1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, QB- Manning, son of former star NFL signal caller Archie Manning, has often been compared with former Browns QB Bernie Kosar. That’s largely because the Tennessee grad is smart and comes into the league with the ability to read defenses. He is also a dedicated worker- but he shares one of Kosar’s negative traits, i.e. that he is not a threat to run for yardage. However, indications are that Manning will be tougher to sack than Kosar. Manning got lots of experience with the Vols, having started for all four years. Indianapolis is eager for him to step right in as its starter. With Jim Harbaugh off to Baltimore, he will certainly do that- and the hope is high that he will achieve more success in his NFL career than Kosar ever did.

"This is a very exciting day for the Indianapolis Colts," coach Jim Mora said. "We know we have selected a tremendous young football player, an outstanding young man, a person we feel will help this organization achieve a great deal of success in the future. Our plans are to put him right… in… there. Just stick him right in. We’ve got a minicamp starting Friday afternoon and- I’m not saying this is totally etched in stone- but right now my plan is to say, ‘Hey, Peyton, you’re the guy. Get in there and call that play the first time the No. 1 offense lines up.’"

2. Ryan Leaf, San Diego Chargers, QB- After longtime Chargers quarterback Stan Humphries announced his retirement, the team made no secret about what they were doing when they traded up to get the second pick. Leaf, although he is just about on Manning’s level, is a different type of quarterback. He is less polished, having started for just two full seasons and emerging as a stud only in his senior campaign at Washington State. He does have a stronger arm than Manning, and he is bigger, at 245 pounds (as compared to 228 for Manning). He is a threat to run out of the pocket for yardage, and has been known to get passes off with defenders hanging on him (although it will be interesting to see how the NFL’s "in the grasp" rule affects this). Like Manning, he is a tremendous competitor.

There aren’t many concerns about Leaf. One is that his passes will sometimes wobble. Another is that he weighed in at 261 pounds at the combine in Indianapolis. However the word is that he has lost most of his excess weight. "(Leaf is) a little bit more raw than (Manning), maybe more rough edges that have to be smoothed out," coach Kevin Gilbride said. "But I feel maybe he has greater growth potential.

3. Curtis Enis, Chicago Bears, RB- Just about everybody’s choice for the top prospect at running back. Don’t be fooled by his large frame (6-0, 239); he is fast (runs the 40 in 4.50 seconds). He gained over 2,500 yards on the ground in his last two years at Penn State combined, and averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 1997, scoring 20 touchdowns overall that year. Scouts are impressed with his good feet, and also the fact that he is tough to bring down after contact, as he can break tackles and churn for extra yardage. He also has good hands; he grabbed 57 passes in his last two campaigns. Elected to turn pro after his junior campaign.

While there is little doubt that Enis will make an immediate impact in the NFL, his selection by the Bears was puzzling to many. They signed Edgar Bennett as a free agent, and still have Raymont Harris and Rashaan Salaam. Harris might end up elsewhere and it was speculated that the same was true for Salaam, but it is also possible that a trade involving Enis is in the works. But whether it is for the Bears or for someone else, Enis is sure to get the bulk of the carries for his team right from the beginning.

9. Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars, RB- Another blue-chip prospect, and rated second on most peoples’ list of available running backs. Also, another fast runner despite his size; he has run 4.40 in the 40. A strong athlete with lots of stamina, he gained over 117 yards per contest as a senior with Florida, crossing the goal line on 13 occasions. He does need to work on his pass catching and blocking. It should also be noted that his sophomore year was marred with injuries.

Jacksonville clearly selected Taylor with the intent of making his their primary back. This could only mean that they were not comfortable with James Stewart in that role. "In Fred Taylor you’ve got a guy who, when you look at him, you’re not sure he weighs 230 pounds, but he does," coach Tom Coughlin said. "Fred has a unique ability. ‘Avoid’ is a word that people use when evaluating a running back. Fred can avoid, but after he avoids, he can take it all the way."

16. Kevin Dyson, Tennessee Oilers, WR- His 6-1, 199-pound frame should give Steve McNair a nice target to throw to. But that’s not all that’s impressive about the Utah athlete. He’s both fast and strong, and does not always go down when he’s hit. He grabbed 60 passes in 1997 despite being double-covered for most of the year. He can also return kicks, and has a great work ethic. With his credentials, as well as the fact that the Oilers’ wideouts were disappointing last season, Dyson should be given every chance to show what he can do right away. He figures to start opposite Yancey Thigpen, who was acquired as a free agent from Pittsburgh.

