* = 3rd year sophomore

Player

Position

Class

College

Ht

Wt

40

1. Andre Wadsworth

DE

SR

Florida St.

6040

282

4.65

Dominating player that may be top rated guy on many draft boards....He is rarity in the NFL draft, a pure 43 defensive end that has enough size to play the run and also the athletic ability and speed to rush off the corner...He played DT earlier in his career before moving to DE, and he has an excellent combination of all the skills required to be a great player....He uses his hands well, protects his body, and spends very little time on the ground....He is an excellent chase guy, and can get over the garbage to make the play...He plays with excellent leverage vs. the run, is strong at the point of attack, and has excellent quickness for a big guy....As a pass rusher, he has a variety of moves, and can use inside quickness, as well as speed off the edge....He has an excellent motor, and works to make the play....This guy is the real deal, and will likely be the first player drafted after the two QBs.

2. Charles Woodson

DC

JR

Michigan

6010

197

This Heisman Trophy winner is arguably the best athlete and player in this draft, although he will probably not be picked until #3 or #4......He can play WR, DC, and he is an explosive return specialist...He should be a special player in the NFL as he will probably have double duty as a DC and RS....He has a great competitive nature, all the physical tools necessary to be a DC, and he is one of the best "big game" players to come along in several years....He is better than the #3 pick of last year's draft Shawn Springs, and he should be a Pro-Bowl type player for many years.

3. Randy Moss

WR

JR

Marshall

6050

210

4.40

One of the most physically gifted players to come along in several years....Tremendous combination of size, speed, and AA....Explosive player (thirty-nine inch VJ), great agility and separation....Can get deep...Absolute mis-match in red zone with small DCs...Has the ability to make a tough catch without standing body control and adjust to the ball for a big man....He also has outstanding skills in the return game, and is very explosive, but probably will not be used in that role on the NFL level, because of his receiving skills...He is a great threat after the catch, and absolutely dominated on a lower level in the college ranks...There is no question about his physical skills that he will bring to the NFL....However, there is a lot of baggage in this guys past....He had negative experiences at Notre Dame and Florida St., and was sent packing for a variety of reasons....Altercations with the law and other problems dotted his career early on...He has stayed out of trouble in his year and a half at Marshall, but he will be under the NFL microscope between now and the draft...If he passes all the physical and mental testing with flying colors, he could be a top five pick....However, if the character and off the field questions continue to persist, he could be another great player that starts to drop on draft day....But, if this guy keeps his head on straight, he is headed for greatness.

4. Ryan Leaf

QB

JR

Washington St

6060

245

Leaf appears to be the hot QB in this draft, and he led WSU to a storybook season...He is a physically imposing QB with great size and strength....he is very sturdy and durable in the pocket, and is a surprisingly good athlete for his size...He has a strong arm and shows good touch, and can change up the speed on his passes...He has good feet, but is not really a scrambler. However, he can stand in and take the big hits....He is a very naturally gifted player, but could improve on his throwing mechanics, although it is not a major problem....There are no physical or athletic limitations to hold Leaf back from becoming a great NFL QB. However, there appears to be some minor nagging questions in the area of maturity and his mental approach to the game. He is perceived as not always an easy guy to work with, and he tends to beat to his own drummer...As good as he is, he can have some streaks on the field where he looks like he has forgotten everything he has been taught...There seems to be a nagging question here that something might be missing, but it may be hard to verbalize it...However, Leaf made all the right moves at the end of his season when he declared for the NFL draft...Unless he turns some teams off in individual interviews between now and the draft, he should have no problems....Nobody will question his physical abilities, and it is not outlandish to think that he could be the first pick of the draft, instead of Peyton Manning....There is a huge upside with Leaf, and it is conceivable that he could be one of the best young QB’s in the game in 2-3 years...His ability to play as physical as he does and take the hits that will obviously come, when playing for a team that obviously doesn’t have a very good OL, will help him get over the tough Arial as a team builds around him.

6. Curtis Enis

RB

JR

Penn St.

6010

230

Blessed with the body of a linebacker (which he played earlier in his career), and the moves and agility of a much smaller back, he is the most complete "big back" in the draft...He got off to a little bit of a slow start, but came on strong in the stretch run of the season, and was a dominating player in the tough Big Ten...He plays well in big games, and combines excellent power with good overall run skills...He has good quickness and feet....He shows some avoid, but not a real fancy type RB...More of a north and south type that likes to break tackles and run over people....Tough to bring down in the open field....Has enough speed to bounce it to the outside, and has a natural feel for the position....Surprisingly soft hands out of the backfield for a big back, and is very competitive and tough in all situations...Career was marred by suspension for Penn State bowl game, because of dealings with an agent, but don’t think it will affect his draft status....Will need to remain focused throughout the Spring and have good workouts, and if he does, he should be a lock for the top ten and could go as high as #5.

7. Jason Peter

DT

SR

Nebraska

6042

282

4.90

He is a big, physical specimen that combines strength and power with deceiving quickness....He is a very capable run stuffer, and is very strong and explosive at the point of attack, and has excellent inside pass rush skills...He also has excellent quickness to the hole, and good ability to slip blocks for a big man...He is actually more productive in a one gap, penetrating type defense...He has an excellent motor and a quick first step that allows him to beat the OL....He has good range for an inside player, and will chase down backside plays...He could add some pass rush moves to his game, but he does not have any glaring overall weaknesses....People tend to underestimate his AA, because he is so physical and tough at the POA, but this is a very tough guy to beat in one-on-one situations.

8. Vonnie Holliday

DT

SR

North Carolina

6042

282

5.05

He has moved up the draft charts with good all-star game performances...He is a very steady and productive player, but not a real flashy guy....He is a good inside run stuffer, and he is excellent at getting a push in his pass protection and collapsing the pocket...He has good overall AA and pretty good range for a big inside player...He has a nice first step, and shows good explosion through the hole....He has an excellent motor and will work hard to chase down the play...Unlike many DTs, he does not take plays off or quit in pursuit....He will definitely upgrade a defense with his blue collar approach to the game.

