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Friday, April 25, 2003

QUARTERBACKS

1. Carson Palmer, 6-5, 235, Southern Cal
Will be the No. 1 pick in the draft after agreeing in principle to a contract with the Bengals. He's not rated as highly as some other top quarterbacks in recent years. Productive at a big school. He is accurate short and long and sees the field well but does not have a quick release and is not considered a leader. Not real smart.

2. Byron Leftwich, 6-5 1/2, 240, Marshall
Follows former teammate Chad Pennington (2000) as first-round draft choice. Might be better than Palmer and certainly is more accurate. Level of competition and broken leg only question marks, but he will be taken in top half of the round.

3. Rex Grossman, 6-1, 218, Florida
Steelers love him. His stock has been climbing, and he might be gone before their pick. Cocksure to the point of turning some people off, but many see it as an asset. Good arm, good mechanics, extremely tough and fiery. A winner.

4. Kyle Boller, 6-3, 234, California
Scouts drooled when he ran the 40 in 4.6 at the Combine, and his stock shot up. But he's settling back because they realize all the speed in the world cannot make up for some of his faults -- lack of accuracy, trouble reading defenses, just one good season in the pocket at Cal. Steelers invited him in for a visit, and they may have a shot at him in the first round.

5. Dave Ragone, 6-3 1/2, 250, Louisville
Former backup to Chris Redman, he became a starter in 2000. Left-hander who is tough to bring down. May be too big for the position. Worked from the shotgun most of the time when passes were called. Great leader. Slipped from 2001 to 2002. Has been compared to Boomer Esiason, another lefty.

6. Chris Simms, 6-4 1/2, 220, Texas
One scout says he looks great throwing in 7-on-7 drills, but not when defenders come near him. Son of former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, he picked Tennessee over Pitt, then went to Texas. Lefty. Does not look over the field and is not consistent. People question his performance under pressure.

7. Seneca Wallace, 5-11 1/2, 196, Iowa State
Outstanding athlete and, if he were a little taller, he would be higher on this list. Runs a 4.5. Played two years at Sacramento City College. Threw for 3,138 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, rushed for another 354 yards and eight touchdowns. Good runner. Some scouts believe he'd make a good receiver. Visited the Steelers.

8. Drew Henson, 6-4, 223, Michigan
Worth a shot with a second-day pick. Perhaps this is the guy the Steelers can take later in the draft. Henson was considered the possible first pick in the 2002 draft before he gave up his senior season in 2001 to pursue a baseball career with the Yankees. He was projected as their future third baseman, but he hasn't done well. The right team might be able to entice him into the NFL. If he is drafted, the team would have his rights for one year.

TACKLES

1. Jordan Gross, 6-4 1/2, 301, Utah
Top 10 pick and first lineman to go. Ideal left tackle with quick feet and balance. Munhall's Joe Bugel has been training him for agent Eric Metz of Monroeville the past several months. Aggressive. Has been a starter since 1999. Much better pass-blocker than run-blocker. Can move right into a starting job because of his experience and talent.

2. Kwame Harris, 6-7, 310, Stanford
Outstanding athletic ability and gets low (for leverage) for a big man. Played right tackle in college, but has tools to play either side. Needs to add weight and upper-body strength. Junior, 20 years old. Should go in the top half of the first round.

3. Wayne Hunter, 6-5 1/2, 303, Hawaii
Played just one season on offensive line. Started as a freshman at Cal on the defensive line, then transferred to Hawaii. Has skills to play left tackle. Still learning the position, but has plenty of talent. Strong man who could use more weight, up to 25 pounds. Has potential to be a good one, but may take a year before he contributes.

4. George Foster, 6-5 1/2, 338, Georgia
Massive player who started the past two seasons and kept improving. Has a good punch and has played both sides of the line. Wrist was injured in car accident last summer, hurting his season. Tried to play with a cast. One red flag: Has trouble bending his knees, which big men need to do to get leverage on blocks.

