4/14 LATEST ENPN INSIDER DRAFT INFO AKA MEL KIPER

By Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN.com
Archive

There are four new players on this week's Top 25 Big Board, and all four of them are defensive backs: Ohio State's Donte Whitner, South Carolina's Johnathan Joseph, Tennessee's Jason Allen and Fresno State's Richard Marshall.

Allen could very well have been a top-10 pick before suffering a season-ending hip injury as a senior. Despite missing the last six games of 2005, Allen has made a strong comeback during his rehabilitation, and right now I am projecting him to go 18th overall to the Dallas Cowboys.

While Allen played in 2005, Cromartie has not played since 2004. He missed all of last season with a knee injury, but that hasn't hurt his draft stock. Cromartie had tremendous individual workouts and has incredible size for a cornerback at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. I have Cromartie going to Tampa Bay with the 23rd pick.

My entire Big Board:




1. Reggie Bush, USC (6-0, 200, Junior) | previous rank: same
Bush will give the team that drafts him a multifaceted offensive attack. He's dangerous from the backfield, as a slot receiver and in the return game.


2. Mario Williams, DE, NC State (6-7, 285, Junior) | previous rank: 3
A dominant physical presence who had some great individual performances at the end of last season. Williams is a big, strong pro-type defensive end and has all the skills NFL coaches are looking for as an every-down player.


3. Matt Leinart, QB, USC (6-4, 225) | previous rank: 2
His arm strength has improved since last season, and he threw the ball even better in 2005. Leinart didn't repeated as the Heisman Trophy winner, but he makes plays when he has to. He should remain near the very top of the draft board.


4. Vince Young, QB, Texas (6-5, 233, Junior) | previous rank: 5
Young's stock has risen considerably since an amazing performance in the Rose Bowl. He's big, strong and exceptionally fast. The New Orleans Saints will have to consider taking him as the No. 2 pick in the draft.


5. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia (6-5½, 295) | previous rank: 4
The top offensive lineman in this draft, Ferguson will be an ideal left tackle in the NFL.


6. A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State (6-1½, 242) | previous rank: 7
The top defensive player in the senior class. An instinctive player and a sure tackler, he knows which angles to take to the ball and finds his way through traffic. Hawk should be able to help out a team right away.


7. Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland (6-3, 250, Junior) | previous rank: 8
Physically gifted athlete who plays the tight end like a wide receiver. Davis is a phenomenal pass catcher and is a better prospect than when Kellen Winslow came out of Miami.


8. Michael Huff, DB, Texas (6-1, 205) | previous rank: 6
Athletic and instinctive, he has shown the versatility to play cornerback or safety at the next level.


9. Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State, (6-3, 306) | previous rank: 17
He was the story of the combine on the defensive side of the ball. He ran 4.99 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 44 times. He has a wide upper body and is quick on his feet. He also has a great attitude, and based on his workouts, he's guaranteed to be a first-round pick.


10. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (6-5, 338, Junior) | previous rank: same
Ngata will be more than a defensive tackle who just clogs the interior because his strength and athleticism will allow him to penetrate and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.


11. Kamerion Wimbley, DE, Florida State (6-4, 248) | previous rank: 23
He might be an outside linebacker in the right scheme. Wimbley ran a 4.63, which was a very good time, and had a vertical leap of 38½ inches.


12. Chad Jackson, Florida, WR (6-1, 213, Junior) | previous rank: 24
His times in the 40-yard dash were 4.32 and 4.37. Jackson caught the ball well and stood out among the receivers in Indianapolis. He's done everything the right way since the season ended and has moved himself into that first-round mix.


13. Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State (5-10, 185, Junior) | previous rank: 16
He is very tough and is willing to make catches in traffic. Holmes is a very good route runner and has a good burst out of his break. He doesn't have the greatest size, but toughness counts. He should be the first wide receiver taken off the board.


14. Winston Justice, T, USC (6-6, 311, Junior) | previous rank: 22
A great athlete and very gifted, Justice is as good as any right tackle in the country at getting down field beyond the defensive line. He'll be able to play either tackle positions in the NFL.


15. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis (5-9, 215) | previous rank: 9
An exceptional running back, especially since he did not play behind one of the best offensive lines. Could very well be a top-10 pick for a team that needs a running back who can do it all.


16. Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa (6-2½, 244) | previous rank: 20
He was one of the nation's top-flight linebackers the past two years. A smart player with great physical skills, Greenway has a nose for the ball. He'll help out a team right away.


17. Donte Whitner, S, Ohio St. (5-11, 205, Junior) | previous rank: unranked
He has moved up the draft board fast since the season ended. Whitner is versatile enough to play either cornerback or safety.


18. Tye Hill, CB, Clemson (5-9½, 181) | previous rank: same
Hill is not especially big, but he has long arms, phenomenal speed and great confidence. He had one of the better weeks at the Senior Bowl, which should propel him into the first round.


19. Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State (6-0, 200, Junior) | previous rank: 14
Sims finished fourth on FSU with 70 tackles this season. He's an extremely fast 'backer who's used to being the focus of opposing offenses' game plans.


20. Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (6-3¼, 227) | previous rank: 15
He's the next best QB in the senior class behind Leinart. Cutler has gone from being a potential first-round pick to possibly going in the top 10.


21. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech (6-2½, 207) | previous rank: 12
Williams gave the Hokies a shutdown cornerback who could lock up the opposition's top receiver. He eliminates one side of the field. A former safety who moved to corner before the 2004 season.


22. Johnathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina (5-11, 187, Junior) | previous rank: unranked
He is a true cornerback and one of the fastest players in the draft. A team like San Diego would be an ideal fit for Joseph.


23. Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota (5-11, 205, Junior) | previous rank: 13
A very good, natural runner who is smooth and patient. Maroney allowed his blocks to develop and then showed a good burst of speed through openings. He has good vision and the ability to shift gears quickly.


24. Jason Allen, S, Tennessee (6-2, 202) | previous rank: unranked
Allen was one of the top seniors in 2005 before his season ended with a hip injury. However, he has battled back from injury and his versatility (he can also play cornerback) has propelled him into the first-round mix.


25. Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State (5-11, 190, Junior) | previous rank: unranked
Also a true cover corner, Marshall projects as a first-round pick. He led the Bulldogs in solo tackles (57), interceptions (three) and pass break-ups (11).


Dropped
LenDale White, RB, USC (6-2, 235, Junior) | previous rank: 11
He's big, strong and deceptively fast with a nose for the end zone. White will be a running back at the next level who can carry the ball 20-25 times a game.


Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State (6-3, 267) | previous rank: 19
He's the best senior defensive end in this draft. Hali's a natural pass-rusher who play with a lot of intensity and never takes a play off.


Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State (6-1, 188, Junior) | previous rank: 21
The first-team All-Big Ten selection has very good cover skills and excellent on-field intelligence.


Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia (6-7, 250, Junior) | previous rank: 25
He's an absolutely huge target and is a mismatch every time he's on the field. Georgia relied heavily on Pope in the passing game because he is a rare talent for a player of his size.


Mel's Top 5 Juniors
Quarterbacks
1. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
2. Drew Stanton, Michigan State
3. Troy Smith, Ohio State
4. Jordan Palmer, UTEP
5. John Beck, BYU



Running Backs
1. Michael Bush, Louisville
2. Kenny Irons, Auburn
3. Tony Hunt, Penn State
4. Brian Leonard, Rutgers
5. Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M
5a. Kenneth Darby, Alabama


Wide Receivers
1. Jason Hill, Washington State
2. Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech
3. Courtney Taylor, Auburn
4. Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame
5. Steve Smith, USC
5a. Joel Filani, Texas Tech


Tight Ends
1. Clark Harris, Rutgers
2. Martrez Milner, Georgia
3. Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
4. Ben Patrick, Delaware
5. Joe Newton, Oregon State


Offensive Linemen
1. Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
2. Levi Brown, Penn State
3. Justin Blalock, Texas
4. Kyle Young, Fresno State
5. Doug Free, Northern Illinois


Place-Kickers
1. Mason Crosby, Colorado
2. Justin Medlock, UCLA
3. Mike Barrow, Idaho
4. Brandon Pace, Virginia Tech
5a. Andrew Wellock, Eastern Michigan
5b. Kyle Schlicher, Iowa
5c. John Deraney, NC State


Defensive Linemen
1. Gaines Adams, Clemson
2. Adam Carriker, Nebraska
3. Kareem Brown, Miami
4. Quentin Moses, Georgia
5a. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
5b. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
5c. Mkristo Bruce, Washington State


