Now that the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft is over, it is time to take a look at what happened on Saturday. Try to figure out who the winners and losers were. Also, analyze some of the sure-picks and surprises of the day. The NFL draft order is based on each team’s win-loss record. The team with the worst record gets the first pick in each round of the seven-round draft, and the team that wins the super bowl gets the last pick of each round of the draft (pending trades). This year the Detroit Lions finished with the worst record in NFL history at 0-16. The 2009 NFL draft took place in New York City. The Lions had the first pick in the draft.

Detroit Lions – Mathew Stafford (QB-Georgia) – Stafford was the most NFL-ready in this year’s class. The Lions now have a franchise-quarterback to lead the new regime. ST. Louis Rams – Jason Smith (OT-Baylor) – Smith will be a great replacement for the departed Orlando Pace. He will make an immediate impact in the NFL.Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Jackson (DE-LSU) – It was a surprise to see Jackson go this early. Nonetheless, he is a great prospect and will help take some of the pressure off of Tamba Hali. Seattle Seahawks – Aaron Curry (LB-Wake Forest) – Curry is going to be a great linebacker in the years to come. He is definitely an upgrade at linebacker for Seattle. New York Jets (From CLE) – Mark Sanchez (QB-USC) – It is hard to analyze Sanchez after only 16 starts at Southern California. The Jets must like what they have seen in him since they traded-up 12 spots to get him. Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith (OT-Alabama) – Andre Smith has the rawest talent of any of the offensive line prospects in this year’s draft. His shady past will fit perfectly in Cincinnati. Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR-Maryland) – The Raiders drafted Heyward-Bey too early. He is a hidden talent but Oakland could have filled bigger holes with this pick. Jacksonville Jaguars – Eugene Monroe (OT-Virginia) – The Jaguars need to do a better job at protecting quarterback David Garrard in 2009. Monroe will be a big help. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji (DT-Boston College) – Although the reports were proven false, teams seemed afraid to draft Raji. The next big-time defensive tackle just fell in the lap of Green Bay. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Crabtree (WR-Texas Tech) – There is no reason why Crabtree should have fell this far. He will be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL soon. All the 49ers have to do now is find a quarterback who can get him the ball. Buffalo Bills – Aaron Maybin (DE-Penn State) – This is a great pick. Maybin is a quick player who can play many positions. He will help take some of the double-teams off of Aaron Schobel and instantly improves Buffalo’s defense. Denver Broncos – Knowshon Moreno (RB-Georgia) – Even with a new head coach and a new offensive system, it seems fitting the Broncos drafted a running back with this pick. Washington Redskins – Brian Orakpo (DE-Texas) – Orakpo is a strong player who does not come out to play every game. Washington hopes he can accomplish what Jason Taylor could not in 2008. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins (CB-Ohio State) – The Saints decided to look at what Jenkins did on the field rather than at the scouting combine. New Orleans fans should be pleased with this pick. Houston Texans – Brian Cushing (LB-USC) – The Texans’ defense is getting better little by little. They are still young and Cushing will be a good piece of the puzzle. San Diego Chargers – Larry English (DE-Northern Illinois) – Not many draft experts had English going in the first round. He is a good defensive end and will do wonders in San Diego’s 3-4 scheme. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (From NYJ) – Josh Freeman (QB-Kansas State) – Freeman is the most intriguing pick. He will either be really good or really bad for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay fans are hoping a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback will bring them the same success as the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens had in 2008. Denver Broncos (From CHI) – Robert Ayers (DE-Tennessee) – With the top-three quarterback prospects already taken the Broncos were forced to go in another direction. Ayers will improve the defensive line. Philadelphia Eagles – Jeremy Maclin (WR-Missouri) – Maclin is a good, quick wide receiver. Philadelphia now has three wide receivers with those same traits. Donovan McNabb still does not have a go-to receiver to throw to. Detroit Lions (From DAL) – Brandon Pettigrew (TE-Oklahoma State) – This pick did not make sense. Pettigrew was the best tight end in this year’s class but the Lions needed to put a face on their defense with this pick. Cleveland Browns (From PHI) – Alex Mack (C-California) – Mack is a great center. He is a lot like the Jets’ center Nick Mangold. New head coach Eric Mangini was the Jets’ head coach for three seasons. Minnesota Vikings – Percy Harvin (WR-Florida) – Harvin’s love for football has been questioned, he is too small and he has been injury-prone. Still, Minnesota knows a thing or two about drafting wide receivers in the first round. Baltimore Ravens (From NWE) – Michael Oher (OT-Ole Miss) – It was sad to see Oher wait backstage at the draft for his name to be called. The Ravens got a guy who is ready to fill the void left by Jonathan Ogden immediately. Atlanta Falcons – Peria Jerry (DT-Ole Miss) – Jerry was a bit of an unknown prospect at Ole Miss. He will help Atlanta fill-up the defensive line. Miami Dolphins – Vontae Davis (CB-Illinois) – The Dolphins have to worry about his pedigree. Davis should still be considered a shutdown cornerback. Green Bay Packers (From BAL) – Clay Matthews (LB-USC) – Matthews will be a great addition to a group of linebackers who include Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk. Indianapolis Colts – Donald Brown (RB-Connecticut) – It was not a surprise that Indianapolis did not fill a defensive void with this pick. What is surprising is that the Colts drafted a running back. New head coach Jim Caldwell must feel Joseph Addai will contribute better in a two running back system. Buffalo Bills (From CAR) – Eric Wood (C-Louisville) – This was the most confusing pick of the day. It is not very often you see two centers drafted in the first round of the draft. Buffalo does need to improve the offensive line. A new center is not the normal path franchises take to do that. New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks (WR-North Carolina) – Nicks is a big wide receiver. Due to the loss of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer the Giants are expecting him to contribute immediately. Tennessee Titans – Kenny Britt (WR-Rutgers) – Tennessee want Nicks so they went with the next best available wide receiver in Britt. He gives the Titans another option in the passing game. Arizona Cardinals – Chris Wells (RB-Ohio State) – Wells is a big, bruising running back. He has had some injuries in college but is still an every-down type of running back. Edgerrin James’ time in Arizona is numbered. Pittsburgh Steelers – Evander Hood (DT-Missouri) – Hood is a big guy who can plug up the middle and stop the run. He will help free up some space for the Steel Curtain’s linebackers to make some space. Hood will also give defensive tackle Casey Hampton a chance to rest from time to time.

Andrew Hazard can be reached at [email protected]