5. Tony Pashos, 6-6, 337, Illinois
Great size with good hands but does not bend well to get into his blocks. Outstanding strength, bench-pressing 225 pounds 38 times at Combine. Not the quickest feet, but a good run-blocker, so he is better suited to play right tackle. Should lose a few pounds.

6. Brett Williams, 6-5, 320, Florida State
Another tackle with good size. Played left tackle until last season when he played both sides. Knows how to use his hands and usually puts himself in good position to make a block. Also lacks great quickness, so he might fare better on the right side.

7. Jon Stinchcomb, 6-5, 302, Georgia
Will not follow in brother Matt's shoes as a first-round draft pick (Oakland, 1999), but could become a solid NFL tackle. Unlike many rated above him, he is not massive and added about 15 pounds last season. Has good strength and quick feet and is best at left tackle against the speed rushers.

KICKER

1. Alex Walker, 6-0, 211, Tennessee
Rarely misses inside 40 yards, but does not have great leg strength or consistency beyond 45. Missed more than three games with an injury last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Charles Rogers, 6-2 1/2, 202, Michigan State
Move over Plaxico Burress, Mr. Rogers is hitting your neighborhood as the most acclaimed Spartans wide receiver. Although not as tall as Burress, Rogers is tall enough and runs the 40 in 4.33, making him big and fast to go with great receiving skills. He should be the second player drafted.

2. Andre Johnson, 6-2, 230, Miami
Nearly as good as Rogers, and bigger, topping him by nearly 30 pounds. He's been timed just .03 seconds slower than Rogers. Houston has its sights on Johnson at No. 3 to give quarterback David Carr some support. Jumps nearly 3 1/2 feet vertically, which means he'll play much taller. His biggest drawback is he drops too many passes.

3. Taylor Jacobs, 6-0 1/2, 205, Florida
Latest in a long line of first-round Gators wide receivers. Has good speed at under 4.4 in the 40, decent size and was productive as a senior. Sprinter in college, he's not as accomplished a receiver as the top two and does not play as fast as his times. Great character and plays the game like Hines Ward.

4. Kelley Washington, 6-2 1/2, 220, Tennessee
Played only four games last season because of a neck injury, which required surgery. Great athlete, powerful. Played three years in the Florida Marlins' minor-league baseball system instead of going to Hofstra to play quarterback. Skipped final year of eligibility after playing barely more than a season at Tennessee. A risky pick, but may go in the first round.

5. Bryant Johnson, 6-2 1/2, 214, Penn State
Clocked at 4.37 during his workout at University Park, boosting his status because some scouts thought he would run a 4.5. Does not play that fast, however, and is not quick. Tough, physical receiver with good hands and runs routes well, if not explosively. He also returned punts.

6. Tyrone Calico, 6-3 1/2, 223, Middle Tennessee State
From the school that brought you Dwight Stone comes a receiver not quite as fast, but bigger and more accomplished. Calico has been timed at 4.34 in the 40. Scouts worry about level of competition, which he dominated, and consider him a project. Nevertheless, he'll go before the third round.

7. Talman Gardner, 6-0 1/2, 205, Florida State
His arrest on gun and marijuana possession this month hurt his draft standing and probably cost him thousands of dollars. Tough, physical receiver who needs to polish his game. Big-play man who averaged more than 18 yards a catch with sub-4.4 speed. Not good in the short passing game, he has to go deep.

8. Kevin Curtis, 5-11, 186, Utah State
Most scouts compare him to Wayne Chrebet. That's not a bad thing because, like Chrebet, all he does is produce. He's not big, not particularly fast and does not make great catches. At the end of the game, though, he has the production -- caught 174 passes in the past two seasons.

9. Kareem Kelly, 5-11 1/2, 186, Southern Cal
Has better talent than he sometimes shows, which is a cause for concern among scouts. Does not work hard. Drops the ball. Good athlete who has shown he can do it at a big-time school, but not on a consistent basis. May fall on draft day as teams question his intangibles.

