The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The AFC North

The 2009 NFL Draft was an interesting one for teams in the AFC North as those teams (aside from the Steelers) make every attempt to try to overtake the Pittsburgh Steelers and make every attempt to win the division. Some teams did pretty well while others left a lot on the table and holes to fill at some point prior to the start of the 2009 NFL season. There is still some work to do but these teams have started to gear up and take a shot at the Steelers.

The following is a team by team look at how each team in the AFC North drafted during the 2009 NFL Draft with draft grades provided.

Baltimore Ravens-The Ravens went into this draft with some specific needs on offense and a few on defense and came out of it with some solid players that will help them out in the future. Offensive tackle Michael Oher is going to be an All-Pro at some point and is a huge boost to their offense. Defensive end Paul Kruger and linebacker Jason Phillips have a lot of promise. Cedric Peerman could contribute at some point. The other picks are merely picks for depth. Grade: A-

Cincinnati Bengals-I think that one of the biggest steals of the draft came when the Bengals nabbed defensive end and all around good athlete Michael Johnson in the third round. Johnson could be one of the real surprises of this draft. While they might have rolled the dice a bit on Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith, if he manages to keep himself out of trouble, he could be big. Rey Maualuga was another player that the Bengals took that had character concerns leaving many to wonder why the Bengals continue to draft players with problems. If everything works out though, this could be one of their better drafts in recent memory. Grade: B-

Cleveland Browns-The Browns traded up and down the draft to try to get some players to help fill their needs and they ended up with some good players but not great ones. Alex Mack will be helpful as will both Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi but guys like David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava were a bit of a reach. The depth at the wide receiver position was helped out a lot though and this was important because of the situation with Braylon Edwards. It’s just confusing why they did some of the things that they did in the late rounds. Grade: C

Pittsburgh Steelers-The Steelers really needed some help on their offensive line and they failed to address it in terms of getting some players that can step in and start right away. They did grab Kraig Urbik and he will provide them depth but getting center A.Q. Shipley was kind of confusing being that he may not even have the physical build to play in the league. Wide receiver Mike Wallace was a pretty good pickup and will push Limas Sweed. Cornerback Joe Burnett is also a good pickup that may pay off for them in the future. Grade: C

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The AFC South

The AFC South could end up being one of the better divisions in football next season and the draft helped push a couple teams a little bit further towards the playoffs and quite possibly past Indianapolis. Here is a quick look at the draft grades that I gave to the teams in the AFC South following the 2009 NFL Draft.

Houston Texans-The Texans had a mission. Their mission was to improve their defense and add depth in some other key areas. This was almost exactly what they did. Adding USC linebacker Brian Cushing will really help them out on defense as will the addition of Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin. With these new additions as well having Amobi Okoye and Mario Williams, the Texans may end up having one of the better defenses in the NFL. They did get a little offensive line depth and some much needed depth in the secondary. Choosing two tight ends was a little confusing but at least they have some good depth at the position. Grade B+

Indianapolis Colts-The Colts went into this draft in need of some depth and some starting power on the defensive line and while they got some of that depth that they needed, they didn’t quite get the power that they wanted on the defensive line. Fili Moala is a nice addition as is Terrance Taylor and they should help them out but they needed much more on the line. Getting running back Donald Brown will end up being huge for this team especially since they have had issues in the running game in the past. A decent draft but they didn’t quite fill their needs here. Grade C

Jacksonville Jaguars-The Jaguars needed some big time help on the offensive line and at wide receiver and they got some help in both areas. To start out, they took offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton making their line instantly better. A little farther on down the line, they added wide receivers Mike Thomas ,Jarrett Dillard (who got into a car wreck right before the draft) and Tiquan Underwood but could have added a top of the line wide receiver which is still now a serious need. Filling needs on the offensive line gives them a higher grade than perhaps they should have gotten. Grade B+

Tennessee Titans-The Titans went into the draft in need of a wide receiver and got one by taking Kenny Britt with their first pick in the draft. He should be a starter right away. The acquisition of Sen’Derrick Marks should help Tennessee at least recover a little bit from the loss of Albert Haynesworth. Tight end Jared Cook was a solid pickup but they neglected getting a top end cornerback and drafted just two cornerbacks in this draft. The offensive line got some depth added and they also picked up running back Javon Ringer in an interesting move for the team. Grade B-

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft: Draft Grades: AFC East

The much anticipated 2009 NFL Draft has come and gone and it was a draft with some surprise, some unpredictability, some good moves and some bad moves. While some said that the talent in this draft was sub par others felt that there was some good depth at many positions and teams loaded up on some players that are sure to become household names at some point in the very near future.

The following is a quick look at each team in the AFC East and the grades that I gave them for the prospects that they drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft.

New England Patriots-The Patriots did a lot of trading around the draft to get additional picks both this year and next and came up with some players that are really going to help them out in the near and long term. Drafting players like Patrick Chung and Darius Butler will pay dividends. Trading Ellis Hobbs was a little bit questionable but this team now has the talent to fill that void and get back into the playoffs. Grade: A+

Miami Dolphins-The Dolphins drafted smart and got some good players to help them improve overall. Drafting such players as Vontae Davis and Pat White will surely make this team better in terms of team speed. White will give them some flexibility and fire power on offense. Cornerback Sean Smith is a real find as is Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline. Overall it’s a good draft for them.
Grade: A-

New York Jets-Trading to get Mark Sanchez was a big and bold move for the Jets but a necessary one as they were a team in desperate need of a quarterback. Now we will have to see if Sanchez can be the starter that the Jets hope that he can be but if he does pan out, then this will have been a good draft for them. However, with just three picks overall, this draft won’t help them much in the future. Not to be forgotten, drafting Shonn Greene does help their running game out a lot so this draft is not a loss for them by any means. Grade: C+

Buffalo Bills-Aaron Maybin might have went a little bit higher than he should have but if he can help improve the Bill’s pass rush, I think that he will really help their defense out. Taking center Eric Wood was a little bit of odd but some of their later selections (to include Jarius Byrd, Andy Levitre and Nic Harris) should be productive at some point in their careers. Grade: B-

NEXT UP: The AFC South

By Bryan Dietzler

NFL Draft Dog's 2010 NFL Draft Coverage

Constantly trying to raise the bar, NFL Draft Dog has been redesigned and along with that allot of 2010 NFL Draft Information has been released including one of the first 2010 NFL Mock Draft and a Ranking of the 2010 NFL Draft Prospects and a Value Board. We also have started our college football coverage with a listing of the Top 100 Prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft and completed an early Heisman Trophy Hopefuls article.

We haven't forgot about the 2009 NFL Draft and the post draft reviews are coming in  by the minute, you can access each teams analysis in our NFL Team Columns page. 

If you have any suggestions or tips feel free to send them our way.

2009 NFL Draft Series: Day One Winners and Losers

Winners-

 

Philadelphia- The Eagles took Jeremy Maclin at #19, moving up a couple spots after trading with Cleveland, and grabbed RB LeSean McCoy with the 21^st pick of the 2^ndround.  These are the type of brazen, daring picks that can make a team great.  Both add world class speed and quickness to the Eagles.  I love their draft so far.

