The 2009 NFL draft was good to the University of Missouri football family.  With six players selected, the Tigers kept pace with or outclassed many of the national powers, including 2009 BCS title game participants Florida and Oklahoma.  In addition, record-setting quarterback Chase Daniel signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins a few days after the draft.  

Some guys will be counted on to make significant contributions right away, while others will struggle just to make the team.  Here's a rundown of what each former Tiger should expect as they embark on their new career.

WR Jeremy Maclin was the first of the bunch to hear his name called on draft day, going to Philadelphia with the 19th selection.  For years the organization has been trying to find a true number one receiver for QB Donovan McNabb, and the hope is that Maclin can fill that role.   

During his time in Columbia, Maclin established himself as arguably the most explosive player in college football.  Lethal as both a receiver and a return man, he scored 32 touchdowns in 28 contests and became just the third player in NCAA history to average over 200 all-purpose yards per game.  His ability to make would-be tacklers miss and burst through a defensive seam will make him a serious weapon in head coach Andy Reid's West Coast Offense.  

While the the pairing of Maclin with fellow wideout DeSean Jackson certainly gives Philadelphia one of the more dangerous receiving duos in the league,  they are very similar players and there has to be some concern that they won't compliment each other very well.  Both have fairly light builds and neither one figures to be very good at trying to out-muscle good press coverage.  

Maclin was a great value for the Eagles at 19, and should be able to contribute right away.  Rookie wideouts usually experience some growing pains, and it probably isn't fair to expect him to be an integral part of the offense right out of the gate.  His greatest value to the team in the early part of the year may be as a kick or punt returner.  While that is one of Jackson's strengths as well, Reid surely will find a way to get Maclin involved sooner rather than later. 

With the final pick of the first round, the Steelers snagged DT Evander Hood.  Free of any significant holes, the defending champs found a stout and energetic player who can add immediate depth and develop into a starter down the road.

Hood had a senior season to remember, being voted a team captain and earning All-Big 12 first-team honors.  Called the most tenacious player on the team by head coach Gary Pinkel, he terrorized opposing quarterbacks, recording five sacks and also forcing five interceptions on his 12 QB hurries. 

Weighing in at 300 pounds, Hood is fast (4.97 in the 40) and powerful (34 bench press reps at the combine).  Although he played defensive tackle at Missouri, his combination of size, speed and strength makes him a perfect fit to play end in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense.  His position will change, but he'll still be asked to fight off multiple blockers and penetrate into the backfield.  

Having spent his entire career as an interior lineman, it will be interesting to see how Hood adjusts to playing on the edge.  He doesn't have overwhelming athleticism, and will have to rely on his great motor and intelligence as he settles into his new responsibilities.  He won't be asked to carry a great load, however, and can learn as he goes as part of the Steelers' defensive rotation.  Tough and hard-working, Hood is the kind of player who will fit in very well in the Steel City.

The next Tiger off the board was S William Moore.  As part of a total defensive makeover that saw Atlanta draft seven defenders out of eight total picks, he will be asked to help bring the level of play on that side of the ball up to par with that of the offense.  

Moore came to Missouri as a wide receiver, but shifted to cornerback immediately before moving permanently to safety.  The position changes proved to be worth it, as he set the Mizzou single-season record with 8 interceptions during his junior year.  At the time he was projected by some as a top-ten pick, but decided the NFL could wait and returned for his senior season.  Unfortunately, he was slowed by an ankle injury and wasn't able to replicate the success of his previous campaign.  His draft stock subsequently plummeted, allowing the Falcons to pluck him with the 55th pick.

Atlanta was one of the great stories in the NFL last season, improving their win total by seven games over the previous year.  The majority of that success was attributable to Rookie of the Year QB Matt Ryan, MVP runner-up RB Michael Turner and the rest of the offense.  The defense lagged far behind, and Moore should be able to step in and contribute immediately.  At 6' and 221 pounds, he has ideal size and is a punishing tackler.  He also combines great hands with an excellent closing burst, and is a natural playmaker.  His four career interception returns for touchdowns, in fact, is just one shy of the Big 12 record.

In addition to his 2008 ankle injury, Moore has battled a litany of physical ailments going back to his freshman year.  Despite his rugged build, staying healthy may prove difficult for a player sure to have his share of violent collisions on the field.  It's also not entirely known if he has totally recovered from last season's ailments. 

There's no guarantee that Moore will return to the form he displayed during the 2007 season.  If he can, he'll be an impact player in the Atlanta secondary and one of the steals of the draft.  He has all the tools to be a one-man wrecking crew.