10. Anquan Boldin, 6-0 1/2, 215, Florida State
Good size, strength and athletic ability, but his 4.6 speed lowers his value. Was in competition to become starting quarterback in '01 but a torn ACL wiped out his season, and he stayed at receiver. Could be a good possession receiver in the NFL, but won't be a game-breaker.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Larry Johnson, 6-1, 228, Penn State
The Steelers like him, but whether they pick him at No. 27 is another question. Big man who follows his blockers, has patience and quickness to let the holes develop and then hit them. Not a power runner. Knock on him is that the bulk of his 2,087 yards rushing did not come against the better opponents.

2. Onterrio Smith, 5-10, 220, Oregon
Transferred from Tennessee in 2000 after violating team rules. Great quickness and speed. Runs low to the ground with power and can break tackles. The best natural runner of the group after Willis McGahee. Has character issues because of dismissal from Tennessee. Has gained 15 pounds on purpose since the end of the season.

3. Artose Pinner, 5-10, 228, Kentucky
The Steelers love this straight-ahead power runner who is difficult to tackle. Most teams don't have him rated so highly. He had a broken foot in the Senior Bowl, and no one has a time on him. Other than that, the Steelers seem convinced he'll be a top back in the pros. Visited Steelers recently.

4. Musa Smith, 6-0 1/2, 232, Georgia
Good power back who has had problems with injuries. Ran for 1,324 yards last season, missing one game with a broken thumb. MVP of the Sugar Bowl, where he ran for 145 yards against Florida State. Good short-yardage runner, aggressive.

5. Willis McGahee, 6-0 1/2, 223, Miami
McGahee is the most talented running back in the draft, but he also had a serious knee injury in January's Fiesta Bowl, making him damaged goods. Although he's shown dedication with his hard work and fast recovery, it might not be enough to allow him to play a lot as a rookie. Teams normally do not spend first-round picks on players who cannot help them immediately. He is such a talent, however, that someone could take a gamble late in the first round.

6. Chris Brown, 6-2 1/2, 220, Colorado
Outstanding size for someone who loves to run inside. Good power, gets the tough yards, but lacks breakaway speed and runs straight up too much. Rushed for 1,744 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, even though he missed the final two games with an injury. Fumbles too much.

7. Lee Suggs, 5-11 1/2, 202, Virginia Tech
Has had two knee surgeries in the past two seasons -- major on his left, a scope on his right (second one on that knee). Good speed, good blocker, sticks to the inside. Offense won't use him in the passing game. Bounced back from '01 ACL tear to run for 1,255 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.

8. Justin Fargas, 6-0 1/2, 219, Southern California
Best speed in the group with times under 4.4. Son of actor Antonio Fargas, a.k.a. Huggy Bear in the '70s cop show "Starsky and Hutch." Transferred from Michigan, where he had a broken leg that required three surgeries, two rods, a dozen screws and two metal plates. Overcame that without losing speed. Promoted to starting job at midseason and ran for 715 yards and seven touchdowns.

FULLBACKS

1. Casey Moore, 6-2, 245, Stanford
Four-year starter. He does it all -- blocks, runs, catches. Ran 54 times for 348 yards last season and caught 16 passes. Tough, a leader and honor society student.

2. Ovie Mughelli, 6-1, 252, Wake Forest
Mostly a blocking back who can also play tight end or H-back. Not a good receiver or runner, although he can move a pile in short-yardage situations. Outstanding strength, more like a guard than a fullback.

3. Brandon Drumm, 6-1, 235, Colorado
Not afraid to get down and dirty and do anything necessary to make a block. Carried only 11 times last season, but gained 128 yards. Had 18 pass receptions. Dominating lead blocker for the Buffaloes' Chris Brown.

CENTERS

1. Jeff Faine, 6-3, 298, Notre Dame
Had one year of eligibility left, but started three seasons. Will graduate and has nothing more to prove in college. Extremely hard worker with a nasty streak. Better pass-blocker than a run-blocker. If someone needs a center badly enough, he could sneak into the first round.

