DRAFT 2006: Profiles of top defensive players by position

NEW YORK (AP) -Top defensive players in next weekend's NFL draft, grouped by projected NFL positions. All are seniors unless noted.

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POSITION OUTLOOK: There will be plenty of talented pass rushers on the first day of the draft, including two potential stars from N.C. State, Mario Williams and Manny Lawson. Those two, along with Kamerion Wimbley of Florida State, are likely to be the first three taken in a DE-rich draft. The prospects aren't quite as elite at tackle, though Haloti Ngata and Brodrick Bunkley have lots of appeal for their natural, havoc-wreaking talent. After those two are gone, teams should find plenty of good value in the next several prospects.

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MARIO WILLIAMS, North Carolina State, 6-6 1/2, 292, junior - Alluring combination of size, speed and athletic ability, he could develop into a dominating end. Can take most tackles with his first step, and has the upper-body strength and fluidity to elude those he can't beat off the line. Big-play ability. The major drawback: Williams is raw, struggles to disengage once blockers get into his pads, and he can be stood up by shorter, stronger players. His technique leaves a lot of work for coaches, and his motivation can be inconsistent. Teams will find it tough to pass on his natural abilities, though.

KAMERION WIMBLEY, Florida State, 6-3 3/4, 248 - An explosive, if undersized DE who could be a great fit at OLB for a team running the 3-4 defense. Very quick, he can change direction quickly and run down ball carriers. Good open field tackler who takes the proper angle to the ball. Excellent at sniffing out misdirection. If he stays at DE, could get eaten alive against the run by offensive tackles unless he adds considerable bulk. As a pass rusher, he relies more on speed than moves.

MANNY LAWSON, North Carolina State, 6-5, 238 - Another athletic tweener whose measurables might spell OLB to the right team. A raw but potentially dangerous pass rusher. Excellent speed for his size, he has a good closing burst on the QB, and can run down RBs from behind. Solid open-field tackler, which could be handy if he gets moved to OLB. Should be able to make plays on special teams, too. Needs to add bulk to his frame no matter which position he's drafted for. Avoiding blocks is still an issue for him.

MATHIAS KIWANUKA, Boston College, 6-5 1/2, 261 - Excellent pass rusher skilled at anticipating the snap count and getting around most tackles. His moves will need some work, but he's shown the agility and nose for the QB that suggest he'll become adept in NFL. Should bat down a lot of passes and run down ball carriers from behind. Lots of hustle. Could stand to add a good deal of bulk to his rangy frame. Can be stood up, and has trouble shedding blockers who get into his pads. Occasionally takes himself out of the play by getting too far upfield. He's the grandson of Ugandan prime minister Benedicto Kiwanuka, who was assassinated in 1972 by Idi Amin.

DARRYL TAPP, Virginia Tech, 6-1 1/2, 256 - Shorter than ideal, but his strength and low center of gravity help him get leverage. Sound all-around fundamentals. Hard worker who recognizes the run quickly. Plays well against the run and has shown the ability to hit hard and cause fumbles. Decent at shedding blocks. Has good pass-rushing moves, but will find it harder to turn the corner or penetrate to the inside against NFL linemen, especially big ones who could engulf him.

TAMBA HALI, Penn State, 6-2 1/2, 263 - Short but powerful player with a strong upper body and the agility to elude the first punch of offensive tackles. Very sharp at diagnosing plays early, he will make plays in pursuit. Big tackles, however, could swallow him up. He's quick, but not necessarily fast. Had a tendency to disappear in some games.

OTHERS TO WATCH:

- Ray Edwards, Purdue. Another possible convert to OLB in a 3-4 defense, he could stay at DE if he adds some bulk. Inconsistent.

-Mark Anderson, Alabama. Could be a find. Long arms and strong upper body help keep blockers at bay. Speed helps with pursuit, but he needs time to gain weight and experience.

- Parys Haralson, Tennessee. Undersized, but savvy. If he doesn't convert to OLB, he could be a liability versus the run, but still useful as a pass rusher.

- Victor Adeyanju, Indiana. A formidable but raw talent, he could bulk up and dominate with the right coaching. Bats down lots of passes.

- Elvis Dumervil, Louisville. Had 20 sacks in a senior season that was a star turn, but he's just short of 6- feet and projects to probably a situational pass rusher in the pros.

Tackles

HALOTI NGATA, Oregon, 6-4 1/4, 338, junior - An immovable object, he can hold his ground against double teams, and sometimes still make the play. Could be an excellent pocket-collapsing bull rusher and run-stuffer. Shows surprising mobility and can even drop into coverage in zone blitz schemes. Can rely too often on his brute strength and allow technique to break down. Occasionally takes plays off. Can be stood up if he gets tired and plays too high. Possibly only a two-down player. Some durability concerns.

BRODRICK BUNKLEY, Florida State, 6-2 1/2, 304 - A versatile defensive tackle who can rush the passer and stuff the run. Not particularly fast, but is quick and can usually gain leverage at the point of attack. Also good at keeping free of blockers. He's a bit undersized, and probably fits best in a one-gap scheme. Maturity and character are question marks for him, as is durability.

CLAUDE WROTEN, LSU, 6-2, 302 - Explosive and strong, he's an excellent tackler who forces more than his share of fumbles. Praised for his tenacity and ``motor,'' he's another good fit for a one-gap scheme. Can shove linemen back on their heels and collapse the pocket. Could stand to add leg strength and some pass-rush moves. Struggles to disengage once blocked. Teams could be scared off by a marijuana arrest in January, but charges were dropped.

GABE WATSON, Michigan, 6-3 1/2, 336 - Mammoth yet nimble NT prospect who can collapse the pocket and wreak havoc when fresh and draw double teams at almost all times. Good gap-clogger who can steer backs to the outside for aggressive LBs. As a pass rusher he's limited, but can drive the center backward. He's not particularly quick to diagnose the play. Can be disruptive, but mostly between the tackles. Teams drafting him will have to be prepared to hound him about conditioning, and possibly sub for him on third down.

OTHERS TO WATCH:

- Rodrique Wright, Texas. Big and quick when he's fresh, but consistency and stamina are concerns. All the natural tools are there.

- John McCargo, N.C. State. Undersized, but has the raw material to become a disruptive one-gap tackle. Good intelligence and work ethic.

- Orien Harris, Miami. A bull-rushing type who can hold his ground against double teams. More of a clogger than a pass rusher.

- Kyle Williams, LSU. Makes the most of limited physical gifts. Played a game in 2004 after suffering a compound fracture to his hand in warmups.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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