2009 Buyline NFL Mock Draft “part one”

Hard to believe but the 2009 NFL Draft is less than a month away. There are numerous websites out there forecasting who will pick who and when. But really what do all those so-called experts know? Over the next several weeks I will be unveiling my own first round predictions in the first ever Buyline NFL Mock Draft. The first 10 selections are as of today. Of course, things can always change especially regarding the Broncos current fiasco with star QB Jay Cutler and their plans on trading him. But as of today with no trade being done here is how I see the top ten going…

1. Detroit Lions – Needs: Everything (hey they went 0-16) OL, Playmaker on defense. Ever since the Lions have been “on the clock” which has been since about week 12 of last season, most of the talk has been about Georgia QB Matthew Stafford as being the pick for the Lions. However I think new Head Coach Jim Schwartz has convinced management that he needs to put his stamp on this team. As much as the defensive minded Schwartz would love to anchor his defense with Aaron Curry the linebacker out of Wake Forest, he spent enough time under Jeff Fisher at Tennessee to realize the importance of establishing a running game. So with the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select Jason Smith, tackle from Baylor. Smith, who has emerged as the top offensive lineman in the 2009 class will be a building block along the lines of the Dolphins Jake Long in last year’s draft.
2. St. Louis Rams – Needs: OL, WR. Two all-time Rams greats are no longer with the team. Future Hall-of-Famers tackle Orlando Pace and wide receiver, Torry Holt both were released this off-season. The offense is in desperate need for a playmaker to take the pressure off RB Steven Jackson and WR Michael Crabtree would be a tremendous addition to the team. But protecting QB Marc Bulger is an even higher priority so look for the Rams to use the second pick of the draft on an offensive tackle of their own by selecting Virginia’s Eugene Monroe. Monroe is huge at 6’5” and 315 lbs and will takeover for Pace in covering Bulger’s blindside.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Needs: DE, OLB. Another team with a new regime at the helm. This is the start of the Scott Pioli era in Kansas City. Pioli, part of the braintrust that built the New England dynasty takes over and looks to make his mark. While the Chiefs could use offensive line help themselves, Pioli’s draft history in New England shows he rarely selected offensive lineman in the first round. He also might be intrigued with taking a QB for new coach Todd Haley to develop, but again his history shows he knows how to find gems later in the draft i.e. Tom Brady and Matt Cassell. I look for Pioli to go for a playmaker on defense in the mold of the Patriots Richard Seymour, so with the 3rd pick in the draft the Kansas City Chiefs select Brian Orakpo, defensive end from Texas. The Lombardi, Hendricks and Nagurski award winner will bring his rough, tough, competitive style of play to the Chiefs defense.
4. Seattle Seahawks Needs: OL, QB, OLB Both QB Matt Hasselback and tackle Walter Jones are old and the Seahawks need to address replacing them. The free agent signing of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh filled a huge need for an offensive go-to-guy. The Seahawks would take Smith or Monroe if either are still available, if not they will go to the defensive side and choose between Curry and B.J. Raji, the best defensive tackle in this year’s draft. I say Seahawks pick B.J. Raji, DT out of Boston College.
5. Cleveland Browns – Needs: RB, Pass rusher. The Browns main problem on defense has been putting pressure on the quarterback. This will cause them to look long and hard at two edge rushers Penn State’s Aaron Maybin and Florida State’s Everette Brown. However I think they will be shocked to see Curry still on the board so with the 5th pick in the 2009 NFL draft the Cleveland Browns select Aaron Curry, linebacker, Wake Forest University. Curry is cut from the same cloth as the 49ers Patrick Willis and will be the leader of the Browns defense for the next decade.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – Needs: DL, WR, OL. The Bengals are another team that will find it too hard to pass on a player that has slipped right into their laps. Although they could really use offensive line help and tackles Michael Oher from Ole Miss and Bama’s Andre Smith are still on the board, the Bengals can not afford to pass on perhaps the top player in the draft WR from Texas Tech, Michael Crabtree. Crabtree will immediately fill the void created by Houshmandzadeh’s departure and provide security should the “Ocho Cinco” show start getting out of hand again.
7. Oakland Raiders – Needs: WR, DB. Al Davis loves speed. He will take this opportunity to look to round out his own offensive “triplets” and he adds to his last two years first round choices QB JaMarcus Russel and RB Darren McFadden the speed and ability of Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin. Not only will Maclin step right in to the number one receiver’s role but should add excitement to the return game as well.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Needs:  LB, WR, QB. The Jaguars haven’t had a top receiver since Jimmy Smith was in his prime and they were so close to getting one of the top two receivers in Crabtree and Maclin. Fortunately for them this is a deep draft at the WR position and the Jaguars will still be able to grab a quality receiver in the 2^nd round. Here they will have to decide to take QB Matthew Stafford or trade the pick to any of the teams that will be sure to come calling. Either way the 8th selection in this year’s draft is Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.
9. Green Bay Packers – Needs: DB, TE, DE/OLB. New defensive coordinator Dom Capers will be campaigning for the Packers to give him another edge rusher to play opposite Aaron Kampman. With both Brown and Maybin available, they will have their choice. I look for the Packers to select Penn State’s defensive end Aaron Maybin.
10. San Francisco 49ers – Needs: LB, OL, WR. While new coach Mike Singletary would surely like to add a pass rusher to his defense, I think he really wants to go back to the grind it out rushing game he was so familiar with during his playing days with the Bears. The 49ers have one of the top backs in the game in Frank Gore and I think the 49ers will jump at the chance to add a huge left tackle to help open the running lanes for him. With the 10th pick in the 2009 NFL draft the San Francisco 49ers select former Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher. Oher has been rising up teams draft boards and his huge size and strength will give Singletary exactly what he is looking for.

Next week we will look at picks 11 thru 20 and make any updates to the top 10 should any team-changing trades come down between now and then. Stay tuned…

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