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National Football League - CBS SportsLine.com
Scouting the 2007 draft: Starting and finishing with Irish
May 1, 2006
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!




Have you caught your breath yet? I'm talking about you, the NFL Draft junkies out there.


Brady Quinn is likely to be cashing in big time around this time next year. (AP)
We just finished a hectic 48 hours of drafting that capped a month of intense scrutiny and countless rumors about players and where they might land.

What a weekend it was. For the diehard draft crazies out there, it's a weekend orgy. For the casual fan, it's fun for at least a day.

When it's over, the grades come out, the thinking moves to training camps opening in three months and we start to speculate on which teams will be good in 2006.

Then there are those of us who start looking ahead to 2007. Yes, right now.

As the scouts who scour the nation looking for talent will tell you, it's never too early. So we thought it a good time to crank out a list of 32 players who could be first-round picks next year.

Some of the players on our list are juniors -- we're realists after all -- with an eye on them coming out.

A quick scan of the list will show that the positions of strength will be receiver, defensive end, linebacker and offensive tackle. It can be a good quarterback class if several players continue to improve.

So who's the top player right now? The guess is that it would Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who would have been a high first-round pick if he entered this year's draft.

Quinn, Michigan's State's Drew Stanton and UTEP's Jordan Palmer, Carson Palmer's little brother, are the top senior quarterbacks. Right now, Quinn has the lead, but you never know what a senior season can do to a guy.

Ask Matt Leinart.

Just remember, this is a preliminary list. We have a year for things to change, players to emerge, players to fall off.

But it's never too early to start, is it?

This list of 32 isn't in any order, although, as always, the quarterbacks are at the top:

Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame: If he had come out this year, he might have been the second quarterback taken. But staying in school to play in the pro-style offense used by Charlie Weis will only help his draft stock.

Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State: He's a big, strong-armed quarterback who improved greatly last year. If he continues to grow, he has a chance to be a high pick. The tools are there.

Jordan Palmer, QB, UTEP: The brother of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, Jordan showed well for the Miners last year. He isn't as polished as his brother, but he has a good arm.

Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville: He suffered a major knee injury last season, but he's way ahead of schedule in his rehab and should be a go for the opener this year. Brohm is already a better prospect than brother Jeff, who had a cup of coffee in the league.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech: A junior in 2006, this kid has all the tools to be a great one. He's big and fast and polished. He's almost a lock to come out next year.

Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC: He is a tall receiver who has put up big numbers in his first two years with the Trojans. With Matt Leinart gone, he might not have as much success, but he will still be a high pick if he opts to come out.

Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State: Santonio Holmes was a first-round pick this year, and this kid is better, bigger and just as fast. Teams will also love his return ability.

Jeff Samardzija, WR, Notre Dame: He might be the best senior receiver on the board. He flourished last year when Weis came from the Patriots and should do so again with Quinn throwing to him.

Robert Meacham, WR, Tennessee: This 6-3, 200-pound player is a raw prospect who has been slowed by injuries. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be special.

Michael Bush, RB, Louisville: Reggie Bush went second this year, and this Bush has a chance to go high next year. He is more of a power runner at 250 pounds, but he gets the job done.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma: He is an elite runner with good size and speed. We've watched him since he stepped onto the campus make big plays, and after his junior season, you can bet he'll be ready to try the next level.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, California: This 5-11, 220-pound junior has put up some big numbers in Cal's offense. He averaged 6.4 per rush last year, which shows he's a big-time speed back.

Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin: He thought about entering this year's draft but suffered a serious leg injury in the Badgers' bowl game. That forced him to stay in school. He's a big tackle who excels blocking for the run, although he plays on the left side.

Justin Blaylock, T, Texas: At 6-4, 330 pounds, Blaylock is a power player who has played mostly right tackle. He is a better pro prospect than teammate Jon Scott, who came out this year.

Sam Baker, T, USC: The Trojans had two linemen taken high this year and Baker has a chance to go in the top 10 next year if he comes out as a junior. He is massive at 6-9, 330, and has the power and feet scouts love.

Levi Brown, T, Penn State: This is a massive player at 6-5, 325. He's a pretty good athlete for a man that big.

Greg Olsen, TE, Miami: This transfer from Notre Dame is the next in a long line of great Miami tight ends. He's got good size and speed and has played in a Pro Style offense.

Zach Miller, TE, Arizona State: The tight end class was outstanding this year, but this kid has a chance to be a top 15 pick if he comes out as a junior. He might be better than Todd Heap, who came from ASU.

Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia: He is one of those speed rushers teams crave. He is 6-5, 260 and he had 10½ sacks last year. If he can continue to get better, Moss has a chance to be a really high pick.

Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson: He's another player with speed off the corner. At 6-5, 260, he is in the same mold as Moses. He almost came out this year, but another year could mean a lot of money to him.

Tim Crowder, DE, Texas: This 6-4, 270-pound defensive end was a big part of the Longhorns' defense last year. He has been a three-year starter and should be their featured front-seven player this year.

Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC: This pass-rushing junior has the speed off the corner and he's already a polished pass rusher.

Baraka Atkins, DE, Miami: At 6-4, 270 pounds, he has played both tackle and end. If he bulks up some, he could be a dominant tackle on the next level.

Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi: He led the SEC in tackles last year, which says something about his ability to get to the football. At 6-2, 235, he has the size teams want in their linebackers.

H.B. Blades, LB, Pittsburgh: He's short at 6-feet, but at 240 pounds, he is a thick, hard-nosed player. He's the son of former NFL player Bennie Blades.

Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State: He injured a knee in the Orange Bowl victory over FSU; otherwise he would have been in this year's draft. He could be next year's A.J. Hawk.

Brandon Siler, LB, Florida: This junior has a chance to be a big-time player on the next level. He is a tackling machine for the Gators, a guy who can run and chase as well as any linebacker in the country.

Keith Rivers, OLB, USC: What do you know, another good player for the Trojans? Rivers was a huge recruit when he came to USC and he hasn't disappointed.

Leon Hall, CB, Michigan: He is a fluid cover corner who has 25 career pass breakups. At 6-0, 200, he has the size teams love in a corner.

Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona: Good cover corners always seem to rise to the top of a draft. Cason has that ability. Playing in Arizona's aggressive defense, he gets a lot of chances to play man coverage, which scouts love to see.

LaRon Landry, S, LSU: At 6-2, 205, he has size and range to be an effective free safety on the next level. He always seems to be around the ball.

Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame: This boxer is one of those players who always seems to be around the football. He is also a good return man. Think John Lynch with speed.