Anyway, here's my shot at 2009's first round:
1) Detroit - Eugene Monroe OT Virginia. I think Matthew Stafford is overrated and the Julian Peterson acquisition would appear to remove Aaron Curry from the running, so it's between Monroe and Jason Smith. I like Monroe a bit better than Smith because he's been pretty highly rated all along, whereas Smith appears to be a comparitively late riser.
2) St. Louis - Jason Smith OT Baylor. OLT was a need for the Rams before they cut Orlando Pace. Now it's a crying need. When was the last time OTs went 1-2 overall in the draft, anyway? Has it ever even happened?
3) Kansas City - Everette Brown DE Florida St. The Chiefs had 10 sacks as a team last year. 'Nuff said.
4) Seattle - Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest. Say hello to Julian Peterson's replacement.
5) Cleveland - Brian Orakpo DE/OLB Texas. Orakpo will team up with Kamerion Wimbley to make for a 3-4 OLB tandem with intriguing potential.
6) Cincinnati - Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech. Say hello to T. J. Please-don't-make-me-spell-his-last-name's replacement (of course, Chad I-refuse-to-call-him-Ocho-Cinco Johnson will probably ruin him in a year or two...).
7) Oakland - Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri. We all know how much Al Davis loves speed. Besides, the Raiders need to put as much talent around JaMarcus Russell as possible.
8) Jacksonville - Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland. How long have the Jags been looking for Jimmy Smith's successor? They'd probably prefer a LT here, but ,unless they trade down, it's too early for Andre Smith or Michael Oher.
9) Green Bay - B. J. Raji DT Boston College. The switch to the 3-4 demands a big space-eater at NT, and Raji fits the mold perfectly.
10) San Francisco - Aaron Maybin DE/OLB Penn St. I'm sure Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez would be very tempting at this point, but I'm guessing the Niners will be willing to run with their current QB corps for at least one more season. Much like the projected pairing of Wimbley and Orakpo in Cleveland, Maybin and Manny Lawson could be a heckuva combo by the Bay.
11) Buffalo - Matthew Stafford QB Georgia. Shocker, huh? But follow me here... I'm sure the Bills would rather trade down and get better value for a pass rusher or a center, but if that can't happen, Stafford makes sense here. He'd be a helluva value at 11 when so many thought he'd go #1 overall. Plus, Trent Edwards is no lock to be the QB-of-the-future and former-first-rounder-now-free-agent J. P. Losman likely won't be back, so where's the depth behind Edwards?
12) Denver - Rey Maualuga ILB USC. The Broncos probably would've preferred Raji, but with him off the board there's no 3-4 NT worth taking at this point. Maualuga's a big-time thumper who doesn't necessarily need big bodies in front of him to be effective.
13) Washington - Brian Cushing OLB USC. The bigger need may be at DE, but the better value is with Cushing at OLB replacing Marcus Washington.
14) New Orleans - Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio St. It's gonna be all about the "D" in the Big Easy this offseason. Despite a subpar Combine, Jenkins is the best CB in the draft this year, and the Saints have a big hole to fill there. If he can't cut it on the corner, no worries - New Orleans can just move him to FS, where they have just as big a need.
15) Houston - Chris Wells RB Ohio St. No offense to Steve Slaton, but Wells is just too good to pass up here.
16) San Diego - Andre Smith OT/OG Alabama. Despite his tumbling since the debacle at the Combine and his less-than-impressive Pro Day, Smith's too good to pass up here. He could start at either RT or RG for the Chargers.
17) N. Y. Jets - Mark Sanchez QB USC. Say hello to Brett Favre's replacement.
18) Chicago - Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina. A wideout going to the Bears was never in doubt here for me, but I hemmed and hawed a bit between Nicks and Percy Harvin. I have no doubt the vast majority (including myself) rate Harvin higher, but I think Chicago will be scared off by his lack of durability and the history of Gator receivers in the NFL.
19) Tampa Bay - Peria Jerry DT Mississippi. Another case of the better value (Jerry) overriding the bigger need (OLB).
20) Detroit (from Dallas) - James Laurinaitis ILB Ohio St. Laurinaitis in the middle, Julian Petrson on the strong side, and Ernie Sims on the weak side would be a pretty damn good LB corps, wouldn't it?
21) Philadelphia - Michael Oher OT Mississippi. Meet Tra Thomas' replacement.
22) Minnesota - Vontae Davis CB Illinois. Davis can at least take the nickel job for now, if not the #2 spot from Cedric Griffin, and then replace Antoine Winfield, who'll be a free agent, next year.
23) New England - Clint Sintim OLB Virginia. The continuation of the rejuvenation of the Pats' LB corps continues. Having played in a 3-4 in college, Sintim could step right and replace Mike Vrabel from the get-go.
24) Atlanta - Clay Matthews, Jr. OLB USC. Even with the signing of Mike Peterson and the presence of Stephen Nicholas, Matthews makes too much sense here. One way or another, Mike Smith and Brian Van Gorder can find a way to get him on the field. At worst he'd be a tremendous backup/special teams demon/situational pass rusher/Peterson's heir apparent.
25) Miami - Percy Harvin WR Florida. His injury history and the reputation of Florida receivers aside, Harvin is just too good of a value and fits too big of a need to pass by here.
26) Baltimore - D. J. Moore CB Vanderbilt. The Ravens have to do something besides sign Chris Carr to replace Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle.
27) Indianapolis - Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest. About time the Colts drafted a defensive player in the first round, huh? Having said that, watch them go after a wide receiver instead.
28) Philadelphia (from Carolina) - Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia. One helluva value here, huh? Moreno's a great insurance policy against injury to Brian Westbrook and will eventually replace him.
29) N. Y. Giants - Eben Britton OT Arizona. If he's ready to start from Day One, Britton could move David Diehl inside to guard.
30) Tennessee - Ziggy Hood DT Missouri. He's not Albert Haynseworth, but he'll have to do.
31) Arizona - LeSean McCoy RB Pittsburgh. Now Edgerrin James' on-again/off-again desire to stay in Arizona would no longer have the Cardinals over a barrel.
32) Pittsburgh - Tyson Jackson DE LSU. Offensive tackle is a far bigger need, but Jackson is a better value than the top remaining OT, UConn's William Beatty.
Let me slip into my titanium armor before you start firing, ok?