"(Dyson is) not the kind of guy that's going to take a year or two to develop and groom," coach Jeff Fisher said. "This young man will be ready to play football and contribute to our program." Wide receivers coach Kevin Lowry agreed: "With Kevin you're getting a guy who is going to be a complete receiver. He can catch the ball in the middle, he can go deep, he can block, he has quickness and he can catch the ball in the crowd."

18. Robert Edwards, New England Patriots, RB- After failing in their attempts to trade for a higher selection, the Patriots were thrilled when this talent lasted until the 18^th slot. A shifty, elusive back whose breakaway capabilities are well documented based on his performance at the University of Georgia. He also is a very significant threat to catch passes coming out of the backfield, and can block. The departure of Curtis Martin left a gaping hole in New England’s attack, so the 6-0, 217-pound Edwards should step right in as its featured back. The biggest concern is the potential for injury; he suffered numerous ones with the Bulldogs, the most significant to his feet and ankles. Another concern is that he has at times seemed to be thinking about his foot. But the fact that he reduced his fumbles from 10 in 1996 to one last year is an indicator that perhaps his focus is now in the right place.

"We had Robert Edwards high on our list," coach Pete Carroll said. "He has great breakaway speed and he's a very fine kid. He has tremendous athletic ability. He's a little different than (Martin), though. He's more of a slashing runner who runs more at you. Curtis was more of a lateral, side-to-side runner. Different styles but it's the same kind of production that we're going to count on from our running back spot with Sedrick (Shaw) and Robert. I think we're going to get the same kind of production. It just might look a little different."

21. Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings, WR- As far as physical qualifications for a wide receiver go- you name it, he has it. He can run both before and after the catch, has nice size (6-5, 200) and great hands. Ranked number one at the position on most people’s draft boards, at least on a physical basis. In just two years at Marshall, he caught a whopping 173 passes for 3,529 yards and 54 touchdowns.

But there are other concerns. Off-the-field problems resulted in scholarships being withdrawn from both Notre Dame and Florida State before he landed with Marshall. (He was guilty of battery while in high school and violated his parole by smoking marijuana at Florida State. While at Marshall, he was arrested for misdemeanor charges, which were dropped when he agreed to undergo counseling.) He also has a reputation for not listening to people. But he says he has been working hard to better himself, and his coaches and teammates at Marshall say that there were no problems there. However he raised a few eyebrows when he canceled from the Indianapolis combine because of dental surgery. His older brother Eric is already a member of the Vikings.

"It's plain and simple," coach Dennis Green said. "This is a young man who's a great player who made some mistakes in his past. He was 18 and 19 years old. He is still only a 21-year-old young man. We think his life is ahead of him, and we're taking the high road. We're saying we've got a full glass of water here and we've got a player who's going to help us win a championship." Still, some may wonder why the Vikings would have made Moss their top choice. After all, they do already have one of the top receiving combos in Cris Carter and Jake Reed. However, Minnesota was not happy with its depth at that position. Expect Moss to get plenty of opportunities in the rotation- but don’t ignore the presence of Carter and Reed when evaluating him as a fantasy prospect.

29. John Avery, Miami Dolphins, RB- A small (5-9 ¼, 186) but fast and quick back, he sometimes has been compared to Warrick Dunn. The Dolphins, who struggled mightily on the ground last year, would love it if he had a season like Dunn did in his rookie campaign, and they’re optimistic about his prospects. He is also a fine kick return man. But the main concern is his size, or lack of it. At Ole Miss, he carried the ball 751 times for 3,886 yards (5.2 yard average) and 37 touchdowns. "I visited with (Mississippi coach) Tommy Tuberville when we were at the Senior Bowl," coach Jimmy Johnson said. "And Tommy said he's the quickest thing that he's ever seen."

30. Marcus Nash, Denver Broncos, WR- Another big target (6-2 ½, 191). Just ask Peyton Manning, who threw to him often throughout his Tennessee career, especially his senior campaign (76 catches, 1170 yards, 13 TDs). He is also very fast, and should be given a chance to work into the Broncos’ picture with Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey.

