Aaron Maybin’s recent internet statement has inspired a fair amount of chatter on a couple of different threads. It got me thinking (always dangerous) so I decided to put together the stats for the 2009 first rounders in order to see if Maybin was the only non-factor to come out of the initial 32 picks. I added in ESPN’s unofficial depth chart info—it’s unofficial to the point that Schobel still appears on Buffalo’s roster. The stats are from the NFL.com website. Here is the full list of 2009 first rounders:

1. Stafford--starting QB: 2367 yards, 13 TDs, 20 INTs

2. Jason Smith--starting RT: 5 starts, played in 8 games

3. Tyson Jackson--starting DE: 38 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

4. Curry--starting LB: 61 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

5. Sanchez--starting QB: 2444 yards, 12 TDs, 20 INTs

6. Andre Smith--starting RT: 1 start, played in 6 games

7. Heyward-Bey--starting WR: 9 Rec, 124 yards, 1 TD

8. Monroe--starting LT: 13 starts, played in 15 games

9. Raji—second string DT: 25 tackles, 1 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

10. Crabtree--starting WR: 48 Rec, 625 yards, 2 TD

11. Maybin—second string LB: 18 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

12. Moreno—second string RB: 247 carries, 947 yards, 7 TDs

13. Orakpo--starting OLB: 50 tackles, 11 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

14. Jenkins—nickle CB: 55 tackles, 0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INTs

15. Cushing—starting LB: 133 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 INTs

16. English—second string LB: 36 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

17. Freeman—starting QB: 1855 yards, 10 TDs, 18 INTs

18. Ayers—starting LB: 19 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

19. Maclin—starting WR: 56 Rec, 773 yards, 4 TD

20. Pettigrew—starting TE: 30 Rec, 346 yards, 2 TD

21. Mack—starting C: 16 starts, played in 16 games

22. Harvin—second string WR: 60 Rec, 790 yards, 6 TD

23. Oher—starting RT: 16 starts, played in 16 games

24. Jerry—second string DT: 1 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

25. Vontae Davis—starting CB: 51 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 4 INTs

26. Clay Matthews—starting LB: 51 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

27. Donald Brown—second string RB: 78 carries, 281 yards, 3 TDs

28. Eric Wood—starting RG: 10 starts, played in 10 games

29. Nicks—starting WR: 47 Rec, 790 yards, 6 TD

30. Britt—second string WR: 42 Rec, 701 yards, 3 TD

31. Wells—second string RB: 176 carries, 793 yards, 7 TDs

32. E Hood—second string DE: 8 tackles, 1 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 INTs

The players who didn’t represent an immediate return on investment:

6. Andre Smith: broke his foot pretty much right after ending his holdout

7. Heyward-Bey: another very strange Al Davis pick

11. Maybin: unhappiness with how he’s viewed by fans aside…

18. Ayers: oddly enough, a lot of us thought the Bills would take Ayers

24. Jerry: lost for the year in game 2

32: E Hood: not much to say here

It’s interesting to me that four of the six first round players who didn’t contribute much were on the defensive side of the ball. Three of them were defensive linemen (Ayers plays LB) and three of them were more or less healthy in 2009 (Jerry lost for year). Dropping Jerry from the mix—because he didn’t produce through no fault of his own—we’re left with Maybin, Ayers and Hood. Ayers wound up in McDaniel’s doghouse though I don’t recall why. It resulted in Ayers being benched and, thus, missing time. I don’t recall seeing Mayin or Hood being associated with unhappy coaches. Frustrated with their lack of progress, perhaps, but not angry.

As an aside, I’m also kind of surprised that only 6 of the 32 players selected in the first round didn’t produce in their initial season. True, some of the stats above aren’t exactly impressive—and if the players don’t improve they’ll eventually be labeled as busts. For example, if Jason Smith never becomes a very good LT he’ll be called a bust simply because the first tackle off the board isn’t supposed to be a career RT.

To swing this back to Maybin, he’s one of the few 2009 first rounders to have no impact. He’s entering the first preseason game as part of the second team, never mind that Schobel has been released. Opportunity banged on the door again when Kelsay missed significant camp time due to injury. The stars have aligned for Maybin (high draft status, injuries to other LBs) and he hasn’t taken advantage. This isn’t a make-or-break year for Maybin. It is his chance to show something, anything that will justify his selection--not #11 overall but just being picked.

To my way of thinking Aaron Maybin has nothing to chirp about until he does.