Linebackers
1. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2. Patrick Willis, Mississippi
3. Ahmad Brooks, Virginia
4. Oscar Lua, USC
5. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
5a. Prescott Burgess, Michigan
5b. H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
5c. Anthony Waters, Clemson


Defensive Backs
1. LaRon Landry, LSU
2. Brandon Meriweather, Miami
3. Michael Griffin, Texas
4. Eric Weddle, Utah
5. John Talley, Duke



Punters
1. Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
2. Adam Graessle, Pittsburgh
3. Brandon Fields, Michigan State
4. Adam Podlesh, Maryland
5. Michael Gibson, Memphis




Click here to send a question to Mel Kiper for possible use on ESPNEWS.

April 12, 2006



Quarterbacks
1. Matt Leinart, USC
2. Vince Young, Texas (Junior)
3. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
4. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
5. Kellen Clemens, Oregon


Running Backs
1. Reggie Bush, USC (Junior)
2. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
3. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota (Junior)
4. LenDale White, USC (Junior)
5. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin (Junior)


Fullbacks
1. Lawrence Vickers, Colorado
2. David Kirtman, USC
3. Garrett Mills, Tulsa
4. Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin
5. J.D. Runnels, Oklahoma


Wide Receivers
1. Chad Jackson, Florida (Junior)
2. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State (Junior)
3. Sinorice Moss, Miami
4. Greg Jennings, Western Michigan
5. Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame


Tight Ends
1. Vernon Davis, Maryland (Junior)
2. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
3. Leonard Pope, Georgia (Junior)
4. Dominique Byrd, USC
5. David Thomas, Texas


Tackles
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
2. Winston Justice, USC (Junior)
3. Eric Winston, Miami
4. Ryan O'Callaghan, California
5. Guy Whimper, East Carolina


Guards
1. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia
2. Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, USC
3. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
4. Charles Spencer, Pittsburgh
5. Fred Matua, USC (Junior)


Centers
1. Nick Mangold, Ohio State
2. Chris Chester, Oklahoma
3. Jason Spitz, Louisville
4. Ryan Cook, New Mexico
5. Greg Eslinger, Minnesota



Place Kickers
1. Josh Huston, Ohio State
2. Jon Scifres, Missouri State
3. Connor Hughes, Virginia
4. Kurt Smith, Virginia
4. Greg Kuehn, William&Mary


Defensive Ends
1. Mario Williams, NC State (Junior)
2. Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
3. Tamba Hali, Penn State
4. Manny Lawson, NC State
5. Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech


Defensive Tackles
1. Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
2. Haloti Ngata, Oregon (Junior)
3. Claude Wroten, LSU
4. Orien Harris, Miami
5. Montavious Stanley, Louisville


Inside Linebackers
1. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
2. Abdul Hodge, Iowa
3. Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
4. Freddie Keiaho, San Diego St.
5. Tim Dobbins, Iowa St.


Outside Linebackers
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
2. Chad Greenway, Iowa
3. Ernie Sims, Florida State (Junior)
4. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
5. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama


Cornerbacks
1. Tye Hill, Clemson
2. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
3. Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina (Junior)
4. Richard Marshall, Fresno St.
5. Antonio Cromartie, Florida St.


Safeties
1. Michael Huff, Texas
2. Donte Whitner, Ohio State (Junior)
3. Jason Allen, Tennessee
4. Ko Simpson, South Carolina (Sophomore)
5. Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian (Junior)


Punters
1. John Torp, Colorado
2. Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest
3. Steve Weatherford, Illinois
4. Joel Stelly, Louisiana-Monroe
5. Tom Malone, USC

With the NFL draft two weeks away, the one hot spot in the first round remains with the New Orleans Saints and second overall pick. While I still have North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams going to New Orleans, the outlook of the first round could change significantly if the Saints trade the pick.

My first-round projections remain nearly the same, with the one newcomer being NC State defensive end Manny Lawson. Overshadowed by Williams at NC State, Lawson had a very good senior season then performed exceptionally well at the NFL scouting combine. Right now I am projecting the Jets will use their second first-round pick on Lawson, where he will be used as a pass-rushing defensive end/outside linebacker.

New this week are my projections for the second, third and fourth rounds. You will be surprised to see some players initially projected as first-round picks have slipped to the second round in recent weeks.



