Here is an updated 2009 NFL mock draft for the entire first round.

1 Detriot – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia  Warning: The Lions best move might be selecting a solid left tackle in Jason Smith. Matthew Stafford without an offensive line could be David Carr part 2.
2 St. Louis – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor The Orlando Pace Era is officially over in St. Louis.
3 Kansas City – Aaron Curry , LB, Wake Forest The best defensive player in the draft.
4 Seattle – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia The Seahawks could go in a different direction and select Crabtree here.
5 Cleveland – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas The Browns need a pass-rusher after accumulating 17 sacks last season.
6 Cincinnati – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi Bengals fans repeat after me: We will protect Carson Palmer, We will protect Caron Palmer. But then again, if we trade Ocho Cinco…Crabtree?
7 Oakland – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
8 Jacksonville – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
9 Green Bay – Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
10 San Francisco – Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State
11 Buffalo – Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
12 Denver – Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
13 Washington – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
14 New Orleans – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
15 Houston – Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
16 San Diego – Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
17 New York Jets – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
18 Denver – Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
19 Tampa Bay – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
20 Detriot – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
21 Philadelphia – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
22 Minnesota – Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
23 New England – Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
24 Atlanta – Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
25 Miami – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennesse
26 Baltimore – Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
27 Indianapolis – James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
28 Philadelphia – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
29 New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
30 Tennesse – Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois
31 Arizona – LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
32 Pittsburgh – Alex Mack, C, California

With the NFL season over (my Super Bowl pick was so close!), the focus now shifts to free agency and the ever-popular NFL draft.  If the 2008 season showed us anything, it’s that there is more parity in the league now than ever before, and a 7-10 game turnaround is possible anywhere across the NFL.  With that in mind, here is our first NFL mock draft.

2009 NFL Mock Draft

1. Detroit Lions – Andre Smith | OT | Alabama

   I’m curious as to why most NFL mock draft sites have the Lions taking a QB here – I just don’t see it.  They already have Culpepper, Kitna, Stanton and Orlovsky to deal with this off-season.  Do I think any of them are franchise guys?  No.  But the former two are veterans who can lead a team, and can handle an offense when given time in the pocket.  I think they are more likely to nab a young project in the later rounds than pay an unproven QB $35 million guaranteed. Yes, Ryan and Flacco succeeded as first-round rookies after the 2008 NFL draft, but I don’t think it happens two consecutive years. Unless they become infatuated with Stafford, I foresee Jim Schwartz building this team like the Titans – a team that wins at the line of scrimmage, runs the ball and plays solid defense.  With a talented, young RB in Kevin Smith and an all-world WR in Calvin Johnson, I think Schwartz asks either Culpepper or Kitna to limit mistakes.  This will allow them to be patient, and the running game will eventually create room for Megatron in the secondary.Andre Smith will fit right in with this philosophy, as he instantly provides a massive body up front to battle in the trenches.

2. St. Louis Rams – Eugene Monroe | OT | Virginia

   Much like Detroit in the previous pick, the Rams are copying the Dolphins method from a year ago – utilize a veteran QB, surround him with a solid OL and RB core, and you will have a chance to win every game – even if you don’t dazzle or fill the stat sheet.  Luckily for the Rams, they have the necessary components in Bulger and Jackson, and I bet they take their chance on solidifying their line by drafting the best available OT.If Andre Smith is off the board, Eugene Monroe is the likely candidate to be #2.  His knee injury history has to be a concern, but if he checks out during his workouts and the combine, he could vault himself into top five territory.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Aaron Curry | OLB | Wake Forest

   Here’s another pick where many NFL mock draft sites have the Chiefs taking a QB.  The Chiefs may go after Matt Cassel in the off-season, but if they don’t, I expect them to develop Thigpen – by year’s end he showed a lot of promise with solid play down the stretch, gaining the acceptance of veteran Tony Gonzalez and many other teammates.The Chiefs are a very young team that have a lot of potential, and adding a guy like Curry will certainly improve the talent level of the roster.  He has everything you could want in a LB prospect – size, speed, strength and no gametime lost due to injury.  With another year of experience and another youthful crop of rookies, I could see the Chiefs being a surprise team by the end of 2009.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Crabtree | WR | Texas Tech

