Christmas is almost here. By the time this is posted, my favorite time of the year will be here. This year’s draft we’re starting to see a switch in draft stock based on position (something I noted in last year’s draft). That is, the top teams are not in need of position players anymore. Quarterbacks have typically gone very high in the draft, for good reason. However, even though there are 2 high quality signal callers this year, it is a stretch to put both in the top 5. St Louis, KC, Cleveland, Cincy, Oakland, and Green Bay all have quarterbacks that they are confident can play the position at a high quality level for another 3+ years. Even Seattle and Jacksonville have potential Pro Bowl quarterbacks. An even better argument can be made for running backs. Only Cleveland really needs a lead back to carry the full role. Teams like New Orleans, Houston, Jets, Philly, Indy, and Arizona would like another back to pair with the lead runners, but most of them have much more pressing needs on defense.
In essence the draft is becoming a system of have and have-nots. However, I’m not talking about the players, I’m talking about upper management. Teams that have people that know how to coach players and build a team (New England, Indy, Tenn, Pitt, Giants, Minn, Philly) are constantly picking at the bottom of the draft. As those teams lose position players via free agency, trades, or old age; they still have a pretty good selection of them at the bottom of the draft. It’ll be interesting to see next year how many teams don’t need a quarterback, running back, left tackle, or wide out.
Anyways, without further adieu, Drew Kiper Jr’s 2009 NFL Mock:
Detroit – Matt Stafford
St Louis – Eugene Monroe
KC – Aaron Curry
Seattle –Mark Sanchez
Cleveland – Michael Crabtree
Cincy – Brian Orkapo
Oakland – Jeremy Maclin
Jacksonville – Jason Smith
Green Bay – Aaron Maybin
SF – Andre Smith
Buffalo – Michael Oher
Denver – BJ Raji
Washington – Robert Ayers
New Orleans – Malcolm Jenkins
Houston – Clay Matthews
San Diego – Tyson Jackson
NYJ – Brandon Pettigrew
Denver – Rey Maualaga
Tampa – Josh Freeman
Detroit – Everette Brown
Philly – Beanie Wells
Minnesota – Perria Jerry
New England – Larry English
Atlanta – Alphonso Smith
Miami – Brian Cushing
Baltimore – Darius Heyward-Bey
Indy – Darius Butler
Buffalo – Jarron Gilbert
NYG – Hakeem Nicks
Tennessee – Percy Harvin
Arizona – Knowshon Moreno
Pittsburgh - Eben Britton
*Feel free to criticize on Sunday if I suck and listen to the gloating if I’m right
Wild Card Players
o Beanie Wells
o Mark Sanchez
o Brian Orkapo
o BJ Raji
o Percy Harvin
Wild Card Teams
o Jacksonville
o Green Bay
o Cleveland
(True Story?)
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