 

Cleveland- The Browns wheeled and dealed, walking away with three 2^nd round picks.  Cleveland may not have had the flashiest pick, like the Eagles, but they made very smart decisions on very good players.  Alex Mack, drafted at #21 in the 1^st round, while anchor the middle of that line for the next 12 years.  Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi are not burners with 4.4 speed but both are intelligent receivers with great hands, the Browns have done very well at rebuilding the receiving corps.  David Veikune, as I’ve been saying, went much higher than many expected.  He will turn out to be a great choice for them.

 

Denver- I know many will not agree with me here, but I think the Broncos are one of the drafts biggest winners so far.  Knowshon Moreno, taken 12^th overall, is a superstar-in-waiting while Robert Ayers, taken 18^th overall, is scratching the surface of his potential and should find a great fit int he 3-4 where he won’t have to rush the passer.  Many were shocked that the Broncos would trade a 1^st round pick in 2010 for a 2^nd round pick this year just to take an undersized CB in Alphonso Smith.  I say Smith was the best CB in the draft.  Darcel McBath is good but not great and Richard Quinn was a reach with many better TE prospects still available.

 

San Francisco- Can a team with only one Day 1 pick be a winner?  Sure! When you’re sitting at tenth and just hoping to catch whichever player falls and it turns out to be Michael Crabtree, you’ve won, hands down.  Crabtree may or may not be a great NFL player, but the fact that San Fran actually found him gift wrapped at #10 and were not to shocked to actually scribble his name on a piece of paper and walk it to Goodell makes them a winner.

 

Losers-

 

NY Jets- The Jets traded a lot to move up to #5 to take QB Mark Sanchez, and with them currently making another trade with Detroit to get its 3^rd round pick, the Jets will have only 3 picks this year.  There will be a ton of pressure on Sanchez and he may have to start right away.  I know the Jets needed a QB but that was a lot to give up for someone with only 16 starts to their name.

 

Oakland- Of course Oakland makes this list.  C’mon, they pass on Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin in favour of Darrius Heyward-Bey?  Then they pick a guy no one had heard of, not even the ESPN experts.  John Clayton had a list of 750 guys and didn’t have him on there; I had 600 names in front of me and never had him.  The Raiders must believe they know something the rest of the world doesn’t know because Ohio S Michael Mitchell is not going to excite their fans.

 

Cincinnati- The Bengals just don’t learn do they?  OT Andre Smith, taken at #6, has the physical talent to go #1 overall, but his maturity gave him a late-first round grade.  Then they catch Rey Maualuga in the 2^nd round at 38^th overall, giving the Bengals two guys with character concerns.  Same old Bengals huh?

By Daryl Breault

Thats It! First round of the 2009 NFL Draft is Over

The first round is over! Whew! What a rush. That was great. We saw six receivers get drafted in the first round this year, after not a single receiver went in the first round last year. QB Matt Stafford was the first pick and he is now the highest paid player in the NFL with more than $41 million in guaranteed money. The Jets moved up to #5 to get USC QB Mark Sanchez, prompting the Browns to drop down two more times after that and finally picking at 21. The Patriots traded down twice, once with the Ravens for the 23rd pick, then they traded out of the first round all together when they traded the 26th pick to Green Bay. Tampa jumped up two spots to take QB Josh Freeman and Buffalo really surprised by taking C Eric Wood.

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Final Pick is In!

Witht he final pick of the first round, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood. A likely DE in the Steelers 3-4 because of his anchor ability and his ability to split double teams. he's athletic enough to play on the edge and is a great choice for the future as their d-line is aging. Grade: A

Cards hope they have solved RB problems

The Cards have added to their explosive offense with he 31st pick in the form of RB Beanie Wells. Questions about his toughness persist and I'm not sure of him. He has talent, but he may lack the explosiveness to be elite. Grade: B-

Britt headed to Nashville

The 30th pick is WR Kenny Britt to Tennessee. Britt has a streak of prima donna in him but the talent is there. He is inconsistant and has only average hands. The potential is there to be a #1 receiver but it remains to be seen if he can capitalize on him. 6 WR int he first round now, none went last year. Grade: C+

Giants Replace Plax with Nicks

Hakeem Nicks is the choice at #29 by the Giants to replace Plaxico Burress. Nicks is big and incredible hands. He's not real fast and doesn't run the greatest routes but his hands are amazing and he can learn to run routes. This kid is a playmaker with a flair for the dramatic. Grade: B

Bills nab C Eric Wood

In what can be seen as a huge reach the Bills go for C Eric Wood at #28. I had them taking Alex mack at #11 in my mock but they went with Maybin instead and go for their C here. They may have gotten him later. He's good but Id on't think he's this good. As I've said before, we might just see at least 10 o-lineman go in Round 1. Grade: D-

Colts add to RB depth

The Indy Colts have taken RB Donald Brown at #27. Brown seems an awful like Joseph Addai and is overrated in my opinion. While he has good speed and can catch, he may not be a franchise back. I dont see a lot of toughness or great vision. Colts may regret this pick. Grade: D+

Pack grab Matthews at 26

Finally Clay Matthews comes off the board, to the Packers at #26 who traded for the pick from the Pats. The packers have now upgraded at NT and OLB, adding two very good pieces to their new 3-4 defence. Matthews bloodlines and work ethic are a big plus. Grade: A-

Dolphins Take Chance on Davis

The Phins had a big need at CB and have filled it with CB Vontae Davis. Davis has immaturity concerns and his brother has yet to reach his potential and that is casting a shadow over Davis. Davis is a boom or bust to the hilt but Bill parcells is not wrong too often. The fact that it's himt aking the chance on Davis says a lot. Grade: C+

Falcons fill need with Peria Jerry

The 24th pick is Peria Jerry to the Falcons. A top notch pass rusher who gets into backfields. I have ocncerns about his ability to anchor and hold up against the run but he is really disruptive. Has the potential to develop into a great player if given time. Grade: B-

Ravens go for Michael Oher

The Ravens have picked upt he #23 pick from the Patriots and used it on OT Michael Oher. While they could have used a WR, the Ravens take the player they feel is the best available. This team is the best drafting team in the league and has solidified their tackle position with Jared Gaither. Grade: B-

Minny Grabs Harvin

The Vikings have overlooked Percy Harvin's failed drug test at the combine and have taken him at #21. He's explosive and can be incredibly versatile. He is one of the best runners int his draft in the open field. His character concerns are worrisome though. Grade: C+

Browns Finally Pick!

