... Or, Draft Day... Baby!

Every year, Mike Langford and I make a small wager on our first round NFL Draft predictions. Usually we end up somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 or so correct each. This year will be no different. But here are the rules just in case you're interested.

1.) One point for picking the right player at the right pick.
2.) One point for picking the right player for the right team.

Pretty simple, really. So, for example... If Joe Smith goes to the San Diego Chargers with the 16th pick and that's what you predicted, you get one point. If the Chargers trade their pick to Cleveland and Cleveland picks Joe Smith at #16 you get one point. If Joe Smith falls to #31 but San Diego some how manages to acquire him by the end of the day, you get one point.

So, here it goes... The definitive 2009 NFL Draft predicition list thingamabob. I've included analysis for the first 10 picks. The rest... Well, I'm just kinda firing in the dark.

#1 Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia, to the Detroit Lions -- Yes, the Lions are coming off of the worst season in NFL history and need help EVERYWHERE! Yes, their draft picks have sucked (with the pending exception of Calvin Johnson) over the past... Hmm... 20 years. I think Stafford will be a serviceable QB in the league but I don't see him as a 'gotta have him' kinda guy. The Lions will overpay him (because they have to at the #1 pick) and will be in a similar situation in a few years.

#2 Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, to the St. Louis Rams -- You know where teams are built? That's right... on the offensive line. This guy is the best O-lineman in the draft... Look what fellow Michigan alum and fellow former Flint area native did for Miami last year.

#3 Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest to the Kansas City Chiefs -- The Chiefs addressed their need at QB by getting Matt Cassell in a steal of a trade. So what do they do here? They take what may very well be the best player in the draft at a position that they desperately need help. KC will be much improved next year.

#4 Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia to the Seattle Seahawks -- O-line. The most important position in the game. The 'Hawks addressed their need at WR (thank you, TJ Houshmanzadeh). This pick makes perfect sense.

#5 Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech to the Cleveland Browns -- Braylon Edwards is likely headed to New York with NY's deep pockets and loss of Plexiglass Plaxico Burress) and Donte' Stallworth's legal situation, this one almost sells itself, too. It's too bad that this talent will be stuck in Cleveland where (unless your name is LeBron) you can't get marketed. Ever. For anything.

#6 Michael Oher, OL, Mississippi to the Cincinnati Bengals --It's not so much that his stock is climbing, it's that Andre Smith is falling that far. He'll fit their need.

#7 Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri to the Oakland Raiders -- Maclin is an explosive receiver and a playmaker. Current Raiders' QB Jamarcus Russell has no weapons. Raiders' owner Al Davis is crazier than a rat in a shit house. This pick makes sense but Oakland is still a few years ago from doing anything.

#8 Mark Sanchez, QB, USC to the Jacksonville Jaguars -- Sanchez is climbing the draft boards awfully quick. He'll be a better value than Stafford in the long-term. The problem is he might not fit into Jacksonville's system at all. Jacksonville needs a QB but I'm not convinced that Sanchez fits their current system.

#9 Bryan Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas to the Green Bay Packers -- He fits their defensive scheme and the Packers are going to have to face a quality quarterback in their division (Jay Cutler) twice a year now and will need someone to chase him down. Not the sexiest pick in the draft, but he'll be there for years to come.

#10 Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU to the San Francisco 49ers -- This pick could very well be interchangeable with the above one. In the interest of having to make my picks, he goes here.

#11 Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee to the Buffalo Bills
#12 BJ Raji, DT, Boston College to the Denver Broncos
#13 Andre Smith, OL, Alabama to the Washington Redskins
#14 Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State to the New Orleans Saints
#15 Rey Maualuga, LB, USC to the Houston Texans
#16 Clay Matthews, LB, USC to the San Diego Chargers
#17 Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St. to the New York Jets
#18 Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn St. to the Denver Broncos
#19 Everette Brown, DE, Florida St. to the Tampa Bay Bucs
#20 Brian Cushing, LB, USC to the Detroit Lions
#21 Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia to the Philadelphia Eagles
#22 Eben Britton, OT, Arizona to the Minnesota Vikings
#23 Max Unger, OL, Oregon to the New England Patriots
#24 Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St. to the Atlanta Falcons
#25 Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut to the Miami Dolphins
#26 Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland to the Baltimore Ravens
#27 Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss to the Indianapolis Colts
#28 William Beatty, OT, Connecticut to the Buffalo Bills
#29 James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State to the New York Giants
#30 Percy Harvin, WR, Florida to the Tennessee Titans
#31 Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St. to the Arizona Cardinals
#32 Alex Mack, C, California to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Look out, Mel Kiper!