Polishing the Crystal Ball

If you've automatically penciled in Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn --who had perhaps his best game of the season Saturday-- to the No. 1 spot on your 2007 NFL mock draft, you might be jumping the gun. I agree the guy has the talent to be a franchise quarterback, and should find his way into the top five picks come April. But I feel there are better options out there for the top pick.

To begin with, if Louisville QB Brian Brohm leaves school a year early, I believe he'll be the top signal caller in the draft, not Quinn. Brohm has prototypical size and the arm strength to make all the throws with accuracy. His footwork is very polished for an underclassman, and he has a very quick release. He's also a tough guy who doesn't rattle easily and isn't afraid to take a hit while delivering the football.

If Brohm doesn't turn pro following this season, however, there will be other options available for that top selection. With teams like the Cardinals, Dolphins, and Browns flirting with the first pick, an offensive tackle like Wisconsin's Joe Thomas could be the guy. He has the size and athleticism to be an elite left tackle at the NFL level, and it's no secret each of those three teams are in need of an upgrade on the offensive line.

Wide receivers Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) and Ted Ginn Jr. (Ohio State), both underclassmen expected to enter the 2007 draft, could also get some serious consideration at the top as well.

So don't be too quick to assume Quinn is the guy everyone will be targeting this year. There's still a lot of season left to play, along with Bowl games and postseason workouts, so it's possible he could establish himself as that guy. But if the aforementioned underclassmen make themselves available this time around, I don't believe it will happen. Right now, I think the most logical spot for Quinn to land would be Detroit.