The Browns have traded down three times, with NY Jets for the 5th pick, the Bucs for the 17th pick and Philly for the 20th. They finally selected C Alex Mack. Mack is the best center prospect and in my opinion the best o-line prospect in the draft. Not a flashy pick but a great pick nonetheless. Grade: B

Lions go for TE

Brandon Pettigrew is the pick at #20 for Detroit. He may be the best TE in Lions history if he pans out. A great all around player who may not have tested very well but is a real player who will contribute. He gives Stafford a check down option when they are down 20 and chucking the ball around. Grade: A-

Eagles Trade up for Maclin

The Eagles have taken advantage of the Browns desire to acquire more picks and have jumped up to the #19 pick to grab WR Jeremy Maclin. Maclin is explosive and will stretch the field. He could please McNabb finally and can develop and contribute in 2010 or 11. The Browns are dropping down this draft quickly and could potentially have added a great deal of new selections. Grade: B+

QB is the Choice for Bucs

Trading up two picks and reaching badly, the Bucs have taken Josh Freeman at #17. Freeman is incredibly overrated because of his size and arm. He has marginally improved throughout college and got by on athletic ability and arms trength. While he does have potential because of his gifts, it's tough to see him improving much. Grade: F

Broncos draft Robert Ayers

With their second pick at #18 the Broncos have selected DE Robert Ayers. This guy has not had a great college career and was only really dominant for a few weeks at Tenn. The Senior Bowl is where he caught everyones attention he has rode that momentum to the mid-1st round pick. A big guy, Ayers could fit very nicely in a 3-4 defence. Grade: C+

Bolts Grab Pass Rusher

The Chargers have tabbed DE/OLB Larry English as their #16 pick. This is interesting because of his small school background and the fact that Everette Brown and Clay Matthews were still available. English is highly productive and has been very impressive in workouts. Not necessarily a reach but surprising none the less with Marrimen and Phillips there. Grade: B-

At #15 the Houston Texans select USC Linebacker Brian Cushing

Labeled as a workout warrior and Cushing has had a long list of injuries, but when healthy Cushing is dynamite. He looks the part indeed. 6' 3" 248 pounds and he ran a 4.67 forty yard dash at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine. This was a need pick for the Texans, but I think the Texans did just fine here. On my mock draft I had him going to the Skins at #13. So he was decent value. Grade B+

Saints make commitment to defence

Malcolm jenkins is the pick for New Orleans at #14. While his lack of top speed and recovery speed could push him to safety but your still getting a great player at FS. He's tough and smart, the Saints got a great player. While RB Beanie Wells may have been a possibility, there's talent later in the draft at RB, New Orleans needs to upgrade the defense above all else. Grade: A-

Redskins Select DE Brian Orakpo in about 10 seconds

The ink wasn't even dry on the Broncos selection when the Redskins ran to the podium to select Texas stud DE Brian Orakpo at the 13th slot. This is a great pick, Orakpo is a top five talent and now the Redskins have one of the best front fours in the entire NFL. Grade: A+

Broncos look past Moreno's slow forty time

Knowshon Moreno is the pick at #12 to Denver. As teams should have, the Broncos overlooked moreno's forty time because they rightly believe Moreno is more than that. Incredibly elusive and quick, strong for his size and has all the heart in the world to succeed. Grade: A

At #11 the Buffalo Bills select OLB Aaron Maybin

The Bills needed help at offensive tackle and OT Michael Oher looked like the logical choice here, but the Bills rolled the dice to take the speediest pass rusher in the draft. Don't listen to his quoted position. he is a outside linebacker all the way, at 6' 4" 248 pounds, he is to light to play in the 3 point stance. He will probably be a situational pass rusher in the NFL until the youngster learns how to play the position. Grade C.

Crabtree to Niners

If Michael Crabtree is in the same category as Calvin Johnson the Niners have gotten incredible value at #10. They really lucked out having Crabtree fall this far as they need a #1 receiver. HIs ankle injury probably had something to do with his slight drop but he's a heck of a player. The only concern with him is the offence he played in as Texas Tech is a prolific offense to say the least. Either way, the Niners made a great selection. Grade: B

Green Bay Packers on the Clock at #9 and took B. J. Raji

Boston College nose tackle B. J. Raji was an excellent selection for the Packers. A very powerful (6' 1" 335 lbs) run stopper, but with the quickness to rush the passer and completely disrupt an offense. If he gets and stays in shape, he could be a pro bowl nose tackle. They do need some pass rushing linebackers and could have taken Brian Orakpo or Aaron Maybin also. A great pick here, draft grade for this pick: A

Jags pass on Crabtree; Upgrade o-line

OT Virginia OT Eugene Monroe is the Jags pick at #8 as Jax chooses o-line help ahead of needs at WR. If Michael Crabtree wasn't available I would agree witht his pick but they need a top receiver badly and should be their target in Round 2. Monroe is another very good LT prospect to come out of Virginia in the last 5 years. Grade: B-

With the 7th Pick in the 2009 NFL Draft the Raiders Select...

The Raiders need help at receiver, defensive tackle and offensive tackle, so all their options were open with plenty of talent still on the board. They chose the fastest receiver the draft, Maryland WR Darrius Heyward Bey. Al Davis is overly fixated with speed. He passed on a much better receiver in WR Michael Crabtree. This pick is terrible, the Raiders could have traded down to the end of the first round and still got Bey. Draft grade for this pick: F

Same Old Bengals. Take Andre Smith #6

Andre Smith is a great player ont he field but maturity issues have plagued him for months and the common belief was that he was dropping like a stone. Apparently Cincy hasn't learned their lesson with this kind of thing. For some reason this team is like a magnet for character problems. DT BJ Raji would have been a better pick than Smith even with their needs at tackle. Eugene Monroe is the better tackle prospect. Grade: D-

The New York Jets move up and take QB Mark Sanchez

The Jets move up from #17 to the #5 slot to select USC QB Mark Sanchez. This is a questionable move, he might have even fallen down to them at #17 anyway. Time will tell, but if I am a Jets fan I am not happy because you know they gave up the kitchen sink to trade with the Browns.

Seahawks go for BPA in LB Curry

Aaron Curry becomes the replacement for Julian Peterson, who they traded to Detroit for DT Cory Redding. They had bigger needs elsewhere but Curry is the highest rated player in the draft by nearly everyone and a talent like that is tough to pass on. QB Mark Sanchez would have walked into a great situation by sitting behind Matt Hasselbeck and not getting pressed into service before he is ready. Curry is the safe pick and makes LB again the strength of the Seahawk defence. Grade: B-

The Kansas City Chiefs select LSU DE Tyson Jackson

With the 3rd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft the Chiefs grab LSU DE Tyson Jackson (6' 5" 298 lbs). This is a bad pick, way to high for Jackson. There is no way they should have passed on LB Aaron Curry. Curry was rated higher and also fills a need. Jackson has been an under achiever.

St. Louis get next Orlando Pace?

This pick is not much of a surprise. The Rams released Orlando Pace and hope to strike lightning in a bottle once again with Baylor OT Jason Smith. Smith is a former TE with great athleticism and is a prototype franchise LT. He may take a year or two to reach full potential because of his switch to o-line only three years ago. The athletic ability and the drive are there for Smith to succeed and the Rams should be getting their next Pro Bowl blindside protector for QB Marc Bulger. Grade: A-

Trade Value Chart for the 2009 NFL Draft

There should be plenty of trades in the 2009 NFL Draft and I present you our Draft Trade Value Chart. The chart shows us what each pick is worth based off of a point value. 

