With no first or second round pick, we went the entire first day without hearing from America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys. They began their draft in 2009 by using their two third round picks on Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams and Ball State offensive tackle Robert Brewster. While both picks were reaches, you can make an argument for each one of them. Williams is a very fast, athletic linebacker who fits in the Cowboys’ 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker as a pass rusher coming off the edge. Brewster is a very large offensive lineman who played tackle while at Ball State, but he could kick inside to guard with the Cowboys. He’s a developmental offensive lineman who should provide depth at the beginning of his career.

With their three fourth round picks Dallas chose Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee, Oregon State defensive end Victor Butler, and Texas Tech defensive end Brandon Williams. While he played primarily in the option at A&M, Stephen McGee had a number of fantastic workouts this offseason and showed that he has the tools needed to play quarterback in a pro-style offense in the NFL. He’s a developmental player who will be a backup behind Tony Romo. Butler is an undersized end with good athleticism who projects as another 3-4 outside linebacker for the Cowboys. Like Williams and Butler, Brandon Williams is yet another player who projects as an outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 defense. He is a very talented, but raw player who took advantage of Texas Tech’s success in 2008 to make the jump to the NFL. He’s going to need some coaching and development before I’d expect to see him compete for a starting job.

With their three fifth round picks the Cowboys selected Cincinnati cornerback DeAngelo Smith, Clemson safety Michael Hamlin, and USC kicker David Buehler. Smith is a versatile player with experience at both cornerback and safety. He’s at his best in zone coverage, but his versatility is what will give him the chance to the see the field quickly. Hamlin was a productive safety at Clemson. He’s more of an in-the-box type of safety who is good at coming up and playing the run. He’s an experienced player and is more pro-ready than many of the other prospects in this draft class. David Buehler had an outstanding workout at the Combine and was likely draft purely because of that. He’ll backup starting kicker Nick Folk, but thanks to his excellent athleticism he could also play special teams as something other than the kicker.

In the sixth round Dallas used their two picks on TCU safety Stephen Hodge and Virginia tight end John Phillips. Hodge was a productive player at TCU and was one of the reasons why the Horned Frogs had such a great season in 2008. He’ll be another backup safety who should help on special teams. Phillips is more of a blocking tight end than as a receiving one, and with Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett already on the roster, Phillips wouldn’t have much of a chance as a receiver either way.

With their last two picks, both in the seventh round, the Cowboys selected Cincinnati cornerback Mike Mickens and Oklahoma wide receiver Manuel Johnson. Mickens was a tremendous value pick at that point in the seventh round. With the talent and tools needed to potentially develop into a starter, Mickens could have an immediate impact as a nickel or dime back. Johnson was overshadowed by Juaquin Iglesias at Oklahoma, however he’s a talented player in his own right and offers the Cowboys a developmental prospect at the receiver position.

The Cowboys added a lot of players, but I question how much value they actually came away with in 2009. They added many role players and backup/special teams players, yet it’d be hard to argue that even two or three of their players could end up starting in the NFL. With the amount of picks that they had, I was disappointed with their effort in this year’s draft. What I did like was that they addressed their pass rush at outside linebacker, their special teams play, and they brought in the two teammates from Cincinnati in the secondary. Quantity-wise it was great, but value-wise it remains to be seen. Grade: C

In 2009 the Chicago Bears sent three picks (first round 09, first round 2010, third round 09) and their starting quarterback Kyle Orton to the Denver Broncos in return for quarterback Jay Cutler and a fifth round pick. While the Bears unloaded the heart of their draft, they were able to come away with one of the top young quarterbacks in the league. The Bears trade reminds me of the Minnesota Vikings deal in 2008, in that they sent a large number of picks to a team for a player who is capable of changing a franchise. The Bears, however, may have gone about it better than the Vikings, in that the Bears ended up still having nine picks in 2009, whereas Minnesota only had five picks when all was said and done in 2008.

With no pick on the first day, the Bears began their draft by selecting San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert and Oklahoma wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias in the third round. An explosive defensive tackle/end who has versatility and can play a number of different positions, Gilbert enters the mix and could develop into nice player for the Bears under the tutelage of new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. With their pass rush down in 2008, the Bears acted aggressively and took one of the most explosive defensive lineman in the draft. I was also a big fan of Gilbert, so I loved the pick. Iglesias was a safe selection, as he was a consistent and reliable wideout in Oklahoma’s high-scoring offense in 2008. He may need a year to develop, but he’s a pro-ready player who could come in and have an impact right away.

