1st Mock Draft - 2009 NFL Draft - Turtlenecks Optional

It's time for my first mock draft for the 2009 NFL Draft extravaganza. The 1st day of the draft is one of my favorite days of the year. Last year, I doublefisted drinks, blacked out and walked on water. Needless to say, anything can happen. That's the beauty of it. My opinions will change as the draft approaches. We have most of bowl season to go and not to mention the combines and pro days where players will show off their abilities. It's all about 40 yard dash times, bench presses and vertical leaps. All the intangibles that make up a great player will be tested. Get your popcorn ready and away we go.....(draft position is based on how the chips would fall if they were going to draft today, the playoffs will impact the latter half of the draft mostly)

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford QB Georgia - The top pick like the champagne room at the strip club. Everybody likes to have the option, but nobody wants to pay the price for it. Matt Stafford has the potential to be the next John Elway, but if he's able to replicate the rookie performance of last year's glamour QB Matt Ryan, that would be a blessing for the moribund paper Lions franchise.

2. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma - St. Louis IMO has three options at this pick 1) Trade down to get a top CB like Vontae Davis or Malcolm Jenkins at around picks 8-12. 2) Take one of the top offensive lineman or 3) Do something necessarily, but in a hastily manner. I think they'll go for number 3. Contingent upon Oklahoma winning the BCS National Championship, I think Bradford couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to go pro. He won't be able to replicate this season next year at Oklahoma as a junior.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech - This pick will probably change in future mocks. KC could improve in a number of areas. The big question is whether Thigpen is their QB of the future. If not, they'll hope that Detroit passes on Stafford and he drops to them. Otherwise, pick who they feel is the best player available.

4. Cincinnati Bengals - Michael Oher OT Mississippi - I like spelling Mississippi, I don't like spelling Cincinnati. They need to protect their QB, this pick could also be Andre Smith of Alabama.

5. Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech - This team needs to upgrade their offensive playmakers. Whether it's at QB, RB or WR. I wouldn't be surprised if they took Knowshown Moreno or Beanie Wells here. I think their defense is still solid despite what their win-loss record would indicate. It's the parity of the NFL at play.

6. Oakland Raiders - Andre Smith OT Alabama - Al Davis could take a speedy wideout or a big linebacker, but in the end, I think they'll pick lineman like they did with Robert Gallery a couple of drafts back.

7. Cleveland Browns - Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State - This pick has Beanie Wells written all over it, but I have a feeling his stock will drop come draft day. So I'll go with the other Ohio State product to supplement the secondary. You can never have too much in your secondary.

8. Green Bay Packers - Brian Orakpo DE Texas - The Packers need to improve on defense if they are going to contend in the NFC North again. Orakpo seems like a good pick in a good crop of lineman.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars - Vontae Davis CB Illinois - It wouldn't surprise me if they go after one of the top safetys or the best available offensive tackle here. I like this fellow better than Jenkins, but Malcolm has the higher profile with Ohio State.

10. San Francisco 49ers - Taylor Mays S USC - Another case of the best player available. Mike Singletary like guys that win and that's what they do at Southern Cal. This could be a good spot for a stud linebacker to go as well.

11. Buffalo Bills - Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest - Buffalo will go defense with this pick. This fellow is the top outside linebacker in this draft class.

12. San Diego Chargers - Rey Maualuga ILB USC - The Chargers could address a number of areas here. If this is where they pick, they'll be out of the playoffs. They'll sure up a strength with a guy that'll stay close to home.

13. Houston Texans - William Moore S Missouri - Taylor Mays would be the pick, but he's gone. They could go linebacker here. How the teams ahead of them pick will dictate how they pick. If they don't like what they see, they could trade down to get draft picks.

14. Washington Redskins - Eugene Monroe OT Virginia - He's my pick for the Ryan Clady 40 this year. The Ryan Clady 40 was a malt liquor chugging contest. I really like this guy better than Oher and Andre Smith. The Skins play it smart and sure up an aging offensive line in what may be the deepest position in this year's draft arguably with defensive tackle.

