The official 2009 DRAFT thread

[packrulz]

Players still on the board: http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09...s&confirm=true

6 WR's taken in the first round, wow.
Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey, who went seventh to the Oakland Raiders, was the first of six wide receivers taken in the first round of the NFL draft.
First-round picks by position
Position Number First to go (pick)
Wide receiver 6 Darrius Heyward-Bey (7th)
Offensive tackle 4 Jason Smith (2nd)
Defensive end 4 Tyson Jackson (3rd)
Linebacker 4 Aaron Curry (4th)
Quarterbacks 3 Matthew Stafford (1st)
Defensive tackle 3 B.J. Raji (9th)
Running back 3 Knowshon Moreno (12th)
Cornerback 2 Malcolm Jenkins (14th)
Center 2 Alex Mack (21st)
Tight end 1 Brandon Pettigrew (20th)

[pack4to84]

With the amount TT traded to move up and select Clay Matthews. Matthews was the original planed pick at 9, but when BJ fell to us TT couldn't pass on him. I bet from that point on TT was working the phones trying to move back into the first round, but had no takers until NE had a offer they couldn't refuse.

[pack4to84]

Chicago Sun Times gives the Packers a A grade for the first day

SI.com's Don Banks says one of the draft's biggest losers is ... Ryan Pickett. "Pickett might be asked to shift to end in Green Bay's new 3-4," writes Banks, "but he's not going to be their long-term man in the middle any more."

Scouts Inc. (ESPN Insider) lists the selection of Raji as one of the five best moves of Day 1.

The Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompeii jokes that it might have been Dom Capers who was running the Packers' draft Saturday. Pompeii says both Raji and Matthews "were needs, but both also were value picks. The draft laid out very well indeed for the Packers, who unquestionably became a better team Saturday."

The Sporting News' Clifton Brown lists the Packers defense among the first day's winners.

Pro Football Weekly's Dan Arkush says that while Ted Thompson trading up was out of character, the move to get Matthews will be well worth it.

Tom Torrisi of The Sports Network is calling the Packers the early leader in the clubbouse in his Day 1 wrap-up.

Paul Needell of the Newark Star-Ledger thinks Raji is the perfect fit for the Packers and could develop into one of the best players out there under Capers.

Zach Kruse of The Bleacher Report tells Ted Thompson haters to pipe down and gives the GM an A for his first-round moves. Kruse says Thompson made the right move taking Raji over Michael Crabtree and predicts Wisconsinites will love Matthews.

USAToday.com's Nate Davis wonders who will be on the way out with Matthews on the way in.

Looking ahead to Day 2, The Sporting News' Russ Lande thinks Wisconsin's Travis Beckum would be a good fit in Green Bay.

Finally, M.A. Mehta of the Newark Star-Ledger sets the scene from the Raji household.