2009 NFL Draft Thread (aka Excel & Norman's personal b**ch and moan thread)

[The Incredible Hulk]

The Seahawks would be foolish to pass on Raji.

I dont know man, they did just acquire Cory Redding at DT who's making a ton of money. I actually have them taking Jason Smith at #4 in my latest mock.

 

[Excel]

seattle needs a lineman.

 

[StorminNorman]

I dont know man, they did just acquire Cory Redding at DT who's making a ton of money. I actually have them taking Jason Smith at #4 in my latest mock.

They are putting Redding at DE, and his contract was completely redone.

It sounds like Seattle is confident in their right guard being able to play left should they need him to be. It could be they will lock on someone like Loadholt to play RT.

They desperately need Raji, IMO.

IYO Stafford is better then Ryan?

I really do. Stafford is smarter than Ryan, he is more experienced than Ryan was coming out, he has lead more come from behind victories and his has better physical tools. I don't think he will play as well as early, but long term - Stafford will be the better player.

BTW what happened to Adam Schefter on NFL Network?

He's is actually holding out for a new contract. He wants to make Chris Mortenson money. I'm not kidding

He was right on Cutler.

So was I

 

[El_Citrus]

So how will the pool work, points wise? Will we get, say, one point if we pick the correct number a player goes (Say Sanchez at 8, but not to Jacksonville) and another point if we pick the correct team a player goes to? What about trades? Will we have something like we can pick three teams we think will trade up and three we think will trade down?

 

[Excel]

Schefter should just go into business for himself on a story by story process where the studios can have a bid war over who gets it.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

interesting move by the Falcons getting Gonzo. Guess that takes them out of the Pettigrew market.

 

[Kaiser]

Schefter should just go into business for himself on a story by story process where the studios can have a bid war over who gets it.

ESPN is interested in him.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

^ Well I hope so, they signed him to a contract.

 

[Holiday]

I wonder who will be let go from there, because it will be crowded with Adam, Clayton, Pasquarelli, Smith, and Mort.

 

[Mastodon123]

Matt Millen is joining ESPN too.

 

[Excel]

Well todays the day. Will Stafford sign or will he not.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Stafford has plenty of incentive to sign a reasonable deal. Not only can the Lions hang the Curry contract over his head but he cant in good conscious given the current economic situation in MI come off as another selfish athlete. He cant seem like a primadonna in city with a 20% unemployment rate and climbing. He'd be lynched.

I dont think thats the case though. I think if Stafford and Condon were trying to pillage the Lions, they would've just leaked the contract offer to the public to put pressure on him to sign. They very well may just be haggling over signing bonus, guarantees, incentives, etc.

 

[RAMORE]

I'm hearing rumblings getting louder they aren't picking stafford now.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Great article in this morning's Free Press which sums up my thoughts on Stafford almost to a T.

http://www.freep.com/article/200904...1/Like+it+or+not++No.+1+pick+will+be+Stafford

Like it or not, No. 1 pick will be Stafford

BY MICHAEL ROSENBERG • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • April 24, 2009


The Lions want Matthew Stafford. Stafford wants the Lions. This makes me question both sides' judgment -- but, hey, what do I know?

The point here is that Stafford is going to be a Detroit Lion. It's not official yet. From all indications, it isn't done yet. But both sides want a deal too much for this to fall apart.

The Lions apparently believe Stafford will be a franchise quarterback, and when you are that deeply in love, you don't worry about the price of roses. The Lions are not going to let a few million bucks separate them from their one true quarterback.

Stafford's agent, Tom Condon, will surely try to hold general manager Martin Mayhew upside down and shake every last dime out of Mayhew's pants. But Condon needs to get a deal done, too.

If Stafford doesn't go No. 1 overall, he won't go second or third or fourth either. He might fall out of the top 10. And if that happens, then Tom Condon will have cost Matthew Stafford at least $20 million -- and cost himself some future clients.