With their two fourth round picks Chicago went with Texas defensive end Henry Melton and Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore. Melton is an athletic player with great speed and quickness who had an excellent Pro Day which helped to elevate his stock. I thought that this was a bit early for him, but he’s another player who the Bears decided to bring in to address their pass rush. I like how they aggressively addressed their needs both in the trade for Cutler as well as through the draft. D.J. Moore could be one of the steals of the draft if he can develop. A player who first round talent who lacked speed at the Combine and at his Pro Day, Moore’s stock dropped quickly after his poor offseason workouts. If D.J. can fit into their defensive scheme and develop well, I could see him starting in a year or two and being a great value pick for the Bears. There was a point in 2009 when I had Moore ranked as a first round pick, before his workouts, so he definitely has the talent to contribute early.

In the fifth round Chicago used their two picks on Abilene Christian wide receiver Johnny Knox and Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman. An under-the-radar player who blew up with an outstanding workout at the Combine, Knox is undersized but could be a great slot or No. 3 receiver in the NFL. He’s a player that I liked and he was a good value choice in the fifth round. Marcus Freeman played in the shadow of James Laurinaitis during his career at Ohio State. He’s a faster linebacker who lacks size, however he has the talent and skills needed to develop into a starter.

In the sixth round the Bears went with Oregon State safety Al Afalava. I loved this pick. Afalava was not on many people’s radars in the days leading up to the draft, but he certainly has a chance to make an impact. A pure playmaker who was all over the field for the Beavers in 2008, Afalava is always around the ball and he’s a hard hitter who is a great fit as an in-the-box safety in the NFL. He’ll also be a special teams stud. With their two seventh round picks Chicago selected San Diego State offensive guard Lance Louis and Pittsburgh wide receiver Derek Kinder. Louis is a guard with great speed and quickness who raised his draft stock with a great workout at his Pro Day. He’ll provide depth to an offensive line that could really use it. Kinder is a talented receiver who missed the entire 2007 season with a torn ACL. He’s another player who had a great workout at his Pro Day and translated that into being a late-round pick.

Between trading for Jay Cutler, drafting two pass rusher with their first three picks, as well as taking three wide receviers in the draft, I don’t think you can ask for much more from the Chicago Bears. Once again, they addressed their needs aggressively and have put themselves in position to compete for the NFC North division this year. With the talented combination of Cutler and running back Matt Forte, the Bears offense could be ready to final take the next step after having staggered through the last decade with mediocrity at the quarterback position. When you grade this draft class, you have to consider the Cutler trade considering they sent three picks and their starting quarterback for him. Grade: A-

The Carolina Panthers really enjoy trading their first round picks. In 2008, they traded away their 2009 first round pick so that they could move up and select Pittsburgh offensive tackle Jeff Otah. In 2009, as a result of not having a first round pick, they dealt their first rounder in 2010 so that they could move up and choose Florida State defensive end Everette Brown in the 2009 second round. In addition to landing Brown, the Panthers used their original second round pick on Troy cornerback Sherrod Martin. I really liked both of these picks. While I thought that the price to land Brown was high, he was my top pure 4-3 defensive end in the 2009 Draft and should provide an instant impact as a great pass rusher. Martin, an experienced defensive back with great versatility, will provide depth at both cornerback and safety and offers the team an immediate impact player who could develop into a starter at corner or safety quickly.

In the third round Carolina took Georgia defensive tackle Corvey Irvin. Irvin was a player who really stood out and helped his draft stock at the Senior Bowl. He’s a raw prospect and I thought that the third round was a round or two too high for him, however he has the talent and tools needed to be a nice player for the Panthers. With their two fourth round picks the Panthers went with Texas A&M running back Mike Goodson and Syracuse fullback Tony Fiammetta. Carolina landed arguably the draft’s quickest and most agile back in Goodson, while also getting good value in the fourth round. While the team already has DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, Goodson projects as a No. 3 back who could be a nice scatback for his team. Fiammetta, the draft’s top fullback, is a hard-hitting player who isn’t afraid of lowering his head and unloading on a defender. He’s another good value choice and should help to pave the way for the Panthers’ strong rushing offense.

