A few weeks ago, I was sifting through mock drafts when I found one labeled “Movie Character Mock Draft” on Tirico Suave. I was curious, so I read through the piece and found it to be pure genius. The author used a number of famous sports roles to generate the pool from which all 32 NFL teams drafted, creating a mock draft from fictional characters. I have decided to give this a run for the 2009 NFL Draft.

I would like to give credit to Tirico Suave for its 2008 Movie Character Mock Draft and to The Money Shot, for its 2007 Movie Character Mock Draft. Good work, guys.

Without further ado, here is my take on how this year’s draft would look if movie characters were on the board.

 

1. Detroit Lions—QB Jonathan Moxon (Varsity Blues)

Jonathan “Mox” Moxon is talented, strikingly handsome, and wickedly accurate with the football. Detroit needs a franchise quarterback in this year’s draft and they can find it with Moxon. Not to mention that Mox and Lions center Dominic Raiola have already worked out an agreement to help Raiola fight the Lions’ fans.

Before any play, Raiola can audible with a brief description of which fan is really grinding his gears. Mox will subsequently beam the ball into the stands for a knockout blow as he has infamously done to mascots and parents alike.

 

2. St. Louis Rams—OT Louie Lastik (Remember The Titans)

Someone said football, so Louie came running.

The Rams need help in a number of ways in 2009, but their greatest offseason task is to replace Pro Bowl LT Orlando Pace. Lastik might need some help on footwork at the next level, but he has been pounding buffets since he was 3 years old all in preparation of this day.

The only problem is that the first “your mama” joke Louie attempts in training camp might put him on the IR for the year. Lastik has the natural size and strength to play OT in the NFL; now its up to the Rams to see how well they can develop his talent.

 

3. Kansas City Chiefs—LB Bobby Boucher (The Waterboy)

At some point, an insane amount of talent cannot continue to go unnoticed.

Bobby Boucher starred at South Central Louisiana State University, providing nearly all of the Mud Dogs’ offense and defense. Scouts took immediate notice of Boucher’s emotional style of play and innate ability to predict the opposing quarterback’s snap count.

Boucher could fall further in the draft if teams are unable to determine his mother’s involvement in his life. Ms. Boucher has made numerous threats to different franchises concerning the well-being of her son, and many teams are concerned of her involvement should they draft Boucher. Kansas City seems undeterred, however, and will look to adress their thin linebacking corps with this pick.

4. Seattle Seahawks—OT Jumbo Fumiko (The Replacements)

In 2001, the Seattle Mariners signed Ichiro Suzuki and he instantly became a fan favorite. In 2009, the Seahawks also hope to sign a future Japanese sports star. The Seahawks have a number of holes which they could address with the No.4 pick, but their porous O-line cost them a number of games in 2008, and they need to take a top-tier talent here to keep their offense afloat.

An additional bonus is Jumbo’s ability to run the ball. He highlighted his legs in the film when he scored a rushing TD, and Seattle’s rush offense is terrible. Look for a William Perry-esque FB set when Fumiko goes to Seattle.

 

5. Cleveland Browns—WR Clifford Franklin (The Replacements)

The Cleveland Browns are in talks to trade their marquee WR Braylon Edwards before draft day. GM All-Star Phil Savage will respond to this by using the No.5 overall pick to bolster a failing receiving corps. Losing TE Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards in one offseason is brutal, but Savage will take WR Clifford Franklin here to try and lessen the blow.

Why? He’s fast! Who cares if he can’t catch.

Phil Savage is on the Al Davis train of thought, which focuses on speed and speed alone. Besides, Braylon Edwards never caught the ball and Cleveland paid him a lot of money.

Why not do it again?

 

6. Cincinnati Bengals—OT Billy Bob (Varsity Blues)

Cincinnati undoubtedly has to address its struggling offensive line with the No.6 pick. Billy Bob makes the most sense for them here, as he is a massive prospect with ungodly strength and commitment. Don’t worry about the alcoholism and run-ins with the police, the Bengals have an excellent training program in place led by WR Chris Henry to teach draft picks how to get arrested without getting cut from the team.

Billy Bob might miss three or four weeks due to jail time, but in Cincinnati, no one cares about that. He will be an excellent addition to the Bengals’ offensive line.

 

7. Oakland Raiders—KR Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)

Al Davis will still be reeling from the loss of WR Clifford Franklin’s speed when Oakland goes on the clock. He will turn to the backup plan, the speedy kick returner from the University of Alabama, Forrest Gump.

