Now that the 2008 NFL Draft has come & gone, Mel Kiper & Todd McShay won’t have to be heard from again until training camp, when some of the higher selected players are still holding out.

With all their in-depth analysis and high-level face time in front of the cameras, how did ESPN’s draft experts do in predicting the picks?

Not that well.

JOE SPORTS FAN dissects Mel & Todd’s decisions on who was to be selected in the first half of the Draft, and compares it to who was actually chosen:

Out of the first 135 picks, Todd McShay picked nine for an accuracy percentage of 6.67%. In the biggest surprise of the day, McShay actually nailed one in the fourth round - Cody Wallace to the 49ers at pick #107 - no doubt by complete stroke of luck.

Defending champ Mel Kiper picked a whopping eight correct, leaving him at a sterling 5.93% accuracy rate. For all the research Kiper does throughout the year, the last pick he got correct was #22, Felix Jones to the Cowboys. That made him zero for his last 113.

In comparison, JSF notes that their pre-picks scored only slightly smaller with a 4.4% accuracy rate. Keep in mind that their mock draft included such selections as a KFC Family Meal, Danica Patrick & Jm J. Bullock.

No wonder Mel & Todd are getting the big bucks & big screen time from the Boys at Bristol.

But for going one pick better, McShay can be declared the *big* draft winner. Maybe he should get to sit closer to Chris Berman during next year’s coverage.

But is that a reward or punishment? You make the call!