Today: #17 to #32  Wednesday: #1 to #16

17. Percy Harvin---WR---5' 11"--192---Florida
This explosive junior is a gamebreaker in every sense. His 4.38 speed translates well onto the field, he plays as fast as he times. The Gators lined him up all over the field including behind Tim Tebow in the backfield. He has rare acceleration and can turn short passes into touchdowns. Dangerous open field runner & Harvin has a great pair of hands. His durability is the only question, various leg, ankle & knee problems have sidelined Harvin. He has a lot to learn as far as route running goes, the Florida spread depends more on athletes making plays than running precise routes.

18. Tyson Jackson---DE---6' 4"--295---LSU
Jackson projects into a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense. He could also play strongside DE in a 4-3, but his lack of quickness will make his pass rush potential limited. He is able to set the edge in the running game & holds his ground very well when runs come right at him. Locates the ball well & is a solid tackler. Appears to have good overall strength.

19. Brian Cushing---OLB---6' 2 7/8"--243---USC
The first of the 3 1st round Trojan LB's. His 4.73 at the combine surprised me a bit, he plays faster than that. His entire game is very good, strong, instinctive, very athletic. He drops into coverage very quickly & consistently gets a good jam on the TE. He's a fierce run defender, in many games he refused to be blocked, in others he'd throw his body into blocker & ball carrier taking out both.  Plays with reckless abandon. Cushing's achilles heel is his lack of durability, until '08 he'd missed time every season. He's had knee & shoulder surgery, another shoulder injury & a couple of ankle sprains.

20. Brandon Pettigrew---TE---6' 5 3/8"--263---Oklahoma State
Pettigrew's 4.83 at the combine shows he won't run away from anyone or ever be much of a deep threat but he's still the best TE prospect in this draft. Very reliable hands, gets off the jam well using  good overall strength. He's also a consistent blocker who takes pride in this part of his game. Saw him pancake a few guys. No glaring weakness, could start right away. Had a bar fight arrest last year, but stayed out of trouble since.

21. Rey Maualuga---ILB---6' 1 3/4"--249---USC
Explosive hitter, maybe the biggest hitter in this draft. Superior run defender who diagnoses plays quickly & gets to the hole. He sheds blocks well using his powerful hands & arms. Gets good drops vs the pass & instinctively moves into the passing lanes for the interception. He's had some leg injuries and his 4.83 at the combine was disappointing. He pulled his hamstring running his 1st 40 and didn't participate in any other drills. Had a couple of fight related arrests while at USC.

22. Clay Mathews---OLB---6' 1 3/8"--240---USC
A former walk-on with a big time USC/NFL pedigree. Father Clay played at USC & 15+ years as a Cleveland Brown linebacker. Uncle Bruce, a HOFer, another USC grad, played 18 years as an offensive guard for the Oilers/Titans. His 4.59 at the combine was topped only by Aaron Curry. A 35" vertical jump & top-5 numbers in all the agility drills. He should become a feared NFL blitzer, he showed super quickness off the edge in '08. Gets good pass drops as well and tackles well in the open field. Mathews moved up 2 rounds in my ratings this season.

23. Peria Jerry---DT---6' 1 3/4"--299---Mississippi
Super disruptive with an explosive first step. Good anticipation for both the snap and backfield penetration. Pretty solid body with good overall strength, but strictly a 4-3 tackle, preferably a weakside tackle. Several family members have played in the NFL & his younger brother, John an offensive guard for Ole Miss, is a top O-line prospect next season.

24. Chris "Beanie" Wells---6' 1"--235---Ohio State
Numerous injuries are the only thing keeping Wells from being a top-10 pick. Often compared to Larry Johnson, Wells is a North-South, tackle breaking runner who punishes anyone in his way. Like Johnson, he's not much of a receiver and his blocking is downright poor. Not fast, but quick to the line of scrimmage & is a great goaline runner. Has missed numerous games with an assortment of injuries, some rather questionable in severity. Considering his history, his decision to come out after his junior season didn't surprise me.

