Post-Combine ‘09 NFL Mock Draft (Pt. 2)

Also see: Post-Combine '09 NFL Mock Draft (Pt. 1)

After an extremely controversial debut of this four-part round one mock draft, we're back with part two of what is likely to be an incredibly inaccurate and fairly useless prediction of the draft picks to come. Just like every other mock draft out there in the television press and interwebs.

As explained in the first part, the picks that follow are the ones that I think the teams should make — not necessarily the ones that I think they actually will make. And yes, in case you're wondering, I did actually watch a bit of college football this year and am not making things up and pretending to know what I'm talking about because I'm a sociopath or something. Just figured I'd throw that out there.

9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Raji, a hulking mammoth of a defensive tackle, is pretty much hands-down the best available at his position in this year's draft. Many others have him going a lot earlier than this and this could definitely be the case once the actual draft rolls around.

However should he fall to the ninth spot for the Packers' selection, then it's very likely they'll pull the trigger with him despite a slightly greater need at the defensive end positions. Should Raji go earlier, though, then that is likely the route that they'll take.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

There are a lot of different directions the 49ers can go with their first round pick, but you have to think that with Mike Singletary at the helm that he's going to want to get a nice strong and steady pass rush established on the defensive line. Barring pigs flying and B.J. Raji being available here, a defensive end — be it either Orakpo or Florida State defensive end Everette Brown — is a very logical and likely choice.

As with a lot of the other picks with positions that are too close to call, it would all come down to who the scouting team likes the most out of Orakpo, Brown, or even Aaron Maybin. Heck, look at Jerod Mayo last year — the 49ers might surprise everyone and take Michael Johnson!

Personally though, many other opinions vary, but I like Orakpo just a smidgeon more than Brown. We'll just have to wait and see!

11. Buffalo Bills: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

The Bills definitely have a promising young defense, but seem to be a pass rush away from really doing anything special. They could go linebacker or even something on the offensive side of the ball, here but Everette Brown would make a tantalizingly promising pick here.

If Brown is gone, then either Orakpo or Maybin could be other potential picks. It all depends on the intel that the scouts have garnered up all year and polished off after the Combine. Is it April yet?

12. Denver Broncos: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

A lot of different prognosticators had the Broncos taking a running back with their first round selection, but this now appears unlikely to happen after they recently signed not one, but two different free agent running backs in J.J. Arrington and Correll Buckhalter.

Like the Bills before them, the Broncos are in desperate need of a pass rush from the edges, so it would just make sense for them to take a defensive end now that they've shored up their spotty running back situation.

13. Washington Redskins: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

It's still up in the air as to who'll be the first inside linebacker taken out of Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis, but you have to agree that both of them look to pan out quite well in their transition to the pros. Maualuga played and excelled in a complex NFL-style defense at USC and has a well-rounded repertoire that should compliment recent free agent signing Albert Haynesworth and the rest of the Redskins revamped defense incredibly well.

Again though, Laurinaitis would be just as good of a pick so it might just come down to who the front office and scouting department was impressed by more.

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

Out of all of the problems that Saints have had on defense, the secondary situation is arguably the worst. They are in dire need of upgrades at the corner position and Malcolm Jenkins looks to be just the right fit for the puzzle.

15. Houston Texans: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

While the Houston Texans offense showed it can put on quite a fireworks display any given week, they could have benefited greatly from having another premier wideout for when Andre Johnson was injured and even when he was healthy and on the field.

Although the team could certainly go in the defensive building block direction with this pick, they'll be hard-pressed not to take one of the four wide receivers who are expected to go in the first round and of at least one will most definitely be available for the Texans at pick 15.

16. San Diego Chargers: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

While Smith's decision to publicly tell the world he doesn't like to work out and basically is lazy wasn't the smartest thing in the world, you have to think that a small glimpse of the NFL world will get his ass in gear and his physical, athletic tools will assure that he'll be just fine.

Still, it seems like taking him will be a small gamble and while a team could definitely roll the dice before the Chargers at 16, they probably wouldn't mind doing so considering their immense need at the position.

Stay tuned for the next part of this series!