Studying the chart you can see why teams rarely trade up into the top 10. For example, the 10th over-all selection is worth 1300 points. To give up enough picks to equal 1300 points you would have to give up your second round pick (40th), worth 500 points, two of your 3rd round picks (68th), worth 250 each. That brings us to only 1000 points.  So now let's throw in a fourth round pick (100th), worth 100 points and a 6th round pick, (166th) for 25 points, and a seventh round pick (203rd) for 10 points.  Well folks, that only gives us 1,175 points, yes we are in the ball park, but you would you basically have to give up your entire draft.

Now the real world, we will use the New York Jets, the rumor is they want to move up to the 4th spot and select USC QB Mark Sanchez. If they give up there own first round pick at #17 they earn 950 points, their 52nd pick is worth 380 points, their 76th pick is worth 210 points, their 115th pick is worth 64 points, and their 193rd pick is only worth 14 measly points.

That only totals 1,618 points and the 4th over-all selection is worth 1,800 points, so as you can see it will be very expensive for the Jets to move up that high. If they gave up their entire draft they would be in the ball park, but more than likely they will have to throw in next years' first rounder in the mix somewhere. Is Sanchez really worth all that? I don't think so because there is still a very good chance Sanchez falls down to them anyway.

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The NFL Draft Top Five: Risers and Fallers

As the NFL Draft approaches, there are some players who are seeing their stock rise and some that are seeing their stock fall. Here is a look at five players who are seeing their stock rise as we approach the draft and another five who are seeing their stock fall.

Risers

1. Tyson Jackson-DE/OLB-LSU-There are a lot of talk about Jackson’s ability to play the defensive end in a 4-3 position and a linebacker in the 3-4 position which makes him very valuable in any scheme.


2. Brian Robiske-WR-Ohio State-Robiske is showing scouts that he is not only a good player on the field but also a quality character guy that teams will be looking for in the draft.


3. Mark Sanchez-QB-USC-There isn’t going to be enough of Sanchez to go around as it looks like he is being targeted by several teams and could be the subject of some trading if things work out right. It will be interesting to see where he ends up when it’s all said and done.

4. Vontae Davis-CB-Illinois-Despite the rumors that he has tested positive for drugs (which have now been refuted) Davis is going to be one of the most sought after corners in the 2009 NFL Draft and could go fairly early in the first round.

5. Rashard Johnson-S-Alabama-Talk is that Johnson is a hot prospect and could be one of the steals of the draft if he goes in the third round which is where he is slated to go. But with his stock picking up, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him go in the middle of the second round.

Fallers

1. B.J. Raji-DT-Boston College-There are many questions surrounding Raji and some teams may shy away from taking him as early as first thought.

2. Alphonso Smith-CB-Wake Forest-His size is detrimental and even though he is a good player, he is a little bit slow and too small to be an every down player at the cornerback position.

3. Everette Brown-DE/OLB-Florida State-Might struggle in coverage and doesn’t have a lot of moves to rush the passer. He looks to be a project player and might not be worth a first round pick.

4. Graham Harrell-QB-Texas Tech-Harrell has looked poor in post season games and in workouts and may not even get drafted despite having such a fine career at Texas Tech.

5. William Moore-S-Missouri-Had Moore had a better senior season and not gotten hurt in the Senior Bowl he might have been taken higher. He might have slipped as far as he will go though and get picked up later in the second round of the draft.

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Top 5: Safeties

The 2009 NFL Draft is not going to be known for producing some of the top safety talent. There aren’t that many good safeties at the top of this draft (or at least players who could be drafted in the first round) but there is some good talent in the middle of the draft which is where most of the following five players should be taken.

The following is a look at the top five safeties in the 2009 NFL Draft. There is some insight into what kind of player they are as well as where they may go in this year’s draft.

1. Patrick Chung-Oregon-Chung comes in as the top rated safety in the 2009 NFL Draft and has the potential to develop into one the best safeties to come out of this year’s draft. He has the size (at the combine Chung came in standing 5’11 ¼” weighing 212 pounds. He ran a 4.54 40 and benched 225 25 times). What Chung has to offer is the type of attitude and aggressive play that you would like in a safety prospect. He is all over the field trying to make plays and ends up making them or at least being involved in them somehow. He also likes to hit and can play on special teams. It appears as if Chung can do it all. What he doesn’t have is great overall size and is a little bit shorter than the NFL ideal safety might be. However, with the class of safeties coming out this year, it’s going to be hard for teams to overlook Chung.

Chung is a near lock to be the first safety picked in the 2009 NFL Draft and it looks like he is going to go somewhere in the second round quite possibly from the middle to the later rounds of the draft. He should be able to be a starter right out the gate in the NFL and should have a solid career in the league.

2. Rashad Johnson-Alabama-Johnson is a guy who is moving up many draft boards fast thanks to his athletic ability and good play. Just like Chung, Johnson plays the game very aggressively and has the instincts that you would look for in a safety. He has decent size (at the combine he came in standing 5’11 ¼:” and weighed 203 pounds. He ran a 4.53 40 and benched 225 15 times) and thanks to his being aggressive can match up well against other bigger players. He also has a good head on his shoulders and plays the game very intelligently. The downside to Johnson is his size but as mentioned, he more than makes up for it with the way that he plays. He may also be an injury risk due to the way that he plays but team will like him for his talent and aggressive play.

Johnson is moving fast up many draft boards and could (and should) very easily be taken as the second safety overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Expect him to go in the mid to late second round and end up being a high impact player in the future.

3. William Moore-Missouri-Moore’s stock may have dropped a little bit following a weak Senior Bowl performance but he is still one of the better safeties in the 2009 NFL Draft and if things fall into place for him he has the chance to be a fine safety in the NFL. What Moore has to offer is that he plays both the run and the pass well the run. He is strong and aggressive and isn’t afraid to hit the ball carrier and tries to get the ball loose. His ball skills are good as well and he can cover wide receivers fairly well. His size is also solid (at the combine he came in standing 6’0 1/8” and weighed 221 pounds. He ran a 4.53 40 yard dash and bench pressed 225 16 times) and he can match up well in most any situation. What is at issue with Moore is that is he can be too aggressive at times and he is a bit of an injury risk. He had a poor senior season and this will reflect on his draft stock and should quite possibly drop him into the third safety spot (be the first two prospects mentioned).

It looks like Moore will drop a little bit in this draft and should be the third safety selected unless something happens to raise his stock or lower the draft stock of the others. He is the kind of guy that needs to get into the right system in order to be effective and could have a solid if not spectacular career in the NFL. Look for him to go somewhere in the late second to early third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

4. Louis Delmas-Western Michigan-Delmas has risen out of virtual obscurity to become one of the most sought after safety prospects in the 2009 NFL Draft. Although he comes from a smaller school, he has played like a guy from big time program and has a lot of talent. When you watch him play, you will see that he is a very aggressive player on the field and isn’t afraid to move to the line to play the run. He has the ability to move well into coverage and can react to where he thinks the play is going to go. He has good ball skills and knows where the ball is at all times. His size is ok for the position (at the combine he came in standing 5’ 11 3/8” and weighed 202 pounds. He ran a 4.53 40 and did 12 reps at 225) but he isn’t the great overall athlete that you might expect. Still, he isn’t a disappointing athlete and has decent enough speed to keep up. If he could add a few more pounds without losing speed that might benefit him and help to play better and withstand a typical NFL pounding.