32. Jerome Pathon, Indianapolis Colts, WR- Set an all-time single season record in his senior year at Washington with 69 grabs. Has tremendous hands and good speed, but lacks the experience of some of the other top receivers. When informed that the Colts had selected Pathon with the 32^nd pick in the draft, Peyton Manning was pleased. With Sean Dawkins apparently on his way out, Pathon should be the front-runner to start opposite Marvin Harrison.

34. Jacquez Green, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR- Many were surprised to see him slide to the second round. The only reason for that was his size (5-9, 173). He has all the other tools you like to see in a wideout- speed, quickness, hands, concentration and determination. He emerged as Florida’s go-to receiver in his senior year, catching 61 passes for more than 1,000 yards. He also can return punts.

With Reidel Anthony, Bert Emanuel and Karl Williams on hand, Green will have to battle for playing time. But the Bucs are optimistic about his potential. "You don't want to pass up guys that you think are going to be real good players," Coach Tony Dungy said. "Jacquez helps us in the receiving role, helps us in the return game. We felt like he could add a lot. There were defensive guys there that were appealing. There were linemen there that were appealing. But we just felt like this guy was going to give us the most for our money at that point."

"What (Green) brings is what we continually seek," GM Rich McKay said. "He brings speed. He brings big plays. He becomes instantly your return guy and a guy that teams, I assume, will account for and better account for. He gives us the ability in the four-wide set and the three-wide set to create some real problems."

37. Robert Holcombe, St. Louis Rams, RB- Illinois all-time leading rusher with more than 4,000 yards. Despite the fact that most of the talent around him was gone by the time he became a senior, he still put up more than 1,200 rushing yards for a winless team. A hard-nosed runner who does most of his work between the tackles. With the problems that the Rams had with the departed Lawrence Phillips, Holcombe is a welcome addition. "He is not Curtis Enis, but we are excited about him," coach Dick Vermeil said. "There are no flaws. He’s learned how to run in traffic, believe me, because he was always in traffic."

40. Cameron Cleeland, New Orleans Saints, TE- The first tight end taken in the draft. Cleeland didn’t put up big totals at Washington (42 catches in 1996 and 97 combined), but he is very athletic and has good hands. Solid blocker, although not spectacular. Should get a chance to start with Irv Smith gone. The Saints thought so highly of Cleeland that, had they been able to work out a trade, which would have seen them deal for a lower first round choice, they would have taken Cleeland then. "We had (Cleeland and Oregon wide receiver Pat Johnson) just about equal," coach Mike Ditka said. "I just think Cam is an unusual guy. He's a guy who had the hands, the speed, the ability at that position that you don't often find. We thought he was the best tight end in the draft. We think he can be a big-time NFL player."

42. Pat Johnson, Baltimore Colts, WR- Some consider Johnson a reach in the first half of the second round. But there is no denying that he does have skill- particularly in the speed department (4.36 in the 40). Came on in his senior year with 50 receptions for more than 900 yards, after just 25 catches in his prior two years combined. Therefore, his lack of a sustained level of performance is a concern. Kick returning ability is a plus. Johnson will have to fight for playing time with Michael Jackson and Jermaine Lewis.

48. Stephen Alexander, Washington Redskins, TE- A fine athlete who impressed at the combine. Alexander is very fast for a tight end (4.60 in the 40). At Oklahoma he displayed all-around ability, showing proficiency in catching the ball and in blocking. Had shoulder surgery in 1996. Though tight end was not the position where the Redskins needed the most help, that was not a factor in their decision to draft Alexander. "I can't emphasize it enough," GM Charley Casserly said. "We were going to take the highest-rated player on our board regardless of position. We knew we were not going to be taking players that could come in and start. But we got two very talented guys (in Alexander and Skip Hicks). (Alexander has) got size and speed. He's a competitive individual. He makes big plays in the passing game. He'll improve to the point that he'll be an all-around tight end. He can help now in some things."

Jamie Asher, who led Washington last year with 49 catches, will be very hard to dislodge as the #1 tight end. "You automatically get into that conversation about already having a guy at that position," coach Norv Turner said. "Stephen can play, and he can complement the players we have. We've had good production from our tight ends, but this is an added dimension. We'll get him here and see how he fits in. He's got a chance to create mismatches with his speed."

50. Germane Crowell, Detroit Lions, WR- This draft is loaded with receivers who possess both size and speed, and Crowell fits into that category. Caught 53 passes for 969 yards and nine TDs in his senior year at Virginia. He will have a tough battle on his hands for playing time with Herman Moore and Johnie Morton. "He was too good to pass on," VP Ron Hughes said. "He should have gone in the first round. I can't say why others didn't take him, but he was there and we were happy."

