2009 NFL Draft Mailbag

NFL Draft Mailbag Notes: Note that the e-mails I received have been italicized and left unedited. My responses follow them.

3/31/09

2009 NFL Draft E-mails – Jeremy Maclin Absent in Experts Mock

From Many E-Mailers (This one, Jordan D.):

I may be blind and could’ve missed it after looking 5 times, but how in the world do you and all those other people leave Jeremy Maclin out of the first round??? He’s barely behind Crabtree in WR talent plus his return game is superb. There’s no way on the face of this earth that Heyward-Bey goes before Maclin. Al Davis has to have his 40 time and if any receiver is picked by the Raiders its gonna be Maclin. And the Jags are not going to put up that kind of top ten money for an okay CB. Most of the draft makes sense but leaving Maclin is out of the question 100% crazy.

My Response:

Well, I disagree that Jeremy Maclin is only slightly behind Michael Crabtree in talent.

But yeah, that caught my attention when I first looked over the whole thing when it was finished. I believe Maclin will be drafted in the first round, but I don’t think it’s crazy to think he could fall into the second round. Remember last year. Tons of mock drafts had Devin Thomas going at No. 11, yet he fell to Round 2.

As I’ve said a few times on the site, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Crabtree is the only wideout taken in the first round. Last year there were none. In 2006, there was only one.

As for Al Davis, I don’t know why he’d take Jeremy Maclin. Maclin ran a 4.43, while Heyward-Bey had a 4.30. Davis would take DHB in a heartbeat over Maclin.

From Steve S.:

You are claiming that because Detroit now has Julian Peterson they won’t draft Aaron Curry. You may want to look at the Lions’ list of linebackers currently on their roster …..there is not one MLB on their team. Both the Lions and Curry have stated that they see no issue with Curry manning the middle between Sims and Peterson.

My Response:

Agreed, but under no circumstances do you draft a middle linebacker with the top pick in the draft. That’s just not how the draft works because there is not enough positional value.

And I have Aaron Curry going to Kansas City two picks later because the amount of money is significantly different between the Nos. 1 and 3 picks. Besides, the Chiefs would have to take an OT or a QB if they needed upgrades at those positions. They don’t.

From Jeremy C.:

Do you think Michael Johnson has value that high in the draft? When I was doing my Mock I struggled to put him at the Bears in the 1st round. I know his talent is Top 15-20 worthy, but his work ethic and motor seem to be turning teams off. So, do you think he can actually go that high, or does Al Davis just fall in love w/ his measurables?

My Response:

I think No. 18 is a good range for Michael Johnson, but yeah, I believe Al Davis will fall in love with his athleticism. And weird things can happen in the draft – remember last year, Jerod Mayo was a late first-rounder or even a second-round prospect in many eyes; yet, the Patriots took him at No. 10.

From Bo G.:

I know most mocks have the Chiefs taking Curry at No. 3. But say the Chiefs traded down and picked up a first and second, (let’s say 8 and 40). Who would you see them taking there?

My Response:

For argument’s sake, if the Chiefs draft at No. 8, they’ll target Aaron Maybin, Everette Brown, Tyson Jackson and most of all, B.J. Raji.

But I don’t see that happening. No owner wants to trade up into the top five to pay tons of money to an unknown commodity, especially in this economy.

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2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Archive:

2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Home
Post-Round 1 E-mail - April 29
Hate Mail Volume 7 - April 10
Crackhead Mail Volume 2 - April 10
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
Hate Mail Volume 6 - April 3
Crackhead Mail - April 3
Trade and Prospect Speculation - April 3
Hate Mail Volume 5 - March 28
Cam Newton Mailbag - March 28
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
Hate Mail Volume 4 - March 13
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
Random Questions and Comments - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 3 - March 7
Combine Questions and Comments - March 7
Combine Hate Mail - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Quarterbacks - Feb. 15
Hate Mail - Feb. 15
Random AFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15
Random NFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15