The Lions could possibly lowball Stafford -- if $30 million in guaranteed money qualifies as "lowballing" -- and still get him. But that would be risky. First of all, Condon could walk away, and while that would be bad for his client, it wouldn't help the Lions, either. They would miss out on the player they want.

I suppose it's possible the Lions are bluffing, in the same way they were bluffing last year when they said they were trying to win. But that seems highly unlikely.

So Matt Stafford is their guy. Detroit's guy. He is not my guy -- I've been pretty clear on that. From looking at his numbers and watching him play, I question Stafford's accuracy. He never elevated his team, never showed the ability to win big games, never really struck fear in opposing fans.
But -- and you're going to find this shocking -- I could be wrong.

Yes, it is true. I would prefer you kept it between us. But isn't that the fun of the NFL draft? Anybody can be wrong, and anybody can be right. (Except for Matt Millen, of course.)

There is no doubt that Stafford has the raw talent to be the No. 1 overall pick. He fits the Lions' scheme, which is a nice change. (Another nice change: They have a scheme.)

My complaint is that there is too much projection built into this choice. The Lions are projecting that Stafford will improve his accuracy, improve his touch, improve his decision-making, become a leader -- and they are projecting it because he has a rifle arm.

If Stafford had very good arm strength instead of exceptional arm strength, I don't even think he'd be a first-round pick. That would scare me if I were a Lions fan because I think arm strength is overrated for NFL quarterbacks.

The Lions apparently have a vision of Stafford throwing deep passes to Calvin Johnson. I understand that. I also have a vision of Stafford missing receivers over the middle. But that is the fun of the Stafford debate.

Will this ultimately be fun for the Lions? We won't know for another three years.

 

[El_Citrus]

Here's my updated Mock Draft featuring round 2. I'll send my final draft to Norman Saturday morning/noon before the draft. Again, feel free to offer criticism/advice:


1. Detroit Lions:___Matt Stafford QB
2. St. Louis Rams:___Jason Smith OT
3. Kansas City Chiefs:___Aaron Curry LB
4. Seattle Seahawks:___Mark Sanchez QB
5. Cleveland Browns:___Michael Crabtree WR
6. Cincinnati Bengals:___Eugene Monroe OT
7. Oakland Raiders:___Jeremy Maclin WR
8. Jacksonville Jaguars:___Andre Smith OT
9. Green Bay Packers:___BJ Raji DT
10. San Francisco 49ers:___Brian Orakpo DE/OLB
11. Buffalo Bills:___Brandon Pettigrew TE
12. Denver Broncos:___Tyson Jackson DE
13. Washington Redskins:___Aaron Maybin DE/OLB
14. New Orleans Saints:___Malcolm Jenkins S/CB
15. Houston Texans:___Clay Matthews OLB
16. San Diego Chargers:___Ray Mauagula ILB
17. New York Jets:___Darius Heywood-Bey WR
18. Denver Broncos:___Everette Brown DE/OLB
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:___Peria Jerry DT
20. Detroit Lions:___Michael Oher OT
21. Philadelphia Eagles:___Knowshon Moreno RB
22. Minnesota Vikings:___Josh Freeman QB
23. New England Patriots:___Robert Ayers DE/OLB
24. Atlanta Falcons:___Brian Cushing OLB
25. Miami Dolphins:___Vontae Davis CB
26. Baltimore Ravens:___Percy Harvin WR
27. Indianapolis Colts:___Evander Hood DT
28. Buffalo Bills:___Ebbon Britton OT
29. New York Giants:___Hakeem Nicks WR
30. Tennessee Titans:___Darius Butler CB
31. Arizona Cardinals:___Chris Wells RB
32. Pittsburgh Steelers:___Alphonso Smith CB