Davis is well-aware of the package he is drafting. Gump can’t catch, throw, block, or read a playbook. But what Gump can do is run. There is an outside shot that Davis drafts Sea Biscuit with this pick, as the horse has shown off tremendous speed at the combine, but for now, expect Davis to follow through on the one-dimensional runner Forrest Gump.

Don’t worry about a lack of potential. Al Davis loves kids with high perceived potential who might not pan out. Doesn’t he, JaMarcus?

 

8. Jacksonville Jaguars—WR Rod Tidwell (Jerry Maguire)

The global economy knew it was in trouble when WR Rod Tidwell signed Scott Boras as his agent. Boras has been in negotiations with several teams and is reportedly asking for $723 million a year. Tidwell’s only response is the line that made him famous… “Show the the money!”

The Jags signed Torry Holt, but let’s be honest, is that enough to fix the most self-destructive and morally gray receiving core in the NFL?

Vegas odds say that Tidwell goes here, which works for Jacksonville because Matt Jones and Reggie Williams are already in Vegas, trading lines of blow off of urinals. Tidwell is a headcase, but Jacksonville has no problem with dysfunctional receivers. Consider him signed.

 

9. Green Bay Packers—DE Daniel Ruettiger (Rudy)

Rudy…Rudy…Rudy…The fans chant makes any sports fan instantly sentimental.

Green Bay will capitalize on Rudy’s college popularity by drafting him to start on their defensive line. The Packers are switching to a 3-4, which means they need speed rushers off the outside who have the versatility to play linebacker as well. Rudy fits the bill, as a lesser sized speed rusher who can also join the linebacking corps.

Green Bay fans have been desperately searching for another icon since Brett Favre left town. Aaron Rodgers might be the man, but then again he might not be. Rudy is a slam-dunk fan favorite who can sell tickets, sell jerseys, and maybe an emotional leader of this team…kind of.

 

10. San Francisco 49ers—A.C. Slater (Saved By The Bell)

Bayside High’s badass jock rounds out the top 10 picks in this year’s draft. Slater was a multi-sport star at Bayside, competing in basketball, football, wrestling, and mullet awareness training.

Mike Singletary and the Niners are hopefully starting a new era in San Francisco, and it is fitting for them to draft a new quarterback. Slater was chosen because of his similarities to USC QB Mark Sanchez. Curly black locks, droves of teenage girls who want them, and a hometown California kid who is sure to be a fan favorite.

Don’t forget, this cat can drum, dance, and show off his eight-pack with the best of them.

 

11. Buffalo Bills—DE Steve Lattimer (The Program)

Steve Lattimer is one of the premiere defensive prospects in this draft. Sure there are drawbacks, namely the ‘Roid-Rage and an uncanny ability to put his face through car windshields, but in terms of sheer talent, Lattimer is a top-five talent.

Buffalo is in need of a pass rushing defensive end to line up opposite Aaron Schobel, and if Lattimer falls to them here, he is a perfect fit.

One glaring problem with this pick is how Lattimer will interact with newly-acquired WR Terrell Owens. With Lattimer on ‘Roid-Rage and Owens on TO-Rage, the Bills’ locker room might be burned down by later August.

The most severe casualty: QB Trent Edwards. Lattimer is going to bury him in practice while Owens bashes him in the media. Trent’s best bet would be to use that Stanford degree and head into the business sector.

 

12. Denver Broncos—QB Jake Wyler (Not Another Teen Movie)

There is much speculation over whether or not Josh McDaniels and the Broncos will try and replace recently departed QB Jay Cutler via the draft or gamble on former Bears great Kyle Orton. This pick makes sense for a number of reasons, but mostly because Wyler fits every criteria that McDaniels apparently loves.

First, Wyler was a high school starter. McDaniels made his love for high school starters apparent when he tried to ship a 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback out of town for a Patriots system QB with an excellent high school resume.

Second, Wyler currently sits the bench (positive spin: he is resting his arm). McDaniels also loves bench-warmers, because QB Matt Cassel had “rested his arm” for about six years before Jesus Christ Tom Brady got hurt this year.

McDaniels sees another high-school-great-turned-bench-warmer available here and will no doubt pull the trigger.

 

13. Washington Redskins—LB Danny Bateman (The Replacements)

Dear Daniel Snyder, who is the craziest, most controversial person you can draft at No.13?

Snyder has a taste for big names, and behind Jerry Jones, he is the most free-wheeling owner on the market. Snyder has no problem dumping big money into a prospect if he is guaranteed results. Bateman fits this perfectly, as he is a cop with an anger problem.