50. Tony Simmons, WR, New England Patriots- Had the fastest time (4.30 seconds) in the 40 at the combine, and was also a track star at Wisconsin. Didn’t catch a ton of passes for the Badgers in his career, but averaged over 20 yards when he did. Size (6-0 ½, 202) is a plus. Caught 27 balls for 537 yards in 1997, and had 23 career scores. They are hoping he provides insurance for the injury-prone Terry Glenn.

54. Rod Rutledge, TE, New England Patriots- Suffered from a variety of injuries in 1997, the most significant being a torn ACL ligament incurred in the spring. Those injuries cut down on his once-impressive speed. He is more the kind of tight end who will run short patterns, especially if he cannot regain the lost speed. His tenure at Alabama also showed that he is a fine blocker. But as long as Ben Coates in on the scene, the opportunities for playing time will be somewhat limited.

55. Joe Jurevicius, New York Giants, WR- Didn’t catch as many passes as some others on this list, but averaged over 20 yards per catch, and scored 10 touchdowns in his senior year at Penn State. He has good hands and is strong, and will often catch the ball in situations where he is contested. Coach Jim Fassel downplayed his lack of burner speed (4.57 in the 40). "Some guys have what I call competitive speed," he said. "They play faster than their times. (Jurevicius is) one of those guys." Assuming Ike Hilliard returns from his injury, Jurevicius stands to battle with Chris Calloway for playing time.

60. Mikheal Ricks, WR, San Diego- He played three seasons as a tight end at Stephen F. Austin before moving to the wide receiver spot. Despite his inexperience at the position, he came away with 47 catches for 1,358 yards (28.9 average) and 13 scores, nine of which went for at least 50 yards. Nevertheless, he doesn’t have blazing speed. He does, however, have an imposing frame at 6-5, 235. "We haven't had a receiver that big around here," GM Bobby Beathard said. "He's fast and he's been very productive."

61. Charlie Batch, QB, Detroit Lions- The third quarterback taken in the draft, Batch has the physical tools. However he is something of a project, as his technique needs adjustment. He often saw passes batted down at the line- a problem that could be corrected with work, in his case. Having been at Eastern Michigan for six years, he is older than the great majority of the draftees. It is clear that Batch is not about to step into Scott Mitchell’s starting spot any time soon. However some interpret this draft choice as an indication that there is an amount of dissatisfaction with Mitchell. "I really liked (Batch) when I saw him work out," Detroit coach Bobby Ross said. "He has a gun for an arm. He can throw the long and the short ball. I liked the potential he can give to this club. He's a smart young kid."

63. Jon Ritchie, FB, Oakland Raiders- The first fullback taken in the draft. Ritchie started out with Michigan in 1993 and transferred to Stanford in 1995. Shared time at the position in 1997 and, in fact, never carried the ball more than 28 times in any one season. He’s big (6-1 ½, 245), and has a chance to be a fine blocker, but needs work in that area.

67. Scott Frost, QB, New York Jets- The Jets drafted the Nebraska athlete with the intent to convert him to a safety, so fantasy owners should stay away from him.

69. Skip Hicks, RB, Washington Redskins- A talented back, but his fumbling problems may have been the reason he slipped this far. He did amass more than 1,000 yards rushing in each of his final two seasons at UCLA and scored a total of 45 touchdowns in those two campaigns. "Has kind of an O.J. Simpson running style in that he'll stop at the line of scrimmage, wait for something to happen and then slip through with his quickness," one scout says.

It should be noted that he had injury problems earlier in his collegiate career- including a torn ACL suffered in a track meet. "(Hicks is) very versatile," coach Norv Turner said. "He's not a good receiver-he's outstanding. It's nice to acquire a player like Skip." Hicks is projected at third on the depth chart behind Terry Allen and Stephen Davis.

70. Brian Alford, New York Giants, WR - In his last two seasons at Purdue, Alford caught at total of 122 passes for 21scores and went over 1,000 yards each year. Poor grades almost prevented him from playing his senior year, but he put in many hours of hard work during the summer, helping to earn a reputation as a dedicated individual. Speed (4.45 in the 40) is an asset.

