NFL Draft Grades

2009 NFL Draft 


Draft Grades

1. Cincinnati Bengals: 969
2. Green Bay Packers: 948
3. Philadelphia Eagles: 947
4. Buffalo Bills: 946
5. San Francisco 49’ers: 938
6. St. Louis Rams: 936
7. Denver Broncos: 931
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: 925
9. Arizona Cardinals: 924
10. New England Patriots: 922
11. Seattle Seawhawks: 919
12. Houston Texans: 918
13. Detroit Lions: 909
14. Baltimore Ravens: 908
15. Indianapolis Colts: 905
16. Minnesota Vikings: 904
17. New York Jets: 900
18. New York Giants: 898
19. Tennessee Titans: 889
20. Carolina Panthers: 888
21. Miami Dolphins: 883
22. Washington Redskins: 882
23. Atlanta Falcons: 879
24. San Diego Chargers: 877
25. Chicago Bears: 876
26. Kansas City Chiefs: 860
27. Cleveland Browns: 857
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: 842
29. New Orleans Saints: 803
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 785
31. Dallas Cowboys: 661
32. Oakland Raiders: 648
Key
Round-Pick: Player, Position, School
Ratings 0-1000 (Graded on a curve, relative to this draft)

NFC East 

Dallas Cowboys
3-069: Jason Williams, OLB, Western Illinois
3-075: Robert Brewster, OT, Ball State
4-101: Stephen McGee, QB, Texas A&M
4-110: Victor Butler, OLB, Oregon State
4-120: Brandon Williams, DE, Texas Tech
5-143: DeAngelo Smith, CB, Cincinnati 
5-166: Michael Hamlin, S, Clemson
5-172: David Buehler, PK, USC
6-197: Stephen Hodge, OLB, TCU
6-208: John Phillips, TE, Virginia
7-227: Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati 
7-229: Manuel Johnson, WR, Oklahoma
Grade: 661
-Jerry Jones was supposed to work his “2nd day magic” after trading out of the first couple and acquiring a plentitude of day 2 picks. Sadly for Cowboy fans, he fell substantially short of expectations. There isn’t a single pick on this list that does anything for me and quite honestly, the odds are probably stacked against all of them. Though I could be wrong, I don’t believe they came away with a single starter, or even a future starter for that matter. Even though linebacker was somewhat of a strong point, they took no-name Jason Williams out of W. Illinois with their first pick, ahead of LBs like Kaluka Maiava out of USC and Nic Harris out of Oklahoma. The only reason they were graded ahead of the Raiders is because the Raiders came up with a similar crop of no-names, but are on the hook for 1st round and 2nd round money. At least Jerry Jones was smart enough not to take Williams in the 1st or 2nd round.
  
New York Giants
1-029: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
2-045: Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
2-060: William Beatty, OT, Connecticut 
3-085: Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly
3-100: Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
4-129: Andre Brown, RB, North Carolina State
5-151: Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State
6-200: DeAndre Wright, CB, New Mexico
7-238: Stoney Woodson, CB, South Carolina 
Grade: 898
-Admittedly, I’m probably underrating the Giants here. I love just about every pick they made, except for their 1st rounder, Hakeem Nicks. The G-Men obviously saw a big, punishing WR who could replace the massive presence of Plaxico Burress on the gridiron. They may very well be right. However, Nicks’s production didn’t really pick up until his final year at North Carolina and he is somewhat of an injury risk, not to mention his weight. He infamously added extra pounds “for no good reason” at the combine and at 215 Ibs., if he adds anymore he’ll look more like a TE than a WR. Beyond Nicks, I really like what the Giants did here. Sintim, Beatty, Beckum, Brown and Bomar should all make a contribution somewhere down the line and Stoney Woodson has a cool name.
 
Philadelphia Eagles
1-019: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri 
2-053: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
5-153: Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida 
5-157: Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
5-159: Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon
6-194: Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State
7-213: Paul Fanaika, OG, Arizona State
7-230: Moise Fokou, OLB, Maryland
Grade: 947
-Anyway you look at it, the Eagles made a killing at the draft. I initially believed Maclin was overrated, when there was talk of him going in the top 10, but getting him at #19 is a coup. LeSean McCoy was also an excellent pick. There was talk of him going in the 1st as well so they got good value there. Ingram has excellent potential but is injury plagued and may not even suite up for the first season if it turns out that he needs further surgery. Regardless, I like the pick based on need and potential alone. In my opinion, Tupou was one of the better Guards in the draft and Brandon Gibson was underrated due to his down season last year at WSU. Don’t forget, in ’07 he caught 67 passes for 1,180 yards and 9 TDs.
 