1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round



First-Round Projections
1. Houston Reggie Bush, RB USC
2. New Orleans Mario Williams, DE NC State
3. Tennessee Matt Leinart, QB USC
4. N.Y. Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T Virginia
5. Green Bay A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio St.
6. San Francisco Vernon Davis, TE Maryland
7. Oakland Vince Young, QB Texas
8. Buffalo Brodrick Bunkley, DT Florida St.
9. Detroit Michael Huff, DB Texas
10. Arizona Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
11. St. Louis Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
12. Cleveland Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida St.
13. Baltimore Haloti Ngata, DT Oregon
14. Philadelphia Winston Justice, T USC
15. Denver (from ATL) Chad Jackson, WR Florida
16. Miami Donte Whitner, S Ohio St.
17. Minnesota Ernie Sims, LB Florida St.
18. Dallas Jason Allen, S/CB Tennessee
19. San Diego Johnathan Joseph, CB South Carolina
20. Kansas City Tye Hill, CB Clemson
21. New England Santonio Holmes, WR Ohio St.
22. Denver (from WSH) DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
23. Tampa Bay Antonio Cromartie, CB Florida St.
24. Cincinnati Jimmy Williams, CB Virginia Tech
25. N.Y. Giants Kelly Jennings, CB Miami
26. Chicago Richard Marshall CB Fresno St.
27. Carolina LenDale White, RB USC
28. Jacksonville Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA
29. N.Y. Jets (from DEN) Manny Lawson, DE/OLB NC State
30. Indianapolis Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota
31. Seattle Ashton Youboty, CB Ohio St.
32. Pittsburgh Sinorice Moss, WR Miami

Second-Round Projections
33. Houston Eric Winston, T Miami
34. New Orleans Nick Mangold, C Ohio St.
35. N.Y. Jets Joseph Addai, RB LSU
36. Green Bay Tamba Hali, DE Penn St.
37. San Francisco Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio St.
38. Oakland Gabe Watson, DT Michigan
39. Tennessee D'Qwell Jackson, LB Maryland
40. Detroit Davin Joseph, G Oklahoma
41. Arizona Leonard Pope, TE Georgia
42. Buffalo Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G USC
43. Cleveland Abdul Hodge, LB Iowa
44. Baltimore Brodie Croyle, QB Alabama
45. Philadelphia DeMeco Ryans, LB Alabama
46. St. Louis Orien Harris, DT Miami
47. Atlanta Cedric Griffin, CB Texas
48. Minnesota Kellen Clemens, QB Oregon
49. Dallas Marcus McNeill, T Auburn
50. San Diego Demetrius Williams, WR Oregon
51. Minnesota (from MIA) Chris Chester, OL Oklahoma
52. New England Brian Calhoun, RB Wisconsin
53. Washington Rocky McIntosh, LB Miami
54. Kansas City Darryl Tapp, DE Virginia Tech
55. Cincinnati Dominique Byrd, TE USC
56. N.Y. Giants Thomas Howard, LB UTEP
57. Chicago Greg Jennings, WR Western Michigan
58. Carolina Joe Klopfenstein, TE Colorado
59. Tampa Bay Andrew Whitworth, T LSU
60. Jacksonville Jason Spitz, C Louisville
61. Denver Mark Anderson, DE Alabama
62. Indianapolis Daniel Bullocks, DB Nebraska
63. Seattle Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College
64. Pittsburgh Danieal Manning, DB Abilene Christian