71. E.G. Green, WR, Indianapolis- Not a burner, but is quick and uses his speed well. A smart receiver who is adept at running patterns. Capped a fine career at Florida State with a 54-1059-11 senior campaign. The Colts considered drafting Green one round earlier, when they instead chose Jerome Pathon. "(Picking Green with our third round selection) was a no-brainer," club president Bill Polian said.

74. Jammi German, WR, Atlanta- A fast and talented athlete with some major question marks. Did not play the last two years. Sat out 1996 for Miami (Fla) because of reconstructive knee surgery, and was ineligible in 1997 because of ethical misconduct. The school also suspended him in 1996 after battery and trespassing charges. The word is that he has done a lot of growing up. Even if that’s true, he’s still a project.

76. Ahman Green, RB, Seattle Seahawks- A high profile runner who flourished in the Nebraska offense, capping a fine career with 1,877 yards, 7.8 yards per attempt and 22 TDs. Finished with the second-highest rushing total in Cornhusker history behind Mike Rozier. But like Rozier, a lot of that success came as a result of the blocking in front of him. Though he is big and fast, he lacks the skills of some of the running backs drafted ahead of him.

81. Chris Floyd, FB, New England Patriots- He is an excellent blocker, but displayed some capabilities as a ballcarrier in his senior year with Michigan (59-262-2). However he did not impress at the combine. A dedicated athlete who has endured shoulder surgery. Though he is not currently projected at #1 on the depth chart, he should get a chance to show what he can do as the Patriots retool their backfield.

82. Larry Shannon, WR, Miami Dolphins- A very athletic receiver who has decent speed and can jump. Led the nation in yards per reception (21.4) as a junior at East Carolina, then was hampered by ankle injuries his entire senior year.

86. Jonathan Quinn, QB, Jacksonville- After an unimpressive record as an underclassman for Middle Tennessee State, Quinn he came out of nowhere in 1997 to post very good numbers (167-of-293, 2209 yards, 17 TDs, 10 INTs). He has a very strong arm and good speed for a quarterback, but has only been playing the position since his senior high school campaign. "Physically, (Quinn is) a very strong kid who does run well," coach Tom Coughlin said. "We knew we wanted to draft a quarterback- a young, developmental quarterback at the right time, and we felt the right time was now."

* 88. Rashaan Shehee, RB, Kansas City Chiefs- Athletic back who is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. He suffered a non-football related foot injury in 1996, and then an ACL injury caused him to miss the last three games of his senior campaign at Washington, in which he went 139-862-8. With Marcus Allen’s retirement, Shehee could end up starting, if he stays healthy and lives up to expectations. A sleeper.

91. Brian Griese, QB, Denver Broncos- Son of Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese. Like his dad, he’s a smart quarterback who will use his abilities to the utmost. However his abilities, while certainly not insignificant, are not particularly outstanding. For one thing, he does not have a particularly strong arm. The obvious speculation in Denver is that Griese will be groomed as John Elway’s replacement. "He's an intelligent young man who understands the game and doesn't make a lot of mistakes," coach Mike Shanahan said. "He really plays well. I really liked the way he handled himself." However, unlike Elway, Griese is not the type of player who one would expect to rally a team all by himself. "One of the things you look for is a guy who can make plays on his own," Shanahan said. "He's not that type of guy."

92. Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh- Aside from starring at wide receiver, Ward has also played at tailback and quarterback for Georgia, reminding some of Kordell Stewart. Ironically, he will now join Stewart as a member of the Steelers. Ward is intelligent and has many attributes, including quickness and very good hands. Lacks breakaway speed however. Can return kicks. Had 144 career receptions (second all-time at Georgia) for 1,965 yards (third). He had a total of 3,870 all-purpose yards (second). Should get opportunities with Yancey Thigpen gone.

94. Alonzo Mayes, TE, Chicago Bears- Caught 29 passes for 424 yards and seven scores in seven games in his senior year at Oklahoma State- then a shoulder injury put an end to his season. Has a big, imposing frame (6-4 ½, 258) although he was 20 pounds heavier in his junior year. His blocking is on the upswing, but it could stand some improvement.

95. Michael Pittman, RB, Arizona Cardinals- Rang up more than 1,000 yards for Fresno State in both 1996 and 1997, and became a receiving threat out of the backfield. A hard-nosed runner with some speed (4.46 in the 40) who is not afraid to get hit. Has had some injury problems, and some off-the-field problems too.