Round 2

1. Detroit Lions:___James Lauranitis ILB
2. New England Patriots:___Sean Smith S/CB
3. St. Louis Rams:___Kenny Britt WR
4. Cleveland Browns:___Donald Brown RB
5. Seattle Seahawks:___Louis Delmas S
6. Cincinnati Bengals:___Max Unger OL
7. Jacksonville Jaguars:___Brian Robiskie WR
8. Oakland Raiders:___Michael Johnson DE
9. Green Bay Packers:___Larry English DE/OLB
10. Buffalo Bills:___Paul Kruger DE
11. San Francisco 49ers:___William Moore S
12. Miami Dolphins:___Derrick Williams WR
13. New York Giants:___Connor Barwin DE/OLB
14. Houston Texans:___William Moore S
15. New England Patriots:___LeSean McCoy RB
16. Denver Broncos:___Ron Brace DT
17. Chicago Bears:___Juaquin Iglesias WR
18. Cleveland Browns:___Jared Cook TE
19. Dallas Cowboys:___Patrick Chung S
20. New York Jets:___Shawn Nelson TE
21. Philadelphia Eagles:___Alex Mack C
22. Minnesota Vikings:___William Beatty OT
23. Atlanta Falcons:___Jarron Gilbert DL
24. Miami Dolphins:___Clint Sintim DE/OLB
25. Baltimore Ravens:___Phil Loadholt OT
26. New England Patriots:___Duke Robinson OG
27. Carolina Panthers:___Fili Moala DT
28. New York Giants:___Jamon Merideth OT
29. Indianapolis Colts:___Shonn Greene RB
30. Tennessee Titans:___Mohammed Masaquoi WR
31. Arizona Cardinals:___Lawrence Sidbury DE/OLB
32. Pittsburgh Steelers:___Eric Wood C



A lot of this might change come draft day when I send in my final mock draft, especially regarding some of the safeties and hybrids and where they may go.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Nice draft. If my Lions walked away with Stafford, Oher, and Laurinitis I'd be pretty psyched.

Only issues I have with your draft overall is I think you have Pettigrew going a bit early, and Cushing going a bit late. I also dont buy that Heyward-Bey and Harvin go in the 1st round. The Pats would cream their pants if he was still there at 23.

 

[Excel]

Pretty damn good; though I think the order will go 1)Britt 2)Harvin 3)Nicks, not Harvin, Nicks, and Britt. Love the Pats pick; and thatd be an outstanding draft for Denver.

Ill have my tade-filled final 1st round up later.

 

[El_Citrus]

Nice draft. If my Lions walked away with Stafford, Oher, and Laurinitis I'd be pretty psyched.

Only issues I have with your draft overall is I think you have Pettigrew going a bit early, and Cushing going a bit late. I also dont buy that Heyward-Bey and Harvin go in the 1st round. The Pats would cream their pants if he was still there at 23.

I think it's a very good possibility the Lions could come away with those three players, if not Oher, then Beatty or Britton which wouldn't be bad either.


I also think that Britt could easily go in Nicks' place and vice versa. Britt might go ahead of Nicks' due to his size. I can see it happening.
I do have Pettigrew going high, but only because I think Buffalo would want to get him early and not risk him being gone by their second pick, although from what I hear, Buffalo wants to take the best player available regardless of position.

Teams are rumored to be very high on Heywood-Bey and would be a great weapon for the Jets or anyone who trades up. Cushing doesn't quite fit anyone's needs until NE, who I think would take Ayers over Cushing due to a better fit in my opinion and Harvin who has too many question marks for a team that doens't have a desperate need for a WR this year. Baltimore takes him because they desperately need a WR and a gamechanger.

 

[Mastodon123]

I hear if Ray Mauagula drops to 20, the Lions will take him.

 

[El_Citrus]

I hear if Ray Mauagula drops to 20, the Lions will take him.

He won't fall passed the Chargers.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

It's offical. Matt Stafford is a Lion.

 

[Excel]

Lions officially made the wrong choice.

 

[Mastodon123]

 

[Holiday]

It's offical. Matt Stafford is a Lion.

Good.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Matt Stafford will have the Lions in the playoffs in two years. You can quote me on this.