Washington Redskins
1-013: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
3-080: Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland
5-158: Cody Glenn, OLB, Nebraska
6-186: Robert Henson, ILB, TCU
7-221: Eddie Williams, FB, Idaho
7-243: Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada
Grade: 882
-By all means, I would’ve rated the Redskins a lot higher if they had made more picks. Without a doubt, Brian Orakpo was the steal of the draft. Had he gone #1 overall, I wouldn’t have questioned it. Orakpo gives Washington a b
east of an edge-rusher to pair up with the beast in the middle, Albert Haynesworth. He’ll start right away and should make an impact immediately. I’m predicting Pro-Bowl and Rookie of the Year honors for him and I’m not alone. This was a franchise-changing move for the Skins. The reason they aren’t higher on the list is because of the players who came after him. No one really of note. 
NFC North 
Chicago Bears
3-068: Jarron Gilbert, DT, San Jose State
3-099: Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
4-105: Henry Melton, DE, Texas
4-119: DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
5-140: Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian 
5-154: Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State
6-190: Al Afalava, S, Oregon State
7-246: Lance Louis, OG, San Diego State
7-251: Derek Kinder, WR, Pittsburgh
Grade: 876
-Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN calls Jarron Gilbert “the steal of the draft”. While I think he’s a good player with plenty of potential, I wouldn’t go that far. Even so, the Bears came away with a cache of upside-laden players like Gilbert, Iglesias, Moore, Knox, Freeman and Afalava. If only they had made a 1st or 2nd round pick, they’d have a much higher grade. 
 
Detroit Lions
1-001: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
1-020: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
2-033: Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan 
3-076: DeAndre Levy, OLB, Wisconsin 
3-082: Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State
4-115: Sammie Lee Hill, DT, Stillman
6-192: Aaron Brown, RB, TCU
7-228: Lydon Murtha, OT, Nebraska
7-235: Zach Follet, OLB, California
7-255: Dan Gronkowski, TE, Maryland 
Grade: 909
-While the Lions came away with some very good players, like Stafford, Pettigrew, Delmas, Levy, Williams, Murtha and Follet, they failed to address their biggest need, O-line. Don’t get me wrong, Delmas is a great player (and potential 1st rounder) but they really whiffed on that one, being that Eben Britton, OT, Arizona was still on the board. Granted, after a “defeated” season, the Lions had needs all over the field but in my opinion, safety was one of the safest and of minimal value compared to other areas of need (like O and D-line). Nonetheless, they got their QB and a weapon for him to throw to (even though Pettigrew failed to score a TD last year in college). 
Green Bay Packers
1-009: BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
1-026: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
4-109: TJ Lang, OT, Eastern Michigan 
5-145: Quinn Johnson, FB, LSU
5-162: Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina
6-182: Jarius Wynn, DE, Georgia 
6-187: Brandon Underwood, CB, Cincinnati 
7-218: Brad Jones, OLB, Colorado 
Grade: 948
-Without a doubt, the Packers came away as one of the biggest winners in the draft. Drafting BJ Raji at #9 was a huge come-up, considering he fills an immediate need and was one of the best players in the draft. Grabbing a LB like Clay Matthews late in the 1st round was another huge acquisition. Beyond that, they literally stole Jamon Meredith in the 5th round (a guy I had projected going in the 2nd, but fell due to injury problems). 
 
