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Best NFL Draft Players
Last season the Atlanta Falcons turned the third pick in the draft and a shrewd free agent signing into a seven win improvement over their 2007 record. While that is a bit of an oversimplification, the combination of rookie QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner was a major factor in the Falcons going from a 4-12 also ran to an 11-5 Wild Card team.
After everything the franchise went through with Michael Vick, Ryan was just what the Falcons needed. For his part, Ryan walked away with the award for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The 2009 edition of the NFL Draft goes on Saturday and there is no shortage of talent available. Good thing too, because after last season, the Detroit Lions could use a little boost. The Lions, on the strength of an 0-16 record in 2008, have the top pick and while signs seem to indicate Matthew Stafford will be playing in Detroit next season, you never know.
Would Stafford be able to do for a floundering Lions organization what Ryan did for the Falcons? Doubtful, at least not in year one, but the former Georgia Bulldog is high on potential. He already has a NFL caliber fastball and is the best quarterback available in the draft, the title of “best player available” is another story.
Detroit needs a quarterback - along with a a few other players after a winless season - so Stafford is a good fit although he is not the most polished of the draft class. That distinction might belong to linebacker Aaron Curry.
Curry has it all - size, speed and strength – and the 2008 Butkas Award winner is regarded by some as the most NFL ready player available. The Wake Forest product looked great at the combine this past February and should be able to contribute starting in Week 1.
Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree is also in the draft spotlight and has big-play potential due to a great combination of speed, toughness and intelligence. He will be hard for any team in need of some offensive help to pass on.
The latest edition of the TSN.ca Mock Draft is online and Stafford, Curry and Crabtree all slot into the top five. Version 2 (special thanks to TSN.ca's Justin Boone) is our say and now we want yours. Give us your thoughts on the draft, who will be the jewel of the Class of 2009?
Drop us a line (keep it between 25-200 words), including your name and city and maybe we will put it up. Click here to call your Audible or email nfl@tsn.ca. If you are the rapid reply type, click the Your Call button below.
While drafting Matthew Stafford first overall is the right way to get fans back in the Motor City, Aaron Curry is by far the best player in the 2009 NFL draft. It seems likely that Stafford and Jason Smith will be 1 and 2, which means Kansas City will be fortunate enough to draft the next Jon Beason/Takeo Spikes. Curry's ability to cover the field, sideline to sideline and high football IQ will lead to instant success at the pro level. The hard work and dedication to the game, that he's shown throughout his college career will ensure countless Probowls for the soon to be K.C. Chief.
Steve L - Saskatoon, SK
DC: As a long suffering Chiefs I'm excited about the potential of seeing Curry patrolling the field at Arrowhead for years to come.
The draft is not an exact science by any means and the first round is probably the hardest of all the rounds. Being a first round pick has great expectations and being a top 5 pick has significant money attached to it. The Detroit Lions in most likely hood will pick Stafford first overall because lets face it, the Lions desperately need a quarterback.
However it has been shown in the past that unless you get a gem like Matt Ryan, quarterbacks are rarely NFL ready. The best player in my opinion in this year's draft, and the one that will have the biggest impact, is Aaron Curry. In most likely hood this pick will go to the Chiefs who need to fix up their defence. Aaron Curry, even with low sack totals, is one of the most complete players in the draft. Look for Aaron Curry to have an immediate impact on the NFL, though not nearly the impact that Patrick Willis had in his rookie season.
Alex Miles - Ottawa, ON
If I am the Lions, I take Matt Stafford. Start at the quarterback position and go from there. Detroit has Calvin Johnson already so Stafford has a prime target and the Lions might be able to build around a Montana/Rice or Peyton/Harrison like duo. Give your fans some offence to make up for last season and go from there.
Dan
DC: Just a little pressure there with the comparisons. You do have a point, with Megatron running routes, it would be nice if somebody could get him the ball.
I am sure the Lions will take Stafford with the top pick and so would I, depending on what my club needed. I agree that Curry is the most NFL ready player in the draft, but if a team, like the Lions needs a QB and there is a good one available make the pick. QB is a the top priority if a team doesn't have a good one, so Stafford will go first.
Jerry D.
Aaron Curry is the best of the bunch and in my mind you always take the best player available. Curry is a fierce presence on the field and has Pro-Bowl written all over him. Stafford, Smith, and Orakpo are fine, will be good players, but Curry is ready to wreak havoc right now. If I were Detroit I would deal the first pick to Denver, the Broncos want a QB and with the top pick they could take whoever they want. Detroit would get the Broncos two picks and maybe a player and improve in three places. They couldn't win a game last season, they need more than one player.
Chris
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