Third-Round Projections
65. Houston Ko Simpson, DB South Carolina
66. Houston (from NO) Gerris Wilkinson, LB Georgia Tech
67. Green Bay Max Jean-Gilles, G Georgia
68. San Francisco David Pittman, CB Northwestern St. (La.)
69. Oakland Maurice Drew, RB UCLA
70. Buffalo (from TEN) Ryan O'Callaghan, T California
71. N.Y. Jets Brandon Williams, WR Wisconsin
72. Arizona Jon Alston, LB Stanford
73. Buffalo Maurice Stovall, WR Notre Dame
74. Detroit Devin Hester, CB Miami
75. New England (from BAL) Chris Gocong, DE/LB Cal Poly-SLO
76. Philadelphia Claude Wroten, DT LSU
77. St. Louis David Thomas, TE Texas
78. Cleveland Charles Spencer, G Pittsburgh
79. Atlanta Calvin Lowery, DB Penn St.
80. Dallas Charlie Whitehurst, QB Clemson
81. San Diego Paul McQuistan, OL Weber St.
82. Miami Parys Haralson, DE Tennessee
83. Minnesota Will Blackmon, WR/CB Boston College
84. San Francisco (from WSH) Victor Adeyanju, DE Indiana
85. Kansas City Brandon Marshall, WR Central Florida
86. New England Montavious Stanley, DT Louisville
87. N.Y. Giants Kyle Williams, DT LSU
88. Chicago Anthony Fasano, TE Notre Dame
89. Carolina Darnell Bing, DB USC
90. Tampa Bay Willie Reid, WR Fresno St.
91. Cincinnati Stanley McClover, DE Auburn
92. Jacksonville Jerome Harrison, RB Washington St.
93. Atlanta (from DEN) Devin Aromashodu, WR Auburn
94. Indianapolis Dusty Dvoracek, DT Oklahoma
95. Minnesota (from SEA) Le Kevin Smith, DT Nebraska
96. Pittsburgh Brent Hawkins, DE/OLB Illinois St.

97. N.Y. Jets (comp. pick) Roman Harper, DB Alabama

Fourth-Round Projections 98. Houston James Wyche, DE Syracuse
99. New Orleans Demetrice Webb, CB Florida
100. San Francisco Lawrence Vickers, FB Colorado
101. Oakland Anthony Smith, DB Syracuse
102. Tennessee Leon Washington, RB Florida St.
103. N.Y. Jets Alan Zemaitis, CB Penn St.
104. Green Bay Derrick Martin, CB Wyoming
105. Buffalo Elvis Dumervil, DE Louisville
106. New England (from DET) Guy Whimper, T East Carolina
107. Arizona Fred Matua, G USC
108. Philadelphia David Kirtman, FB USC
109. St. Louis Kevin Boothe, OL Cornell
110. Cleveland DeMario Minter, CB Georgia
111. Baltimore Dion Byrum, CB Ohio
112. Cleveland (from ATL) Rodrique Wright, DT Texas
113. San Diego Babatunde Oshinowo, DT Stanford
114. Miami Zach Strief, T Northwestern
115. Minnesota Miles Austin, WR Monmouth
116. Philadelphia (from DAL) Tarvaris Jackson, QB Alabama St.
117. N.Y. Jets (from KC) Greg Eslinger, C Minnesota
118. New England Derek Hagan, WR Arizona St.
119. Denver (from WSH) Owen Daniels, TE Wisconsin
120. Chicago Freddie Keiaho, LB San Diego St.
121. Carolina Jonathan Scott, T Texas
122. Tampa Bay Brandon Johnson, LB Louisville
123. Cincinnati John McCargo, DT NC State
124. N.Y. Giants Jeremy Trueblood, T Boston College
125. Jacksonville James Anderson, LB Virginia Tech
126. Denver Bernard Pollard, DB Purdue
127. Philadelphia (from IND) Hank Baskett, WR New Mexico
128. Seattle John Torp, P Colorado
129. Pittsburgh Andre Hall, RB South Florida

130. Denver (comp. pick) Jeremy Bloom, WR Colorado

131. Pittsburgh (comp. pick) Daryn Colledge, T Boise St.

132. Baltimore (comp. pick) Rob Sims, G Ohio St.

133. Pittsburgh (comp. pick) Omar Jacobs, QB Bowling Green

Vikes, Chiefs explore optionsBy Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
Archive

NFL teams are permitted to conduct 30 private workout sessions leading up to the draft. Often, teams will waste a few of those sessions as a smokescreen, meeting prospects they have no interest in drafting. However, studying a teams' list of workouts usually offers a glimpse into its drafting game plan.

Minnesota Vikings -- The Vikings have used several of their recent workouts on quarterbacks and linebackers, arguably their two biggest positions of need. The Vikings have scheduled workouts with QBs Vince Young (Texas) and Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt) next week.

Will Jay Cutler fall to No. 17? Could the Vikings be looking at LB Ernie Sims? Our experts put the Vikings on the clock.

Minnesota reportedly would consider moving up a few spots in order to draft Young, should he slip to the 10th overall pick (owned by the Cardinals) or beyond. There is also a sense that the team isn't willing to move up for Cutler, but would select him if he is still available at pick No. 17.

