Review of the First Round of the 2009 Draft

The 2009 NFL Draft is one that has already given us a handful of stars as well as several other players that have already made a name for themselves as role players. For my Monday Morning article (12/21), I've decided to take a look back at the 2009 first round and evaluate each pick that was made, based on their performance this year as well as how their future looks.

1. Detroit – Matthew Stafford QB Georgia – Matthew Stafford has had an up-and-down rookie season. The bright spot of the year came against Cleveland when Stafford gutted out a last-second comeback win over the Browns. However, Stafford has struggled with injuries this year, and until the Lions decide to upgrade their offensive line, he likely will continue to take a beating behind center. Stafford has thrown for 2,267 yards, 13 touchdowns, 20 interceptions with a 53.3% completion percentage. He’s also been sacked 24 times this year. The pick of Stafford continues to appear to be the right one, but until Detroit begins to provide him with a better supporting cast, it’s going for him to succeed.

2. St. Louis – Jason Smith OT Baylor – Jason Smith is another player who has had an up-and-down season. He’s only started five games this year and has appeared in just eight of them. He’s likely out for the season right now with a concussion. It’d make sense for St. Louis to shut Smith down for the year and let him take the offseason to prepare for a starting role next year. Smith has shown potential, but when he has played, he’s been inconsistent. Next year is going to be key for Smith in his development.

3. Kansas City – Tyson Jackson DE LSU – One of the biggest reaches in the 2009 NFL Draft, Tyson Jackson has started 12 of the 14 games he’s appeared in this season and has had minimal production. He’s recorded just 29 tackles and no sacks. Jackson is playing defensive end in the 3-4 defense, a position that doesn’t receive much production in the first place. The Chiefs used their first two picks of the 2009 Draft on defensive linemen and still have one of the worst run defenses in the league. Scott Pioli has a lot of work to do this year.

4. Seattle – Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest – Off the 13 games that he’s played in this year, Aaron Curry has started 11 of them and has recorded 60 tackles, two sacks, defended six passes, and forced two fumbles. With the success of Brian Cushing, the pick of Curry doesn’t look at good; however, if you had suggested back in April that Cushing should go fourth overall, you would have been laughed at. It’s the way the business works. Curry is developing a bit slower than expected, however his potential is still as high as it was back when he was drafted.

5. New York Jets – Mark Sanchez QB USC – Mark Sanchez has had one of the most publicized rookie seasons of anyone in the past five years. Sanchez started his career leading the Jets to three straight wins before New York fell off and stumbled the rest of the way. Sanchez has thrown 12 touchdowns, 20 interceptions with a 53.5% completion percentage. He’s also lost three fumbles. Sanchez has shown flashes of greatness, and has proven to the Jets’ staff that they made the right selection in making him the fifth pick in the draft. We’ll need at least another 3-4 years before we can begin to accurately evaluate the pick. As of now, though, it looks to be a good one.

6. Cincinnati – Andre Smith OT Alabama – Cincinnati’s contract negotiations with Andre Smith cost Smith the chance to practice with the team during training camp. Smith has played in four games and has only started one game, last week against Minnesota. It’s clearly far too early to judge this pick.

7. Oakland – Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland – One of the worst selections in the past decade, the Oakland Raiders’ selection of Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick in the draft will be ridiculed for years and will be shown to potential general managers and head coaches as an example of what not to do when drafting football players. Through 11 games played, Heyward-Bey has caught nine passes for 124 yards and one touchdown, and has dropped probably as many passes as he has letters in his name.

8. Jacksonville – Eugene Monroe OT Virginia – Eugene Monroe has had one of the more consistent years of the top ten picks who had played this year. Monroe has started 11 of the team’s 13 games and has held up well at left tackle. He’s struggled at times, against Dwight Freeney for example, however he’s shown that his potential and upside are still high.