   This would be a dream scenario for the Seahawks, who desperately need a playmaker at the WR position.  In a year riddled with injury at the position, it would truly be a godsend for the Hawks to get a guy like Crabtree to jump start the offense.  The redshirt sophomore was a machine at Texas Tech, piling up 231 receptions, 3127 yards and 41 TDs in his brief tenure.It would be wise of the Seahawks to use the majority of their remaining picks on the defensive side of the ball – they were porous as a unit, finishing 30th in total defense.

5. Cleveland Browns – Malcolm Jenkins | CB | Ohio State

   The Browns probably would like Curry to slip to them, but in the end Jenkins should prove to be a solid pick.  They could use a corner opposite Eric Wright, and Jenkins is an ideal candidate – at 6′0”, 195 lbs, he has ideal size for a corner and doesn’t lack in the speed department, either.Regardless, the Browns need to step it up on offense if they expect to compete in a tough AFC North, with the new reigning champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and the always physical Baltimore Ravens.  It will be interesting to see how the QB situation pans out.  The likely scenario would be the Browns trading Anderson, since he is owed a $5 million bonus in March, and the Browns only have four picks in the NFL draft this April.

Stay tuned for a full 32-team 2009 NFL mock draft!

The 2009 season which started with 32 NFL teams has dwindled to just two. One of them was expected, the other was proclaimed by many as ‘the worst playoff team ever’. It just goes to show you that even experts and analysts can’t predict what will happen week to week in the NFL.

Think about some of the playoff teams this year…

The Falcons and the Ravens started the season with rookie coaches and QBs, and many assumed they would have about 10 wins combined.  Turns out the rookies outperformed everyone’s expectations (maybe aside from their own?) and led their respective teams to 11 wins each.

The Colts started the season 3-4 and were written off by some unintelligent media folk.  The moral of the 9-game winning streak they used to propel them into the postseason?  Don’t ever count out Peyton Manning halfway through a season when he’s mathematically in the race.

The Eagles were 5-5-1 and the Kevin Kolb chants were beginning.  San Diego was 4-8 and left for dead.  But neither team gave up on the season, and with a little luck thanks to the Bucs, Bears and Broncos, they both snuck into the party.

Miami was a 1-15 team a year ago, and in what was a remarkable turnaround with a veteran QB, they found themselves vying for the Lombardi trophy.

Minnesota began their season with a young, inexperienced QB who once again became the QB of the future when he was pulled in favor of Gus Frerotte.  Ironically, they turned back to him at the end of the season and he helped the Vikes secure a spot in the playoffs.

And now down to the the final teams – the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Cardinals have been underdogs throughout the playoffs and that trend will not change come Super Bowl Sunday.  But you can’t argue that they have the best offensive playmaker in the game in Larry Fitzgerald.  His postseason performances have been unreal and despite going up against the best defense in the league, this guy can still make the game changing play.

The Steelers real challege is going to be getting to Kurt Warner.  It’s pretty apparent that it’s going to be impossible to stop Fitzgerald – but if they get to Kurt Warner then they will severely limit the time Larry will have to create separation and get deep.  The good news is they have been able to do this all season, hence the 7-pt spread.

I understand that the Steelers have a great defense – I’ve watched it with my own eyes.  But I also can’t deny what I’ve seen out of the Cardinals.  They have been balanced with a fresh Edgerrin James, and again, Larry Fitzgerald is a monster.  Oh yea, and they have Anquan Boldin in case you focus too much attention on Fitz.

In what will be another year ruled by parity across the NFL, I see the season ending quite like last year’s big game with the underdog pulling off the upset.  Here’s to another great Super bowl, complete with hilarious Super Bowl commericals!

• THE PICK: Arizona Cardinals 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21