2009 NFL Draft

The 2009 NFL Draft, held from April 25-26, 2009, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, stands as a notable event in NFL history. This draft produced several players who went on to have significant careers, though the list of Pro Football Hall of Famers is still developing.

The draft began with the Detroit Lions selecting quarterback Matthew Stafford from the University of Georgia with the first overall pick. Stafford went on to become a long-time starter in the NFL, first with the Lions and then leading the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl victory.

✦ The early part of the first round also featured these notable selections:

2nd Overall: The St. Louis Rams selected Jason Smith, an offensive tackle from Baylor. Smith's career was ultimately hampered by injuries.

3rd Overall: The Kansas City Chiefs selected defensive end Tyson Jackson from LSU.

4th Overall: The Seattle Seahawks selected linebacker Aaron Curry from Wake Forest.

The first round continued with a mix of offensive and defensive talent, with teams hoping to find their next franchise players. Some other notable first-round selections included:

5th Overall: New York Jets selected Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

6th Overall: Cincinnati Bengals selected Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

7th Overall: Oakland Raiders selected Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

8th Overall: Jacksonville Jaguars selected Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

9th Overall: Green Bay Packers selected B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

10th Overall: San Francisco 49ers selected Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

✦ Summary of the Top 10 selections in the 2009 NFL Draft

While the top of the draft featured some players who had long careers, the 2009 draft is perhaps more notable for the impact of players selected later in the first round and beyond.

A particularly impactful selection from this draft was Clay Matthews III, a linebacker from the University of Southern California, selected 26th overall by the Green Bay Packers. Matthews became a prominent pass rusher and a key defensive player for the Packers, contributing to their Super Bowl XLV victory. He established himself as one of the league's premier linebackers during his time in Green Bay.

Beyond the first round, the 2009 draft yielded some additional players who had significant NFL careers. While a large number of Hall of Fame players have yet to emerge from this class, it is important to remember that players become eligible for the Hall of Fame five years after retirement. It's possible that future selections could be made from the 2009 Draft.

In summary, the 2009 NFL Draft produced a mix of hits and misses, as most drafts do. While Matthew Stafford stands out as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback from the top of the class and Clay Matthews III became a dominant defensive force, the full impact of this draft class on the Pro Football Hall of Fame is still unfolding.