Great character builder but also great football instinct. The Redskins linebacking core needs help on the outside, and even MLB London Fletcher is aging. Adding Bateman gives the Redskins a loud and talent-laden linebacker with enough years ahead of him to bolster a linebacking core.

 

14. New Orleans Saints—CB Steffen Djordjevic (All The Right Moves)

What kind of movie list would this be if Tom Cruise didn’t show up somewhere?

The New Orleans Saints secondary had so many holes in it last year that at one point the referees stopped play to make sure there were indeed 11 players on defense.

New Orleans re-signed All-WOrld LB Jonathan Vilma, so the linebacking core is set, but they need talent in their secondary, especially at cornerback.

Steffen Djordjevic (pronounced Jore-Juh-Vitch) is a fundamentally-sound cornerback with (no pun intended) all the right assets for the Saints defense.

Ironic twist of the year: Djordjevic gets drafted by Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, and despite going pro, does not get to leave the state of Pittsburgh…

 

15. Houston Texans—LB Nancy Seavers (Backfield In Motion)

The Houston Texans need a dominant defensive player to plug into their front seven with this pick. It could be a defensive end, which would allow superstar DE Mario Williams to avoid being triple-teamed, or it could be an outside linebacker, which the Texans are very shallow at.

Instead of picking one or the other, the Texans are going to select a DE/LB hybrid in LB Nancy Seavers. Quite simply, the Texans need the most dominant force available in this draft. If Rosie O’Donnell is not in the draft pool, then Nancy Seavers is far-and-away a one-woman wrecking crew.

It is unclear whether Seavers will hold out on her contract, as there are several perks that she demands. Most notably, she demands a DVD copy of every Tom Arnold movie (which might not exist) and a lifetime-for-free card to the nearest Outback Steakhouse.

 

16. San Diego Chargers—LB Becky “Icebox” O’Shea (Little Giants)

An NFL Draft first will happen here when two women are drafted back-to-back for the first and only time in history.

Becky “Icebox” O’Shea had an excellent performance against the Little Cowboys, highlighted by her goal line stuff of Cowboys All-Star RB Spike Hammersmith. When the Icebox isn’t out trolling for Devin Sawa look-a-likes, she is one of the most dominant linebackers in football.

The Chargers enter this draft very thin at linebacker, and worrying about the expiring contract of LB Shawne Merriman. O’Shea gives San Diego depth and youth at linebacker, something they will gladly take.

 

17. New York Jets—WR Air Bud (Air Bud: Golden Receiver)

The New York Jets lost a lot of offensive talent this offseason. While new head coach Rex Ryan led his band of Baltimore refugees to New York, most of the talent he brought was on the defensive side of the ball.

One of the Jets’ greatest needs in this draft is a playmaking wide receiver, and they can find that in WR Air Bud. Air Bud has the speed and hands to make himself a star in the NFL, the only question is if he will be able to comprehend the playbook or simply run the Devery-Henderson “Go Deep!” route every play.

Air Bud is a high risk and high reward kind of pick, and new coach Rex Ryan might be ballsy enough to make it.

 

18. Denver Broncos—LB Guard Lambert (The Longest Yard)

Something about Lambert’s appearance (played by Bill Romanowski) looks so familiar to the Broncos organization…

The Broncos signed MLB Andra Davis this offseason, but they have to know that more depth is needed. Guard Lambert had an excellent performance in the Guards vs. Prisoners game, and scouts say he is playing the best football of his life.

Needles and curse words aside, Lambert has the tools to be an All-Pro linebacker in the NFL, and the Broncos will take a waiver on him come draft day.

 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—QB Willie Beamen (Any Given Sunday)

I’m not sure if this pick is more appealing for the hot-headed nature of QB Willie Beamen or the what-might-have-been spats with always scowling ex-head coach Jon Gruden.

In this year’s draft, the Buccaneers are very interested in Kansas State QB Josh Freeman. Beamen holds nearly every talent that Freeman boasts, a rhyming name, and Grammy-winning musical talent. Pwned.

The Bucs need a solid quarterback. While QB Byron Leftwich might be an answer, they can’t go all-in on a quarterback who has busted out of a few other cities. Beamen is an insurance policy on Leftwich and a potential quarterback of the future.

 

20. Detroit Lions—K Nigel Gruff (The Replacements)

This much is certain: Even if QB Jonathan Moxon is the solution to Detroit’s offensive woes, the Lions probably won’t be scoring many TD’s this year.

What should Detroit do to guarantee they get on the board more than last year? Select a kicker who is good from about 75 yards and in.

Gruff has easily the strongest leg in NFL history, as he set an NFL record with the Washington Sentinels (and made the kick with distance to spare). An added bonus is Gruff’s sense of humor and savvy interactions with the media.

