Three former Georgia Bulldogs had the good fortune of being selected on the opening day of this year’s NFL Draft.

QB Matthew Stafford, to noone’s surprise, went at No. 1 to the woeful Detroit Lions. Knowshon Moreno went higher than most predicted at No. 12 to the Denver Broncos and WR Mohammed Massaquoi was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 50th overall pick.

All three are DGDs who will be sorely missed. Personally, I think back to the two signature wins of their careers, 2007 Auburn and 2007 Florida, and how instrumental each were in those wins. It’s then that I realize what a tremendous loss it will be for the offensive unit next year. There is nothing to do but savor their time here. How long will it be before a Dawg QB and RB go in the top 12 picks?

Knowshon talks with Colbert on ESPN.

ESPN NFL crew discuss the Stafford pick. Cameo by Herbstreit near the end.

More video of Stafford being selected No. 1 overall.

Kevin Seifert explains the Lions’ infatuation with Stafford.

And since there isn’t much punditry happening on the 50th overall pick, I’ll go with one of my favorite Massaquoi moments.

After that throw and catch I thought, “We can do this.” They did.

So what Dogs to look out for during the draft’s second day? CB Asher Allen and FB Brannon Southerland are the Dog’s highest rated prospects. Then there is DE Jarius Wynn, LB Dannell Ellerbe and S CJ Byrd.

This is Erin Andrews interview with Stafford after being selected number one.

Image: AP

It seems like today is a day Matthew Stafford has known was coming since he was a 16 year old junior at Highland Park High School in Texas. The day he’d go in the first round of the NFL Draft. Did he have the swagger to think he’d be the first overall pick? Maybe. Likely even.

Well, his day is here. Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions reached a deal worth 41.7 million guaranteed, ensuring that he will be the first player taken in this year’s NFL Draft.

There will not be a holdout with the top pick in the 2009 NFL draft. The Detroit Lions and agents for Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford reached an agreement on a record-setting contract that will pay Stafford a guaranteed $41.7 million.

Stafford becomes only the third Georgia Bulldog selected first overall in the NFL draft. Following the all-time greats Charlie Trippi and Frank Sinkwich.

UPDATE: NFL.com has disabled embedding for this video. You have to go watch it here.

It looks like Stafford to Detroit is becoming more of a certainty every day. The Lions are still negotiating with Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry for leverage during the negotations.

Interesting comments from the talking heads comparing Stafford to Ryan. The consensus being Ryan was better prepared for the NFL. Hard to disagree with that considering Matt Ryan was a fifth year senior compared to Stafford who is entering the draft as a true junior.

More from the AJC.

Matthew Stafford is everywhere. Here is a great clip of him doing some damage to the fine china on Jimmy Fallon last night. This time last year he was winding down from spring practice at UGA. What a difference a year makes.

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In an effort to manufacture drama about the first pick of this year’s NFL draft, Sporting News publishes an article examining just how far Stafford and Sanchez (pffft) would fall if the Lions got cold feet and went with a safer pick like Aaron Curry (LB, Wake Forest) with the number one overall selection.

The Chiefs’ decision raises the stakes for Stafford and Sanchez. If the Lions do not take Stafford with the No. 1 pick, he could take a long tumble. Consider that the Rams (No. 2), Chiefs (No. 3), Seahawks (No. 4), Browns (No. 5), Bengals (No. 6) and Raiders (No. 7) do not consider quarterback a top priority. Perhaps the Jaguars will take a quarterback at No. 8, especially if Stafford drops that far. But it’s not inconceivable for Stafford to fall to the 49ers at No. 10.

First off, Stafford will be the first QB taken. Another lame way to try and drum up false suspense is create anticipation over finding out “Who will be the first QB taken?”. Cue McShay-Kiper pissing match. Fact is, Stafford would have to crap himself at Pro day to fall below Sanchez.

A more appropriate topic for the article may be “Mark Sanchez could slide into the second round”. But naaahh, they like banging on Stafford too much.

Matt Ryan and Jo Flacco have shown how the right QB can elevate your franchise. Will selecting Stafford guarantee the Lions the kind of turnaround the Falcons enjoyed this year? Nope, but no one, I mean no one, realistically expects the Lions to be in the playoffs next year. Stafford will be spared the high expectations for at least a season.