There are a lot of teams out there who would be looking for help at the safety position in the third round and this is where Delmas will probably go. With the right team, Delmas could excel in an NFL system providing that he can bulk up a bit and not lose any speed. He also needs to remain as aggressive as possible in order to become a success in the NFL.

5. Chip Vaughn-Wake Forest-Rounding out our top five is Chip Vaughan, a safety out of Wake Forest and one of the more interesting prospects available in the 2009 NFL Draft. The first thing that you can say is part of his upside is his size (at the combine, Vaughn came in standing 6’1 3/8” and weighed 221 pounds. He ran a 4.51 40 and benched 225 21 times) and his ability to be a big play maker at the position. Vaughn is a cerebral player who makes smart decisions and can also play the run and the pass. The downside to Vaughn is that he isn’t as ideal in coverage as some would like and has trouble getting to the play at times. He needs to work on his coverage skills.

Vaughan is a promising athlete and a good football player who, if drafted into the right system, just might excel at the NFL level. He has had a decent offseason and should be worth something to some team out there. For now, it appears likely that Vaughan is a late third to early fourth round pick but he may move up a bit based on the needs of some teams.

By Bryan Dietzler

NFL Draft Dog's 2009 Mock Draft has been Updated

I just finished a massive update of NFL Draft Dog's 2009 NFL Mock Draft. Barring any more major trades I hope to make this update my final version.

One week before the draft the Eagles made a block buster trade with the Buffalo Bills for Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters and that trade caused a landslide of changes to my mock draft. The Eagles look set at tackle and the Bills, picking up an extra first round pick from the Eagles, will almost certainly use one of their first rounds picks on a possible starting offensive tackle.

Here a few other highlights to NFL Draft Dog's Mock Draft Update:

The first few picks didn't change much, but the Chiefs are reportedly shopping their 1st round pick (3rd overall). I doubt there will be any takers, but they (Chiefs) would love to move down and pick up extra picks.

Don't believe everything you hear this time of year from the NFL teams. The Lions would also like to move down, but I don't think anyone is that in love with Georgia QB Matt Stafford. It is a risky pick, but one the Lions have to make if they keep that #1 pick. Stafford give the Lions that franchise type signal caller that they haven't had since... Uhm, I don't think they have ever had one have they?

Probably controversial, I have the Saints taking RB Knowshom Moreno. They need help on defense, especialy at linebacker, but after RB Reggie Bush their cupboard is dry, plus Bush has been injury prone and Moreno is a fantastic value at #14. Need+value=decent pick in my book.

I still don't see a team in the top ten picking USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, the need just isn't that great and Sanchez doesn't carry a high enough grade in my opinion. I have the Jaguars passing on him with their #8 pick and instead taking Kansas State QB Josh Freeman in the second round. The 49ers might take him at #10, but more than likely I see him slipping down to the 17th slot (Jets).

The Bills will need an offensive tackle and will likely take either Michael Oher, Andre Smith or Eben Britton with their first pick. OTs Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe will likely already be gone by the time the bills get to make a selection.

The Vikings are always difficult to figure out, I see them taking WR Hakeem Nicks or one of the top offensive tackles or centers with their first pick at #22. They need help at right tackle in a big way.

I had difficulty "fittin in" Florida WR Percy Harvin in my latest Mock Draft. I have him falling down to the Ravens at #26, but honestly, I don't see him falling that far. Harvin is a top ten talent and there is little chance he falls past the middle of the first round. He is one of my favorite players in this draft and one of the few prospects that I would be tempted to trade up and get.

The Colts at #27 could go in a number of different ways, they really need a wide receiver and could take Hakeem Nicks, Darius Heyward-Bey or even Kenny Britt, but in my Mock Draft I had RB Chris (Beanie) Wells slipping a bit and there is little chance they would pass on him if he fell into their laps. Wells is rated higher than that, but I would still be nervous about his drive to play the game of football and his history of nagging injuries.

I also had difficulty placing Ohio State ILB James Laurinaitis, he is an excellent football player and holds solid value toward the bottom of round one, but there isn't a lot of teams that need help at inside linebacker and he didn't have the best workout at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine. He slips into the second round to the Giants to replace Antonio Pierce. If that ends up as reality, the Giants will be getting great value in Laurinaitis in the 2nd round.

Speaking of second round. I made so may changes to the second round of my 2009 NFL Mock Draft that they are to numerous to list. Instead, check it out and tell me what you think. Go ahead and beat me up, I can take it, plus I really appreciate your feedback, your comments will help to make my next update better.

Five Key Sleepers for the 2009 NFL Draft

Typically most drafts end up producing some very good, high impact players that weren’t taken in the first three or four rounds (where most of the better talent is taken). We will remember such names as Tom Brady, Mark Anderson and Marques Colston as some of the more recent sleepers in draft history and there is always the prospect of getting some real gems in the later rounds of the draft. The 2009 NFL Draft will be no different than past drafts as there will be several players who could be real strong sleepers and surprise a lot of people in the NFL and the media in the next few years.

The following is a look at five players who are strong sleepers in the 2009 NFL Draft. There is some insight into where they might end up and how their careers may go in the NFL following the draft.

1. Mike Wallace-WR-Ole Miss-After his solid performance in the Senior Bowl, Wallace comes in as a guy would could end up having a good career in the NFL despite being taken (most likely) in the third or fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. While Wallace doesn’t have a lot of great speed, he could end up being a good possession receiver who will become the go to guy in the offense. Look for Wallace to have a pretty good NFL career depending on which team selects him in the draft.

2. David Veikune-DE-Hawaii-This is a guy that teams will covet in the middle rounds of the draft and someone who could, quite possibly, have a breakout career at some point shortly down the road. While the knocks on Veikune are that he isn’t that strong against the run and that he has some problems taking on blockers but he’s a good prospect who could play well in the NFL a couple of years down the road.

3. Robert Ayers-DE-Tennessee-Ayers may move up a little bit and could quite possibly move out of the sleeper category because he has shown himself to be quite a capable player. After a strong Senior Bowl performance, Ayers might just be one of the biggest surprises in this year’s draft. With the kind of talent that he has, it’s possible that he could go anywhere from the first round to the third but stands to be one of the biggest sleepers in this year’s draft.

4. Seth Olsen-OG-Iowa-Olsen is a well sized player for his position, strong and has some good explosion off the ball. He is skilled and uses those skills to play well. With a good showing at the East-West Shrine Game, Olsen has raised a lot of eyebrows with scouts. He still needs a lot of work to get things figured out but with the coaching of a good NFL offensive line coach, he should be able to develop well and could even be a starter in NFL at some point. He defiantly has the ability to become a solid starter in the NFL.

5. Jarrett Dillard-WR-Rice-Dillard is going to be one of those guys that comes along a little slow at first but then develops into a good wide receiver who can help a team move the chains and get the ball down the field. While his size is what is holding him back a bit from being a higher draft choice, Dillard can play the position very well and has solid speed. He isn’t afraid to battle for the ball as well and can leap pretty high. Look for Dillard to go somewhere in the third round of this year’s draft and develop into a pretty productive player on the NFL level.

