2009 NFL Draft Pick First Day ReCap

First round choices are through, and some surprises are there. Seattle chose Curry, who was one of my two favorites for their first round choice. Put him in the defensive line with Tatupu and Hill, and this has the makings of a real defense. Not to mention a team of team players. Of course, someone needs to coach Hill on the stupidity of driving drunk.

I think Unger is a good and versatile offensive lineman. Seattle seems to be building a very good line on both defense and offense. Their next worry is, of course, the aging of their quarterback, but maybe that's why they traded for a high first draft number for 2010.

Seattle starts the season at home against the Rams on September 13. There we'll find out how well the Rams new Offensive Lineman Jason Smith can do protecting Bulger. I was somewhat surprised by this choice on the first round, but it wasn't a bad choice by any means. The Rams offensive line had a lot of trouble last year, and this will do much to finish rebuilding it. The Rams also added Ohio State's Laurinaitis to their defense, which seems an excellent choice. He's big, he's as experienced as it is possible for a rookie to be, and is quick to react on the field.

Kansas City chose a 290 pound defensive tackle from Louisiana for its first round pick. They were third pick. Only Stafford and Smith were really gone. So, now the Chiefs will pay about 30 million for a rookie chosen on the first round. This guy will never be the best at anything. He'll never lead the league in anything.

I guess if Kansas City suddenly starts winning the choice will make more sense. In the meantime, I think they could have gotten him on the second round for a lot less money.

On September 13 Kansas City goes up against Baltimore Ravens, who chose Mississippi's Oher for their first round. Oher is highly experienced in SEC play, in four years of it, as a matter of fact. He was put into the line his freshman year as right offensive guard. His sophomore year he moved to the much more challenging position of left tackle. He has played straight through, and is an award winning blocker in the very competitive SEC. Here's hoping the Ravens let him sit out a few to learn the NFL ropes, but it doesn't take much faith to believe he will be a serious contributor in their team line-up by the end of the season.

Sanchez, who I thought Seattle might get if Kansas City or St. Louis didn't jump on him, went to the Jets. Retiring QB Farve has a highly talented rookie with a great throwing arm coming into his place, though it would have been nice for Sanchez if he could have worked with a more experienced starting QB this year. Like Farve, or Bulger. Or Hasselbeck.

The Saints got a really good CB with Ohio State's Jenkins. Here's hoping they find a good RB in tomorrow's rounds. My sister loves the Saints, and life is more cheerful when her Saints win.

The Vikings got Oklahoma's Right Tackle Loadholt, and that should be good for them. Among his other attributes, the guy is huge. They may have gotten a heavier load in their first pick, though. The Gator's Percy Harvin comes with a complicated past, one that has extended from childhood right up to the very recent past. There is no doubt at all about his ability, but his personal life has interfered with his sporting life before.

It's funny. Coaches seemed very conservative about Crabtree, who is recovered from some stress fractures and is a wonderful receiver. He was not selected until the ninth round, when the 49ers, who could never have expected to have a chance at getting him at all, snapped him up. Still, some obvious possible problems didn't seem to bother coaches in other selections.

Tomorrow is the second day of the Draft, and should be exciting to watch.