NFL scouts and QB gurus are salivating over Chad Henne's quick, compact release. Tony Ding/Icon SMI

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Third round: Chad Henne, Michigan and John David Booty, USC.

Henne's release -- quick, compact -- has gotten attention from a league that strives for whip-arms. But his inaccuracy on crosses and slants is troubling. Booty's a bit of a maddening prospect. He's the most pro-ready player in this draft, in terms of playbook education, pro-style knowledge and feel for the game. But he can be an aimer instead of a thrower. Some scouts wonder if he's hit his peak and won't improve much at the next level.

Fourth through sixth rounds: Eric Ainge, Tennessee; Andre Woodson, Kentucky; Matt Flynn, LSU; Dennis Dixon, Oregon and Joshua Johnson, San Diego.

Of all the players here, Dixon's the most intriguing. He's rehabbing the surgically repaired ACL in his left knee, hoping to work out for scouts in early April and do most of what the pros need to see. Woodson needs to have a good predraft experience with some teams to come out of his free-fall; scouts think he's a guy who will need max protection because of mediocre mobility. Flynn? Not on many radar screens, but he'll make someone a good third-string guy while he works 25-hour days adapting to the pro game.

It's not a very good crop, and there's nothing like a can't-miss guy. How ironic. The four teams mostly likely to take Ryan high -- Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City, Baltimore -- have been laboring at the position for different reasons. Miami's never been able to replace Dan Marino. Atlanta is still reeling from having its franchise quarterback KO'd in the Mike Vick-dogfighting case. Kansas City had a nice marriage with Trent Green 'til he got knocked silly early in 2006. And Baltimore's been looking for Mr. Goodbar since Johnny U. left town.

Mining for quarterbacks is a tough business. And whoever passes on Ryan will sweat out watching him over the next few years, needing Rolaids after every game he shines. If he does shine. That's the question everyone asks at this time of year about quarterbacks. You never know.

Quote of the Week

"In no way, because I'm doing a TV show in the offseason, have I lost my commitment to football. Trust me, there are a lot worse things you could be doing in the offseason than working out six or eight hours a day and doing a TV show that is family-oriented... You know, I'm not the only guy that won't be at every offseason workout session in the NFL.''

--Miami defensive end Jason Taylor, who has signed to be a contestant on Dancing With the Stars this offseason. Most football reporters with a scent up their nose think this must be highly annoying to new club president Bill Parcells, which has led to speculation Taylor will be traded. He made his comments Saturday to Sirius NFL Radio.

I find it interesting that Taylor told Sirius he has not spoken with Parcells "at all'' in his 12 weeks on the job. Something about this marriage does not smell right.

Stat of the Week

Now here's a surprise: Since Matt Millen took over as team president in 2001, the Lions are batting .286 on their first- and second-round draft choices. (I don't include the 2007 draft; it's too early to tell on the yield from last year's first two rounds: Calvin Johnson, Drew Stanton, Ikaika Alama-Francis and Gerald Alexander.) But with the whacking last week of 2002 second-rounder Kalimba Edwards and 2004 first-rounder Kevin Jones, the black marks against the Detroit drafts just keep rising.

When you draft a player in the first or second round, you're counting on him becoming an above-average player for your team. That's my line of demarcation. Of the 14 players picked by Millen in the first two rounds of the six drafts between 2001 and 2006, I count four players being above-average NFL starters for the Lions on their depth chart this morning: tackle Jeff Backus, center Dominic Raiola, wide receiver Roy Williams and linebacker Ernie Sims.

The sad tale of the Detroit drafting tape:

2001: Round 1, 18th overall, T Jeff Backus. Very good player --112 career games, all starts. Round 2, (50), C Dominic Raiola. Above-average five-year starter. Round 2 (61) DT Shaun Rogers. Perennial tease just traded to Browns.

2002: Round 1 (3) QB Joey Harrington. Booed out of town in '05. Now a Falcon. Round 2 (35) DE Kalimba Edwards. Six seasons, 26 sacks. Just cut.

2003: Round 1 (2) WR Charles Rogers. Injuries, substance abuse made him a bust. Round 2 (34) LB Boss Bailey. Five years, moderate impact. Now a Bronco.

2004: Round 1 (7) WR Roy Williams. Very good wideout. Unhappy. On the block. Round 1 (30) RB Kevin Jones. Cut after one good and three nothing years. Round 2 (37) LB Teddy Lehman. Hurt too much. Just signed with Bucs.

2005: Round 1 (10) WR Mike Williams. Lasted two pathetic years before being cut. Round 2 (37) DT Shaun Cody. Backup DT. Seven career starts.

2006: Round 1 (9) LB Ernie Sims. Genuine item. Solid player, great leader. Round 2 (40) FS Daniel Bullocks. Good rookie year. Hurt second year. Can he rebound?

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