9. Brian Simmons

OLB

SR

North Carolina

6026

232

4.71

He is undoubtably the most complete OLB in this draft, and has the AA and skills to do it all...He is a solid football player with no baggage...He has good speed and AA....He has the ability to protect his body and get off blocks and get to the outside....He shows good chase and run support...He is a good open field tackler, and he has some natural pass rush skills off the edge when asked....He is also a solid pass defender and can drop into coverage or cover m/m...He is a very fluid and smooth athlete, and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes....Some teams have some questions about his ability to play over a TE...He is not the most physical guy at the POA, and he may wind up having to play WOLB, where he can run, chase, and play in space, and take advantage of his AA....He is not a guy that you want lost in the crowd mixing it up.

10. Keith Brooking

OLB

SR

Georgia Tech

6030

242

4.55

This is the defintive of a hot football player....He had an outstanding Senior Bowl week, and was almost impossible to block in one-on-onesituations....He can play a very physical game, or he can slip blocks and play in space...He seems to be a pretty smart player that takes good angles to the ball and doesn’t waste a lot of movement...He is a good open field tackler, and can be a very physical presence....He has worked hard to improve his pass cover skills, and he is at least adequate for a big LB, and can probably get a little better...With his athleticism, size, and intensity, this is a guy that could become a better NFL player than he was in college...There are a lot of teams in the 1st Round looking at this guy.

11. Flozell Adams

OT

SR

Michigan St.

6070

360

5.50

A big and massive man that has grown from an immature and overweight young player into a solid NFL prospect...Although he has suffered through an up and down season, due to an early ankle injury that hindered his mobility, he has played ROT and LOT and may be better suited at ROT...He does not have great mobility or range, but he is so massive and his arms are so long that he is difficult to get around, although pure speed rushes give him some trouble on the edge...He can handle any type of power rush, and has so much size and natural strength that he should never be outmuscled at the LOS...He is a "pile mover" in the run game, and because of his injury, he has learned to play with pain and improve his overall toughness...He is not a guy that you want particularly on an island against a quality speed rusher, because his lack of pure LOT quickness, and also vulnerability to double moves...He is a solid guy that will probably play in the league a long time, and he is typical of today’s massive OTs that "block out the sun and move the pile"...He had an excellent week at the Sr. Bowl, and showed up at a great looking 326 lbs. and appears to be taking the NFL draft process very seriously...He is a hot guy on most draft charts right now.

12. Tra Thomas

OT

SR

Florida St.

6070

330

5.30

He is probably the most physically gifted OT in the draft, although he is behind some of the other prospects, in terms of experience...He has only had one full year as a starter at FSU...He is a 5th year senior that struggled early in his career and appeared to be a player that had more talent than production. He was perceived as not a real dedicated guy...He has, however, had a real solid Sr. year, and he is very agile for a man of his size and has natural bend and ability to bend and slide at the POA...He plays with good leverage most of the time, although like many big OTs, he will have streaks where he plays a little high....He has natural overall pass protection skills, and has been taught very well in FSU's pro style offense...He is not an accomplished run blocker at this stage, and with all his size and natural power, he is almost a finesse guy in the run game...He will need some development on the NFL level to become a more explosive and dominating run blocker, although he still has a big body that can wall off...He is not a complete player, but he has the best upside of any of the big men in this draft. Because of it, will probably be a fairly high 1st round pick...He is also the most pure LOT in this draft.

13. Robert Edwards

RB

SR

Georgia

6020

210

4.40

This is a good news, bad news, good news player....Going into the 1996 season, Edwards was touted as one of the top RBs in the draft and was expected to forgo his Sr. year and eventually be a top ten pick.....However, he really never got it going into 1996, and suffered through a mediocre season because of injuries....He even started off 1997 in a sour note.....Sprained his ankle early in the years, missing two or three games, and all of a sudden he seemed to have faded from the draft scene....However, he did a remarkable job of rebounding when he got healthy, and finished the season on a strong note, and vaulted himself into the 1st Round...He is an explosive type runner with excellent acceleration, and he has outstanding cutability and vision through the hole....He is a very smooth type RB, and he does not have a lot of wasted motion....He is also a solid receiver in the passing game, and has natural and soft hands out of the backfield....Is very nifty in the open field....The biggest question mark on Edwards will be his durability...He has never had a totally healthy season, but when he is 100% he is something special....He looked excellent in the All-Star games, and should have solid workouts throughout the Spring....The big question here will be which Robert Edwards an NFL team is getting: the one that looked unbeatable in Oct-Nov., or the one that has been injured most of his career....If you get the former, you will have a special player.

14. Grant Wistrom

DE

SR

Nebraska

6045

250

4.67

He is an outstanding college football player that will have to make some adjustments when he moves to the NFL, in terms of position and responsibilities....He has been mostly an "up field player" in Nebraska’s defense, and while it would seem natural that he would fit on the NFL level as a 3-4 type rush OLB, he actually has a frame that is more like a 4-3 type DE, although he is a little light....He is a tall, rangy guy that is somewhat high cut, while most 3-4 OLBs are more compact players....He may need to add another 10 lbs. to his frame, but he can probably adapt to either defensive scheme....One thing is for sure, this is an intense and tough football player...He is a sideline to sideline guy....He has excellent pass rush skills, and can come off the edge or battle to the inside....He will make a lot of backside plays, and he is a terror in space....He has some problems at Arial if he is engaged by a big & physical OT, and although he will battle to make the play, he simply isn’t big enough to have too many fist fights inside....If he is used properly on the NFL level, he will contribute in a variety of roles, such as special teams, outside pass rusher, and he will bring an intensity and toughness to a defense that coaches will love...This guy is a football player.