The Bengals picked the most prolific pass-catching tight end in NCAA history with their third round pick.  Chase Coffman will join Carson Palmer and Chad Ocho Cinco as Cincinnati looks to reinvigorate what was an often sputtering offense in 2008.

After sharing the spotlight with fellow tight end Martin Rucker for his first three seasons, Coffman wrapped up a brilliant Tigers career by catching an eye-popping 90 balls for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior year.  Presented the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, he left Missouri as the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions.

Coffman is one of the new breed of tight ends who are essentially overgrown wide receivers with their ability to catch the football and create match-up problems in the passing game.  With Ocho Cinco and the newly-signed Laveranues Coles working outside, Coffman will give Palmer a sure-handed target in the middle of the field. 

Despite his college production and receiving skills, the Mizzou product was the fourth tight end selected in the draft.  He slipped because of poor 40 times, concerns about his blocking ability, and a history of foot injuries.  There's no question that he'll struggle to be anything more than a possession-type receiver as he lacks the speed found in premier tight ends such as Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark.  He also has little experience as a traditional in-line blocker, as he was typically aligned in the slot in Pinkel's spread attack.  As for his injury  troubles, there is certainly reason to worry as he has battled through bone spurs, turf toe, and a broken fifth metatarsal.

As he begins his career, Coffman will likely be used in passing situations as he adjusts to the requirements of the pro game.  It's difficult to say whether he'll ever develop into a quality every-down player in the NFL, but if he can improve his blocking technique and stay healthy, he certainly has the chance.

OT Colin Brown will stay in the Show Me State as the Chiefs grabbed him in the fifth round.  A former walk-on, he earned a scholarship after redshirting in his first season, then developed into a two-year starter and all-conference performer at right tackle. 

Brown will likely be something of a project.  He has ideal size, but doesn't overpower defenders.  He also has limited experience as a run-blocker or coming out of a three-point stance.  For the time being, he'll add some depth to the Kansas City line and could develop into a solid player down the road.

The man with the best handle in the draft, Stryker Sulak, will look to make a name for himself with the Raiders.  A full-time defensive end at Mizzou, he'll probably need to adjust to life as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the NFL level.

Sulak saw extensive playing time during his tenure with the Tigers.  He shared freshmen of the year honors with Coffman in 2005, then was named to the all-conference team in each of the next three seasons.  A dangerous edge rusher with good speed for his size, Sulak was one of the premier playmakers in the country last year, recording 10.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss.

Despite putting up goudy numbers in college, his game will have to change in order for him to make it at the next level.  At just 251 pounds, he lacks the bulk to be a full-time defensive end in the NFL.  As a result, he'll have to learn to play with his hand off the ground as an outside linebacker.  He looks to be a classic 'tweener, and may have trouble making the adjustment.  He's hasn't been asked to drop into coverage much, and stopping the run has not been a strength.  He was too good in college to simply write off, but he'll likely have to flourish as a role player and special teamer in order to make the team.

Ironically, the player who made the biggest name for himself in college may be the guy who'll have the toughest time dodging the training camp chopping block.  The draft came and went, and Commissioner Roger Goodell never called QB Chase Daniel's name.  While this wasn't a surprise, it does mean the former Heisman finalist has a big hill to climb if he's going to catch on with Washington after signing a free agent contract with the club following the draft.

Daniel has been the face of the Tigers football team for the past three years.  During that time, he led one of the more explosive offensive attacks in the nation, throwing for 12,515 yards and 100 touchdowns over the course of his career.  Accurate and intelligent, he is known as a good leader who is quick to make his reads.

But for all of Daniel's intangibles, he comes up short, both literally and figuratively, in terms of what NFL scouts look for in a quarterback.  At just 6' tall, he'll be a full head shorter than most of his linemen, and its thought that he'll have trouble seeing his receivers downfield.  Though this wasn't an issue for him at Missouri, he won't be operating out of the shotgun on a regular basis as he was in college.  Additionally, he lacks the kind of arm strength usually associated with a pro quarterback.

There is some precedent in the modern NFL for quarterbacks in the six footish and below club finding success.  Michael Vick was very effective at times, and Doug Flutie did great things at stops in Buffalo and San Diego.  The difference is, however, that both of these players were far more athletic than Daniel.  They were able to physically out-class their opponents in some aspects of the game, something that the former Tiger won't be able to do.  His video game-esque collegiate statistics, along with his mental make-up, have earned him a shot to compete for a roster spot, or a perhaps a position on the practice squad.  Certainly nothing is promised, though.

Of the seven former Tigers trying their hand at pro ball for the first time this season, there are several guys you can count on making it, and a few who will have to fight for their football lives.  But no matter what happens, there will be a lot for Mizzou fans to pay attention to when training camp opens this fall.