NFL Draft – The Good the Bad and the Ugly

NFL Draft:  Some Moves Help Some Teams Move Up in Super Bowl Chase

Some NFL teams didn’t do so hot in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Other teams didn’t do badly and then some teams moved themselves up big time.

It all depends on the way that BetOnline online sportsbook fans look at it. 

Let’s analyze some of the moves that made sense during the draft and those that are just plain head scratchers.

Best Picks

1. Seattle Seahawks, LB Aaron Curry, Pick #4 – - Curry fell to the Seahawks and Seattle didn’t even blink.  They took one of the highest rated players in this year’s draft, a guy that should start playing on day one, and put him with an already outstanding group of linebackers led by Lofa Tatupu.  Seattle needed to solidify their defense.  If they don’t suffer injuries on the offensive side, the Seahawks, currently at +4000 in the Sportsbook to win the Super Bowl, become a huge overlay.  One thing to note is that Seattle will need to keep QB Matt Hasslebeck healthy.  That means that OT Eugene Monroe here would have been a good choice as well, but they couldn’t pass up on Curry.  The LB is just too talented.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars, OT Eugene Monroe, Pick #8 – - How Monroe, supposedly the most polished offensive tackle in the draft, fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars is a mystery.  The Jags need more than Monroe to contend against the best teams in the NFL, but this was a phenomenally good pick.  Monroe will immediately help keep rushers away from quarterback David Garrard.  Jacksonville is currently at +3000 to win the Super Bowl.  If they improve just a bit defensively, then they have a shot.

3. Green Bay Packers, DT B.J. Raji Pick #5 and LB Clay Matthews Pick #26 – - The Packers are going off at +2500 to win the Super Bowl.  Once they sign both Raji and Matthews that should definitely change.  With Raji on the D-Line, and Matthews helping Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk in the linebacking corp, the Packers suddenly become a terrific defensive team again.  A great defense to go along with their fantastic offense, means that Packers’ fans won’t have to wait too long to become contenders again.

4. Washington Redskins, DT Brian Orakpo , Pick #13 – - Usually, the draft dumbbell organization that is the Washington Redskins fail to do anything impressive on day one.  They just fail.  But this year, they did the right thing by not going after Mark Sanchez and instead taking the best player available.  Orakpo gets to start opposite DE Albert Haynesworth.  With safety LaRon Landry still playing like a Pro Bowler, the Redskins defense becomes very scary.  I’m not ready to jump on their bandwagon at +2800, but they did improve their pass defense significantly.

5. New Orleans Saints, CB Malcolm Jenkins, Pick #14 – - The Saints got the man they wanted from the beginning to help their struggling defensive backfield.  Jenkins can play cornerback or free safety.  With Jenkins, Sharper, and Jonathan Vilma manning the Saints’ D, new coordinator Greg Williams will have some pieces to work with this season.  The Saints are a fantastic wager in the sportsbook at +2500 to win the Super Bowl.

6. Philadelphia Eagles, WR Jeremy Maclin, Pick #19 – - The Eagles did the right thing by moving up and taking Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin who some draft experts had as rated higher than both Michael Crabtree and Darius Heyward-Bey.  Maclin will play from day one and with DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis, will make up a seriously good wide receiver trio.  The Eagles at +1800 should be considered big contenders for the Super Bowl.

Head Scratching Picks

Detroit Lions, QB Matthew Stafford, Pick #1 – - Yes, everybody knew that the Lions were going to pick Stafford but that doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do. Stafford is a guy that’s gong to take time to develop and the Lions just don’t have the base to really help Stafford succeed.  Winning NFL teams are built on the defensive and offensive lines.  The Lions have neither. 

New York Jets, QB Mark Sanchez, Pick #5 – - Sanchez could be a decent pro, but the Jets aren’t a young enough team to watch him develop and then make a run for a Super Bowl.  If Sanchez can’t contribute right away, then this could be the worst pick of the entire draft.

Oakland Raiders, WR Darius Heyward-Bey, #7 – - OT Eugene Monroe was still available at #7 and so was Michael Crabtree.  Oakland needed a wide receiver to help QB JaMarcus Russell and  Heyward-Bey is fast but can he catch the ball with pro cornerbacks in his face?

Denver Broncos, RB Knowshon Moreno #12 – - The Broncos passed on CB Malcolm Jenkins, DE Brian Orakp and LB Brian Cushing to nab a terrific college running back who probably won’t reach 1,000 yards at the pro level.  Good move.  Not!