The 2009 Entire NFL Draft Review

Quarterback - Josh Freeman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers first overall pick.

The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00 pm EDT, and five rounds on the second day starting at 10:00 am EDT. To compensate for the time change from the previous year and in an effort to help shorten the draft, teams were no longer on the clock for 15 minutes in the first round and 10 minutes in the second round. Each team now had 10 minutes to make their selection in the first round and seven minutes in the second round. Rounds three through seven were shortened to five minutes per team. This was the first year that the NFL used this format and it was changed again the following year for the 2010 NFL Draft. The 2009 NFL Draft was televised by both NFL Network and ESPN and was the first to have cheerleaders. The Detroit Lions, who became the first team in NFL history to finish a season at 0–16, used the first selection in the draft to select University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.

It was the first draft since 1983 that saw two centers being selected in the first round—Alex Mack at No. 21 to the Browns, and Eric Wood at No. 28 to the Bills. It was also the first time since the 1993 draft that a player from the University of Miami (FL) was not selected in the first round. As of the end of the 2016 season, the 2009 Draft has seen 11 of the 32 first-round selections make the Pro Bowl, and 26 (including three punters) in total for the entire class. It has been referred to as one of the worst drafts in league history.

The Buccaneers slected first round picks with Cleveland Browns (17 and 19th overall) in exchange for a 6th round pick. The Buccaneers selected 4th round picks with Dallas Cowbows (117 and 120th overall) in exchange for a 7th round pick. The additional 7th round pick from Jacksonville Jaguars came as part of a 2008 draft day move up. The additional 7th round pick came from Baltimore Ravens for Defensive end Marques Douglas. There were no conmpensatory picks. The Buccaneers picked 19th in the first round and then 18th, 17th and 20th henceforth.

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Player Selections

Notable Undrafted Players

Hall of Famers

• No player selected in this draft has yet been inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. (If we've missed someone please advise)