2. Al Johnson, 6-3 1/2, 305, Wisconsin
Great athlete and team leader. Outstanding hands. He has good fundamentals. He also has two DUIs on his record, the most recent in October. Needs to work on his strength. Intense worker who reminds some of another former Wisconsin center, Mike Webster.

3. Bruce Nelson, 6-5, 300, Iowa
Has played every position on the offensive line. Started out as a tight end, moved to tackle, then guard, then center, where he has been the past two seasons. Gained 20 pounds since last season. Great quickness. Center position drops off sharply after him.

TIGHT ENDS

1. Jason Witten, 6-5 1/2, 264, Tennessee
Mike Mularkey loves him, and he could be a Steelers' pick if they don't get the quarterback/safety/cornerback/running back on the first round. Gave up final year of eligibility after 73 receptions in his only season as a starter. Big, fast (sub-4.7), strong; he can do it all at the position.

2. L.J. Smith, 6-3 1/4, 258, Rutgers
Probably the best receiver of the bunch. He caught 122 passes in his career. Better suited for a West Coast offense or one that uses the tight end split out. Decent speed and good jumping ability. Great hands. Not a run-blocking tight end.Can fly with 4.6 speed. The Steelers love this guy too.

3. Dallas Clark, 6-3 1/2, 257, Iowa
Not nearly as good a blocker as Witten and not quite as big, but he's a good receiver and nearly one-tenth a second faster. He also is still learning the position. Played it only two seasons after switching from linebacker. Good athlete whose blocking should improve with work and experience.

4. Bennie Joppru, 6-4 1/2, 272, Michigan
After so-so production his first three years, he set school record with 53 receptions as a fifth-year senior. Good post-season workouts have helped. Not a great blocker or route runner but has the best hands of all the tight ends. Gets everything out of his talent.

5. Aaron Walker, 6-5 1/2, 252, Florida
Tall target, which helps as a receiver but not as a blocker. Too lean and tall to block for the running game. Rarely misses a down. He is a decent receiver but does not get much after he makes the catch. Also played baseball for the Gators as a designated hitter, something he does not do well in football.

6. Robert Johnson, 6-5 1/2, 278, Auburn
Great size and knows how to use it. Can physically overpower defenders as a receiver and a blocker. Still learning the position and should have stayed for one more season to polish his game. Unlike Walker, he can do things after he catches the ball.

7. Mike Pinkard, 6-5, 259, Arizona State
Many believe he has underachieved. Caught 30 passes last season. Good speed for a big man. Not a run-blocker. Can be lazy, inconsistent and clumsy. Nice athlete who needs to get serious about playing the game and, if he does, could be a steal.

GUARDS

1. Eric Steinbach, 6-6 1/4, 298, Iowa
Big Ten offensive lineman of the year. Despite his height, he has always played guard. He could play right tackle in the pros because he has the fundamentals. Should be second or third lineman drafted. Injuries marred his sophomore and junior seasons, but he started all 12 games last season. Quick feet.

2. Vince Manuwai, 6-2, 304, Hawaii
Three-year starter, mostly at right guard. Powerful and agile, strong legs. Short arms and has little run-blocking experience in June Jones' run-and-shoot offense. Might play center in the NFL.

3. Montrae Holland, 6-1 1/2, 333, Florida State
Another three-year starter. Missed last three games with a sprained ankle. Could cut a little weight, but he's remarkably quick for a man his size. Outstanding strength. Needs to work on pass-blocking.

4. Sean Mahan, 6-3, 301, Notre Dame
Developed into a prospect because of his outstanding play as a senior after spending junior season as a backup. Also wrestled. Quick with good technique that makes up for not having great size.

5. Derrick Dockery,6-6, 345, Texas
Started at right guard and right tackle the past two seasons, displaying a versatility that will help him in the NFL. Huge for a guard, but he's not going to be effective pulling. Good straight-ahead blocker and can lock up on the pass-blocking.