25. Hakeem Nicks---6' 0 3/4"--212---North Carolina
A lot of untapped potential in this Tar Heel junior. He has superior hands, runs very good routes, fearless over the middle & very dangerous after the catch. He doesn't possess elite speed, but he's fast enough (4.50). He dismantled the West Virginia defense in the Meineke Bowl to the tune of 217 yards and 3 touchdowns making a couple of receptions that were catch-of-the-year candidates.  As fast as he came on this season, I still think he has room to improve, I see no downside with Nicks.

 
26. Alex Mack---C/G---6' 3 7/8"--311---California
One of my favorite prospects, this Cal honor student was a 4-year starter for the Bears. He pulls, traps & gets out into screens seemingly with ease. Looked better than any other interior lineman in Senior Bowl drills, but a sprained ankle kept him from doing anything at the combine. I think he'll shine at Cal's pro day on campus. Doesn't blow people off the ball, but he doesn't whiff on defenders either. Can be an immediate starter at guard or center.

27. LeSean McCoy---RB---5' 10 3/8"--210---Pittsburgh
McCoy had the flu & wasn't able to workout at the combine, but I expect him to run a sub 4.50 40. A very effective inside runner, seeing the cutback lane & getting through  it before it closes. Can take any carry all the way & is a very good receiver. Durable, productive (2,800 yards 35 TDs) & great work ethic except in one area. This kid needs a lot of work picking up blitzes. He's going to get some poor QB killed. Looks more like a toreador than a blocker. In spite of that he can make an immediate impact at the next level.

28. Alphonso Smith---CB---5' 9"--193---Wake Forest
Not blessed with blazing speed, he does possess excellent ball skills & anticipation that allows him to close on the ball very quickly. Played very well in the Senior Bowl and showed well in drills there & the combine. Only his height prevents him from being  picked in the top 15. Smart kid with a great work ethic.

29. William Beatty---OT---6' 6"--307---Connecticut
Had a great senior season, moving up everyone's draft board. Pretty athletic prospect with decent speed (5.12), decent vertical (33 1/2"), decent strength (27 reps) with long arms & quick feet.  Has excellent lateral movement, can get downfield & hit a moving target. Has the frame to put on 10 more pounds without losing his quick twitch. Not a true road grader, but he could play either tackle spot.

30. Darrius Heyward-Bey---WR---6' 0 5/8"--210---Maryland
True elite speed (4.30), this Terp junior should have returned to Maryland for his senior year. Other than blinding straight-ahead speed, he needs work on just about everything else. Long-legged,he doesn't play as fast as he clocks, he slows down going into his breaks & rounds off many of his routes. His hands are inconsistent and does way too much body catching. Still, I think he'll go somewhere late in round one because, remember the 3 rules of speed;  speed kills, you can't coach speed & if you don't have speed, you're destined to chase it.

31. James Laurinaitis---ILB---6' 1 7/8"--244---Ohio State
My interest in this Buckeye has steadily declined & he might just fall out of the 1st round before draft day. He didn't play well in the Fiesta Bowl, decided not to play in the Senior Bowl and his combine workouts were very disappointing. He only ran 4.81, only did 22 reps &   looked almost mechanical in some of the drills. He was a very productive college player & a team leader who might have been picked higher had he come out after his junior year.

32. William Moore---S---6' 1"--228---Missouri
After his junior year he was regarded by nearly everyone as a top-20 pick, but nagging injuries hurt his senior year production. Moore led the country in interceptions (8) as a  junior, but only got three in '08. None of his injuries required surgery & he looked better in the Alamo Bowl. Closes downhill very well, ran 4.51 at the combine. Very good run defender, tackles well and sometimes will deliver a big hit. When he flips his hips & runs, he doesn't look very fluid. Shows good snap anticipation when he walks down into the box to blitz. Closes quickly on the QB & isn't easily blocked.