15. Takeo Spikes

MLB

JR

Auburn

6020

230

He is one of the hottest young players in this draft, and probably the best MLB...He is an outstanding producer over the last 3 seasons, and he is another sideline to sideline guy.....He has a great motor, he has excellent quickness to the hole, and holds up well at the POA, and he has the ability to avoid and slip blocks and chase down plays....He can also drop into coverage and can play inside or outside....He is a dominating player that is fun to watch. He will likely be gone by the middle part of the 1st round, if he can fit with a team picking that high.

16. Shaun Williams

DS

SR

UCLA

6002

203

4.48

He is not a real flashy guy, but has been a steady college player and has all the skills to be excellent on the next level...He has good speed and AA, and is a very natural athlete....He has good range, gets a good jump on the ball, and takes good angles....He has the ability to match up in m/m situations, and is definitely not a liability in pass coverage...He has good skills vs. the run, although he could improve his overall consistency in tackling...He looks a little bit like a long strider, which could hinder him somewhat in coverage, but he seems to get to the ball and make the plays, so it is probably not a major issue.

17. Anthony Simmons

MLB

JR

Clemson

6010

225

4.65

He is one of the most productive linebackers in NCAA history, but it is somewhat surprising that he entered the draft a year early....There are no questions about Simmons abilities, as he is a dominating player that plays sideline to sideline. He has an uncanny feel for the ball, and he makes a ton of plays...All of his questions are in the size area, although he is listed at 6’1", many experts feel that he is barely 6’ tall. Because of it, he may be projected to OLB....He is primarily an upfield run and chase type guy, and has not dropped into coverage on a regular basis, and if he is asked to do that in a defense it may take him some time to adjust....He has excellent quickness and power for his size, and he is an absolute physical speciman at 230 lbs....He should have great individual workouts, and test well at Indy, but where he is drafted will depend on the premium that NFL teams put on size....If he stays at MLB, he will have to be in a scheme that protects him and allows him to slip blocks rather than take on big OGs or OCs...As an OLB, he will be at his best in a system where he can run, chase and rush the QB....Wherever he is drafted, this guy is a football player and is likely to have an outstanding NFL career.

18. Brian Kelly

DC

SR

USC

6010

190

4.55

This is a player that is starting to grow on some NFL teams partly because he has shown good skills, and partly because there are not a lot of good prospects at DC....He is a big corner, which is somewhat rare these days, and he provides better match-up opportunities vs. the big WRs of this NFL era...He has played DC and DS, and is very physical for a DC....He does not have great speed, but he has good overall quickness and hips, and he shows good ball skills....He gets a good jump on the ball, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, and plays with good overall efficiency....He is only adequate in run support for his size, but he is a very competitive and feisty player and will challenge the receiver...He can play m/m or zone...There is some room for improvement in his techniques, but he has the ingredients that NFL teams are looking for at DC.

19. Alonzo Mayes

TE

SR

Oklahoma St.

6042

267

4.75

Appears to be the top TE in this draft....Big, good looking athlete that combines size, AA and speed, and has the physical skills to be a complete TE in the NFL...He did not have a great Sr. year due to injuries, but he should be healthy and he have no weaknesses....He has the receiving skills to stretch a defense and create mis-matches, and he is a decent route runner, but can get better in that area....His hands are good, but can also improve....He has the ability to develop into an outstanding blocker, but he is not perfect in that part of his game yet, and he needs to become a little more consistent....He has not been in a true pro-style offense, and he will need some seasoning and refining, but all the skills are there.

21. Leonard Little

DE/OLB

SR

Tennessee

6020

246

4.60

Although Little is not a natural DE, that is where we will list him for NFL purposes. He played MLB his Sr. year at Tennessee, but most of his career, he has been an outside edge rusher with very little responsibilities, pass coverage and drops...He is another undersized guy that has a great knack of rushing the QB and making big plays....He is more of a compact type DE that fits perfectly in the role of a 3-4 OLB that has primary pass rush responsibilities and very little coverage assignments....He has great initial quickness and intensity, and he flies to the football....He has a knack for avoiding blocks and getting to the ball, and he is an explosive overall player with a great motor....He had a knee injury in ‘96, but it appears to be behind him, and he should be somewhat of an impact player at the NFL level.

22. Greg Ellis

DE

SR

North Carolina

6050

260

4.80

He has been a heralded 4-3 type defensive end for a long time, but is not a particularly hot guy in this draft, although he will probably go easily in the 1st round....He is an excellent sack artist, and he is a pure edge DE that has good size, AA, and speed....He does a nice job of protecting his body and keeping blockers off his feet, and he takes excellent angles to the ball on his pass rush....He is not real physical at the POA, and will need a little more strength and bulk to play the run a little better....He is an excellent football player, but not a real flashy guy, but one can not argue with his production.

23. Kyle Turley

OT

SR

San Diego St.

6045

294

5.05

He is a little bit of a self-made player, but may be the smartest and most tenacious OT in this draft...He is not a gifted athlete, but he has a great work ethic, a mean streak, and he never quits on a play...If fact, he is so intense that his temper has gotten him into trouble in certain games, and he may need to cut it back and play with a little more self-control...He does not have a lot of quickness or range, but he is a strong guy that has quick balance and is tough to knock of his feet...He has experience at both ROT and LOT, and is definitely a "finisher"...He is probably a guy that will play a long time in the NFL at a solid level, but may not be a Pro-Bowl type player, and is not real pretty. He will, however, bring an intensity and work ethic to an NFL team that will be welcomed by NFL line coaches.

