Mark Maske Breaks Down the NFL Draft

Quarterbacks

1) Vince Young, Texas: He's Michael Vick with passing accuracy. If you pass on him and you're wrong, you will really regret it.
2) Matt Leinart, USC: He's a safer pick than Young and might go before him. He's solid but somewhat unspectacular all around.
3) Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt: Blossomed late in his career after being an option QB early on.
4) Brodie Croyle, Alabama: Has all the tools but has been injury-prone.
5) Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green: A project with great potential who could go in the second or third round.
Sleeper: Darrell Hackney, Alabama-Birmingham: A stocky guy with a big arm, but lacks height and polish.

Running Backs

1) Reggie Bush, USC: Unless his contract demands are stratospheric, he'll go first overall.
2) DeAngelo Williams, Memphis: He's short, but powerful.
3) Laurence Maroney, Minnesota: A great pure runner, but is not very bulky.
4) LenDale White, USC: His draft stock has plunged a bit during an offseason in which a hamstring injury cut short his pro-day workout.
5) Joseph Addai, LSU: A speedy back who could sneak into the late first round, although he's projected by many to go in the second.
Sleeper: Gerald Riggs Jr., Tennessee: He might not be drafted until the second day, but he's a workhorse who could make a roster and be a contributor.

Offensive Linemen

1) D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia: The consensus top blocker in the draft, with only some mild concerns about his lack of bulk.
2) Winston Justice, T, USC: Played right tackle at USC to protect the blind side of left-handed QB Matt Leinart, but could be moved to left tackle in the NFL.
3) Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State: Not many centers go in the first round, but he could.
4) Eric Winston, T, Miami: A former tight end who had a solid 2005 season after returning from a 2004 knee injury.
5) Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma: He and Georgia's Max Jean-Gilles will vie to be the first guard taken.
Sleeper: Kevin Boothe, G, Cornell: Played both tackle spots as well as guard in college after losing more than 50 pounds from his freshman weight of nearly 370.

Wide Receivers

1) Chad Jackson, Florida: He and Holmes will vie to be the first WR taken, but it probably won't be until the middle of the first round.
2) Santonio Holmes, Ohio State: The cousin of Jaguars RB Fred Taylor. 3) Sinorice Moss, Miami: Could sneak into the bottom of the first round, but more likely to go in the second.
4) Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame: A big receiver who still runs pretty well.
5) Derek Hagan, Arizona State: Elusive without being all that fast.
Sleeper: Greg Jennings, Western Michigan: Didn't face top competition but could make an immediate impact as a return man and develop as a receiver.

Tight Ends

1) Vernon Davis, Maryland: Probably won't last beyond the sixth overall pick.
2) Leonard Pope, Georgia: Like Davis and Lewis, is a better receiver than blocker.
3) Marcedes Lewis, UCLA: Some teams rank him ahead of Pope.
4) Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado: Not as athletic as Davis, but not all that far behind.
5) Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame: Had 47 catches as a junior (he skipped his senior season) after totaling 45 receptions in his first two seasons.
Sleeper: Ed Nelson, Connecticut: The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Huskies power forward is the latest college basketball player trying to impress NFL scouts as a tight end prospect.

Linebackers

1) A.J. Hawk, Ohio State: Not a flashy player but a sound tackler who could go in the top five.
2) Ernie Sims, Florida State: The smallest of the top group but very fast, and perhaps even could be used at safety.
3) Chad Greenway, Iowa: Played quarterback in high school in South Dakota.
4) DeMeco Ryans, Alabama:: Could have an immediate impact as a pass rusher.
5) Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State: Son of former Giants running back Rob Carpenter.
Sleeper: Thomas Howard, Texas-El Paso: His father, Thomas Howard Sr., played linebacker for the Chiefs and Cardinals in the late 1970s and early '80s.

Cornerbacks

1) Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech: Some scouts thought his pre-draft workouts were mediocre.
2) Antonio Cromartie, Florida State: Has size, at 6 feet 2, 208 pounds, as well as speed.
3) Tye Hill, Clemson: Is only 5-9 1/2 but jumps well.
4) Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina: A junior-college transfer who played only 14 games of major college football.
5) Ashton Youboty, Ohio State: Bypassed senior season and doesn't turn 22 until July.
Sleeper: Richard Marshall, Fresno State: Had nine interceptions in three collegiate seasons, amassing 305 yards and three TDs on his returns.

Safeties

1) Michael Huff, Texas: The Cowboys would love to have the Irving, Tex., native but he probably won't last that long.
2) Jason Allen, Tennessee: Could play safety or CB.
3) Donte Whitner, Ohio State: Excels on special teams as well as on defense.
4) Darnell Bing, USC: A starter for the Trojans from the first game of his freshman season.
5) Ko Simpson, South Carolina: Had six interceptions in his first season as a starter in 2004.
Sleeper: Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian: Played safety and WR and returned kicks in college, and has the speed to play CB.

Defensive Ends

1) Mario Williams, N.C. State: Few in the league believe that the Texans have him under consideration for the top pick, but his ascent nevertheless has been remarkable.
2) Kamerion Wimbley, Florida: Could play outside LB in the NFL.
3) Manny Lawson, N.C. State: Like Wimbley, a 'tweener who could end up at linebacker on a 3-4 defense.
4) Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College: A pure pass rusher, but his stock has been dropping.
5) Tamba Hali, Penn State: A mature, impressive young man who escaped war-torn Liberia as a child.
Sleeper: Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech: Hasn't gotten the notoriety of the top ends, but could make an impact as a pass rusher.

Defensive Tackles

1) Haloti Ngata, Oregon: The kind of massive, run-stuffing defensive anchor that teams want.
2) Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State: Some teams have him ranked ahead of Ngata.
3) Gabe Watson, Michigan: Talented player who was benched for part of his senior season.
4) Rodrique Wright, Texas: An inconsistent player who will vie with Watson and Wroten to be the third defensive tackle taken.
5) Claude Wroten, LSU: Sent a pre-draft letter to all 32 NFL teams saying he made a mistake when he was arrested in January for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, but maintaining he won't be a problem for his future club. Prosecutors declined to pursue charges.
Sleeper: Babatunde Oshinowo, Stanford: He should be able to understand the playbook: He has a degree in electrical engineering.