96. Az-Zahir Hakim, WR, St. Louis Rams- Hakim has a deserved reputation as a dangerous weapon, both as a receiver and as a kick returner. His best year at San Diego State was in 1995 when he caught 57 passes for 1,022 yards and eight scores. He may have done better in 1996 or 1997, but injuries marred those campaigns. That and his short stature (5-9 ½, 177) are the major concerns for the Rams.

98. Roland Williams, TE, St. Louis- Shared time at tight end for Syracuse the last three years, which hurts him in the experience department. Caught a total of just 27 passes during that time span, although he has improved in that department. Needs a lot of polish, though- and although he can block, he could be much better there too. At 6-4 ½, 263, he does have the size.

101. Tavian Banks, RB, Jacksonville- In his only year as a starter, the Iowa Hawkeye emerged with 1,691 yards on the ground, over 6 ½ yards per attempt, and 19 TDs overall. However Banks is not at this point the type of runner who breaks tackles. Kick return ability is a plus.

106. Donald Hayes, WR, Carolina Panthers- The other half of the Wisconsin wide receiver tandem. Hayes actually had more catches (40) and yards (574) than Tony Simmons in 1997. However, unlike Simmons, Hayes does not seem to have a lot of skills, and perhaps has relied upon his considerable desire as a springboard to his success. He does provide a nice target, at 6-4 ½, 211.

114. Tim Dwight, WR, Atlanta Falcons- An incredible competitor. That’s an asset, to be sure, but perhaps that backfires sometimes in that it detracts from his attention to details. A fast runner, although his time at the combine didn’t show it. A threat as a receiver, as a runner on the reverse, and as a kickoff and punt returner. His 5-8, 185 frame doesn’t help matters, though.

122. Curtis Alexander, RB, Denver Broncos- After his first three years at Alabama were destroyed by a variety of injuries, Alexander finally got a chance to show what he could do in ’97. As one of three tailbacks in the rotation, he put up numbers of 155-729-6, and caught two passes for scores as well. Can break the big run, but obviously continued health is a concern. May be headed for spot duty in the NFL.

123. Curtis King, FB, Pittsburgh- Put up some good numbers as a senior with NC State, with 70 rushes for 380 yards (5.4 average) and 20 catches for 207 more. Size is a concern, as he weighs in at only 229 pounds.

125. Terry Hardy, TE, Arizona Cardinals- Despite starting for three years at Southern Mississippi, he managed just 23 catches during that entire time. Needs to improve his receiving skills as well as his blocking skills. He does have the size (6-4, 260) to be a pro tight end.

127. Jeremy Brigham, TE, Oakland- Being on the same team with Cam Cleeland, Brigham never got much playing time with Washington. In fact he caught just eight passes during his entire collegiate career. He’s fast for a big man (4.66 in the 40), and reportedly can catch the ball, although he never got a chance to prove it with the Huskies. Needs game experience, and also lots of work on his blocking.

129. Raymond Priester, FB, St. Louis- After netting 1,322 and 1,194 rushing yards as a sophomore and junior at Clemson, injuries were a factor in limiting him to 894 in 1997. The personification of smashmouth football, Priester will pound away at a defense. However he does not have many other skills, although he can catch a pass.

130. Jonathan Linton, FB, Buffalo Bills- Getting his chance to start, Linton cracked the 1,000-yard rushing mark as a senior with North Carolina. His 247-pound body is tough to bring down, and he is a good receiver. Limited in other skills however.

132. Wilmont Perry, RB, New Orleans Saints- Playing for Livingstone College, Perry busted loose for nearly 1,800 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in 1997 after posting more than 900 yards the year before. Has plenty of athletic ability and is a big, tough runner- but will need experience playing in pro sets, since he has been performing in a veer offense. The fact he sat out the 1993 and 1995 seasons entirely, for different reasons, doesn’t help either. Also, needs to improve his blocking.

146. Blake Spence, TE, New York Jets- Started for Oregon in only his senior year, in which he went 36-573-6. However he was used in many two-tight-end sets the prior two seasons, in which he performed quite well. Has good athletic skills and good hands.

150. Corey Bradford, WR, Green Bay Packers- After not having played football since high school, he lined up as a wide receiver-a position he was unfamiliar with- in 1997. And amazingly, he established himself as a major threat at both that position (48-937-9) and as a kickoff returner. Has all the physical tools, but is definitely a project.