24. Germane Crowell

WR

SR

Virginia

6032

213

4.44

He is a very smooth and athletic WR, and combines outstanding size and speed, which gives him a huge upside entering the NFL....He has been compared to ex-Virginia great Herman Moore, but Crowell has not had the supporting cast, or a QB that can get him the ball, which has made the last two years very frustrating for him....He is an excellent deep threat, is tough to defend in the red zone, and he has the ability to go up and make the tough catch and gain some yards after the reception....Because he is so smooth, he has sneaky at deep speed, and he shows good hands and good routes...He will be a guy that will test well in his individual workouts, but he must catch the ball well and look like an accomplished receiver, because of a lack of great production at Virginia...He is the prototype of today’s NFL WR, and he should be drafted high.

25. Jacquez Green

WR

JR

Florida

5090

165

This talented Jr. is another in a long line of great Florida WRs, and although he lacks size, he is incredibly well-schooled in the passing game...He has great overall quickness, and gets excellent separation on his routes, and is very explosive in the open field and shows a first second gear....He shows excellent hands, good concentration on the ball, and also has solid ability as a return specialist if asked....We're in a cycle in the NFL where small receivers aren’t very popular, but Green may break the mold...Because he is so fundamentally sound and talented, there will be a lot of teams that will overlook his lack of size....He should be a fun player to march on the NFL level.

26. Kevin Dyson

WR

SR

Utah

6011

199

4.39

He is a great speed WR with good size who had a so-so Sr. year, but really flashed in the Senior Bowl to move himself up the draft charts....He is an outstanding deep threat and was in a pro-style offense in college....He is an excellent athlete, shows a burst, can separate, and has home run type abilities....He is also a pretty good route runner, and he is dangerous in the open field...The knock on him has been the fact that he drops more balls than a premier WR should....He can make a dramatic catch on one play, then drop an easy pass on the next....If he gets more consistency in his receiving skills, (it may be due to a lack of concentration rather than a physical deficiency) he could be an outstanding deep threat in this draft...The one thing nobody can coach is speed, and Dyson has it.

27. Duane Starks

DC

SR

Miami

5095

170

4.37

Although he is not very big and physical, he may be the best m/m cover guy in this draft....He has excellent AA and speed and is outstanding in his hips and turns, and can turn and run with most WRs...He has excellent closing quicks and a burst to the ball, and gets a good jump...For a little guy he is very feisty vs. the run and is a willing tackler, but he is simply not big enough to be a strong force in run support....If a team is looking for a tight m/m cover guy, Starks may be the guy.

28. Donovin Darius

DS

SR

Syracuse

6050

208

4.59

He is a big and physical DS that improved his draft status with a solid week at the Senior Bowl...He is known as primarily a run support guy that will punish WRs over the middle, and he is a very physical hitter and tackler...He is perceived to be somewhat straightline and stiff in his pass coverage, and more of a zone guy than m/m cover DS...However, he showed some AA and COD in the Senior Bowl, and he may have a little more fluidity than most people realize....He has good ball instincts, and has a lot of range to make plays...He is probably at his best as a zone type DS that can concentrate on short to intermediate routes, and he would not flourish in a system where he would have to cover WRs deep, but he is a good football player that will bring a physical presence to the team that drafts him.

29. Skip Hicks

RB

SR

UCLA

6000

222

4.55

Hicks is finally living up to his billing as a great player and high draft pick, after struggling early in his career with all sorts of questions about his durability, and even attitude and intensity...He is a big back with good speed and AA, and has shown quickness and explosion through the hole...He has very natural ball skills, and makes good decisions with his cuts...He does not have a lot of wasted motion, and he is a very efficient runner....He does an excellent job of exploding through the hole and breaking the play to the outside...He also has good balance and will break some tackles, although he is not a blazing deep speed type.....However, he has made a lot of runs in his career and he may be one of those guys that is "functional football fast".....He has excellent hands out of the backfield, and could become very effective in the passing game....He has been known to be somewhat of a fumbler in the past, and durability has always been a ? in his career....He has the physical tools to be taken in the 1st Round, and there is a huge upside if he stays healthy....But to a lesser extent, he may be one of those players that is a little bit of a "teaser" that never quite plays up to his measureables...The feeling here is that the former will hold true, and he will be a very nice and productive RB for some lucky NFL team.

30. RW McQuarters

DC

JR

Oklahoma St.

510

195

4.37

Explosive young player that can line up at WR, or DC....Will make huge plays in the return game, and he has played both DS and DC on the college level...He is a big play type that has speed and quickness, and shows great elusiveness as a return specialist...As a DB he gets by on AA and speed, and will need some refinement in technical area...He is not a polished m/m cover guy at this stage, and may almost be in the category of being a better athlete than player, but there is a huge upside here...Is it not out of the realm of possibility that somebody could reach for him in the 1st round....He will probably settle into an NFL team as a DC and RS, but he is an exciting prospect.

31. Kivuusama Mays

MLB

SR

N. Carolina

6030

240

4.99

He is a very solid 4-3 type MLB....He has good production and a good feel for the game, and shows the ability to step up and stack and fill the hole....He gets off blocks well, knows how to use his body, and has excellent pursuit, and can get through the trash....He is a physical player from tackle to tackle, but has enough AA to get outside....He is not asked to drop a lot into coverage and he may not have great cover skills initially for an NFL team....He has enough AA to get better in that area, although on the NFL level, he may be a 1st and 2nd down player...He has played a lot of football on a high level.

32. Cam Cleeland

TE

SR

Washington

6040

240

4.81

This is a good college football player that vaulted up the draft charts with outstanding post-season performances...He has great size, and overall bulk, and is one of the more physical TEs to come along in recent years....He is a good overall athlete for his size...He has been very effective in the intermediate passing game, and he has solid overall receiving skills...He is not necessarily a deep threat, and he won’t run away from a lot of guys, but he is physical enough to push off and make the catch....He was troubled somewhat by some drops during the season, but he improved in that area late in the year....He has the frame to be an outstanding blocker, but he does not always play with leverage, and utilize his power...He will never be a great m/m, stretch the field type TE, but he could develop into an every down player that would be excellent in the short to intermediate passing game.