15. New Orleans Saints - James Laurinitis ILB Ohio State - Like the Texans, they'll see what drops to them on the defensive end and pick the best player available. They are happy that Laurinitis is still there at 15.

16. Denver Broncos - Terrence Cody DT Alabama - Most of the primetime linebackers and safeties have been selected so they should go with defensive line. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they make a play at Moreno or Wells and force Arizona to give up some draft picks to swap places with them.

17. Arizona Cardinals - Knowshown Moreno RB Georgia - Tim Hightower isn't the answer and we all know how explosive young running backs are doing in the NFL in this day and age. This is the cream of the crop at this position. Edgerrin James isn't Tuck Everlasting.

18. Philadelphia Eagles - Alex Mack C California - A team with two picks, they could address some needs of package those picks to move up if they like a particular player. There are some studs in the Top 15 and if none of them drop, they are out of luck. They'll address offensive line, it's a win-win situation for them.

19. New York Jets - Clint Sintim OLB Virginia - Another best player available situation. Will they use this draft to pick their QB of the future in the later rounds. Prior to that, they'll address the defense. Perhaps the secondary, but they'll go after a big fellow.

20. Chicago Bears - Darius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland - Devin Hester isn't the answer at wideout. Sure, he's an exciting player in the return game, but Chicago should be able to get a nice wideout here whether it be Heyward-Bey or Jeremy Maclin. But the QB could be the problem, but they could use a playmaker to complement Matt Forte.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Everette Brown DE Florida State - They could use a homerun hitter at wideout because I feel that Antonio Bryant could be a fraud. If they feel he isn't, they'll an end like George Selvie or this guy from FSU.

22. Detroit Lions - Brian Cushing OLB USC - Now that they have a signal caller, they'll address another need. They could go in any number of directions here. I'm going with my gut here because I can't even try to explain Detroit's personnel mindset here.

23. Minnesota Vikings - Duke Robinson OG Oklahoma - If they can get a tackle or Alex Mack here, that's a bonus, but they'll go after the best guard prospect in the draft. Offensive lineman to sure up their ace in the hole, Adrian Peterson.

24. New England Patriots - Brandon Spikes ILB Florida - Linebacker or secondary? That is the question, you never know what the Patriots are going to do. This is my best guess at this point of the draft.

25. Miami Dolphins - Ciron Black OT LSU - The Fins could do a number of things with this pick. The later you go in the first round, the tougher it is to project players. Your guess is as good as mine.

26. Atlanta Falcons - Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State - Give Matt Ryan a big target in the end zone and you'll have your complete set of playmakers in the ATL. Ryan, Turner, White and Pettigrew.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri - Another young QB who is probably in greater need of some good wideouts. This has been a problem area in Baltimore for years. You could do worse than Maclin, who falls to this point as a blessing for the Ravens.

28. Indianapolis Colts - Trevard Lindley CB Kentucky - He'd be a good complimentary corner for Bob Sanders' safety in the secondary. A wideout to supplant Marvin Harrison could be a good call here too. Percy Harvin?

29. Philadelphia Eagles - Chris Wells RB Ohio State - They've grabbed an insurance policy for Donovan McNabb in Kevin Kolb, this year they grab one for Brian Westbrook, he's still one of the best in the game, but having the one-two punch that seems to be prevalent in this league in today's NFL would be beneficial to the Eagles who don't have great wide receivers.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jason Smith OT Baylor - The biggest no-brainer of this draft - The Steelers go with an offensive lineman, they need to protect Roethlisberger and Co..

31. New York Giants - Peria Jerry DT Mississippi - The G Men could always use a wideout with the Plaxico Burress situation. If you are drafting here, you probably made it to the Super Bowl. A best player available scenario.

32. Tennessee Titans - Percy Harvin WR Florida - If the shoe fits, wear it. The Titans can't depend on Justin Gage's groin and Brandon Jones isn't the answer. A sexy pick to end the first round, finishing the way we started.