153. Chris Howard, RB, Denver Broncos- Rushed for nearly 1,600 yards over his final two years at Michigan, and showed he can catch the ball too, with 35 grabs as a senior. Scored 20 TDs in those two seasons. Has good skills, but his lack of speed is a concern at tailback- and he’s a bit small for a fullback.

160. Fred Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills- Jerome Pathon’s running mate at Washington, where he went 42-723-7 as a senior. Good but not great physical tools. Nice pair of hands. Experienced. Was hampered with an ankle injury during his junior year.

167. Jason Tucker, WR, Cincinnati Bengals- In 1995 and 1996 combined, he grabbed 70 passes for more than 16 yards a catch at TCU. Then he was suspended for his entire senior year for breaking team rules. Good but not great physical tools and has an aptitude for the game. Would have gone much higher had it not been for the suspension.

169. Bobby Shaw, WR, Seattle Seahawks- Caught 136 balls over the last two years at about a 15-yard clip. Those numbers propelled him to the top of California’s all-time list in receptions and yardage, with 180 and 2,800. Very good football smarts and raw skills, except that he lacks speed (4.62 in the 40).

170. Patrick Palmer, WR, Washington Redskins- A three-year starter at Northwestern State (Louisiana), he caught 26, 32 and 32 passes during that period, averaging more than 20 yards each time. Athletic, though he could use some increased strength. Needs experience with pro sets. Can return punts.

172. John Dutton, QB, Miami Dolphins- After sitting out 1995 as a transferee, he put up some very, very good numbers in two years with Nevada-Reno. He’s big, and also fast for a quarterback. But his mechanics need plenty of work, and must be labeled as a project. Suffered a shoulder separation in his throwing arm during the 1996 season.

174. Chris Brazzell, WR, New York Jets- Set a school record at Angelo State with 1,091 receiving yards in 1997. Showed he is a big-play man, with 23.2 yards per catch and 13 touchdowns that year. Has some nice skills, but needs to show he can sustain his level of performance, and does not have much experience against strong competition.

176. Harold Shaw, RB, New England Patriots- Showed vast improvement as a senior with Southern Mississippi State, when he went over the 1,000 yard mark. Did much of his damage up the middle, where he pounded away. Does not have good speed for a running back, so his options are limited.

177. Todd Pollack, TE, New York Giants- Caught 25, 22 and 28 passes his last three years at Boston College, although he missed time in ’96 with injuries. Has relied on his good hands and intelligence during his career, because he is not fast. Needs lots of work on his blocking too.

178. Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers- A variety of injuries cut into his playing time the past two seasons at Utah. Still, he rushed for a total of 1,796 yards on 5.6 yards per carry during that time. A huge back who does most of his damage running over and through defenses, but has decent speed for his size (255 pounds) and does have a few moves. Needs a lot of work as a receiver. Came out after his junior year.

180. Fred Beasley, FB, San Francisco 49ers- A converted tailback. Decreased yards per carry average (3.3 as a senior) undoubtedly dropped his stock somewhat. Never carried the ball as many as 100 times in a season at Auburn, but can smell the goal line. Very strong work ethic, and a very good receiver out of the backfield. Might be too small (220 pounds) for the fullback position, but too slow to be a tailback however.

182. Kevin McLeod, FB, Jacksonville Jaguars- Had only 44 career carries at Auburn and spent his last season there as a tight end. A pounding-type runner who has a lot of experience at blocking.

183. Dustin Johnson, FB, New York Jets- Johnson will turn 25 years old in August, having served at a mission in Australia. Played both as a fullback and tight end at Brigham Young, catching 63 passes in 1996 and 1997 combined. Rushed for 133 yards on just 18 carries in 1997 after gaining 249 yards on the ground the prior year. Had knee surgery between his junior and senior seasons.

187. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Green Bay Packers- As a starter with Boston College the last two years, he threw for more than 4,400 yards. However he had more INTs than TDs in that span, which is a concern. Had shoulder and thumb injuries the last two years. Son of former NFL player Don Hasselbeck.

192. Alvis Whitted, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars- His primary sport has been track; he set the ACC records in the 100 and 200-meters at North Carolina State. Very inexperienced as a receiver, and needs a lot of work. Can return kickoffs.

193. Phil Savoy, WR, Arizona Cardinals- A three-year starter at Colorado, catching 135 balls at about a 14-yard clip. Has good physical tools, but is inconsistent and has problems dropping the football.