9. Green Bay – B.J. Raji DT Boston College – B.J. Raji has not started any games this year, and has rotated in on the defensive line this year. The Packers’ 3-4 defense has held up well for the most part this year, and with Raji rotating in, they’ve been able to keep their line fresh. I’d expect to see the Packers slowly bring Raji along before letting him start either next year or in 2011.

10. San Francisco – Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech – In what was the most publicized contract negotiations in recent memory, Michael Crabtree signed with the 49ers in the middle of the season and has managed to start nine games this year and accumulate 41 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns. Crabtree is likely the best receiver in San Francisco since Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice left town. Crabtree’s success this year shows that his upside is as high as any other young receiver in football today. His success is also a slap in the face to the Oakland Raiders, who passed on him in favor of Darrius Heyward-Bey.

11. Buffalo – Aaron Maybin DE Penn State – Aaron Maybin has had a bit of a redshirt season this year. The inexperienced stud from Penn State has not started a single game this year and has recorded just 15 tackles. Aaron Schobel has stepped up this year with seven sacks and the combination of Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney has also combined for seven sacks. However, the Bills took Maybin 12th overall this year for a reason. I’d expect to see him be given much more work next year. Unlike 2008’s Vernon Gholston, the future still appears to be bright for Maybin.

12. Denver – Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia – The selection of running back Knowshon Moreno was a surprise to some on draft day, but it has proven to be a very smart move by Denver. The Broncos paired Moreno with Correll Buckhalter for most of the season, but as of late, Moreno has shouldered the load and has provided the Broncos with a consistent threat at the running back position. Moreno has carried the ball 224 times for 879 yards and five touchdowns, in addition to catching 22 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. I usually don’t suggest that teams take running backs high in the draft, but this pick has proven to be a good one for Denver.

13. Washington – Brian Orakpo DE Texas – The Redskins sure have gotten their money’s worth with Brian Orakpo. The 13th pick in the draft, Orakpo has recorded 45 tackles and 11 sacks as a linebacker and situational pass rusher for the Redskins. While he has played well, I think that part of his production has come from playing in defensive coordinator Greg Blache’s scheme, and if Blache leaves to become a head coach somewhere, I wonder how Orakpo will do without Blache. As of now, the pick appears to be a very good one.

14. New Orleans – Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State – Malcolm Jenkins has played in a variety of roles for the Saints this year. He began the season as a situational corner who saw time in nickel and dime packages and has since moved into the starting lineup with the season-ending injury to Tracy Porter. On the year, Jenkins has recorded 45 tackles, four passes defended, and one interception in 12 games played, including five starts. The Saints secondary has a very bright future, and Jenkins is one major reason why.

15. Houston – Brian Cushing LB USC – Brian Cushing is one of the top candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year, thanks to his 119 tackles, three sacks, nine passes defended, three interceptions, and two fumbles forced. Cushing has been everything that the Texans had expected when they made him the 15th overall pick, and then some. He’s been the heart of their defense and has played with the type of emotion that energizes an entire defense. This is turning out to be an outstanding pick for Houston.

16. San Diego – Larry English DE Northern Illinois – Larry English was brought in not as much for this year, but more for 2010, when the Chargers anticipate linebacker Shawne Merriman departing either via trade or free agency. Merriman has also dealt with injuries the past two years and was brought in as an insurance policy if Merriman went down with injury again. English has started one game this year and has accumulated 25 tackles and two sacks on the year. English will need to step into the hole that Merriman leaves, assuming Merriman is elsewhere next season.

17. Tampa Bay – Josh Freeman QB Kansas State – The Tampa Bay Bucs traded up two spots in the 2009 draft to assure themselves that they would be able to get their guy Josh Freeman. Freeman has started seven games this year and has thrown for 1,412 yards, nine touchdowns, 14 interceptions with a 53.5% completion percentage. Freeman would likely be the top quarterback in the 2010 draft, so to get him a year early, the Buccaneers are simply starting his development a year early. He certainly has a bright future if Tampa Bay can add a better supporting cast for him.

