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NFL Mock Draft: Version 2
Round 1
4/9/09
Version 1 - 3/11
Version 3 - 4/23/09
Round 1 | Round 2

Round 1

1. Detroit – QB Matt Stafford, Georgia
The Lions could have probably had Jay Cutler if they pursued him, but now they’re focused on Stafford, who’s got a great chance of being the first player taken.

2. St. Louis – OT Jason Smith, Baylor
He’s probably the best replacement for Orlando Pace among the talented group of tackles in the draft. Many mocks even have Smith going first overall.

3. Kansas City – LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
Curry has separated himself as the best defensive player in the draft.

4. Seattle – OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
Could be the most NFL-ready lineman in the draft, and the Seahawks could use a healthy young body up front.

5. Cleveland – OT Andre Smith, Alabama
The episode at the combine soured many scouts on Smith, but he could be the most talented left tackle in the draft and has moved up draft boards ever since.

6. Cincinnati – DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
Orakpo has great size and uses his hands well to shed blocks and make plays. The Bengals could go O-line here, but they can’t afford to pass up on an impact player like Orakpo.

7. Oakland – WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Crabtree is undoubtedly the best receiver in the draft and should be the first off the board.

8. Jacksonville – ILB Rey Maualuga, USC
If they’re smart, the Jaguars will make a move to replace underachieving MLB Mike Peterson and Daryl Smith with a long-term answer in Maualuga.

9. Green Bay – DE/OLB Everett Brown, Florida State
The Packers need a smaller, athletic pass-rushing tweener at right DE who can make a difference, and Brown is an explosive player who could excel in that position and take some pressure off Aaron Kampman.

10. San Francisco – OT Michael Oher, Mississippi
The best of the remaining left tackles, San Fran seems okay with Shaun Hill going forward – as long as he’s got someone to guard his blind side!

11. Buffalo – DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
The Bills need a pass-rushing end (or OLB) to make an immediate impact. Jackson will be a 4-3 pass rushing DT or a DE in a 3-4. They could also draft Aaron Maybin because they need a composite OLB/DE as well, but Jackson’s talent and size is hard to pass up.

12. Denver – DT B.J. Raji, Boston College
They could take QB Mark Sanchez, but I have a feeling Josh McDaniels is out to prove something with Kyle Orton. Here, they benefit from Raji’s fall – because of his positive steroid test at the combine – and get a very talented player.

13. Washington – OLB/DE Larry English, Northern Illinois
Washington made a big move by signing DT Albert Haynesworth, but adding this prototypical pass-rusher will help shore up the rest of its D-line.

14. New Orleans – RB Chris Wells, Ohio State
Despite his struggle to stay healthy, Wells is an extraordinary runner with both size and natural ability – and he’ll make a good fit as the downhill back to complement the elusive style of Reggie Bush.

15. Houston – CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
The best corner in the draft, hands-down, Jenkins could go a lot sooner than No. 15 overall.

16. San Diego – LB Brian Cushing, USC
The Chargers need a playmaker other than Antonio Cromartie on defense, and Cushing could have a major impact. He reads the quarterback well, can break on the ball, and is a skilled pass rusher.

17. New York Jets – QB Mark Sanchez, USC
Sanchez might not fall this far, and the Jets will be smart to make any moves necessary to get this ever-improving QB.

18. Denver (from Chicago) – DE/OLB Aaron Maybin, Penn State
Denver still needs a complete pass rusher/coverage LB and Maybin fits the bill.

19. Tampa Bay – DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee
The Bucs could reach for a talent like Ayers here, even though the Tennessee product has some character issues.

20. Detroit (from Dallas) – DB Vontae Davis, Illinois
There are some concerns that Vontae, like his older brother, Vernon Davis, might be a bit of a head case without the inner drive to reach his full potential in the NFL, but the Lions can afford to take a shot at No. 20.

21. Philadelphia – RB Knowshown Moreno, Georgia
I’m assuming they don’t draft up to pick up Beanie Wells (and that the explosive back doesn’t fall this far) because Wells is high on their priority list.

22. Minnesota – WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
Maclin will most likely be drafted sooner than 22nd, but it’s also likely that the aforementioned teams will shore up other needs before adding this speed burner.

23. New England – LB James Laurinitis, Ohio State
I can’t think of any reason Bill Belichick wouldn’t land Laurinitis with this pick if he’s available. It’s a match made in heaven and the Patriots obviously need to get younger at LB.

24. Atlanta – DT Peria Jerry, Mississippi
Jerry will be the best defensive tackle available at this point, mainly because there’s no way Raji can fall this far. And the Falcons desperately need a DT since they didn’t adequately fill the gap in last year’s draft.

25. Miami – C Alex Mack, California
A former high school wrestler who could be the best center in a very deep 2009 draft class, Mack is probably a first-round pick.

26. Baltimore – LB Clay Matthews, USC
The Ravens need to replace Bart Scott and Matthews is the obvious choice. Matthews has a great NFL pedigree and could immediately make an impact on this defense full of overachievers.

27. Indianapolis – WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland
I’m sure they’d love to land Maclin, but there’s little chance the talented Missouri WR will fall this far. Unless the Colts trade up, Heyward-Bey will be the best WR available at this stage.

28. Philadelphia (from Carolina) – TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
A solid replacement for L.J. Smith, Pettigrew is the most complete TE in the draft. The Eagles could even take him sooner and hope an RB falls to them here, but squaring away the RB slot seems the intelligent thing to do with the earlier pick.

29. New York Giants – WR Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
He’ll be the new Plaxico in New York.

30. Tennessee – TE Jared Cook, South Carolina
The Giants could definitely use a tall, athletic TE with big-play ability, but so could the Titans.

31. Arizona – RB LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
McCoy is a good all-around back who the Cardinals won’t let fall into the second round. He’s a quick, complete runner, but needs to work on his pass-blocking to be the feature back in any systems.

32. Pittsburgh – C Max Unger, Oregon
Easily one of the best offensive line prospects of the draft, this versatile 6-5, 309 lineman earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors at left tackle in 2005 and 2006 and at center in 2007 and 2008.