NOTE: These do not, and should not, influence my mock draft. My rankings are how I view the players, while a mock draft is how I feel the teams will select the players. However, often times, the two are similar.

I’m only doing the top five by position for now. Expect me to expand upon the list after the combine. The one noticeable aspect of this year’s draft is that the difference between the third quarterback and the rest is enormous. Simply put, the top three quarterbacks are in a league of their own.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Matthew Stafford, Georgia*
6-3 | 237 lbs. | Junior
Tampa Bay, FL

2. Mark Sanchez, USC*
6-3 | 225 lbs. | Junior
Mission Viejo, CA

3. Josh Freeman, Kansas State*
6-6 | 238 lbs. | Junior
Kansas City, MO

4. Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston St.
6-2 | 220 lbs. | Senior
Grand Prairie, OK

5. Nate Davis, Ball St.
6-2 | 225 lbs. | Senior
Bellaire, OH

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Welcome first time and returning readers. Our new mock draft was completed today ahead of schedule, I suggest all to check it out if you haven’t already. Maybe I’ll post some position rankings over the weekend.

Also, hopefully many of you have noticed the new banner I just put up for the 2009 NFL draft season. There are multiple versions of the banner, so you may see more than one by the time the draft rolls around.

I’ll close by saying we have once again edited our comment system. No longer will users be forced to register with the website to leave a comment. While it seemed like a good idea at first, there was simply not enough user activity for us to justify keeping the policy. Users can still register, though it’s not required in order to leave a comment.

That being said, comment away.

Updated: January 29, 2009

* Denotes Underclassman

FIRST ROUND

1. Detroit Lions — Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia*
6-3 | 237 lbs. | Junior
Tampa Bay, FL

Sam Bradford made the right decision by returning to school for another season. Bradford did not exactly light up the field during the BCS Championship verses Florida. However, he still remains a talented prospect for the 2010 draft. The Lions should not expect to turn things around as quick as the Miami Dolphins did this season. However, a Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson combination should give fans some optimism. A new identity is needed for the team that struggled so much in 2008. Stafford has the best arm in the draft, hands down. He could make any throw on the next level, and to be honest, he probably should have been slotted at the top spot a couple weeks ago. There is an option out there that would allow the Lions to select an offensive tackle here and then a quarterback at No. 20. However, that’s a bit too risky for a team that despartely needs a franchise quarterback.

2. St. Louis Rams — Andre Smith, OLT, Alabama*
6-4 | 341 lbs. | Junior
Birmingham, AL

Jake Long was probably going to become a member of the St. Louis Rams at the 2008 draft, had the Dolphins not snatch him up with the first overall pick. Furthermore, with that being said, the team has done little to improve at either tackle position. Andre Smith could step in for Orlando Pace or become the team’s starting right tackle in 2009. Smith was high on my list before the season started, and he has performed well against fierce SEC competition. There is no question the team should start to get the running game rolling again, and Smith is arguably the best run-blocker in the draft.

3. Kansas City Chiefs — Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
6-3 | 247 lbs. | Senior
Fayetteville, NC

This is a tough spot for the Chiefs considering how significantly Brian Orakpo recently lowered his stock. Kansas City despartely needs to add a pass rusher to their defensive unit. However, reaching for Everette Brown or Aaron Maybin would be a huge reach, one that would be too significant for a new front office. Aaron Curry has all the tools to be a productive linebacker at the next level. Good size, and unbelievable athleticism allowed Curry to establish himself as the best defensive player in this draft class. While Curry does not fix the pass rush, he would serve as a fixture in the defense for years to come.

4. Seattle Seahawks — Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech*
6-3 | 214 lbs. | Sophomore (RS)
Dallas, TX

In this scenario, Seattle would select Crabtree here with little debate in the war room. The only two prospects Seattle would take over Crabtree (Stafford, Curry) are already off the board. Mark Sanchez here is an option, but this still might be a bit high for him at this point. Crabtree, with his combination of size, speed, and productivity, is clearly the best wide receiver in this draft class.