Every draft ends up having some sleepers in it. Some guys come right up front and play well right away while others take time to develop but end up being fine players when it is all said and done. This draft should be no different from some of the past drafts and could produce some real surprise sleepers and great players for several seasons to come.

By Bryan Dietzler

Final 2009 NFL Mock Draft Submitted

The NFL Draft Site has completed it's final 2009 NFL Mock Draft. Thanks CJ for maintaining it all season. It also just happens to be the last entry to NFL Draft Dog's Mock Draft Contest. 

No new 2009 NFL Mock Drafts will be accepted, but updates will be accepted up until 17 April 2009. Now on to a little fun analysis of CJs final 2009 Mock Draft: 

First of all let me just say it is an excellent mock draft, probably one of the best that I have seen.  At #16 he has the Chargers taking LSU's DE Tyson Jackson, while I do think Tennessee's DE Robert Ayers will eventually be a better player, you have to think the Chargers will try to replace DE Igor Olshansky, who in free agency to play for the Dallas Cowboys.

At #18 he has the Broncos reaching big time for giant Boston College nose tackle Ron Brace (6' 3" 330 lbs), yes the Broncos are converting to a 34 defense and they do need a big force on the inside, it would be sad if they passed on Mississippi's DT Peria Jerry (6' 3" 305 lbs), who is a much better player.

At #29 CJ has the Giants taking Connecticut's RB Donald Brown. This is an excellent selection. Brown is big (5' 11" 210 lbs), fast (4.48) and extremely durable. He can be a franchise running back. Derrick Ward left via free agency and Ahmad Bradshaw is the only back up behind oft injured starter Brandon Jacobs. Tennessee's super talented defensive end Robert Ayers slips all the way down to #33. If you are a Lions fan you would have to be thrilled, but in all likely hood Ayers will be a top 20 selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. Since the Senior Bowl Ayers has been rising up the draft boards faster than any player.

At #63 the Arizona Cardinals in desperate need of a running back select NC State RB Andre Brown. many would say that is a reach, oh quite contrary, Brown is really talented and fully capable of replacing under performing Edgerrin James. If Brown is selected we will see his (Edgerrin James) departure. He (James) rushed for a career low 514 yards in 2008. Brown is big (6' 1" 225 lbs) and fast (4.45) and will be drafted sooner than what most draft analysts think.

The 2009 NFL Draft Top 5: Cornerbacks

The 2009 NFL Draft has a lot of numbers at the cornerback position (in terms of how many cornerbacks will be coming out this year) but not necessarily a lot of spectacular talent. As has been the case with several of the positions we have reviewed, this position is heavy at the top then lighter the farther down you go. The talent at the top of this group is good however and there could be several players taken in the first and second round.

The following is a look at the top five players at the cornerback position heading into the 2009 NFL Draft with some analysis and a prediction where they will go in the draft.

1. Malcolm Jenkins-Ohio State-At first, it appeared as if Jenkins would be a lock at cornerback going into the draft but as we get closer to the draft, it is a possibility that Jenkins could be moved to safety thanks to his size. The first thing that you will notice about Jenkins is that he has great size (at the combine he came in at 6’0 1/8” weighing 204 pounds. He ran a 4.55 40 and benched 225 pounds 15 times) and is a fine athlete. His speed also allows him to keep up with some of the faster wide receivers. He also plays very aggressively and can make plays when needed. The knock on Jenkins is that he hasn’t played against some of the top competition at wide receiver (in the nation) even playing at Ohio State so some wonder how he will hold up playing against some of the best talent in the world at the position.

Jenkins may end up playing safety in the NFL but for now he looks to be able to be a solid cornerback who will have his tough times to start but will eventually work his way up. Look for him to go somewhere in the top 15 of the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft.

2. Vontae Davis-Illinois-Davis, like Jenkins, is yet another corner prospect who could very well make a move to safety when he gets into the NFL. Davis is a speedy corner (at the combine he ran a 4.49 40, benched 225 25 times and came in weighing 203pounds and stood 5’11 1/8”) with decent size and great athletic ability. He can not only play corner but could serve well as a return specialist and has had some success bringing back kicks. He is aggressive and has great moves as well as the speed to keep up with most wide receivers. The knock against Davis is that there are times when he can play too aggressively and take himself out of a play. He will have to curb that in the NFL. Otherwise, he looks very solid.

Having good special teams skills will really help Davis get drafted and he will (and has) shown his value to many NFL teams. Davis could easily be a top 20 selection in the 2009 NFL Draft and may even end up being the best corner to come out of this year’s draft.

3. Darius Butler-Connecticut-Some people are a little bit down on Butler but in all honestly, he just may be one of the best cornerback prospects in this draft and has a fine future ahead of him. Athletically, Butler is one of the most gifted at the position. In terms of his size (at the combine Butler came in weighing 183 pounds and stood 5’10 3/8”. He ran a 4.53 40 and didn’t do the bench press) he has good size and has the ability to jump up in the air and knock the ball away or come down with an interception. He could also be used as a kick return specialist. The biggest knock on Butler is that he didn’t play against some of the top level competition and that might drop him down a little bit in some general manager’s minds. He could also stand to become more physical and help out in run support.

While Butler may be more of a cover guy and not so much of a run support cornerback, he does have a lot of promise as a cover corner and with some good coaching, he could end up being one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. Right now, it looks as if Butler may go either in the lower part of the first round or the early second round and should be the next cornerback selected after Vontae Davis.

4. Alphonso Smith-Wake Forest-While Smith came into the 2009 NFL Draft, at first, as a player many thought wasn’t as good as “advertised” but has now put on quite a show in workouts and comes in as the number four rated corner in the draft. Smith has some solid playmaking ability and is a very aggressive and a very reliable player. He is a fine athlete and is able to stay with most receivers. He can also make the big play interception and knock the ball away when possible. Smith is an intelligent player as well and can learn a defensive system quickly. What Smith lacks is good size (at the combine he came in standing 5’9” weighing 183 pounds. He ran a 4.53 40 and benched 225 13 times) and this will hurt him when matching up against taller and stronger wide receivers. This might drop him down a few spots and cause him to go early in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. It will also limit which players he can cover in the NFL.

Right now, Smith looks like he could be an early second round pick thanks to the needs that some of the teams at that point in the draft have for a cornerback. He could be an effective nickle back but may struggle as a starter.

5. D.J. Moore-Vanderbilt-While some may place Moore ahead of Smith, Moore is certainly going to be one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft and could be one of the best in the league in a very short amount of time. Moore is built well for the position and can work both against the pass and the run thanks to his bulk but he is not as tall as most would like to see at the position (at the combine he came in standing 5’8 7/8” tall weighing 192 pounds. He ran a 4.53 40 and benched 225 17 times) but he is big and can tackle very well. Mechanically he is sound and can stick with wide receivers but won’t be able to match up against the bigger ones. His speed is good and he can transition well into coverage. Aside from the size factor, Moore can be blocked out of plays easily by bigger receivers. When trying to return punts and kickoffs (which, incidentally is another plus about Moore) he sometimes makes bad decisions but, if brought into the right system, he could be of some value on special teams.

