Source: Oakland Considering Quinn, Russell and Johnson

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dante Hall celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos, in Kansas City, Mo., in this Dec. 4, 2005 file photo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Riedel - AP)

The Oakland Raiders, who have the top overall selection in this weekend's NFL draft, have had preliminary contract negotiations with representatives for Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell of Louisiana State and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame, sources familiar with the deliberations said yesterday.

But according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Raiders have not commented publicly on the matter, it remains unclear if the team will sign the player it intends to choose Saturday before the draft begins, as NFL rules permit.

The Raiders aren't tipping their hand about which player they prefer. Most people in the league seem to expect the Raiders to pick Russell. But Johnson is regarded by many as the best player available in the draft and he apparently remains a strong possibility.

"There's probably only one guy in the world who knows what the Raiders are going to do, and that's [owner] Al Davis," former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese, now a draft analyst for ESPN, said during a conference call with reporters yesterday.

Reese said he believes Johnson is the best player in the draft, but the Raiders need to take Russell, Reese said, if they're convinced that he's going to be a standout quarterback in the NFL.

"If you need a quarterback, you have to take him as soon as you can," said Reese, who selected quarterback Vince Young for the Titans with the third overall choice in last year's draft.

Chiefs Trade Hall to Rams

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The Kansas City Chiefs traded wide receiver and kick returner Dante Hall to the St. Louis Rams for a fifth-round choice this weekend. Hall has 11 career touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns, but only two of those have come over the last two seasons.

"We have filled a need with one of the top players in football at his specialty, returning punts and kicks," Rams Coach Scott Linehan said in a written statement released by the club. "Dante will fit in nicely on our special teams and can be utilized as a receiver in certain situations." . . .

The NFL warned teams in a memo distributed Tuesday not to leak confidential draft information. Commissioner Roger Goodell warned clubs in the memo that any leaks could be considered conduct detrimental to the league and warrant punishment.

The warning comes after Pro Football Weekly reported last week that Johnson, Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams and Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye admitted to past marijuana use during interviews taped by the league at the NFL scouting combine in February and distributed to the teams. Earlier this week, NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw said that players no longer would be asked about prior drug use during those interviews. The distribution of the memo to the teams first was reported by USA Today.