5. Cleveland Browns — Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
6-1 | 201 lbs. | Senior
Piscataway, NJ

This particular mock draft leaves the Browns with their worst case scenario. The team would love to grab Aaron Curry at this spot, however the Chiefs do not appear they are going to pass him up. Instead, Malcolm Jenkins is still a fantastic cornerback prospect. One could argue that pass defense was one of the reasons why Eric Mangini got fired in New York. While Cleveland has a better pass defense, there’s no doubt that last year still resonates in Mangini’s mind. Jenkins would be the lockdown corner the Browns need. He has been a fixture in the Ohio State secondary, and opposing quarterbacks always will have to know where he is on the field. Considering the amount of underclassmen that are expected to be in this year’s draft, Jenkins should be widely considered one of the safer selections. He was the 2008 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, previously won by Charles Woodson, Antonine Winfield, Terence Newman, Carlos Rogers, and Aaron Ross. Not so bad company.

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Hello loyal readers. I’m planning to post an updated mock draft around the weekend of the Superbowl. Our current mock draft is clearly out of date with the recent surprise decisions by some prospects (Sam Bradford, Taylor Mays, and Jermaine Gresham come to mind). Stay tuned.

Updated: January 2, 2009

Note: This version includes the latest NFL draft order (excluding playoffs), which changed a couple of selections.

* Denotes Underclassman

1. Detroit Lions — Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma*
6-4 | 218 lbs. | Sophomore (RS)
Oklahoma City, OK

The Lions should not expect to turn things around as quick as the Miami Dolphins did this season. However, a Bradford-Calvin Johnson combination should give fans some optimism. A new identity is needed for the team that struggled so much in 2008. Bradford provides that identity, along with remarkable accuracy and a perfect overall build for a quarterback. Only a sophomore who redshirted a season, Bradford still has room to grow as a player.

2. St. Louis Rams — Andre Smith, OLT, Alabama*
6-4 | 341 lbs. | Junior
Birmingham, AL

Jake Long was probably going to become a member of the St. Louis Rams at the 2008 draft, had the Dolphins not snatch him up with the first overall pick. Furthermore, with that being said, the team has done little to improve at either tackle position. Andre Smith could step in for Orlando Pace or become the team’s starting right tackle in 2009. Smith was high on my list before the season started, and he has performed well against fierce SEC competition. There is no question the team should start to get the running game rolling again, and Smith is arguably the best run-blocker in the draft.

3. Kansas City Chiefs — Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech*
6-3 | 214 lbs. | Sophomore (RS)
Dallas, TX

Tyler Thigpen has actually performed well in his first season as a starter, an interesting twist of fate for a team that last year held Brodie Croyle as their future quarterback. Additionally, the cost of signing a quarterback like Matthew Stafford here would be overwhelming. Instead, Michael Crabtree gives the team a viable option to pair with Dwayne Bowe for the future. Crabtree, with his combination of size, speed, and productivity, is clearly the best wide receiver in this draft class.

4. Seattle Seahawks — Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia*
6-3 | 237 lbs. | Junior
Tampa Bay, FL

To say the least, this was a bad year for the Seahawks. After making the playoffs each of the past five seasons, Mike Holmgren does not get a chance to deliver a Super Bowl in his final season. This is the perfect time to start the development of a quarterback for the future, probably something that should have been done two or three years ago. Matthew Stafford has the ability to return this offense to the good ol’ days, when the Hawks were undisputed division champions. Stafford has an unbelivable arm and was productive in a tough defensive conference, something that fellow quarterback prospects Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez do not have in their scouting reports.

5. Cleveland Browns — Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
6-3 | 247 lbs. | Senior
Fayetteville, NC

Aaron Curry will be able to play any linebacker position for the Browns. Whether or not a new coach changes the defensive scheme, Curry will still be the selection for the Browns. Good size, and unbelievable athleticism allowed him to establish himself as the best defensive player in this draft class. However, do not sleep on Taylor Mays at this spot. If anyone is going to unseat Curry at this spot, it is going to be Mays, who will have NFL teams drooling over his combination of size and speed at the combine.

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