Minnesota Vikings
1-022: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
2-054: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma 
3-086: Asher Allen, CB, Georgia 
5-150: Jasper Brinkley, ILB, South Carolina 
7-231: Jamarca Sanford, S, Mississippi 
Grade: 904
-I like every pick the Vikings made; Harvin, Loadholt, Allen, Brinkley and Sanford. Everyone of them has a chance to make the team and contribute at some point down the road. Harvin fills an immediate need and is a major playmaker and Loadholt has a chance to start out of the gate as well. 
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
1-024: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi 
2-055: William Moore, S, Missouri 
3-090: Chris Owens, CB, San Jose State
4-125: Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Richmond
5-138: William Middleton, CB, Furman
5-156: Garrett Reynolds, OT, North Carolina 
6-176: Spencer Adkins, ILB, Miami 
7-210: Vance Walker, DT, Georgia Tech
Grade: 879 
Carolina Panthers
2-043: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
2-059: Sherrod Martin, CB, Troy
3-093: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia 
4-111: Mike Goodson , RB, Texas A&M
4-128: Tony Fiammetta, FB, Syracuse
5-163: Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
7-216: Captain Munnerlyn, CB, South Carolina 
Grade: 888 
New Orleans Saints
1-014: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
4-116: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest 
4-118: Stanley Arnoux, ILB, Wake Forest 
5-164: Thomas Morstead, PT, Southern Methodist 
Grade: 803
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1-017: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
3-081: Roy Miller, DT, Texas
4-117: Kyle Moore, DE, USC
5-155: Xavier Fulton, OT, Illinois
7-217: Edjuan Biggers, CB, Western Michigan 
7-233: Sammie Stroughter, WR, Oregon State 
Grade: 785 
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
1-031: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
2-063: Cody Brown, OLB, Connecticut 
3-095: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
4-131: Gregory Taylor, CB, St. Paul’s College
5-167: Herman Johnson, OG, LSU 
6-204: Will Davis, DE, Illinois
7-240: LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, Pittsburgh
7-254: Trevor Canfield, OG, Cincinnati 
Grade: 924 
St. Louis Rams
1-002: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
2-035: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
3-066: Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa
4-103: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson 
5-160: Brooks Foster, WR, North Carolina
6-196: Keith Null, QB, West Texas A&M
7-211: Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Texas
Grade: 936 
Seattle Seahawks
1-004: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
2-049: Max Unger, C, Oregon 
3-091: Deon Butler, WR, Penn State
6-178: Mike Teel, QB, Rutgers
7-245: Courtney Greene, S, Rutgers
7-247: Nick Reed, DE, Oregon 
7-248: Cameron Morrah, TE, California 
Grade: 919
San Francisco 49’ers
1-010: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
3-074: Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama
5-146: Scott McKillop, ILB, Pittsburgh
5-171: Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
6-184: Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
7-219: Curtis Taylor, S, LSU
7-244: Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU 
Grade: 938 
AFC East 
Buffalo Bills
1-011: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
1-028: Eric Wood, C, Louisville
2-042: Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon 
2-051: Andrew Levitre, OG, Oregon State
4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma
7-183: Cary Harris, CB, USC
7-220: Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia
Grade: 946
Miami Dolphins
1-025: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
2-044: Pat White, WR, West Virginia
2-061: Sean Smith, CB, Utah 
3-087: Patrick Turner, WR, USC
4-108: Brian Hartline, WR, Ohio State
5-161: Jonathan Nalbone, TE, Monmouth
5-165: Chris Clemons, S, Clemson 
6-181: Andrew Gardner, OT, Georgia Tech
7-214: JD Folsom, OLB, Weber State 
Grade: 883
New England Patriots
2-034: Patrick Chung, S, Oregon 
2-040: Ron Brace, DT, Boston College
2-041: Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
2-058: Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston 
3-083: Brandon Tate, WR, North Carolina
3-097: Tyrone McKenzie, OLB, South Florida 
4-123: Richard Ohrnberger, OG, Penn State
5-170: George Bussey, OT, Louisville
6-198: Jacob Ingram, LS, Hawaii 
6-207: Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky
7-232: Julian Edelman, WR, Kent State
7-234: Darryl Richard, DT, Georgia Tech
Grade: 922
New York Jets
1-005: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
3-065: Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa
6-193: Matthew Slauson, OG, Nebraska
Grade: 900
AFC North 
Baltimore Ravens
1-023: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi 
