Now that the NFL season has ended, fans of the many teams that didn’t have postseason success can now turn their attention toward free agency and then 2009 NFL Draft.

While free agency tends to get most of the attention, the draft is a proven way to quickly improve a team. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons (Matt Ryan), Baltimore Ravens (Joe Flacco) and Tennessee Titans (Chris Johnson) how much the draft can help.

Here’s a look at a few 2009 NFL Draft prospects who could come in and make a difference right away:

Matthew Stafford, Georgia
If there’s a quarterback prospect who could perform like Matt Ryan did in 2008, that person is likely Matthew Stafford of Georgia. Although he doesn’t possess great size, he knows how to lead an offense and he should be ready to step in right away and produce. With the Detroit Lions having the first pick in the draft, there’s a relatively good chance that Stafford will end up going number one overall.

Mark Sanchez, USC
Another quarterback prospect, Mark Sanchez had the advantage of playing in a pro style offense while at USC. With USC producing a number of quality quarterbacks in recent years such as Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel, NFL scouts will likely be confident that Sanchez’s college performances should translate well to the next level.

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Many NFL scouts consider Michael Crabtree to be the most talented player in the 2009 NFL Draft. The wide receiver from Texas Tech runs fantastic routes, has great hands and should be able to step in and perform at a high level right away. While in college, Crabtree almost single-handedly made the Red Raiders a National Championship contender.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
Georgia is known for creating quality NFL running backs and Knowshon Moreno will likely be the next in that line. Though he’s only about 5-foot-10, he has an explosive running style that will make him very useful in the NFL. He’s strong enough that he should eventually be able to carry the ball 20 to 25 times per game.

Chris Wells, Ohio State
Has there been a more well-known player in college football in the last few years than Chris “Beanie” Wells? Wells is well-known for a reason. He’s a very talented running back who could blossom into a franchise player on the NFL level.

Tags: 2009 nfl draft, Football, NFL, nfl free agency
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