Prisco's top 32 for 2008

[pikesome]

Link

This year's NFL Draft picks haven't even attended their first minicamps, with some of those camps scheduled for this weekend, but that doesn't mean it's too early to look ahead to the 2008 class.

Preliminary lists are already being drawn up, even as scouts scatter for vacations for the next couple of months.

With that in mind, here's an early look at the CBS SportsLine.com Top 32 heading into the college season. As usual, it's topped by a quarterback; this time it's Louisville's Brian Brohm.

If he had entered this year's draft, Brohm might have been the second quarterback taken behind JaMarcus Russell. But Brohm opted to stay in school and has a real chance to be the top pick next April.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson, USC tackle Sam Baker and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey are among the players who could push to be the first overall pick.

A lot will change between now and next April. After all, who expected Russell to be the top pick at this time last year?

This is just a start. It's never too early for that.

1. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville: If he had entered this year's draft, which he considered, he might've even been the top overall pick.

2. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: He's as good Adrian Peterson, this year's top back, if not better. McFadden has the explosive speed, plus power.

3. Sam Baker, T, USC: He will be the next in a long line of great offensive lineman from USC. He's a massive man at 6-6, 310 pounds.

4. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU: He's a power player who will see a lot of double-teams this year. Ben Grubbs, this year's top guard, said Dorsey was his toughest opponent.

5. Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC: You can never have enough good pass rushers in a draft, and this guy tops them all. He really brings it off the edge.

6. DeSean Jackson, WR, California: This junior can fly. Every time he touches the ball, the opposition has to fear the big play. He's a heck of a return man as well.

7. Jake Long, T, Michigan: He's just behind Baker on the list of top tackles. He's the key to the Michigan running game.

8. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami: This junior can be a special pass rusher. He has great size and speed. At 6-8, 265 pounds, he's huge.

9. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami: At 6-2, 205 pounds, this junior is a good tackler and has great speed. He could be the next great safety in the league.

10. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan: Don't think he's another John Navarre. I tend to think he's closer to Tom Brady than Navarre.

11. Barry Richardson, T, Clemson: At 6-7, 330 pounds, he's a huge man who is a good athlete for his size. He graduated high school in three years, so he has the smarts, too.

12. Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan: This junior is coming off a nine-touchdown season. He has 4.45 speed, which will help his stock.

13. Dan Connor, LB, Penn State: The scouts think he's a much better prospect than Paul Posluszny, who went in the second round Saturday. Connor is much more active.

14. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia: At 5-10, 195 pounds, this junior doesn't have great size but has big-play speed.

15. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida: He had two sacks of Troy Smith in the national championship game, which served notice that Harvey will be a force in 2007. He might see more doubles with all his line mates leaving for the NFL.

16. Frank Okam, DT, Texas: At 6-5, 320 pounds, he is a power player in the middle of the Longhorns line. He does need to be more consistent.

17. Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona: He enters 2007 as the class of the corner group. At 6-0, 195 pounds, he has good size and speed.

18. James Davis, RB, Clemson: He will split carries with sophomore C.J. Spiller, so Davis' numbers might not be as good as they can be. But he has feature-back skills.

19. Paul Oliver, CB, Georgia: He is a smooth cover player who did a great job on Calvin Johnson last year. In a week corner class, Oliver might be a top-15 pick.

20. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State: At 6-3, 245 pounds, he plays the game with a nasty streak. He had 111 tackles last season and runs well for a man his size.

21. Early Doucet, WR, LSU: Some scouts say he's better than Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis, two LSU teammates who went in the first round Saturday.

22. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State: He surprised many last season by becoming the Buckeyes' top pass rusher. A former linebacker, he should get heavier in 2007.

23. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU: He has a lot of raw ability and needs to show more of it in 2007. At 6-5, 290 pounds, he has great size.

24. Jared Gaither, T, Maryland: This 6-9, 330-pound junior was bothered by a back injury last season, but when healthy he's a dominant player.

25. Bruce Davis, DE-OLB, UCLA: He's a speed rusher from the defensive end spot, but might have to move to linebacker on the next level because he's only 245 pounds. He plays with a tenacious style.

26. Kenny Iwebema, DE, Iowa: His season was cut short in 2006 because of shoulder surgery. But when he's on the field, he's a force off the edge.

27. Keith Rivers, LB, USC: Said he was told he'd be a second-round pick if he had entered this year's draft. With another season, he's into the top 32.

28. Chris Long, DE, Virginia: The son of former NFL great Howie Long had a breakout season in 2006. He has a ways to go to get to his father's level, but he's coming.

29. Justin King, CB, Penn State: He's a top-end corner, but this junior was arrested last week for his part in an off-campus fight. With all the concerns about character, he better use 2007 to clear that up.

30. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas: At 6-5, 218 pounds, he is a big receiver who has made a lot of big plays the past two years. He doesn't have burning speed, but he has enough to separate.

31. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas: He gets overshadowed by playing with McFadden, but Jones has big-play speed. On any other team, he's a star.

32. Brian Cushing, LB, USC: He played defensive end last year, but he will move to linebacker in the NFL. He would be an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker. He's a tough guy.

In the mix: John David Booty, QB, USC; Erik Ainge, QB, Tennessee; Andre' Woodson, QB, Kentucky; Tommy Blake, DE, TCU; Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech; Jack Ikegwuonu, CB, Wisconsin; Ryan Clady, T, Boise State; Mike Hart, RB, Michigan; Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii; Mario Urrutia, WR, Louisville; Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State; Martin Rucker, TE, Missouri; Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC; Ali Highsmith, LB, LSU; Randy Phillips, CB, Miami; Jonathan Hefney, S, Tennessee; Nate Longshore, QB, California; Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame.

[Marco Polo]

4 tackles in the top 24. Get one of 'em Carl!

[htismaqe]

As always, the defensive side of the ball is better than the offensive side of the ball...

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

As always, the defensive side of the ball is better than the offensive side of the ball...

That's because people don't value guards, centers, right tackles and full backs. Half the offense is omitted because they aren't "skill" positions.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

That's because people don't value guards, centers, right tackles and full backs. Half the offense is omitted because they aren't "skill" positions.

Very true.

But when you weight the top QB's, WR's, and RB's against the top DE's and CB's in particular, there's a lot more top guys coming out at the defensive "skill" positions...

[htismaqe]

I guess I should qualify that a bit.

I don't see alot of offensive guys on that list that instantly scream out "NFL player". For example, Brohm is a great college QB, but there's question marks surrounding whether or not his skills translate to the NFL game.

The top defensive guys all seem to be "NFL ready".

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I guess I should qualify that a bit.

I don't see alot of offensive guys on that list that instantly scream out "NFL player". For example, Brohm is a great college QB, but there's question marks surrounding whether or not his skills translate to the NFL game.

The top defensive guys all seem to be "NFL ready".

I think it happens every year.

WR is a position that easier to dissect than say DE. Even this year the criticism of the WR's was well known - Bowe - possession receiver, Jarrett - too slow, Meacham - inconsistent, Ginn - raw. Most people could rattle off the perceived problems about the top 5-6 WRs, but for DE there was a lot less talk and speculation about the strengths or weaknesses of Moss, Spencer, Anderson, etc.

Criticism of many defensive positions is also generic - DT's are either undersized, or if they have good size they don't play 100% every down. Listening to ESPN radio on draft day someone said that about Okoye - gives questionable effort. WTF??

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

4 tackles in the top 24. Get one of 'em Carl!

Absolutely.

Will be very excited to see one of those two gigantic guys in the lower part of this list on the Chiefs.

6'9"? 330 lbs? Unbelievable.

[Direckshun]

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

I think it happens every year.

WR is a position that easier to dissect than say DE. Even this year the criticism of the WR's was well known - Bowe - possession receiver, Jarrett - too slow, Meacham - inconsistent, Ginn - raw. Most people could rattle off the perceived problems about the top 5-6 WRs, but for DE there was a lot less talk and speculation about the strengths or weaknesses of Moss, Spencer, Anderson, etc.

Criticism of many defensive positions is also generic - DT's are either undersized, or if they have good size they don't play 100% every down. Listening to ESPN radio on draft day someone said that about Okoye - gives questionable effort. WTF??

I was thinking about that after I posted it.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by pikesome

19. Paul Oliver, CB, Georgia: He is a smooth cover player who did a great job on Calvin Johnson last year. In a weak corner class, Oliver might be a top-15 pick.

Just when we'll need to draft corners it'll be a "weak corner" draft. Par for the course.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Just when we'll need to draft corners it'll be a "weak corner" draft. Par for the course.

We don't need those kind of CB's anyway. There will be guys available later that will be good Cover 2 guys...

[ChiefsCountry]

This is the year to grap our LT. Lots of good ones. Very smart decision to pass on one this year.

[CupidStunt]

Brohm is seriously overrated. McFadden is easily the #1 prospect for next year IMO.

I like Calais Campbell more than Jackson, and Manningham's my #1 WR.

Chad Henne sucks. Not much of a pro prospect at all, really. He has the arm and size but very little else.

Gaither's risk/reward but I like him as a top-10 prospect come 2008.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

We don't need those kind of CB's anyway. There will be guys available later that will be good Cover 2 guys...

Do I detect a note of sarcasm?