18. Denver – Robert Ayers DE Tennessee – Robert Ayers has had a season similar to that of Aaron Maybin. It’s a bit of a redshirt for the inexperienced Ayers who is taking a bit longer to develop than other defensive linemen in the 2009 class. Ayers has not started a game this year, but has played in 13 games and has recorded just 12 tackles and two passes defended on the year. I’d expect to see Ayers get more playing time next year.

19. Philadelphia – Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri – In the 2009 Draft, the Eagles traded up in the first round in order to lock down Jeremy Maclin. Teaming Maclin with budding star DeSean Jackson has given the Eagles two very talented wide receivers to build around for the future. Maclin has caught 46 passes for 623 yards and four touchdowns on the year, including starting in 11 of the 13 games he’s played in. Maclin fits Philadelphia’s offense perfectly, in that the Eagles love to launch the ball down the field, and Maclin’s speed gives him a tremendous advantage against the cornerbacks that he goes up against.

20. Detroit – Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State – Brandon Pettigrew started the first 11 games of the season for the Lions at the tight end position before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Pettigrew had an up-and-down rookie year that was really marred by injuries. He finished the season with 30 catches for 346 yards and two touchdowns. While Pettigrew appears to have a nice future with the team, the fact the Detroit passed on Michael Oher with their second first round pick continues to be an even bigger question mark than it was on draft day. The Lions need offensive line help as bad as anyone, and to pass on the last elite one in the draft for a tight end, where you can find anywhere, was not a smart decision.

21. Cleveland – Alex Mack C California – One of the places where the Browns do not have a large hole is on their offensive line where Alex Mack has turned into a reliable and consistent leader who figures to team with Joe Thomas to give Cleveland a very smart, instinctive, and tough offensive line to build around for the future. I loved Mack, but the fact that the Browns traded down from the fifth pick in the draft to the 21st and took a center, was not a smart move. They have as many holes as any team in the league, and to take a center with their first round pick was asking to have a down 2009 season. As for Mack, I think that he has the potential to turn into one of the, if not the best center in football as he matures and gains experience.

22. Minnesota – Percy Harvin WR Florida – Percy Harvin was an outstanding athlete at the University of Florida and certainly developed quickly once he reached the NFL. While injuries (and migraines) are still a concern for him, he certainly hasn’t had any trouble showcasing his outstanding talent this year. Harvin is one of the top candidates for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and because he’s a skill-position player, he’s likely going to win. Harvin has caught 49 passes for 691 yards and six touchdowns on the year, in addition to delivering a couple of kickoff return touchdowns as well. Harvin has the potential to become an all-purpose threat for Minnesota, similar to what DeSean Jackson has become for the Eagles.

23. Baltimore – Michael Oher OT Ole Miss – Michael Oher, who I believe should win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2009, has had as dominating of a season as any first rounder from the 2009 class. Oher has been a versatile threat for the Baltimore Ravens, playing both right and left tackle for them, as well as moving around and playing different positions in special running formations. Oher has started all 14 games this year, and in addition to having a movie made about his life, he’s had as great of a season as any rookie in the NFL. Oher is a player that the Ravens can build around for years to come. Ozzie Newsome deserves a tremendous amount of credit for trading up for Oher and snagging him when other teams passed on him.

24. Atlanta – Peria Jerry DT Ole Miss – Peria Jerry started the first two games of the season at defensive tackle for the Falcons and recorded just one tackle before suffering a season-ending knee injury. With one of the worst run defenses in the league this year, Jerry’s return in 2010 will provide the Falcons with a major boost. It’ll be hard to evaluate this pick until after he plays, but based on what Atlanta has looked like without him, it’s safe to say that they could certainly use his help up front.

25. Miami – Vontae Davis CB Illinois – Vontae Davis entered the year behind fellow rookie and Dolphins’ second rounder Sean Smith on the cornerback depth chart, however he quickly changed that as he was named a starter half way through the season and has performed very well since he entered the starting lineup. In the 14 games he’s played in, including seven starts, Davis has recorded 43 tackles, four interceptions, and nine passes defended. Davis has had an excellent second half of the season and should be a nice young, talented player that Miami can build around, in addition to Smith.