Moore has a lot of talent and will be valuable to a team that is willing to overlook his height limitations and possibly use him as a nickel back but his talent should get him drafted higher than your typical nickel back would. Look for Moore to go somewhere in the middle of the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft and have a pretty good career wherever he lands.

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Top 5: The Inside Linebackers

While the top of the outside linebacker group was represented by some of the better athletes in this draft, the top of the group of inside linebackers is filled with tough overachievers who will have their names heard on Sundays for many seasons to come. It is somewhat of a weak draft class for inside linebackers however but this group at the top could be some of the best at the position for years to come.
The following is a look at the top five players at the inside linebacker position going into the 2009 NFL Draft.

1. Rey Maualuga-USC-Despite the fact he has had some issues, Maualuga still ranks as the top inside linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft and could be an impact player for several years to come. He is a very aggressive player and one who can strike fear in the hearts of opposing players thanks to the way that he plays. He has good size (at the combine he came in standing 6’1 ¾” and weighed 249 pounds. He ran a disappointing 4.82 40 and bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times) although he could stand to gain a little bit of weight. He is very physical, very smart and a good athlete. He is the ideal man for the middle of the defense. He can see the play very well and is able to make a play moving from side to side and can track down ball carriers from behind. What might help him may also hurt him and being to aggressive can sometimes force Maualuga into overrunning plays and missing tackles. He also tends to react too quickly to a play and will miss some plays.

Maualuga is a solid prospect who will bring a lot to any team that selects him. He shouldn’t make it out of the top 20 in the 2009 NFL Draft and right now a good target team for him is the Denver Broncos, a team that is retooling their defense and could use someone like him.

2. James Laurinaitis-Ohio State-Perhaps Laurinaitis would have had been a higher choice had he made the decision to come out into the NFL Draft last season but he still comes in as a solid player at the outside linebacker position and the second rated at that position in this year’s 2009 NFL Draft. When you first look at Laurinaitis, you will see that he is a hard worker, a smart player and someone who takes the game very seriously. He has the ideal size for the position (at the combine he came in standing 6’1 7/8” and weighing 244 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.80 and bench pressed 225 22 times) but his speed is under some question after having a poor showing at the combine. He should be able to show scouts that he has good speed and strength. Laurinaitis can blitz the quarterback as well and can even go into coverage which is a skill that many teams will covet. The problem with Laurinaitis is that he can get tossed around, at times, by bigger blockers. Other than that, there are no real big and very noticeable flaws to his game.

Laurinaitis’s production slipped a little bit since his junior season but in the right system, Laurinaitis should be able to easily flourish. While he is a first round talent, he may not get chosen until the early second round but there are some teams at the bottom of the first round (New England and Arizona for example) that might be able to use him. He should be able to have a strong career wherever he ends up.

3. Darry Beckwith-LSU-Beckwith was one of the top rated college linebackers going into the 2008 College football season but he slipped a little bit in 2008 as did his draft stock for the 2009 NFL Draft. The thing that Beckwith has which scouts love is his speed (at the combine he ran a 4.72 40 and weighed 252 pounds standing 6’ 0 ¼”. He also did 23 reps on the bench press) and his ability to make plays from sideline to sideline. He moves well around the field and has some good instincts. The downside to Beckwith is that he isn’t as big as you would like to see and could stand to gain a little bit of weight. He also has some problems getting off of blocks as well.

While Beckwith has some size issues, his size does allow him to play effectively either in the middle or at a middle linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense and he should be able to excel wherever he lands. His lack of production during his senior season will cost him some draft position though so look for him to go somewhere in the early to middle second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

4. Scott McKillop-Pittsburgh-McKillop comes in as the fourth highest rated linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft. I had originally had McKillop a little bit further down but thanks to some injuries at the position recently, I think that McKillop’s stock has risen. The first thing that you will notice about him is that he is well adept at making plays in the middle of the defense and isn’t afraid to step into the line and make a play. His play recognition skills are good and he makes all the tackles. At the combine, McKillop came in standing 6’0 7/8” and weighed 244 pounds. McKillop ran a 4.77 40 and benched 225 27 times. He has decent but not spectacular size but he does have decent speed. While he is well adept at working against the run, he isn’t a good pass rusher and doesn’t have the ability to cover backs and tight ends if needed.

McKillop is an interesting prospect that has a chance to make an impact in the league of he can improve his quickness and get drafted into the right system. Look for him to be drafted in the middle to late third round right now and play well in the right system.

5. Dannell Ellerbe-Georgia-Ellerbe comes in as the fifth rated linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft and is yet another young player that could have himself a fine NFL career. What scouts like about Ellerbe is that he is someone who has played all three linebacker position (in a 3-4 defense) making him fully capable of switching spots if needed. He is a strong player and is able to work free of blockers and get through or around them to make the play. At the combine, Ellerbe came in weighing 231 pounds and was measured at 6’1” tall. He didn’t run the 40 yard dash or do the bench press. He also has decent speed and can catch up to plays from behind. What most scouts don’t like about Ellerbe is that he isn’t that tall for the position but he makes up for it with his versatility. He is also not well adept at changing direction and can sometimes get tied up with the trash ahead of the ball carrier. He needs to take better angles to the ball as well.

Ellerbe is a player with a lot of upside and one who would probably fit best in a 3-4 defense. A team like Green Bay could probably use his services or even Denver. He looks to be a late third to early fourth round pick and someone who could use some development but could easily be a star at some point in the future.

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Top 5 Series: The Outside Linebackers

The 2009 NFL Draft will feature a player who should be considered one of the top linebacker prospects to come out in the draft in a while. With players like Aaron Curry and Brian Cushing entering the draft this year this promises to be a decent outside linebacker group at the top with some talent in the middle but a little weak everywhere else for the most part. The guys at the top of this group are strong game changing players who will be highly sought after by several NFL teams.
The following is a look at the top five players at the outside linebacker position in the 2009 NFL Draft.

1. Aaron Curry-Wake Forest-If you are looking for the complete outside linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft, you need to look no further than Curry. Curry seems to have it all. He has great size (at the combine Curry stood 6’1 ¾” and weighed 254 pounds. He ran a 4.56 40 yard dash and had 25 reps on the bench press) as well the strength and speed you would want at the position. He could work well in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense and has the instincts to play the position and dominate at the next level. The only real knock on Curry is that he has some problems covering backs and tight ends in the passing game and could work on that in the NFL and get better. It’s not anything alarming but something that will be important for most any NFL team.

Curry is the consummate linebacker and should be the first defensive player selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. With a heavy need at linebacker (thanks to the departure of Julian Peterson) the Seattle Seahawks could very well interested in taking Curry. You shouldn’t see him getting out of the top five in this year’s NFL Draft.