In the fifth round the Panthers choose Oklahoma offensive guard Duke Robinson. Robinson was one of the top guards in the draft and he fits their offense perfectly as a run blocker who excels at driving the defender off the ball. He had the talent to be a first round pick, but there were some off field concerns that hurt his draft stock. With their seventh round pick Carolina selected South Carolina cornerback Captain Munneryln. A smaller cornerback who is aggressive and is a playmacker, Munnerlyn has the talent and skills needed to have an impact as a nickel or dime back for the Panthers.

As a whole, the Panthers quietly had another productive draft. When you look back at the decision to trade their first round pick for Jeff Otah, you can’t help but think that it paid off. Otah was one of the key players behind the Panthers’ resurgence in 2009 and their running game figures to once again be one of the best in the league thanks to their enormous offensive line. With this draft class, the team adds help to their defensive line, secondary, and adds another key piece to their running game in Fiammetta, as well as adding another key piece to their offensive line in Robinson. Overall, it was a productive class and I thought that they did a good job. Grade: A-

The Patriots have always been a team that has done everything the same way, and have not been afraid to go against the popular way of thinking. This is why, in the 2009 Draft, New England ended up with no first round picks, three second round picks, and two more second round picks in 2010. The theory of using a second round pick is that the player will have the same type of talent as that of a player taken in the middle-to-late first round; you also will not have to pay the player nearly as much, but still be able to expect the same type of production. It’d be safe to say that this way of building a team has worked well for the Patriots.

With their four second round picks in 2009, the Patriots selected Oregon safety Patrick Chung, Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace, Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler, and Houston offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer. I loved the Patriots second round. Chung is a very smart, knowledgeable, instinctive player who is capable of being a leader on defense, something that Bill Belichick loves in a player. Ron Brace is a very large tackle who could see time as a nose tackle or as a defensive end in the team’s 3-4 defense. He’ll also give the Pats leverage when they begin to talk about a contract extension with current nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The reason the Patriots are such a dominant franchise is because they think two steps ahead of everyone else. They know that Wilfork is going to demand top dollar, so they decided to take a player who could fit in Wilfork’s spot if he leaves, and will only have to pay him that of a second-round salary. Wilfork doesn’t have much leverage with the Patriots because they already have his replacement set if he decides to leave and they now don’t need to overpay for one of the league’s top nose tackles. It’s a win-win situation for the Pats. In my 2009 first round mock draft I actually had the Patriots selecting Butler with their first round pick, but they traded out of the spot. Where they took him doesn’t matter, he’s a great fit for their defense. With some of the quickest feet in the draft and great natural athleticism, he should be able to contribute to Bill Belichick’s defense right away. Vollmer is an interesting player. He’s an athletic lineman who began his college career at tight end before moving to tackle, where he excelled for Houston. I like Vollmer as a prospect, but I had him rated as a mid-round pick, so to see him be taken with the 58th overall pick, was a large reach in my opinion. However, the Pats aren’t afraid to go against the grain and take a guy they like.

With their two second round picks the Patriots chose North Carolina wide receiver Brandon Tate and South Florida linebacker Tyrone McKenzie. A dynamic player who can take the ball to the house any time he touches it, Brandon Tate had a terrific start to his senior season before tearing his ACL. If he regains to full form, he could be a dangerous player in New England, especially as a returner. McKenzie played for three different colleges (Michigan State, Iowa State, South Florida), so his verstaility and ability to play in several different systems and formations is what will help New England.

In the fourth and fifth rounds, the Pats selected Penn State offensive guard Rich Ohrnberger and Louisville offensive tackle George Bussey, respectively. The Ohrnberger pick makes sense for New England. It was a reach to take him in the fourth round, based on his talent, but his scrappy, instinctive play makes him a good fit for the Pats. He’ll likely be a backup who develops and can compete for a starting job a few years down the road. Bussey was a college tackle who could move inside to guard for New England. He’s a large player who is more of a developmental prospect.

