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Michael Abromowitz's 2009 NFL Mock Draft - 7 rounds
Jared Donnelly's 2009 NFL Mock Draft
KFFL.com's 2009 NFL Mock Draft

2009 NFL Mock Draft - 7 Rounds
(shortcut - NFLgeek.com)
by Gregory Cox
Senior Writer
4/24/09


Mark Sanchez
Eugene Monroe
Andre Smith
Mark Sanchez
Eugene Monroe
Andre Smith

This is the Greg Cox's 7 round mock draft from 4/24/09, to read his FINAL mock draft click HERE


1-32 I 16-32 I Round 2 I Round 3 I Round 4 I Round 5 I Round 6 I Round 7

Well here we go. My nerves are starting to fray because in a way I feel like I’m going to draft my own team on April 25. Even at this late stage my player rankings are changing and I have made adjustments to the team needs. It’s time for another mock draft. When it’s over I can relax and listen to my favorite podcast over at Solid Verbal. In fact, while you’re reading my mock pull it up on your media player.  Do not hesitate to voice your opinions in our forums or by emailing me: greg@thefootballexpert.com. I read all my emails and respond in depth to the coherent ones. I respond to the rest too.Enjoy the mock draft. Have fun with it.


1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Detroit Lions' Draft Needs
I will admit I never bought into this pick early in the process. He seems to be forcing it. I joked in the last version that if the NFL ever combines forces with skeet shooting he has demonstrated his ability to break plates with a football. I like Stafford as an NFL prospect. I do not believe he is the best quarterback in this draft and think he is likely to fail for the Lions.

2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
St. Louis Rams' Draft Needs
This is off to a boring start, but it’s late in the process and time to get a little conservative. Another #2 overall pick means another opportunity to draft a franchise left tackle. The only difference this season is that now Orlando Pace is gone. Last year he was only aging. In a hotly contested battle of elite tackles Jason Smith seems to have come out on top. My slight concern is that at Baylor his athletic quarterback Griffin ran away from opposing defenders so the “zero sacks” stat is a bit overrated. However, he has tested well and should be great.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Kansas City Chiefs' Draft Needs
I have a difficult time with this because I am convinced the Chiefs will find a way to trade down, difficult as it might seem. Unless I know for sure they will be picking again sooner than #67 after shuffling down from #3 or dealing away players (Gonzalez? Waters? Johnson?) I have to take the top value at an area of need. They traded for Cassel and need to be certain he is protected. This has been viewed as a natural fit because last year’s first round pick Branden Albert lined up next to Monroe for the Cavaliers in college. There are questions about drafting another left tackle when this is one of the few spots the team has a star and the whole “maximum value” dilemma. They’ll figure it out and ultimately wind up with two stalwarts on the offensive line. Other than trading down this is the most appealing option I see.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Seattle Seahawks' Draft Needs
While it is true their offensive line is struggling, this pick is with an eye on the future because Hasselbeck/Wallace will be handling this position in 2009 and possibly 2010. It is unlikely they will be drafting this high next year and certainly no guarantee a player of Sanchez’s ability will cross their path when they select in the 2010 first round. Wow are they going to mull over Aaron Curry because franchise tagged Leroy Hill is unsettled, but they just traded Julian Peterson to lessen the total salary cap figure for the linebacker position. Adding Curry would immediately reverse that and there is no guarantee he is worth it – “safe” as he might be considered. It’s an overused term and means nothing anyway.



5. Cleveland Browns – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Cleveland Browns' Draft Needs
Here I go, projecting a trade. This is dangerous territory, but the Browns are looking at dealing Braylon Edwards to the Giants on the heels of shipping out tight end Kellen Winslow. This team is all over the place in terms of what they might do including going after a quarterback when they have two viable young options in place. Is another trade coming? It might be. My head hurts. Crabtree catches everything thrown in his direction. They need receptions.

6. Cincinnati Bengals – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Cincinnati Bengals' Draft Needs
Someone will need to hold back Marvin Lewis if he is able to get his hands on Curry. There is a certain supply/demand factor at the position which might lead to this scenario. The Bengals need a leader for their defense. They have one on offense with quarterback Carson Palmer. Now Curry can pair up with Keith Rivers and start tackling some people.

7. Oakland Raiders – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Oakland Raiders' Draft Needs
Last year I resisted giving them Darren McFadden for a long time. The same is true for me buying into Maclin. Whether or not I personally agree with this being their best choice or most likely given their history of not taking a receiver in the first round is irrelevant. They seem to be locked into doing this because he can make plays. I have a hard time defending it though so we’ll leave it at that.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Jacksonville Jaguars' Draft Needs
Crabtree and Maclin are off the board, but after signing Holt they can shift their attention away from a serious reach at receiver. They are not concerned about his combine meltdown because he can play. Tra Thomas is a short term solution and this is their long term play.



9. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Green Bay Packers' Draft Needs
There is really only one question if Raji is available. Are they worried about his alleged failed drug test (marijuana) at the combine? I wonder exactly how and why this information was leaked if it is now reportedly not true. At any rate Raji gives them a crucial piece to help them get their new 3-4 defense rolling.

10. San Francisco 49ers – Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas
San Francisco 49ers' Draft Needs
Someone is going to bite on his freakish potential, even if it is unclear exactly how he fits in. Mike Singletary wants to giver former first round pick Manny Lawson, but when Orakpo is on the board he might not be as adamant about this stance.

11. Buffalo Bills – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
Buffalo Bills' Draft Needs
The Peters trade being finalized means they have to get their hands on a tackle. They do have another shot at #28, but there are no guarantees a player capable of playing the left side will be available in that spot.

12. Denver Broncos – Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Denver Broncos' Draft Needs
His stock has risen as a potential 3-4 end. All indications are that the team will emphasize defense. He is the best addition that fits their new formation.



13. Washington Redskins – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
Washington Redskins' Draft Needs
The top four offensive tackles are gone, which leaves them deciding between a linebacker and defensive end. I have had Ayers here before and still believe he makes sense for them.

14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
New Orleans Saints' Draft Needs
I’d be surprised to see the team turning in a card at #14. They would love to trade back and I’m sure someone would be willing to shift up a few spots. There is certainly risk involved because if they want Jenkins they might need to stay put. It’s a guessing game. Their secondary struggles and with 100 players coming off the board until they pick next this still makes the most sense to me. And just about every other mock drafter.

15. Houston Texans – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Houston Texans' Draft Needs
He is a polarizing player. Some are worried about him getting injured and feel he lasts until the 20’s. Others consider him as high as a #5 overall pick. It doesn’t matter to me either way. His ability combined with how he will be utilized make him a good fit with the Texans. They have their smaller back in Slaton. This tandem is going to work out well if this how they use the pick.

16. San Diego Chargers – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
San Diego Chargers' Draft Needs
I had projected this before and there are obvious reasons. Any team running a 3-4 wants to keep talented linebackers flowing in. He played nearby in LA and is a California native. The value is there and the Chargers aim for value. Seau, another former Trojan ‘backer, was beloved for years. It makes so much sense it will probably not happen. We can debate for hours how the trio of Trojans fall and it’s a mild upset Rey is the first off the board given his off-field issues and the knock is a “two down” player. However, he is described as “violent” and their defense needs the swagger that seemed to leave them in 2008.

1-32 I 16-32 I Round 2 I Round 3 I Round 4 I Round 5 I Round 6 I Round 7

This is the Greg Cox's 7 round mock draft from 4/24/09, to read his FINAL mock draft click HERE

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