Like it or not, Stafford will be the first name called when draft day come around.

This is a pretty funny exchange between Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Re:Matthew Stafford in the context of comparing members of this year’s QB crop to Brett Favre.

Of course, McShay thinks Stafford has the gun but chooses other QBs when it comes to grit, play making ability, etc…

Kiper chooses Stafford for everything. EVERYTHING. Mel Kiper has hitched his wagon to Stafford’s star. Hey, I like and mostly agree with Kiper but this is getting into Beano Cook/Ron Powlus territory.

On the outside chance that Stafford just doesn’t pan out his love for Stafford will be an albatross around his neck. Seriously, the guy is risking a lot being such a cheerleader.

Check this video out though, it gets downright chippy when McShay mentions Reggie McNeal and Kiper practically LOLs.

Image: NFL Mocks

NFL Mocks has published their Matthew Stafford profile for the upcoming NFL draft.

One rating that caught my eye in light of recent questions about leadership in the 2008 squad:

Leadership: 9
Stafford likes to put his team on his shoulders, and he likes to make big plays. The problem is that his big play mentality also helps out the defense because a lot of times it fails.

While Stafford has made some clutch plays I’m not sure I’ve seen the “likes to put his team on his shoulders” quality that the author mentions. I can’t say that I’ve seen Stafford just take over a game like that comment implies. Final drive Georgia Tech in ‘06 maybe?

Score: 46
Stafford is a guy I’ve been watching for a couple of years. He’s been my pick as the top NFL ready quarterback for that entire period. I expect him to make it in the league, although a lot will depend on which team he goes to.

Agreed and I hope the Lions get gun shy and go with the safe bet in OT Andre Smith because I feel like Stafford has a better shot at long term prosperity in Kansas City. Detroit has been known to gobble up prospects like Suburbans gobble up gas.

Some updates from Yahoo! on Bulldogs in the upcoming NFL draft. First, in their current mock draft they have Stafford sliding down to number 3 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Why? They’re predicting the Lions will get trigger shy and go with a surer bet in Alabama OT Andre Smith.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Chiefs GM Scott Pioli may take a page from the book of his former co-worker, Thomas Dimitroff, and bring in a franchise quarterback at pick No. 3 to begin the re-building process in Kansas City. Stafford possesses a big-time arm and the ability to make all the throws.

Also, check out this video of an interview with Matthew Stafford from the Super Bowl.

Up next is an item of sheer ridiculousness. This same mock draft has Moreno sliding down to the 29th pick where he’d go to the New York Giants. He’d be the second running back taken behind ESPN crush Chris “Beanie” Wells.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Make no mistake, Moreno is one of the draft’s top 20 prospects. But there simply aren’t many teams in need of a running back in the first round. With New York running backs Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward scheduled for free agency, a value like Moreno is simply too good to pass up. Moreno is a natural runner with good patience and vision through the hole. He displays the ability to make men miss and will be a nice fit for the Giants’ rushing attack.

Ok, I’d be willing to lay good money down on Moreno being the first RB taken. The guy simply has an intangible quality that cannot be quantified by the machinery of the combine. It jumps out and smacks you in any game you watch. No doubt Chris Wells is a great talent but he doesn’t possess Moreno’s toughness, vision and flat out desire to get yards.

Next up, Asher Allen. Sounds like the more folks look at Asher the more they like him. He’s mentioned prominently in this article featuring juniors that are on the rise.

CB Asher Allen, Georgia (5-10, 198)

NFL player comparison: Eugene Wilson

It will be virtually impossible for Allen to jump toward the head of a very talented cornerback class, although I fully expect him to move up from his current third/fourth-round grade. Allen is a bit undersized, but he possesses a thick build, smooth backpedal and good ball skills in man coverage. He led the Georgia secondary with seven pass breakups in 2008 and was consistently one of the best cover men in the SEC. He showcases the ability to get in and out of his breaks cleanly and looks very natural in both bump and off coverage. Currently, Allen ranks somewhere just outside the top 10 in the cornerback class. However, look for him to put himself in position to come off the board during the second round in the coming weeks, ahead of more publicized senior corners such as Victor Harris, Domonique Johnson and Mike Mickens.

This is great news for DGD Asher Allen and I hope he does climb the board and get into that second round. If not, I believe some team will be getting a heck of a bargain.