33. Tony Simmons

WR

SR

Wisconsin

6002

202

4.55

He is a big and physical WR that has not had a great Sr. year in terms of production, but he is a guy that a lot of NFL teams quietly like...He has excellent speed for a big man, and is probably one of the better deep threats in this draft....He is an outstanding athlete, he is excellent in the open field, and he has big play potential written all over him...He has been strapped by a lot of injuries in his career, and it has hindered his progress....He has good quickness in and out of his cuts, and he has the toughness to go and get the ball....He has good hands, but there are some minor concerns among NFL teams about some inconsistencies in the receiving area...He tends to drop a few more catchable passes than he should, but again it may be a product of a lack of concentration than a physical deficiency...He will probably test well in his workouts between now and the draft, and this is a guy that may surprise some people on how high he is picked on draft day.

34. Michael Pittman

RB

SR

Fresno St.

5114

204

4.40

He has risen towards the top of the RB class with good late season performances and solid All-Star games....He has good overall skills, but has been hindered by injuries early in his career....He is another RB with good vision and run skills, and he shows balance and toughness through the hole....He is the type of player that can make the first defender miss, but has some trouble with elusiveness in the open field....He will catch the ball out of the backfield better than many think, and he can also block and return kicks....If he is used properly, he can become a workhorse type RB that can contribute to an NFL team in a lot of areas....This is a sneaky type RB.....He is not real flashy, but he produces on the field and would be a steal for some NFL team....There may be something a little special about this guy that isn’t easy to see.

36. Hines Ward

WR

SR

Georgia

6010

194

4.50

One of the more versatile players in this draft, he has seen time at RB, QB, and WR in addition to being a return specialist during his career at Georgia, but will probably settle in at WR in the NFL...He is obviously a great athlete and a very explosive player. He combines speed and quickness...He is a great open field runner and can make a lot of plays after the catch, which is also evidenced by his ability as a KOR...He has good hands, and overall ball skills, but may need some refinement as a WR, as his experience is not as deep as most of the WRs in this draft....He may not be ready as a rookie, but there is a good upside to this guy, because of his versatility and athleticism.

37. Michael Myers (suspended)

DT

SR

Alabama

6023

267

4.92

He looked like a sure top ten draft pick entering the 1997 season, but he was suspended in pre-season for illegal inducements by a sports agent and sat out the entire year....He showed up at the Sr. Bowl, but was sluggish and did not look very physical, and actually looked out of place at DT...His stock has dropped because of it, and it will be difficult for him to get his previous draft status back between now and the draft....He must have some impressive workouts and a great combine to become a hot guy again...He does have good overall quickness and mobility for an inside player....He is a one gap type guy that relies on slipping blocks to get to the ball....He has good effort at the POA vs. the run, but he is not a real physical force...Some people may project him outside, but he may not have the speed to be a premier rusher off the corner, although his quickness is certainly adequate...This is a good college football player that may have a difficult time fitting in the right system to be a high draft pick.

38. Ahman Green

RB

JR

Nebraska

6000

210

He has outstanding speed and breakaway capabilities, and he does an excellent job of blasting through the hole and breaking it to the outside...He has had some injury problems and durability and toughness may be a small question by some NFL teams....He is not real elusive and gets hit a lot, and doesn’t break quite as many tackles as he should for a big back....He is very explosive and capable of turning a game around....He is somewhat a big guy with speed...He has not had much experience as a blocker or as a receiver coming out of the backfield, and these are two areas that he will need to develop....However, his size and speed make him a very interesting guy on draft day.

39. Ron Warner

OLB

SR

Kansas

6020

235

4.68

He is a very physically gifted athlete that has excelled as a pass rusher from the OLB spot on the college level, and really flashed in the post season all-star games...He combines excellent up field speed and quickness, and is very difficult to block rushing off the corner....He is almost a one-dimensional player, and has very little experience and pass drops and coverage, and is only adequate vs. the run, and doesn’t play with a lot of leverage or strength at the POA....This is an open space, run and chase type guy that needs to be free to fly to the ball...He probably fits best on the NFL level as a 34 rush LB, but there is some baggage with this guy....He has had some off the field problems, and if those aren’t solved, it could hinder him on draft day, although he is an excellent 2nd or 3rd Round type prospect.

40. Corey Chavous

DC

SR

Vanderbilt

6000

203

4.45

Chavous is another big DC that some people have even projected to be a DS...He is a very physical player with excellent size and overall AA...He has good ball reactions and instincts, and seems to get a good jump on the ball...His hips and turns are adequate, and he is physical enough to jam at the LOS...He is not a great deep speed or burst type player, but he has good overall range, and he will get to most plays....He may have some trouble matching up against a real quick WR, but he would be excellent in zone schemes, and can cover all the intermediate and underneath routes...He is also a solid tackler, and should be good on run support and special teams...He has not received a lot of notoriety nationally, but NFL teams know about this guy.

41. Jeremy Staat

DT

SR

Arizona St

6050

290

4.90

He is a guy that came out with very little college experience to become a dominate factor at ASU....He is a tough, hard nosed guy that has a nice frame, good strength and explosiveness....He is not a particularly great athlete, but he claws and fights his was to the ball on every play....He is not a great technician, and he is not a real refined player, but he is around the ball all the time....Because of his production and effort, some teams seem to have fallen in love with him, and some reports even have him going in the 1st round, but that seems to be too high based on his lack of experience and some other minor problems....NFL teams are someArial hesitant to pick players with limited college careers, especially in the 1st round, but this will be an interesting guy to watch on draft day, and he could develop into a solid, one gap type penetrator.

