The Detroit Lions made Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford the top overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. All of the drama surrounding the top pick was eliminated when Stafford agreed to a deal with the Lions the day before the draft. Injuries limited Stafford to 10 games in his rookie season. He finished the year with 2,267 yards, 20 interceptions and 13 touchdowns.
Stafford was one 11 quarterbacks selected in the 2009 NFL Draft.
2009 NFL Draft Top Ten
Many of the top 10 players taken in the 2009 NFL Draft have yet to live up to their potential. In fact, only one player in the top 10 has ever been named to the Pro Bowl. With the second pick, the St. Louis Rams selected Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith. At number three, the Kansas City Chiefs selected defensive end Tyson Jackson. Linebacker Aaron Curry went number four to the Seattle Seahawks, while the New York Jets traded up to take USC quarterback Mark Sanchez at number five.
The top 10 was rounded out by:
- Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith (OT, Alabama
- Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR, Maryland)
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Eugene Monroe – (OT, Virginia)
- Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College)
- San Francisco 49ers – Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech)
Raji is the only player from the top 10 to be selected to a Pro Bowl.
Notes from the 2009 NFL Draft
Of the 256 players selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, 36 were cornerbacks. A total of 34 wide receivers, 23 defensive ends and linebackers, and 20 tight ends, running backs, offensive tackles and defensive tackles were also selected.
The most notable undrafted free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft is running back Arian Foster, who went on to become a Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans. Other notable undrafted players include running backs Michael Bennett and Issac Redman, quarterback Brian Hoyer, and wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.
“Mr. Irrelevant” was kicker Ryan Succop, who was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 256th overall pick. Succop made the Chiefs’ roster and went on to be named to the 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team. In 2012, Succop booted six field goals for the Chiefs in a single game.
Download: 2009 NFL Draft