The skinny: Probably the safest pick in the draft. The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, he has everything you want in a first-round choice: Character, ability and determination. He can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4, is an outstanding pass rusher who had 14 sacks in 2007 and holds up against the run. Could be the first pick in the draft.
The skinny: His reputation has only been enhanced since ending a season where he had the only sack on Michigan's Jake Long and a school-record 14. His combine numbers were astounding and so was his Pro Day. A Ted Hendricks Award finalist, he has rare strength for a defensive end, good quickness and rarely misses a tackle. A sure top 10 pick who may make it into the top five.
The skinny: Next to Gholston, he's the best pure pass rusher in this year's draft. Harvey compares to former teammate Jarvis Moss with speed, quickness and explosion off the edge. He also can play the run, with opponents trying 47 rushing attempts in his direction for minus-28 yards, and Harvey not allowing a rushing first down until the Capital One Bowl. With 19.5 sacks the past two seasons, he's an impact player waiting to happen.
The skinny: Had a career-high 78 tackles last season, including seven sacks and 17 for losses and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week three times. Should be a first-round pick, but he recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia and may not be able to work out for scouts before the draft. He did not work out at the combine.
The skinny: A disappointment in 2006 he responded with a big senior season -- leading the Trojans in sacks with 10.5 and producing 17 stops for losses. USC's co-Defensive Player of the Year, he is quick, instinctive and solid against the run. Can be streaky, which should make him a second-round pick.
Player on the rise:
Ohio State's Gholston. He was a likely Top 10 choice entering the combine, but his stock jumped after he ran a 4.65 40 and hit 37 reps on the bench press -- tying the combine high. Good huh? He cut his time to 4.58 at his pro workout. Now he's mentioned as a possible top five pick, with Miami considering him at the first position.
Player on the decline:
Miami's Calais Campbell. His 40 times at the combine were a disaster, so he ran again at his Pro Day and produced a 5.01. Big deal. That's slow, not as slow as the 5.06 at the combine but enough to make scouts concerned. It could -- and should -- cause him to drop out of the first round.
Sleeper
Tommy Blake, TCU. Had he left school a year early he would have been a first round pick a year ago. Instead, Blake stayed and suffered for the experience. The 2005 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year missed five games with an undisclosed leave of absence and was ineffective when he played. One reason was his weight: He was 287 at the East-West Shrine game. If he can win the Battle of the Bulge -- and he was down to 272 at his Pro Day -- he's worth a shot.
Overrated
Quentin Groves, Auburn. He could be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a 4-3 defensive end, but he hasn't played up to his level of measureables and has a tendency to wear down late in ballgames. Once considered a first-round lock, he probably drops to the second.
Position analysis:
There are four potential first-round picks at this position, which makes it good. But it's not great. Long is the only bullet-proof candidate here, though Gholston could join him if he ever becomes more consistent. The position drops off quickly after the first five or six, but there's enough depth here to keep the needy happy in Day Two.