With thier two sixth round picks New England chose Hawaii long snapper Jake Ingram and Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor. The Patriots lost their long snapper to Denver in the offseason, so they needed to add one this year; why not take him in the draft when you have 12 picks. Pryor is a player that I liked with the Wildcats. While he’s shorter than you’d like, he’ll provide good depth on the defensive line and I see him more as an end than as a nose tackle in the team’s 3-4 defense.

In the seventh round the Patriots used their two picks on Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman and Georgia Tech defensive tackle Darryl Richard. A very productive player in college, Edelman should be a player that the Pats use when they attempt to run the wildcat offense. Richard is a solid all-around tackle who has good leverage and can provide depth on the line. However, what are the chances that he sees the field much as a the third defensive tackle taken in the Patriots’ draft class.

It seems at times that the Patriots almost throw a dart at a board, if not waste their picks. Their team is so talented that they only need a small handfull of players, yet they end up with 12 players in their draft class, five or six of which will be lucky to end up making the team. The chances of every one of their 12 picks making the roster out of training camp is extremely slim. The Patriots know what their doing, but taking a player who they know will not make the team is interesting. I really liked the top of their draft, but the bottom of it seemed to be rather cluttered. Overall, it’s a top-heavy draft class which offers the team three players who have a legitimate chance of developing into starters, while the class also offers a large number of role players behind the starters. Grade: B

Following their Super Bowl win in 2008, the Steelers entered the 2009 NFL Draft with not many holes, but just needing to add depth and find good value with their picks.

With their first round pick the Pittsburgh took Missouri defensive tackle Ziggy Hood. With their defensive line starting to show signs of age, bringing in a very good tackle prospect is what the Steelers really needed. I’d expect to see Hood play defensive end in the team’s 3-4 scheme. He was a safe pick and they know what they’re getting with him, which is why they took him with the 32nd pick.

With their three third round picks the Steelers selected Wisconsin offensive guard Kraig Urbik, Mississippi wide receiver Mike Wallace, and Oregon State cornerback Keenan Lewis. A very large offensive lineman who excels as a run blocker, Urbik may need a year of development before having a real chance at competing for a starting job on the Steelers offensive line. They definitely needed the depth that he brings though, as their offensive line is one of the weaker parts of their team. While I like Mike Wallace, I had him rated more as a fourth or fifth round pick, and I thought that he was a bit of a reach in the third. With Nate Washington departing for Tennessee, Wallace is expected to compete for playing time in the spot vacated by Washington. Wallace also brings added value as a returner on special teams. Keenan Lewis was a player who I thought was extremely underrated in the draft process. At the Senior Bowl he was a shut-down corner, yet he didn’t receive much exposure or attention in the pre-draft process. Lewis has the skills needed to start at the next level in a few years.

With their two fifth round picks Pittsburgh went with Central Florida cornerback Joe Burnett and UNLV running back Frank Summers. I like the players picked, but they were both taken at least a round or two too early. Burnett is a talented, undersized corner who has good ball skills and has a knack for making plays. Summers is a short, stout back (5-9, 240 lbs) who should see time as a fullback or as a short-yardage/goal-line back.

In the sixth round the Steelers chose Oregon defensive tackle Ra’Shon (Sonny) Harris. Like Hood, Harris should see time as a 3-4 defensive end for Pittsburgh. Harris is a bit undersized, but he gets the job done. He was also only a one-year starter in college. With their two seventh round picks Pittsburgh selected Penn State center A.Q. Shipley and Arkansas State tight end David Johnson. Shipley, one of the best value picks of the draft, is an undersized center who has outstanding instincts and he knows how to lead an offensive line. While he’s small and has very short arms, Shipley could end up starting for Pittsburgh a few years down the road. Johnson is an athletic tight end who plays a lot as an H-Back. The Steelers can move around and take advantage of his ability to get down the field in the passing game.

Overall, I wasn’t thrilled with the Steelers draft. Urbik has started out slow and they reached on at least four of their picks. I could see Keenan Lewis being one of the top players from this class, but only Hood is a sure thing, and he’ll start his career as a backup defensive lineman at a position that he has never played. If Wallace can give them something in the return game, then he’d bring value to this class right away. Other than that, this class has a lot of role players and not many players who could develop into starters. This draft is nowhere near as good as some of the drafts that the Steelers have had in the past few years. Grade: C+