w toledoblade.com + SECTION C, PAGE 8 NFL THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009 + DRAFT SELECTIONS ROUND ONE Southern California. Jenkins, Wells go in 1st 1. Detroit, Matthew Stafford, qb, 2002 – David Carr, Houston, QB, Georgia. Fresno State. 2. St. Louis, Jason Smith, ot, Baylor. 2001 – Michael Vick, Atlanta, QB, 3. Kansas City, Tyson Jackson, de, Virginia Tech. LSU. 2000 – Courtney Brown, Cleveland, OSU teammate Laurinaitis drafted in 2nd round 4. Seattle, Aaron Curry, lb, Wake DE, Penn State. 1999 – Tim Couch, Cleveland, QB, ASSOCIATED PRESS Forest. pro Tim Hightower at the running 5. New York Jets (from Cleveland), Kentucky. METAIRIE, La. — The New Or- back position. Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal. 1998 – Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, leans Saints selected Ohio State Wells’ new home fi eld will be 6. Cincinnati, Andre Smith, ot, Ala- QB, Tennessee. cornerback Malcolm Jenkins yes- University of Phoenix Stadium, bama. 1997 – Orlando Pace, St. Louis terday with the 14th pick in the where he rushed for 106 yards in 7. Oakland, Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Rams, T, Ohio State. Maryland. 1996 – Keyshawn Johnson, New York fi rst round of the NFL draft. 16 carries in Ohio State’s 24-21 8. Jacksonville, Eugene Monroe, ot, Jets, WR, Southern California. Jenkins, the Thorpe Award win- loss to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl last Virginia. 1995 – Ki-Jana Carter, Cincinnati, RB, ner as the nation’s best defensive season. 9. Green Bay, B.J. Raji, Boston Col- Penn State. back last year, had a career-high In three seasons with the Buck- lege. 1994 – Dan Wilkinson, Cincinnati, 57 tackles, intercepted three eyes, the 6-foot-1, 237-yard back 10. San Francisco, Michael Crabtree, DE, Ohio State. passes and forced three fumbles. wr, Texas Tech. 1993 – Drew Bledsoe, New England, Jenkins Wells from Akron rushed for 3,382 yards, 11. Buffalo, Aaron Maybin, de, Penn QB, Washington State. He started 45 of 49 games at Ohio averaging 5.78 yards per attempt. State. 1992 – Steve Emtman, Indianapolis, State, fi nishing his career with went to Denver at No. 12 and He gained 1,609 in 2007 and, 12. Denver, Knowshon Moreno, rb, DE, Washington. 196 tackles and 11 interceptions, Georgia. Donald Brown of Connecticut to despite missing the three games, 1991 – Russell Maryland, Dallas, DL, returning two for touchdowns. He 13. Washington, Brian Orakpo, de, Miami. Indianapolis at No. 27. gained 1,197 yards as a junior last was an Associated Press fi rst-team Texas. 1990 – Jeff George, Indianapolis, QB, Wells had been projected to go season. 14. New Orleans, Malcolm Jenkins, All-Big Ten choice as a junior and Illinois. somewhere in the middle of the Wells will have to adjust from db, Ohio State. 1989 – Troy Aikman, Dallas, QB, senior. round, if not sooner. the run-oriented Ohio State style 15. Houston, Brian Cushing, lb, UCLA. Ohio State went 43-8 in his four Southern Cal. “If you could have told me going to the prolifi c passing game of the 1988 – Aundray Bruce, Atlanta, LB, years, winning or sharing the Big 16. San Diego, Larry English, lb, into this draft today that we would Cardinals. That means blocking to Auburn. Ten title all four seasons. Northern Illinois. 1987 – Vinny Testaverde, Tampa Bay, have had a chance to get him with protect Kurt Warner and catching 17. Tampa Bay (from N.Y. Jets through Jenkins was the fi rst defensive QB, Miami. our 31st pick, I would have been passes out of the backfi eld. Cleveland), Josh Freeman, qb, Kansas back taken in the draft. He played 1986 – Bo Jackson, Tampa Bay, RB, very excited,” Arizona coach Ken “I defi nitely can,” he said. “It State. Auburn. every game at cornerback for Ohio Whisenhunt said. “Needless to just wasn’t part of our scheme at 18. Denver (from Chicago), Robert 1985 – Bruce Smith, Buffalo, DT, State but may play free safety for Ayers, de, Tennessee. say, we’re very pleased. He’s been a Ohio State, but that’s something I Virginia Tech. the Saints. He ran the 40-yard 19. Philadelphia (from Tampa Bay 1984 – Irving Fryar, New England, WR, very productive running back in a know I can do.” through Cleveland), Jeremy Maclin, wr, dash in 4.51 seconds at the NFL Nebraska. very good conference.” Missouri. scouting combine in February, 1983 – John Elway, Baltimore, QB, Wells said he was not disap- Rams take Laurinaitis 20. Detroit (from Dallas), Brandon slower than the ideal speed for a Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State. Stanford. pointed that he wasn’t chosen ST. LOUIS — In the second 1982 – Kenneth Sims, New England, cornerback. 