If the Vikings are unable to secure a quarterback in the first round, their attention will turn to the linebacker position. The team would love for Florida State's Ernie Sims to slip, but knows that is an improbability. Iowa's Chad Greenway would be given strong consideration, as would Alabama's Demeco Ryans, who is scheduled to visit the team on Friday. Ryans would be a reach with the 17th pick, but could become an option should the Vikings elect to trade down in the first round.

The Vikings also had a private workout recently with Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney. While quarterback and linebacker are bigger needs, the Vikings might elect to take advantage of this year's strong running back class by selecting Maroney in the middle of the first round. Maroney would be a good fit for new head coach Brad Childress' version of the West Coast offense and would be eased into a rotation that includes three situational-type backs in Chester Taylor, Mewelde Moore and Ciatrick Fason.

If the Vikings do not draft a quarterback in Round 1, look for them to address the need soon after. Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst worked out privately for them this week and would be a decent value with the Vikings' second-round pick (48th overall).

Santonio Holmes would make sense for the Chiefs. Kansas City Chiefs -- The Chiefs also have been busy working out prospects at their top positions of need -- cornerback, wide receiver and defensive end. Cornerbacks who visited most recently include Jonathan Joseph (South Carolina) and Richard Marshall (Fresno State).

Ohio State WR Santonio Holmes, who would be a very good value at No. 20 overall, reportedly impressed the coaching staff during his workout. Kansas City also has brought in defensive ends Mathias Kiwanuka (Boston College) and Manny Lawson (N.C. State) for further evaluation.


Quarterback carousel
The top-three quarterback prospects in this year's class -- Matt Leinart (USC), Young and Cutler -- have racked up some serious frequent-flier mileage recently. Young visited the Titans on Wednesday, just hours after Leinart finished up his meeting with the team. Young worked out on campus on March 22 and also had a private workout for the Titans in Austin the following day.
During the three weeks between his first and second private sessions with the team, Young also has gone through individual workout sessions with several teams, including the Texans and Dolphins. He is scheduled for at least three more workouts (Vikings, Jets and Browns) over the course of the next week.

Cutler will work out for the Jets on Sunday, followed by Leinart on Tuesday and Young on Thursday. Leinart does not have a private session scheduled with the Vikings but, as mentioned, the team is expected to play host to Young on Monday and Cutler the following day.


Rush linebackers rising
As recently as five years ago, undersized defensive end prospects such as Derrick Burgess (Eagles third-round pick in 2001) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (Packers' fifth-round pick in 2000) were considered NFL misfits.
Now, with the league in the midst of a 3-4 defensive scheme craze, teams are clamoring to find rush linebackers who can make the same type of impact that DeMarcus Ware (eight sacks as a rookie for the Cowboys) and Shawne Merriman (10 sacks as a rookie for the Chargers) made as first-round picks in 2005.

This year's prime beneficiaries promise to be Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) and Lawson, both of whom played defensive end in college but project best as 3-4 outside linebackers in the NFL. Neither Lawson nor Wimbley were considered first-round talents throughout most of their collegiate days, but exceptional postseason workouts have seen both skyrocket up many draft boards.

With six teams, employing at least a hybrid of the 3-4 defensive scheme, armed with draft picks between Nos. 12-21, there's a strong possibility Wimbley and Lawson will come off the board in the middle of Round 1.

QB Kellen Clemens of Oregon going in the second round to Minnesota? This is really a stretch, IMO.

I really liked Clemens' QB college abilities. He as quick and mobile, made excellent decisions, and passed well in the short and mid-range type of passes.

Born and raised on a working ranch in Eastern Oregon, he is mentally and physically tough and has a strong work ethic. A coaches' type of QB, Clemens is very coachable and very intelligent.

For his negatives, he is a bit small at 6'2". In addition, he does not have the arm strength for deep passes.

Clemens' biggest question mark is whether or not he can completely recover from a severe leg and ankle fracture he received in late October. He missed the remainder of the season, the Capitol One Bowl game, and could not particpate in many of the NFL combine drills because he was still in recovery. A couple of doctors are not sure if Clemens can ever be back to 100% of the player he once was.

I would put Clemens more at a 6th or 7th round pick, IMHO. As a Ducks fan, I hope Clemens makes it in the NFL but I have reservations of his ability to do so.

Oregonpackfan

Addai is the third best back in this draft behind Bush and Williams.