195. Lawrence Hart, TE, New York Jets- Has size, good physical skills and hands. He wasn’t given much of a chance to show them at Southern, where he went just 24-309-2 in his junior and senior years combined. Needs lots of work on his blocking.

201. Ken Oxendine, RB, Atlanta Falcons- Though he ran for 890 and 904 yards in his last two seasons at Virginia Tech, his yards-per-carry average dipped from 5.9 to 3.8 and he scored five less rushing TDs. He isn’t fast, and has never played fullback (he weighs 228 pounds). Did have some success catching the ball out of the backfield. Needs improvement in finishing his runs.

202. Marcus Parker, FB, Cincinnati Bengals- Oxendine’s running mate as a fullback for Virginia Tech, he also played at tailback during his career. Averaged more than five yards per carry over his career, in which he toted the ball 211 times. Caught 20 passes as a senior. Sat out the first four games of his junior year with a suspension.

204. Andy McCullough, WR- New Orleans Saints- Good size and speed, but was not a starting receiver. Still, managed 24 and 22 catches at Tennessee the last two years. Has had trouble dropping the ball, perhaps because of lack of concentration.

215. Ryan Thelwell, WR, San Francisco 49ers- After pulling down 112 passes in two years and going over the 1,000 yard mark for Minnesota in 1996, Thelwell missed 1997 with an academic suspension. He does have good football skills.

218. Edwin Watson, FB, Green Bay Packers- A power runner who put up some big games in his Purdue career. Rushed for about 900 yards at over five yards a carry in 1997, a season in which he also caught more than 30 passes.

222. Damian Vaughn, TE, Cincinnati Bengals- He caught 27 passes for 340 yards and a score as a senior with Miami of Ohio, earning first-team all- Mid-America Conference honors. Work ethic a plus.

223. Tarik Smith, RB, Dallas Cowboys- Very talented runner who was sidelined and hampered with a myriad of injuries throughout his career at California. Had rushed for about 400 yards in just over two contests as a junior when his season ended prematurely with a knee injury. Did not appear to be the same back in 1997 (162-636-7), a season in which he shared the load while being bothered by a hamstring injury.

224. Ernest Blackwell, FB, Kansas City Chiefs- Overt his junior and senior campaigns, had 1,057 yards on just 154 attempts (6.7 yard average). A great physical specimen, but needs work on his blocking and is not a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield.

228. Jim Turner, WR, Carolina Panthers- Extremely fast runner (4.35 in the 40) who did not see a lot of balls thrown his way, largely because of the plethora of talent that Syracuse had at the position. Went 23-488-4 as a senior. Doesn’t have good hands, and needs to work on his football skills. Can return kickoffs.

232. Moses Moreno, QB, Chicago Bears- Moreno isn’t big or strong for a quarterback, but he has the heart of a champion. Very competitive athlete who doesn’t want to sit even when hurt. A starter at Colorado State for two plus years, he completed more than 59 percent of his passes as a junior and senior while throwing for more than 5,000 yards and 38 TDs with 21 INTs.

233. Ron Janes, FB, Arizona Cardinals- Very big and strong, his primary value is as a blocking back. Has shown that he can catch the ball, although he was not used much at all that way as a senior at Missouri.

234. Kio Sanford, WR, San Diego Chargers- Caught 36 passes for 515 yards and five scores in 1997, showing the ability to turn a short pass into a big gainer. Only had 28 catches at Kentucky in the three years before that. His career has been marred with a variety of injuries, and he lacks size- but he has speed.

237. Rodrick Monroe, TE, Cincinnati- He’s definitely a project, having played just two years of competitive football, even including high school. Concentrated on basketball for three years at the University of Cincinnati before playing football in 1997. He got the chance to start several games because of an injury, but was not used much as a receiver. A good blocker with the physical tools to be a good receiving tight end, but he needs a lot of work in that area.

238. Kamil Loud, WR, Buffalo Bills- Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo’s all-time leader in each of the major three career receiving categories. Caught a total of 117 passes as a sophomore and junior while eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark each time. His production dropped to 33-708 as a senior as the team shifted its focus to the run. Has fine speed but needs work.

241. Cam Quayle, TE, Baltimore Ravens- Very tall at 6-6 ¼, Quayle has the necessary size to succeed at the tight end position (250 pounds). His soft hands helped him to 149 receptions at Weber State. Was all-Big Sky conference four times academically.