Mel Kiper's 2009 Draft Report lands in my mailbox; groans follow

Not bad. I ordered this Friday afternoon from Kiper's site for a cool $28 and it arrived a few days later.

That is the good.

This is the first time I've ordered Kiper's book. Why did I order it? Only to faux-review it in an MtD post. Are you feeling the love? I don't really have a need for it, as I've already come to my own opinions at this point in the draft season (that's right, season).

The book is just over 130 pages and has the feel of a gameday program. It's all black and white, except the heavy blue on the front and back covers. The only artwork inside is school-provied headshots.

Kiper gets right to the point in the book and is reviewing quarterbacks by the second page. Personally, I would have liked to see some kind of essay or overview then the breakdowns.

Kiper's analysis is a little bland. He gives some basic background – measurables, stats, history – before providing a paragraph of analysis. So, this is really nothing more than what you'd find from any draft publication. In fact, it's a little less.

But, since he is the Mel Kiper Jr., this costs $28? Excuse me if feel a little ripped off here. Paying $7 or $8 for a draft guide feels like a rip, let alone $20 more.

How many players Kiper analyzes varies by postion. Just looking at it real quick he goes "in-depth" on 27 defensive ends but only 12 on centers. He does do a nice job of providing a large ranked list of each position. However, for $28, I would hope to know a little about, say, the 6-foot-4 offensive tackle from Monmouth.

The back of the book includes team needs and random lists like guys who have improved themselves the most in the offseason.

There are some good things here – up-to-date Combine numbers, solid background information – but definitely not enough to warrant buying it.

If Kiper improved it and made it easier to read, I'd consider it again.

Until that happens, know this: Over the summer at MtD, after all the 2009 draft talk dies down, you will absolutely, positively find a lot of the information you'd find in one of these books for free right here. And I'll even throw it together in a much nicer looking PDF magazine you can download and print out. I guarantee it (unless the powers that be decide to close this blog down).

I may not be Mel Kiper or Todd McShay or Mike Mayock, but I think I know a little bit. That, combined with the awesome SB Nation group (and groupies?) we can do something really good.

Bank on it.

(hey, you know what else you can bank on? A hassle-free $20 from your's truly! All you have to do is pick Mr. Irrelevant correctly. Find out more here.)