26. Green Bay – Clay Matthews LB USC – Clay Matthews has had an excellent 2009 season for the Packers, better than ninth-overall pick B.J. Raji. Matthews has played in 14 games this year, started 11, and has 47 tackles and 10 sacks as an outside-rush linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 defense. Matthews played nearly the exact same position in college at USC, so it’s good to see that the Packers have put Matthews in the best possible position to succeed in the NFL. Matthews is another young player that they can now build around on defense, in addition to Raji, A.J. Hawk, and Cullen Jenkins. Matthews was of perfect value at this point in the first round.

27. Indianapolis – Donald Brown RB Connecticut – Donald Brown entered the year as the backup to Joseph Addai, and in the first half of the year, he did a great job of being a change of pace back who spelled Addai and provided the Colts with a bit of a “closer” that helped to seal the deal at the end of games. Brown has suffered from injuries in the second half of the season, and as a result, hasn’t had a carry in the last three weeks. I was never huge on this pick, but I understood why the Colts made the selection. Indianapolis is undefeated, so it’s hard to fault them for this pick, however their run game certainly hasn’t been the best this year. Adding a few pieces to the offensive line to help open holes for Addai and Brown may be the best option for the 2010 Draft.

28. Buffalo – Eric Wood C Louisville – Wood began the season as a solid player for the Bills at offensive guard, where he started for the first 10 games before he suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula against the Jaguars. Wood is now on injured reserve and it’s up in the air as to whether or not he’ll be ready for the 2010 season. Wood had formed a nice duo with Andy Levitre at the two guard spots. Hopefully Wood will be able to return and have no setbacks in his recovery from the injury.

29. New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina – I absolutely loved this pick back in April and I love it even more now. Nicks was a perfect fit as a replacement for Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer in New York. This year, Nicks has caught 38 passes for 685 yards and six touchdowns. Nicks has emerged as the team’s top down-the-field threat and is capable of making big plays for the Giants. The Giants now have a core of talented, young receivers in Nicks, Steve Smith, Manningham, and Ramses Barden is still developing as well. This was one of my favorite picks in the first round in April, and I still agree with that assessment.

30. Tennessee – Kenny Britt WR Rutgers – Kenny Britt was an intriguing pick for the Titans. For years they had ignored the wide receiver position in the draft before finally acknowledging that they needed to make an upgrade. Just like Nicks, Britt has given the Titans a down-field threat that is talented, young, is a player that Tennessee can build around. Britt has caught 40 passes for 674 yards and three touchdowns on the year. While his numbers aren’t quite eye-opening, they are for a Titans’ wide receiver, one that typically hasn’t found much success in recent years. Britt has the potential to be a fantastic player for Tennessee.

31. Arizona – Chris Wells RB Ohio State – Chris Wells has had an up-and-down rookie season in the desert. He’s been competing with second-year player Tim Hightower for carries for the majority of the season, and only recently has really grabbed ahold the of the starting running back position. On the year, Beanie has carried the ball 153 times for 706 yards and six touchdowns. Wells gives the Cardinals a legitimate back that they have lacked for quite awhile. If they continue to give him a chance to shoulder the load, then the sky could be the limit for him, which is exactly why I had him ranked as the top running back in the 2009 class. Wells is very talented and is filled with potential.

32. Pittsburgh – Ziggy Hood DT Missouri – Evander “Ziggy” Hood is another player who has had a bit of a redshirt season in 2009. Having played in 14 games with no starts, Ziggy has only recorded six tackles on the year. With one year under his belt to learn the team’s scheme and understand the 3-4 defense in Pittsburgh, I think that the 2010 season is when Hood will start to make his mark for the Steelers as a very solid 3-4 defensive end.