Makeup of First Round Hinges on Raiders' Choice

Some scouts regard Brady Quinn as NFL-ready based on his relationship with Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis, a former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. The Raiders have the first pick, followed by Detroit and Cleveland. (By Michael Conroy -- Associated Press)

The Oakland Raiders kept everyone in the league guessing yesterday about what they were planning to do with the top overall selection in today's NFL draft. Many people around the league continued to assume that the Raiders would use the pick on Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell, but there were conflicting accounts, and Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn apparently remained possibilities.

The rest of the first round, which promises to include runs on wide receivers and defensive linemen and could produce an unusually high number of safeties chosen, hinges on the Raiders' decision. Teams were making contingency plans and lining up potential trades, but everything was on hold until Raiders owner Al Davis and first-year coach Lane Kiffin finally tip their hand.

The Raiders had contract discussions during the week with the representatives for Russell, Quinn and Johnson. NFL rules permit the team with the first pick to sign the player that it intends to choose before the draft, a tactic that eliminates the possibility of a combative set of contract negotiations during the summer that might delay the player's arrival at his first training camp. But as of last night, there was no indication that the Raiders had a deal in place with any of the players.

As of yesterday afternoon, Raiders officials had not spoken to Russell's representatives all day, a source familiar with the deliberations said. There were indications that there was more activity in the talks between the Raiders and Quinn's representatives. Those in Quinn's camp were skeptical that a deal would be completed with the Raiders last night but weren't completely ruling it out, said a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks were at a sensitive stage.

The Raiders' pitiable offense needs plenty of help at both quarterback and wide receiver. Russell and Johnson are widely regarded as the most talented players available in the draft, but some scouts and executives around the league regard Quinn as a more NFL-ready quarterback than Russell because Quinn was coached at Notre Dame by Charlie Weis, formerly the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.

There also was talk that the Raiders might trade wide receiver Randy Moss to the Green Bay Packers and potentially get in return quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a former first-round draft pick who's been stuck behind veteran Brett Favre, or perhaps add quarterback Daunte Culpepper if he's set free by the Miami Dolphins, who were attempting to obtain quarterback Trent Green in a proposed trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Acquiring either Rodgers or Culpepper might persuade the Raiders to draft Johnson instead of Russell or Quinn.

Earlier this week, former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese said, "It would probably be a mistake for anyone to claim they know what the Raiders are going to do."

That remained true in the final hours of draft preparations. Reese, who's serving as a draft analyst for ESPN, said he felt that the Raiders need to take Russell or Quinn if they believe that either will be a standout quarterback in the NFL because a team without a capable quarterback needs to get one. But Reese also said of Johnson, "He's, in my opinion, the best player in the draft."

The Detroit Lions were fielding trade offers for the second pick as they waited to find out what the Raiders would do. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons apparently were interested in trading up to second in the draft order if Johnson remained available. The Lions seemingly would like to trade down a few spots and select Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams. But they haven't publicly ruled out the possibility of drafting Johnson, even after using top 10 selections in recent years on wide receivers Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams.

"Every draft is different and every player is different," Lions President Matt Millen said during a news conference this week. "Calvin Johnson is unique. We wouldn't hesitate with him at all. I think if you ask every team in this league, all 32 of them would say the exact same thing."

Most talent evaluators around the league believe this draft has five superb offensive players (Russell, Quinn, Johnson, Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson and Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas) and two or three outstanding defenders (Adams, Louisiana State safety LaRon Landry and perhaps Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye). Six or seven wide receivers likely will be taken in the first round, with a similar number of defensive linemen selected and perhaps three or four safeties chosen.

"I feel like it is a pretty good draft," said Joey Clinkscales, the New York Jets' director of college scouting. "Again, it depends on the position you're looking at. Everybody has specific needs. Three years from now is when you really evaluate the talent of a draft. . . . You never know. I think talent is in the eye of the beholder."