The fans will love him, and if the Lions’ offense stalls as much as we are expecting, he could set NFL records for field goals attempted, field goals made, points scored, wins, the NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL MVP awards. Too much potential to pass up.

 

21. Philadelphia Eagles—K Barney Gorman (The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon)

The Philadelphia Eagles draft strategy may as well read: First, take the most logical choice and throw it out the window. Second, take the player who could help Donovan McNabb the most and also throw it out the window. Third, take the player who the fans want and let him join the other two on their way out the window.

The Eagles front office will see K Nigel Gruff taken at No.20 and go into a frenzy over whether there is about to be a run on kickers in this draft. To play it safe and make sure that they get the kicker they want, they will pull the trigger on K Barney Gorman at No.21 instead of waiting until the sixth or seventh rounds.

It’s always funny in Philadelphia…

 

22. Minnesota Vikings—FB Turley (The Longest Yard)

With this pick, the Minnesota Vikings front office will finally admit that passing the ball is no longer an option.

QB Sage Rosenfels will return to the bench, where he can’t fumble a game away to the Colts, and QB Tarvaris Jackson will execute a newly-implemented power option playbook.

Turley makes perfect sense here, because if you are going to run the ball every down, you need a bruising fullback to clear the way. RB Adrian Peterson will recover from a near-coronary he suffered when Minnesota made this pick (he was expecting another WR or defensive player) and be ready to run the ball in 2009.

Look out for Minnesota to break records in total carries, total rushing yards, and quarterback fumbles.

 

23. New England Patriots—UTIL David Dunn (Unbreakable)

Bill Belichick has an uncanny ability to get 100 percent out of every player who suits up for him. In this year’s draft, he will take a waiver on former high school football star David Dunn, who has recently discovered that he has superhero strength and abilities.

Dunn might be a little rusty, but he will undoubtedly be the first player in NFL history to play at least one snap from every position on the field. His speed is excellent, his strength is unmatched, and he has one of the most brilliant coaches in history to move him around the field. This pick could be scary good…

 

24. Atlanta Falcons—OG Andre & Jamal Jackson (The Replacements)

Prior to this pick, it was illegal to draft two players with the same pick. However, the Jackson brothers made a visit to Roger Goodell’s house, put a few bullets in one of his cars, and just like that, the Falcons can draft both players with the same pick.

Atlanta’s draft strategy is simple: Protect Matt Ryan at all costs. QB Matt Ryan is obviously the future in Atlanta, and the Falcons front office has no problem drafting top-tier offensive linemen who can run-block for star RB Michael Turner and pass-block for star QB Matt Ryan.

Defense can wait, for now the Falcons want to follow priority number one: Keep Matt Ryan off of his back.

 

25. Miami Dolphins—WR Charlie Tweeder (Varsity Blues)

Every expert in the world has Miami taking a wide receiver with this pick.

The Dolphins receiving core is full of good but not great receivers, and at some point you need more star power than just WR Ted Ginn Jr.

Ginn lobbied heavily for this pick, as he is a big fan of Tweeder’s career at West Canaan High School and is dying to learn the Tweeder Endzone Dance.

The Dolphins front office has their work cut out for them in stopping Tweeder’s off-field antics (especially stealing police cars and driving them around town while naked), but if they can straighten him out off of the field, he has serious star power on it.

 

26. Baltimore Ravens—RB James “Boobie” Miles (Friday Night Lights)

There is good news and bad news that comes along with this pick. The good news is that Miles can add some star power to a muddled down Ravens running back pool. RB Willis McGahee is falling apart, RB Leron McClain is more of a fullback than anything else, and RB Ray Rice has moments of brilliance, but can’t seem to hold them together.

Miles’ highlight reel from high school is breathtaking, and his career at Permian High School is easily enough to warrant a draft pick. The bad news is that Miles has only one leg. He shredded up his ACL and MCL pretty bad in his senior year, and while he contends that he can play on it, scouts are not so optimistic.

It is yet to be seen if Miles can produce at the next level, but Baltimore is going to take a waiver on him and see if they can land top-five talent at No.26.

 

27. Indianapolis Colts—DT Switowski (The Longest Yard)

Some day the Indianapolis Colts hope that someone not named Dwight Freeney will introduce themselves to an opposing quarterback.

Freeney is a freak of nature, and opposite DE Robert Mathis, is also a good pass rusher, but there is a glaring hole at DT that needs to be filled immediately.

