl LT to Philly last week, the Bills will pull the trigger on Oher.
12. Denver Broncos: DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
While the Broncos will be tempted to snag RB Beanie Wells here, the pressure to improve the most offensive defense in the league will be too much to ignore. With Denver’s shift to a 3-4 under new DC Mike Nolan, getting a pass-rushing DE/OLB hybrid like Orakpo will be a priority.
13. Washington Redskins: DE Aaron Maybin, Penn St.
He’s a one-year wonder but he may have the most upside of all the defenders in this draft. Washington tries to get up high enough to snag Sanchez but end up holding tight.
14. New Orleans Saints: CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St.
They need help throughout the secondary. So whether Jenkins ends up at CB or S, he’ll be a perfect fit for the Saints.
15. Houston Texans: RB Beanie Wells, Ohio State
Wells is a perfect fit for the zone-blocking scheme HOU uses and Gary Kubiak will finally have the banger RB he’s needed since taking the helm of the Texans.
16. San Diego Chargers: RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
The Bolts will look very closely at the LB’s still on the board but Moreno may represent the best value at this point. And that will mark the beginning of LT’s final season in San Diego.
17. New York Jets: DE Everette Brown, Florida St
The crowd will be chanting for QB Josh Freeman but that would be a HUGE reach. They’ll take the safe route and grab one of the hybrid DE/LB’s still on the board.
18. Denver Broncos (from CHI) Brian Cushing LB, USC
The Broncos will be hoping that Wells or Moreno slip to this spot but instead they’ll be choosing from among the USC linebackers. Cushing gets the nod.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Peria Jerry, Ole Miss
The Bucs need to rebuild their defense and Jerry fits their scheme perfectly.
20. Detroit Lions (from DAL): DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee
The Lions were assuming Ayers would be gone by now, so they shift gears and go after the value pick here.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma St.
The Eagles see their draft day dreams come true when the well-rounded Pettigrew slides all the way down to 21.
22. Minnesota Vikings: OT Eben Britton, Arizona
They won’t be exactly thrilled with this pick but they really need a good RT and Britton is a good solid choice here.
23. New England Patriots: LB Rey Maualuga, USC
One athletic Somoan from USC down (Junior Seau), time to add one back in. Great pick for the Pats.
24. Atlanta Falcons: DT Ziggy Hood, Missouri
With Tony Gonzalez in the fold, the Falcons can focus on defense and opt for a late bloomer in Hood.
25. Miami Dolphins: WR Darius Heyward-Bey, Maryland
He’s really raw but he’s reeeeeeeeeeally fast. Parcels will mold him into a solid player.
26. Baltimore Ravens: LB Clay Mathews, USC
Mathews will give them a lot of flexibility in the linebacker core.
27. Indianapolis Colts: OT William Beatty, Boston College
Beatty is a bit of a reach here but the Colts have to retool their offense again for a final run before Peyton calls it quits.
28. Buffalo Bills (from PHL): DE Larry English, Northern Illinois
The Bills usually surprise in the first round and English fits the bill. A high upside guy from a smaller school.
29. New York Giants: WR Kenny Britt, Rutgers.
Unless this pick goes to Cleveland for Braylon Edwards, Britt should be the pick here.
30. Tennessee Titans: DE Connor Barwin, Cincinnati
This guy came from nowhere in the final weeks leading up the draft.
31. Arizona Cardinals: RB Donald Brown, Connecticut
A suddenly fairly talented team fills their top need.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Darius Butler, Connecticut
The Super Bowl champs snag Butler to begin re-building their aging secondary.