2-057: Paul Kruger, OLB, Utah
3-088: Lardarius Webb, CB, Nicholls State
5-137: Jason Phillips, ILB, TCU
5-149: Davon Drew, TE, East Carolina 
6-185: Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia 
Grade: 908
Cincinnati Bengals
1-006: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
2-038: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
3-070: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
3-098: Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri 
4-106: Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
5-142: Kevin Huber, PT, Cincinnati 
6-179: Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan 
6-209: Bernard Scott, RB, Abilene Christian 
7-215: Taufui Vakapuna, RB, Brigham Young
7-249: Clinton McDonald, DT, Memphis 
7-252: Freddie Brown, WR, Utah 
Grade: 969
Cleveland Browns
1-021: Alex Mack, C, California 
2-036: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
2-050: Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia 
2-052: David Veikune, DE, Hawaii 
4-104: Kaluka Maiava, OLB, USC
6-177: Don Carey, CB, Norfolk State
6-191: Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State
6-195: James Davis, RB, Clemson 
Grade: 857
Pittsburgh Steelers
1-032: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri 
3-079: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin 
3-084: Mike Wallace, WR, Mississippi 
3-096: Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State
5-168: Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida 
5-169: Frank Summers, RB, UNLV
6-205: Ra’Shon Harris, DT , Oregon 
7-226: AQ Shipley, C, Penn State
7-241: David Johnson, TE, Arkansas State
Grade: 842
AFC South
Houston Texans
1-015: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
2-046: Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati 
3-077: Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama
4-112: Glover Quin, S, New Mexico 
4-122: Anthony Hill, TE, North Carolina State
5-152: James Casey, TE, Rice
6-188: Brice McCain, CB, Utah
7-223: Troy Nolan, S, Arizona State
Grade: 918
Indianapolis Colts
1-027: Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut 
2-056: Fili Moala, DT, USC
3-092: Jarraud Powers, CB, Auburn
4-127: Austin Collie, WR, Brigham Young
4-136: Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan 
6-201: Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue 
7-222: Patrick McAfee, PK, West Virginia 
7-236: Jaimie Thomas, OG, Maryland 
Grade: 905 
Jacksonville Jaguars
1-008: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia 
2-039: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona 
3-072: Terrance Knighton, DT, Temple
3-073: Derek Cox, CB, William & Mary
4-107: Mike Thomas, WR, Arizona 
5-144: Jarett Dillard, WR, Rice
6-180: Zach Miller, TE, Nebraska-Omaha
7-250: Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty 
7-253: Tiquan Underwood, WR, Rutgers
Grade: 925
Tennessee Titans
1-030: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
2-062: Sen’Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn 
3-089: Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina
3-094: Ryan Mouton, CB, Hawaii 
4-130: Gerald McRath, ILB, Southern Miss
4-135: Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane
5-173: Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State
6-203: Jason McCourty, CB, Rutgers
6-206: Dominique Edison, WR, Stephen F. Austin
7-239: Ryan Durand, OG, Syracuse
7-242: Nicholas Schommer, S, North Dakota State 
Grade: 889 
AFC West 
Denver Broncos
1-012: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia 
1-018: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee 
2-037: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest 
2-048: Darcel McBath, S, Texas Tech
2-064: Richard Quinn, TE, North Carolina 
4-114: David Bruton, S, Notre Dame
4-132: Seth Olsen, OT, Iowa
5-141: Kenny McKinley, WR, South Carolina
6-174: Tom Brandstater, QB, Fresno State
7-225: Blake Schlueter, C, TCU
Grade: 931 
Kansas City Chiefs
1-003: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU 
3-067: Alex Magee, DT, Purdue 
4-102: Donald Washington, CB, Ohio State 
5-139: Colin Brown, OT, Missouri 
6-175: Quinten Lawrence, WR, McNeese StateC2
7-237: Jake O’Connell, TE, Miami (OH)
7-256: Ryan Succop, PK, South Carolina 
Grade: 860 
Oakland Raiders
1-007: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland 
2-047: Michael Mitchell, S, Ohio 
3-071: Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin 
4-124: Louis Murphy, WR, Florida 
4-126: Slade Norris, OLB, Oregon State 
6-199: Stryker Sulak, DE, Missouri 
6-202: Brandon Myers, TE, Iowa
Grade: 648 
San Diego Chargers
1-016: Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois
3-078: Louis Vasquez, OG, Texas Tech
4-113: Vaughn Martin, DT, Western Ontario
4-133: Tyronne Green, OG, Auburn
4-134: Gartrell Johnson, RB, Colorado State
5-148: Brandon Hughes, CB, Oregon State
6-189: Kevin Ellison, S, USC
7-224: Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU 
Grade: 877