Switowski is a little bit soft, but the Colts are confident that they can toughen him up in training camp. The Colts front office knows you can’t coach sheer size and Switowski is loaded with it.

If the Colts can grab a solid DT with this pick look out for their front seven in 2009.

 

28. Buffalo Bills—LB Joey Battle (The Longest Yard)

Bills fans can mark this pick as the moment that the Buffalo locker room is destined to implode.

In football terms, the pick makes sense, because Battle (played by Bill Goldberg) bolsters the Buffalo linebacking core and complements No.11 pick DE Steve Lattimer to greatly improve the Bills defensive front seven.

Unfortunately, chaos will ensue when Battle enters the Buffalo locker room. One day, WR Terrell Owens is bound to walk by as Battle and (as Paul Crewe calls it, his pet iguana) are showering. When Owens sees Battle’s manhood, he will instantly feel belittled and go into a TO-esque media frenzy about all the things that are wrong in Buffalo.

Book it, it’s happening.

 

29. New York Giants—WR Deacon Moss (The Longest Yard)

Teammates are selected back-to-back here as LB Joey Battle and WR Deacon Moss will fly off the board one after the other.

The New York Giants lost WR Plaxico “Cheddar Plax” Burress this offseason and are currently trying to fill that void via trading (see the Braylon Edwards trade rumors for more details).

If a trade doesn’t work out, the Giants will use the No.29 pick to address their wide receiver problems. The only drawback to WR Deacon Moss is that he is, unfortunately, in prison. The good news is that he is replacing another receiver in legal trouble, so he can’t really look any worse.

Moss is the best receiving talent available here, and if the Giants still need a receiver, he is a lock to be picked.

 

30. Tennessee Titans—QB Joe Kane (The Program)

The Tennessee Titans front office has had many late-night drinking parties lamenting the fact that they let local icon QB Jay Cutler slip past them a few years back in favor of that-guy-who-was-good-in-college QB Vince Young. QB Kerry Collins is currently at the helm, but one has to think of how many years the Kerry Collins Show can continue.

Drafting QB Joe Kane here is good for a few reasons. First, it provides more competition at QB in Tennessee, which spurs players to play better. Second, it allows more options if/when Kerry Collins dies of old age while under contract in Tennessee.

The problem is that Tennessee doesn’t know about Joe Kane’s drinking problem yet, and the only way to find out is when he is arrested for public intoxication in downtown Nashville.

If both Kane and Young continue to ride the pine in Tennessee, look for several late night drinking parties and the inaugural “Joe and Vince’s drunken karaoke party.”

 

31. Arizona Cardinals—RB Wendell Brown (Varsity Blues)

With J.J. Arrington leaving town for Denver and Edgerrin James being placed in a nursing home last month, the Arizona Cardinals are facing serious depth problems at running back.

RB Wendell Brown is a perfect choice here. Why? Because he is used to never getting the ball, and in Arizona, they host a pass-happy offense. By Brown’s own admission, West Canaan High School’s coach Bud Kilmer ran him a lot between the 20s, but when it came down to the red zone the quarterbacks, always threw for TDs.

How insignificant is he? I couldn’t even find a picture of him without James Van Der Beek’s ugly mug in it as well…He better get used to being ignored in Arizona as well, because on the goal line, there is one play call and one play call only to get used to: lob it up to Larry Fitzgerald!

Brown is a talented running back and a good fit for the Arizona Cardinals.

 

32. Pittsburgh Steelers—CB Petey Jones (Remember the Titans)

The Pittsburgh Steelers look ready to repeat as champs. They have lost minimal talent this offseason, and should be able to run their team as efficiently as before with the tools they have in place for 2009.

One of their greatest offseason losses was CB Bryant McFadden. The Steelers will try to replace him with this pick, taking CB Petey Jones (not his racist pal Alan) with the No.32 pick. Jones looked like a shutdown corner playing for T.C. Williams High School, and the Steelers could use that kind of talent in their secondary.

Jones beat the other high school teams and beat racism in general…That’s some serious talent.

Early Second Round Draft Choices

QB Frank Cushman (Jerry Maguire)
QB Shane “Footsteps” Falco (The Replacements)
RB Earl Meggett (The Longest Yard)
RB Julian Washington (Any Given Sunday)
DT Andre Krimm (Necessary Roughness)
DE Julius Campbell (Remember The Titans)
LB Gerry Bertier (Remember the Titans)
CB Earl Wilkinson (The Replacements)
SS Brian Chavez (Friday Night Lights)

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Well, that’s it for the 2009 NFL Movie Character Mock Draft!

Please comment below on who I missed and who shouldn’t even be here!

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