42. Kenny Mixon

DE

SR

LSU

6034

255

4.75

He has been described as a guy with "1st round ability, but middle round baggage"...He has been in some trouble in the past and was dismissed from the LSU team in 1996, but people around him say his problems are behind him...He is an excellent athlete with great mobility and natural pass rush skills....He shows a little burst off the corner, and he does a good job separating from blockers, and protecting his body and getting to the play....He plays with good leverage and overall strength, although he could use a little more bulk to hold up vs. the run....This is an interesting guy who may have his best football in front of him, and if he stays out of trouble, he could be an interesting guy on draft day.

43. Leon Bender

DT

SR

Washington St.

6040

300

5.00

He is a good football player who has missed some time in his career due to academic problems, but he really exploded onto the scene in 1997 with a solid year and is now in the mix at the DL position in this draft....He is a big, physical guy that uses his size well to play the run, he has a nice short area burst, and decent first step to penetrate, and he is actually a guy that is probably a little quicker than fast...He won’t dazzle on a stopwatch, but he is tough to block and can play one or two gap type schemes....He is a solid football player that will be an upgrade for a team needing to get bigger and more physical inside.

44. Dorian Boose

DE

SR

Washington St.

6045

272

4.75

He has a nice combination of size, speed, and AA....He is an excellent edge rusher with a good first step and initial quickness....He has good range and will chase plays down from the backside....He fits perfectly as a 4-3 DE, and he plays with good overall intensity...He is at least adequate vs. the run, and could probably become a little more powerful and stout at the POA, but power football is not his game....This guy will make his living in the NFL as an outside pass rusher.

45. Robert Holcombe

RB

SR

Illinois

5110

210

4.55

This may be the best "bang for your buck" RB in this draft...He has been a very productive, work horse type player on a very bad football team (Illinois finished the season 0-11)....The best way to describe him might be "efficient"...He has an excellent feel for the hole...He always falls forward, and he runs with good lean and balance....He has good quicks to the hold, and he shows good COD and cutting ability, although he is not a real creative or elusive type RB....He has adequate, but not great speed to the outside, and he is not an explosive, big play type guy....He also catches the ball well out of the backfield, and does a good job following his blockers...There is no wasted motion with this guy, and he will simply take what is there and make the most of a play....He may not put up Pro Bowl type numbers, but he will give an NFL team an honest day's work and moves the chains.

46. John Dutton

QB

SR

Nevada

6040

225

4.80

Dutton is a transfer from the University of Texas, and he put together solid back to back seasons at a lower level of competition at the University of Nevada....He is a classic, drop back style passer that has good overall mechanics and arm strength, but not a cannon arm...He is adequate on the deep ball, and shows good overall touch...He has really shown improvement in his Sr. year, in terms of field vision and decision making, and is starting to do a better job of picking out secondary receivers...He does not throw a lot of interceptions, and generally seems to make the right moves on the field....While he has decent overall speed and AA, he is not really a scrambler, but he does show good toughness when flushed out of the pocket, and he will take a hit....This is a player that is receiving a lot of attention among NFL teams, and for those teams not able to go up and get one of the "big 2" at the top of the draft, he will be a very interesting option later, possibly even in the 2nd round...He is perceived as a young man with all the physical tools, but will need seasoning. He does have a high upside....The only question will be his level of competition, but that does not bother a lot of teams.

47. E.G. Green

WR

SR

Florida St.

5100

185

4.55

He is another in a long line of outstanding Florida St. receivers, and he is one of the more consistent and productive players in this draft....He has good overall size and AA, and he is an exceptional, dependable guy with great hands and concentration on the ball....He is probably a little quicker than fast, and may lack pure deep speed, but he has enough explosiveness to separate and get off defenders....He is not a real flashy type WR, but he has been very well schooled in the passing game, and will be a very productive NFL receiver.

48. Jamie Duncan

MLB

SR

Vanderbilt

6000

235

4.70

He is another player that has the AA to play inside or outside...He has excellent strength and overall toughness...He is more of a space player than a POA type guy....He has trouble on plays run right at him, and he is much better at slipping blocks and chasing backside...If he is not in a scheme that protects him as an MLB, then he would probably be better off at OLB, where he could take advantage of his AA and speed...He has great natural strength, but just does not have the body size to take on big OL...His motor will help him become an immediate contributor on special teams...He is a little bit of a hot guy right now, and may be sneaking up the LB list.

49. Alan Faneca

OG

JR

LSU

6050

310

Caught many by surprise when he opted for the draft...Outstanding college player, very strong and explosive, plays with leverage, can dominate at the POA, good position blocker, keeps balance and has excellent wall off abilities....Also has quickness and speed to pull and get down field...Decent in space and very competitive...No major physical weaknesses...NFL teams need to get caught up in the evaluation process, but if he has a strong Indy combine, he could easily move into the 1st Round, although OGs tend to last a little bit longer than OTs.

50. Marcus Nash

WR

SR

Tennessee

6030

190

4.45

He is a little bit of a tough guy to get a handle on, because he can look like a totally different player from game to game....He has excellent AA and size, and good speed, and at Arial he will show good hands and overall receiving skills....He has good quickness in his routes, shows separation and is a threat to run after the catch....He has good explosiveness in and out of his cuts, and he can get off a jam....His problem is in the area of consistency...He will disappear from games at Arial, and will drop some balls that he shouldn’t. There are some nagging worries about concentration and dependability...He needs a good Spring, in terms of catching the ball consistently in his workouts, to take away those fears, but there is a good upside to Nash.

51. Benji Olson

OG

JR

Washington

6040

310

Called the "road grader" by his teammates....He is a prototype OG that is perfectly prepared for the NFL...He is a big, "mauler" type tough guy that has been a 3 year starter in a great program...He has been somewhat hindered by recurring back problems (that required surgery), but he never misses a game and plays through the pain, and appears to be getting back to his earlier form...He is a little bit of a short area type player, and is great as a lock on, "smash mouth" type guy...He is only adequate in space, but will fit well over big, physical DTs...Looks like a guy that could easily go in round 2, and should be able to step in and help an NFL team immediately.