21. Cleveland (from Philadelphia), sooner. round, the St. Louis Rams ad- DT, Texas. The Saints scored an NFL-best Alex Mack, c, California. “I knew this whole process was dressed a defensive need with 1981 – George Rogers, New Orleans, 463 points in 2008 but fi nished 22. Minnesota, Percy Harvin, wr, going to be a blessing for me,” Ohio State All-American lineback- Florida. RB, South Carolina. last in the NFC South at 8-8 be- 1980 – Billy Sims, Detroit, RB, he said. “So many kids or college er James Laurinaitis. The 6-2, 244- 23. Baltimore (from New England), cause they allowed 393 points, the Oklahoma. players grow up wanting to play in pound Laurinaitis was Big Ten de- Michael Oher, ot, Mississippi. seventh-highest total. Much of the 24. Atlanta, Peria Jerry, dt, Missis- 1979 – Tom Cousineau, Buffalo, LB, the National Football League and fensive player of year and led the Ohio State. attention fell on a secondary that sippi. I’m just blessed to have the oppor- school in tackles three times. 1978 – Earl Campbell, Houston, RB, allowed 221.7 passing yards per 25. Miami, Vontae Davis, db, Illinois. tunity. I’m just so excited I can’t General manager Billy Devaney 26. Green Bay (from Baltimore through Texas. game. get the words out right now.” said the Rams had explored trad- New England), Clay Matthews, lb, 1977 – Ricky Bell, Tampa Bay, RB, ing up to a late fi rst-round slot to Southern Cal. Southern California. Concerns about durability ap- 1976 – Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay, Wells to Arizona make sure Laurinaitis, the son of 27. Indianapolis, Donald Brown, rb, parently led to Wells’ availability Connecticut. DE, Oklahoma. TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona so late in the fi rst round. A report former professional wrestler Joe 28. Buffalo (from Carolina through 1975 – Steve Bartkowski, Atlanta, QB, Cardinals, looking to improve surfaced in the days leading up to “The Animal” Laurinaitis, was still Philadelphia), Eric Wood, c, Louisville. California. the worst ground game in pro the draft that a structural problem available. Instead, Devaney said, 29. New York Giants, Hakeem Nicks, 1974 – Ed Jones, Dallas, DE, Tennes- football, selected running back in his foot could lead to further the Rams “sweated it out” for a wr, North Carolina. see State. Chris “Beanie” Wells with the 31st player who fulfi lls their desire for 30. Tennessee, Kenny Britt, wr, 1973 – John Matuszak, Houston, DE, injuries like the one that sidelined Rutgers. Tampa. pick overall, giving Ohio State two him for three games last season. more size at the position. 31. Arizona, Chris Wells, rb, Ohio 1972 – Walt Patulski, Buffalo, DE, players selected in the fi rst round. But Arizona general manager Laurinaitis said his agent, St. State. Notre Dame. The NFC champions wanted a Rod Graves said the team was Louis-based Tom Condon, told 32. Pittsburgh, Evander Hood, dt, 1971 – Jim Plunkett, New England, running back, and Wells was the confi dent the foot “did not present him the Rams wanted to pick him. Missouri. QB, Stanford. last of the top three available left He’s billed as a three-down line- 1970 – Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh, itself as a major problem.” ROUND TWO QB, Louisiana Tech. when the team fi nally made its With James’ impending depar- backer with coverage skills and made an impression with his fi rst 33. Detroit, Louis Delmas, db, 1969 – O.J. Simpson, Buffalo (AFL), choice. ture, Wells will join second-year Western Michigan. RB, Southern California. Knowshon Moreno of Georgia workout in St. Louis. 34. New England (from Kansas City), 1968 – Ron Yary, Minnesota, T, South- Patrick Chung, db, Oregon. ern California. 35. St. Louis, James Laurinaitis, lb, 1967 – Bubba Smith, Baltimore, DT, Ohio State. Michigan State. 36. Cleveland, Brian Robiskie, wr, 1966 – Tommy Nobis, Atlanta, LB, Lions take Stafford with top pick Ohio State. Texas. 37. Denver (from Seattle), Alphonso 1966 – Jim Grabowski, Miami (AFL), ASSOCIATED PRESS plenty of them to overcome with might get a chance to develop Smith, db, Wake Forest. RB, Illinois. ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The De- the Lions. slowly, watching Daunte Culpep- 38. Cincinnati, Rey Maualuga, lb, 1965 – Tucker Frederickson, N.Y. Gi- Southern Cal. ants, RB, Auburn. troit Lions became the NFL’s fi rst He will, though, be paid well. per from the sideline. 39. Jacksonville, Eben Britton, ot, 1965 – Lawrence Elkins, Houston 0-16 team last season in large part Stafford, from Dallas, signed a But Stafford isn’t conceding Arizona. (AFL), WR, Baylor. because their defense was one of six-year contract with $41.7 mil- anything. 40. New England (from Oakland), Ron 1964 – Dave Parks, San Francisco, the worst in league history. lion in guarantees and $78 million “I’m a competitive guy,” Staf- Brace, dt, Boston College. WR, Texas Tech. Detroit decided to ignore its 41. New England (from Green Bay), 1964 – Jack Concannon, Boston in maximum value. ford said. “I’m going to try to get Darius Butler, db, Connecticut.