2. Brian Cushing-USC-While there are some questions surrounding Cushing, he still represents one of the most refined and ready outside linebackers in this year’s 2009 NFL Draft. When first looking at Cushing you will see that he has the size (at the combine he came in standing 6’2 7/8” and weighed 243 pounds. He had a 40 yard dash time of 4.74 and bench pressed 225 pounds 30 times) and athleticism needed to adequately play the position. He also has the speed to keep pace with most tight ends and some running backs and can be used to put pressure on the quarterback on passing plays. Cushing is also able to read and react to plays. The downside to Cushing deals with whether or not he can stay healthy. He had some problems staying healthy and teams will look at this seriously when trying to decide whether or not they should take him. There has also been some question about his use of steroids and if he has a problem he needs to get it taken care of right away.

Cushing is clearly locked in as the number two linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft and should go somewhere in the top 15 of the 2009 NFL Draft. The injury issues will make some teams wary, as will any rumors or possibility of steroid use but he is too much of a big time talent to let fall too far in this year’s draft.

3. Clay Matthews-USC-Matthews has really come far from when he started playing for the Trojans and now stands as one of the better players at the outside linebacker position this year. Some might think that Matthews doesn’t have quite the track record to be a top end outside linebacker but his physical tools, intelligence and drive will make him a success in the NFL. He has the size (at the combine he came in weighing 240 pounds and stood 6’ 3 1/8”. He ran a 4.67 40 yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times) and speed that you would want at the position as well as the intensity and drive that you would expect out of any good player. He can rush the passer as well, which could be an added benefit. What he lacks is skills to cover backs and tight ends as well as a tendency to react to “hard” to plays and thus take himself out of the play at times. He needs to get better with this.

While there isn’t a lot of experience coming along with Matthews, he is a player who has basically risen from out of nowhere (despite his bloodlines) and came to light up the eyes of many NFL scouts. While Matthews is still somewhat of a question mark, some team will take him quite possibly at the very bottom of the first round but definitely at the top five or 10 in the second round.

4. Clint Sintim-Virginia-Sintim comes in as the number four rated outside linebacker in the 2009 NFL Draft although some people have him rated ahead of Matthews. Sintim would give any team that selected him a viable option at the outside linebacker position and he has the potential to be real star in the NFL at some point during his career. One thing that he does well and something that will really wow the scouts is that he can rush the passer well and this is something that NFL teams covet. This will help make him flexible in working with either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defensive alignment. Sintim is a solid athlete with good size (at the combine he stood 6’2 ¾”, weighed 256 and ran a 4.78 40) and speed and is tough as well. He has moves to make a play, he sees the field well and has good hustle. The downside to Sintim, like some of the other players that we have talked about here is that he has some problems dropping back and covering tight ends and running backs. Coverage is his weak point.

Sintim will be a good prospect for teams like the New England Patriots, a team that uses the 3-4 defensive alignment, because he is so well adept at rushing the passer. Sintim does have first round talent but is most likely going to go high in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft and become an All-Pro at some point during his career.

5. Marcus Freeman-Ohio State-Sitting in the shadow of James Laurinaitis didn’t help Freeman that much but Freeman really helped Laurinaitis in the long run and now Freeman could just be one of the biggest sleepers at the outside linebacker position in the 2009 NFL Draft. Freeman plays the game aggressively and is not tentative when he makes a play. He has good but not great size (at the combine he came in weighing 239 pounds standing 6’ 0 ½”. He ran the 40 in 4.74 seconds and benched 225 30 times) but does possess the kind of speed and ability that would want in an outside linebacker. He can make plays all over the field and is quick moving laterally on the field. One thing that he can do well, also, is go back into coverage which is something that NFL teams will covet. The downside to Freeman is that he sometimes has difficulty getting freed up from blockers. Size is also an issue and it will take some time to determine just how much that will hurt him in the NFL.

Freeman is a pretty good prospect and one that should be able to have a good future in the NFL. Looking at team needs and what some NFL Scouts think of him. It looks as if Freeman may go somewhere in the middle to the latter part of the second round and could be one of the better linebackers to come out of the 2009 NFL Draft.

By Bryan Dietzler

Where will Cutler Land ?

25 years old and coming off a Pro Bowl season where he threw for more than 4,000 yards and carried a team with no defence to within a breath of the play-offs, Jay Cutler is a rare valuable commodity. Guys like this aren’t up for grabs very often, if ever, so the price tag will be high and there will be plenty of suitors. But who and for how much? Short version: Everyone and a lot…

Detroit- Now Cutler is a young QB who can turn this franchise around, faster than any rookie that’s for sure. Cutler nearly got Denver in the play-offs with no defence, well, Detroit is the land of no defence. They need someone like Cutler but will have to determine if his value is more than what they can get in the draft at #1 and #20. I think Cutler is worth it and here’s my scenario: Both Lions picks for Cutler and the Broncos first (#12). The Broncos then have the opportunity to take Matt Stafford and have another first round pick to add to the defence. Detroit has the most incentive and the most commodities to move for him.

Cleveland- Cleveland might have just what the Broncos want: a starting QB in return. Either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson could head back to Denver . With Cutler on board, whichever QB that doesn’t go to Denver can be traded somewhere else. If the Browns don’t want Cutler, they have the ammo to get in on a three way trade and pick up some other picks. Cleveland is about to be very popular because not only do they have the one thing Denver will covet the most, they have two of them.

Chicago- Since a high profile trade like this is not in their MO, they might be the guys who enter the backdoor of the party and leave out the front with the hottest chick. Breaking the bank on Cutler would all but guarantee a place a top the division.

NY Jets- After Detroit, this is the most likely team to grab Cutler. They can pull off big deals when they want to and are only a QB and receiver away from being serious contenders; Cutler could put them over the top.

Tampa Bay- A month ago this team would be at the top of the list but are not as far away as people think. They can pull it off but it will take a little ingenuity and maybe a call to the Browns to put something together. Maybe more so than the rest of the field, Tampa would have to go all in for Cutler.

Carolina- Julius Peppers might be the ace in the sleeve for Carolina . They need to send him somewhere and the pieces fit for a trade to Denver . Shipping Peppers and Jake Delhomme to Denver for Jay Cutler and, say, a second round pick might just do the trick.

San Francisco- The 49ers can put together a package the same as anyone else but are they serious about it? They might be, they might not be. Cutler is obviously a little bit immature and may not fit with Mike Singletary but he’s the closest thing to Montana and Young since, well, Montana and Young. Cutler could revive this franchise though he might see a lot of Denver in this team: potentially good offence, potentially poor defence.

Other possibilities- Cutler would love to get back to Tennessee where he played college ball but Tennessee is not an ‘all in’ kind of team so it’s unlikely. A lot of media types are down on David Gerrard in Jacksonville but he’s the same QB he was two years ago and he was not the teams problem last year. They could put their name in the hat but they don’t appear to be a serious contender. Minnesota makes a lot of sense but they seem content with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, why no one really knows, and they may not be willing to break the bank for another star right now. The wild card in Minny is their push for a new stadium, a new star QB and a Super Bowl push could help their situation. Washington is always a possibility for anything because of Dan Snyder, who never met a big name he didn’t covet. They have Jason Campbell to swap and are always lurking, waiting to pounce when the stakes are the highest.