52. Steve Foley

DE

SR

NE Louisiana

6032

246

4.69

He has come out of nowhere after the All-Star games to become a viable first day selection in the draft...He is strictly an edge rusher that is somewhat undersized, but relies on excellent speed and AA to get to the football....He was virtually unblockable in the Blue-Gray game, and flashed with his AA and quickness at the Senior Bowl...He is not an accomplished player by any stretch of the imagination, and most of his skills are raw....He does not have enough size to be a force vs. the run, and he can be engulfed by big OTs....He is at his best in 1 on 1 matchups, and he will usually win those battles, hands down. This is an interesting guy to develop AA, and he should be able to contribute early as a nickel type pass rusher.

53. Lamanzer Williams

DE

SR

Minnesota

6040

262

This is a guy that was not on any list entering the 1997 season, but he has shot up the draft charts with a great Sr. year, where he led the nation in sacks...He has an excellent body for a pass rusher, explosion off the corner, great natural quickness, and a great 1st step....He shows periods of great balance and feet, and has the ability to slide a mirror on pass protection, but doesn’t always seem to play with a lot of pride....He will likely be projected as an OLB on the NFL level, and if the right team can figure out how to push his buttons, they can have an excellent player.

54. Az Hakim

WR

SR

San Diego St.

5092

175

4.45

He is a little guy that is very explosive, and has the ability to get deep and make some big plays....He is an acrobatic type guy that knows how to get open...He can separate, and is very elusive in the open field....Despite his size, he has good toughness over the middle, is competitive, and will fight to make the catch...He also has excellent return skills, and can break the big play....The only question here is his lack of size...Some NFL teams won’t care. With others it will be a major issue...However, he did distinguish himself in the Senior Bowl, and raised some eyebrows with good performances all week....He is a guy that could move up the charts a little bit.

55. Olin Kreutz

OC

JR

Washington

6040

290

May be the top OC in the draft...Has all the physical tools to be a solid NFL player...Good strength, agility, and balance...Has some explosiveness at the POA, can reach linebackers, and is decent in space....A lot of experience, plays with intelligence, and is a good technician...As we all know, OCs aren’t usually drafted very high, so he may slip into round 2, but he should become an excellent NFL player.

56. Anthony Clement

OT

SR

SW Louisiana

6065

350

5.60

He is another big and massive player from a small school, but he is more of a lock on power type guy...He has a big wing span, and while his feet and movement are adequate, he does not have a lot of range, and his overall speed is a detriment that will hopefully improve...He uses his hands well to protect his body, and he is a short area guy that can move the pile. When he gets his hands on a defender, he can win most of those battles....He has played LOT, but will likely lack the range and feet to stay there, and will probably wind up at ROT or ROG...If he can improve his 40 time and look a little better in the measurable and athletic areas that the NFL teams demand, he could move up somewhat in this draft.

57. Rob Bohlinger

OT

SR

Wyoming

6080

285

5.30

He is a giant of a man, and at 6’ 8", many NFL teams worry about him being too tall...He currently carries 295 lbs. on his frame, and could easily add 25 to 30 lbs. and still look lanky...He is a very intelligent and instinctive player and takes a lot of pride in his work ethic and approach to the game...Because of his height, he tends to look like a waist bender, and it is difficult for him to always play with great leverage...As a result, he probably falls into the finesse or position player type category...He is a guy that has good feet and can wall off, but won’t blow a lot of DEs off the ball...He has a huge wing span, and he is difficult to get around in pass protection, and should be able to do a good job of mirror and slide on the NFL level....The biggest problem may be in a physical type game when he has to deal with a powerful bull rush, or try to overpower a defender in the run game...He has had some injury problems in his career, and has not quite had the consistency you would expect from a player with his intelligence and character.....He is a very interesting player to many NFL teams, and he seems to be a little bit of a hot guy that people are taking a long look at...He is a natural candidate at LOT, and in most people’s opinions he has a tremendous upside.

58. Rod Rutledge

TE

SR

Alabama

6044

261

4.73

He is another big body type TE that excels in the blocking phase of the position....He plays with leverage, and has good explosion and balance on his blocks, and is a good technician that is very powerful for a TE....He has soft hands, and decent receiving skills, but he is not used in the Crimson Tide’s marginal passing game, and will need additional experience as a receiver....He has good speed, and the ability to get down the field...He will be an interesting guy to watch in the Spring workouts, and if his hands are good enough, he could make a move up the draft charts.

60. Chris Conrad

OT

SR

Fresno St.

6060

295

4.90

He is another athletic type LOT that has come out of nowhere to become a fairly hot NFL prospect...He has gone from a finesse and athletic undersized LOT, into a 295 lb. guy that can run and move...He has a background at OG and OT, but is really a fit at LOT...He is still an angular type player that has success with his feet more than his power...He has pretty good slide and mirror ability on pass protection, and although he has some trouble with outside speed rusher, he does a good overall job in the passing game....He is a position run blocker that is not real explosive or powerful at the POA, but he uses his body well to wall off...He needs to improve his explosiveness and overall power to be more effective on the NFL level, but he is a very interesting guy.

61. Tavian Banks

RB

SR

Iowa

5100

200

4.45

There seems to be two Tavian Banks...The first is the RB that posted huge numbers against inferior competition to begin the ‘97 season, and the second is the player that struggled against better competition, and whose production dramatically dropped as the hot guys got into the big 10 schedule...The real Tavian Banks is probably somewhere in the middle....He is a very smooth, athletic type runner that has outstanding quickness to the hole, and acceleration...He has a lot of moves, and can be very elusive, but at Arial he almost dances too much...He is not a legitimate power runner, but he adds a big play dimension to an offense...He can also double as a KOR, and although he is not used a lot in the passing game, he should be able to catch the ball effectively out of the backfield...He is most dangerous when he is in the open field, where he can match his AA and speed against those trying to tackle him.

