NFL Draft Preview: 2006 at a Glance

As April draws near, the outlook for the 2006 season of the NFL has been wrought with regulatory changes and restrictions. However, it is still more important than ever to take a look at which teams are going to come out on top in the NFL Draft.

Top of the class in two categories on the 2006 NFL draft, quarterbacks and running backs, hail from USC. Matt Leinart tops the list of pro rated quarterbacks followed by Texas' Vince Young and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler. At this point it's pure speculation to say that Young will go before Cutler, being that Cutler wowed scouts at this year's combine camp. Wrapping up the top 5 QBs of the 2006 NFL draft is Brodie Croyle from Alabama, and a surprising Omar Jacobs graduating from Bowling Green. Cutler and Jacobs are two picks that go to show that a winning record does not always equal a top draft pick.

Top of the list on the running backs for the 2006 NFL draft preview is Reggie Bush, who is an underclassman that hails from USC. Bush is obviously deserving of his first round selection status, being that he single-handedly carried half of the USC offense. In this category are also some surprising selections from not so well known schools, such as Laurence Maroney from Minnesota, DeAngelo Williams from Connecticut, and Brian Calhoun from Minnesota. Wrapping up the top five in this category is LenDale White who is another selection from USC. Four out of the five picks from the running back category are undergraduates, Williams being the only graduating senior.

Offensively, USC dominates in the 2006 NFL draft preview, featuring top five picks in all positions with the exception of center. The tight end list looks fairly typical of every other year, featuring Vernon Davis from Maryland and Leonard Pope from UGA, both underclassmen. These two teams have always been tough-offense oriented, and one thing that is disappointing in the 2006 NFL draft is the exclusion of UGA's D.J. Shockley from the top fifteen quarterbacks. Another thing that is a little different about the 2006 NFL draft than all other drafts is the placement of the quarterback who won the previous year's national championship. While Vince Young is placed in the first pick, it is surprising, if not a little satisfying, to see Jay Cutler speculated to be signed quicker than Young. While Cutler has obviously shown that he can out-perform Young, and maybe even Leinart, it's a little odd to see a quarterback from Vanderbilt to go before a quarterback from Texas. Similarly, Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs is placed slightly higher than I would have guessed in the 2006 NFL draft, and Alabama's Brodie Croyle obviously attended the combine camp and performed well, showing his movement on the list as a huge jump from speculation in late December of '05 to late February of '06.

All-in-all there is alot of solid talent on the 2006 NFL drat preview. The pro-rated quartebacks and running backs all have displayed versatility and ability in their NCAA careers. However, the true test of who will be great and who will be overrated will take place on the gridiron against opponents that are soon to be the peers of this young group of upcoming rookies.