Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Kipers updated round 1 projection (1-31-06)

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...&CMP=ILC-INHEAD

Updated: Jan. 31, 2006
Six Trojans projected to go in first round
Insider
Kiperjr
By Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN Insider
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Following the week of Senior Bowl practices, there have been some changes to my first-round projection for the 2006 NFL draft. There are 14 underclassmen in this week's projected first round, three fewer than last week.

The top-six picks remain the same, but the one newcomer to the top 10 is Texas defensive back Michael Huff. Right now I have him projected to land in San Francisco, which has the seventh overall pick. What I like about Huff is his versatility because he can player either cornerback or safety.

This projected pick reminds me of what the 49ers did in 1981 in a similar situation. In the '81 draft, the 49ers had the eighth overall pick and selected another versatile defensive back, USC's Ronnie Lott.

I will submit another first-round projection following the NFL Combine, which is Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis.

First-Round Projections
1. Houston Reggie Bush, RB* USC
2. New Orleans Matt Leinart, QB USC
3. Tennessee Vince Young, QB* Texas
4. NY Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T Virginia
5. Green Bay Mario Williams, DE* NC State
6. Oakland A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio St.
7. San Francisco Michael Huff, DB Texas
8. Buffalo Haloti Ngata, DT* Oregon
9. Detroit Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
10. Arizona DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
11. St. Louis Vernon Davis, TE* Maryland
12. Cleveland Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
13. Baltimore Tamba Hali, DE Penn St.
14. Philadelphia Winston Justice, T* USC
15. Atlanta Jimmy Williams, DB Virginia Tech
16. Miami Ashton Youboty, CB* Ohio St.
17. Minnesota LenDale White, RB* USC
18. Dallas Marcus McNeill, T Auburn
19. San Diego Santonio Holmes, WR* Ohio St.
20. Kansas City Tye Hill, CB Clemson
21. New England Laurence Maroney, RB* Minnesota
22. Denver (from WSH) Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College
23. Tampa Bay DeMeco Ryans, LB Alabama
24. Cincinnati Ko Simpson, DB* South Carolina
25. NY Giants Johnathan Joseph, CB* South Carolina
26. Chicago Leonard Pope, TE* Georgia
27. Carolina Dominique Byrd, TE USC
28. Jacksonville Ernie Sims, OLB* Florida St.
29. Denver Sinorice Moss, WR Miami
30. Indianapolis Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G USC
31. Pittsburgh Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio St.
32. Seattle Maurice Stovall, WR Notre Dame

* denotes underclassman

Positional Breakdown
Quarterbacks 3
Running backs 4
Wide receivers 3
Tight ends 3
Offensive linemen 4
Defensive linemen 4
Linebackers 5
Defensive backs 6

Most Players Selected by School
USC 6 Bush, Leinart, Justice, White, Byrd, Lutui
Ohio St. 4 Hawk, Youboty, Holmes, Carpenter
Texas 2 Young, Huff
South Carolina 2 Simpson, Joseph