62. Joe Jurevicius

WR

SR

Penn St.

6050

226

4.50

Although he was suspended for Penn St.’s bowl game (academics), he is still an interesting guy in this draft...He is a very big and physical wide receiver, and turned into a big play/big game type guy in his Sr. year...He is excellent in the red zone...He will make the tough catch in traffic, and he has solid overall receiving skills....What he does lack is great quickness and speed, and he is not a real nifty guy....He almost plays more like and H-back or TE, but may not have the ability to get real big...He is a perfect fit in today’s NFL game as a big physical possession WR that will be a mis-match against smaller DCs, and can also dominate in the red zone...If his quickness and speed are at least adequate, he will be a real consideration on day one in this

63. Victor Riley

OG

SR

Auburn

6046

330

5.30

Riley is the closest thing to an underachiever in this years OL group...He is a gifted athlete, and combines good feet and mobility with natural strength and leverage...Some teams have projected him at OG, but he can also play ROT and has the AA to play LOT...He is confusing to many NFL teams, because for all of his ability, he is not considered a "finisher"....He does not dominate at the POA, does not play a real physical brand of football, but doesn’t give up a lot of plays either...There seems to be no middle ground on this guy, either you really like him and think his marginal play is a result of the system, or you don’t like him and think his immaturity will follow him to the NFL where he will continue to be an underachiever...The off-season will be an important time for Riley to either enhance his draft status, or simply force him to fall back into the category of another big and athletic player that doesn’t have what it takes.

64. Travian Smith

OLB

SR

Oklahoma

6036

230

4.50

This may be a case of a guy being a better athlete than a football player....He has a tremendous size/speed ratio, and this guy can flat out run and chase....He has played DE and OLB in his college career, he can make a lot of backside plays, and he is at his best in the open field....He is not a very instinctive player, and he struggles at Arial to get off blocks, and doesn’t always locate the ball...He is not a guy that can play inside very well, or vs. the run, and is much better when chasing plays and having one thing to do. His AA and speed will excite a lot of teams, but they will have to be comfortable with his all around skills, which may improve with coaching.

65. Chuck Wiley

DT

SR

LSU

6041

271

5.07

He is a somewhat underrated player that really caught some NFL teams' eyes at the Senior Bowl, where he showed excellent quickness and explosiveness, and he may be a guy moving up the draft list....He is a very productive player with a great motor and work ethic, he never quits on a play, and has decent backside chase abilities....He is not a particularly gifted athlete, although his mobility is decent....But he makes plays on effort...He has good inside quickness, but not great overall speed...He is a good one-on-one match-up guy, and does a good job battling blockers vs. the run to make plays...His problem is that he is somewhat a tweener....He is not a big, physical over-powering type DT that can totally stuff the run inside, but he is also not a great speed pass rusher that can move out to the DE....He will have to be a role player on the NFL level, but his attitude and intensity could make him very productive.

66. Robert Hicks

OT

SR

Mississippi St.

6070

345

5.30

He may be the biggest OT in the draft, and he uses his massive size to his advantage....He has adequate short area movement, uses his hands fairly well, and is a lock on "move the pile" type guy...He lacks overall quickness, is not a guy that can play in an island, and does not have a variety of pass protect skills...Speed and quickness will give him a lot of trouble, and as a result, he will probably wind up at ROT or ROG as a straight ahead "road grader" type...He will not be overly impressive in drills that measure AA, but NFL coaches love his size. In that area, he fits the bill.

67. Jason Chorak

DE/OLB

SR

Washington

6025

250

4.68

He is a tweener-type player that doesn’t really have the frame to be an every down pass rusher in the NFL, but does not have a lot of experience dropping into coverage as a pure linebacker...He is really an upfield type player with a great motor...He has excellent quickness off the edge, he plays with leverage, and he chases down plays from the backside....He might fit as a 3-4 rush OLB on the NFL level....Although he plays hard, he does not have a lot of bulk to handle the run at the POA, and he can be engulfed by big OTs....He is at his best when he is in space and chasing down plays....He is a very competitive guy and should also be excellent on special teams.

68. Mo Collins

OT

JR

Florida

6050

315

Somewhat of a surprise entry into this draft....Big body type guy that has a lot of upside and pretty good experience as a 3 year starter for the University of Florida...Good in AA and overall movement....A lot of experience in pro-style offense, but is still not a polished run blocker.....Individual workouts will be critical and he may be a little bit of a developmental type guy...Could move up draft charts a little bit if he has a strong Indy workout.

69. Robert Williams

DC

JR

N. Carolina

5110

170

Somewhat of an underrated DC that played in the shadow of outstanding Tar Heel Dre’ Bly....He is a very sound player, shows good overall cover skills, and is adept in m/m situations...He is not a very flashy guy, but he is a very consistent performer...He is not the kind of player that sneaks up on you, but he is very fundamental...He was tested a lot in 1997, but because most teams that played UNC would not throw at DC Dre’ Bly, they came after Williams, but he did a decent overall job of holding up and will be an interesting guy in this draft.

70. Donald Hayes

WR

SR

Wisconsin

6045

212

4.50

He is another very big and physical WR that combines outstanding size with good AA....He has good agility for his size. He can snatch the ball, and is very effective in the red zone....He is a very tough competitor over the middle, and will fight to make the play...He is not as physically gifted as some of the other receivers, but he has a tremendous work ethic, and he is very competitive....He looks like a little bit of a strider, and doesn’t always show tremendous explosiveness or a burst...He looks like a player that will work hard to improve, and may quietly vault himself into a good draft position.