2009 NFL Draft

2009 NFL Draft
Year	2009
League	NFL
Date	April 25–26, 2009
Location	Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Network	ESPN, NFL Network
First selection	Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Detroit Lions
Most selections	New England Patriots (12)
Fewest selections	Chicago Bears (5)
Total selections	256
First round	32

2009 NFL Draft. The 2009 NFL Draft was the 74th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible professional football players. Held over two days at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the draft was televised nationally on ESPN and the NFL Network. The Detroit Lions, having finished the 2008 season with an 0–16 record, held the first overall selection and chose quarterback Matthew Stafford from the University of Georgia.

Background

The 2009 draft class was headlined by several highly touted quarterbacks, including Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez of the University of Southern California, and Josh Freeman from Kansas State University. Other notable prospects included offensive tackle Jason Smith from Baylor University, linebacker Aaron Curry of Wake Forest University, and wide receiver Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech University. The draft was also notable for the presence of B. J. Raji, a defensive tackle from Boston College, and Eugene Monroe, an offensive tackle from the University of Virginia. The St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle Seahawks all held top-five selections, signaling major rebuilding efforts for those franchises. The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and various college football Pro Day events were critical in evaluating this talent pool.

Draft Order

The selection order for the first round was determined by the reverse order of the previous season's standings, with the Detroit Lions selecting first due to their winless record. The St. Louis Rams held the second pick, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs at three, the Seattle Seahawks at four, and the Cleveland Browns at five. Teams could trade their draft positions, leading to several significant moves. The New York Jets, for example, traded with the Cleveland Browns to move up and secure the fifth overall selection. The Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles also executed notable trades involving future Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler and safety Brian Dawkins, respectively, which influenced their draft capital.

Draft

The event commenced on April 25, 2009, with Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing the first-round selections. As anticipated, the Detroit Lions selected Matthew Stafford first overall. The St. Louis Rams then chose offensive tackle Jason Smith, and the Kansas City Chiefs picked defensive end Tyson Jackson from Louisiana State University. A surprise came when the Seattle Seahawks selected linebacker Aaron Curry fourth overall, who was widely considered the safest prospect. The New York Jets traded up to select quarterback Mark Sanchez, while wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey of the University of Maryland was a surprise top-ten pick by the Oakland Raiders. The first round also saw the Green Bay Packers select defensive tackle B. J. Raji and the Buffalo Bills pick defensive end Aaron Maybin from Penn State University.

Player Selections

Over seven rounds and 256 total selections, numerous future stars entered the league. Key second-round picks included offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer by the New England Patriots, safety Louis Delmas by the Detroit Lions, and linebacker James Laurinaitis by the St. Louis Rams. The third round featured selections like wide receiver Deon Butler by the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle Roy Miller by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Later rounds yielded significant value, including cornerback Captain Munnerlyn to the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round and quarterback Julian Edelman, a future Super Bowl MVP, picked by the New England Patriots in the seventh round as well. The Houston Texans found a key contributor in tight end James Casey in the fifth round.

Notable Undrafted Players

Following the draft, several undrafted players signed with teams and forged successful NFL careers. The most prominent was linebacker James Harrison, though he initially entered the league in 2002, his career resurgence is often associated with this period. More directly, cornerback A. J. Jefferson signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and running back Arian Foster joined the Houston Texans, eventually leading the league in rushing. Kicker Steven Hauschka began his career with the Baltimore Ravens, and offensive lineman Ryan Wendell started with the New England Patriots. These players exemplified the depth of talent available beyond the drafted selections.

Aftermath

The draft had a profound impact on the league landscape. Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez led their teams, the Detroit Lions and New York Jets, to playoff appearances in subsequent seasons. Several picks, including linebacker Brian Orakpo to the Washington Redskins and defensive tackle Peria Jerry to the Atlanta Falcons, had immediate impacts. The draft is also remembered for players like Michael Crabtree and Josh Freeman, who had promising starts but varying career trajectories. The success of late-round picks and undrafted players like Julian Edelman and Arian Foster underscored the importance of thorough scouting. This draft class contributed multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, shaping NFL rosters for the next decade.

Category:2009 NFL Draft