Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
2. Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State
3. Dwayne Bowe, LSU
4. Jason Hill, Washington State
5. Dwayne Jarrett, USC
6. Steve Smith, USC
7. Sidney Rice, South Carolina
8. Craig Davis, LSU
9. Anthony Gonzales, Ohio State
10. Robert Meachem, Tennessee

Overrated: Meachem

Underrated: Hill

Day 2 Sleepers

Laurent Robinson, Illinois State
Courtney Taylor, Auburn
Chansi Stuckey, Clemson
Chris Davis, Florida State
Ryne Robinson, Miami (Ohio)
Legedu Naanee, Boise State

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
2. Tony Hunt, Penn State
3. Marshawn Lynch, Cal
4. Kenny Irons, Auburn
5. Lorenzo Booker, Florida State
6. Brian Leonard, Rutgers
7. Brandon Jackson, Nebraska
8. Michael Bush, Louisville
9. Dwayne Wright, Fresno State
10. Antonio Pittman, Ohio State

Overrated: Pittman

Underrated: Irons

Day 2 Sleepers

Alonzo Coleman, Hampton
Darius Walker, Notre Dame
Justise Hairston, Central Connecticut State
Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall

Be back on Friday with more updates and draft buzz. We’ll have a lot of updates all the way through Sunday, so keep checking back and thanks for all the comments.

Inside Linebackers

1. Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
2. David Harris, Michigan
3. Brandon Siler, Florida
4. Buster Davis, Florida State
5. Zak DeOssie, Brown
6. Desmond Bishop, Cal
7. Jon Abbate, Wake Forest
8. Kelvin Smith, Syracuse
9. H.B. Blades, Pitt
10. Anthony Waters, Clemson

Overrated: Waters

Underrated: Bishop

Day 2 Sleepers

Justin Warren, Texas A&M
Thaddaeus Washington, Colorado
Dedrick Harrington, Missouri (For my man Pony Express. Watch out for this guy as a possible undrafted free agent)

Pure Outside Linebackers

1. Jon Beason, Miami
2. Lawrence Timmons, Florida State
3. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
4. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
5. Stewart Bradley, Nebraska
6. Justin Durant, Hampton
7. Antwan Barnes, Florida International
8. Rory Johnson, Ole Miss
9. Quincy Black, New Mexico
10. Stephen Nicholas, South Florida

Overrated: Tim Shaw, Penn State

Underrated: Alexander

Day 2 Sleepers

Prescott Burgess, Michigan
KaMichael Hall, Georgia Tech
Dallas Sartz, USC

Defensive End/Outside Linebacker Hybrids

1. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
2. Anthony Spencer, Purdue
3. Jarvis Moss, Florida
4. Tim Crowder, Texas
5. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
6. Jay Moore, Nebraska
7. Quentin Moses, Georgia
8. Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan
9. Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii
10. Brian Robison, Texas

Overrated: Moses

Underrated: Moore

Day 2 Sleepers

Victor DeGrate, Oklahoma State
Justin Hickman, UCLA
Mkristo Bruce, Washington State

Cornerbacks

1. Chris Houston, Arkansas

2. Darrelle Revis, Pitt

3. Aaron Ross, Texas

4. Leon Hall, Michigan

5. Jonathan Wade, Tennessee

6. Josh Wilson, Maryland

7. Daymeion Hughes, Cal

8. Eric Wright, UNLV

9. Marcus McCauley, Fresno State

10. Michael Coe, Alabama State/Usama Young, Kent State

Overrated: Hall

Underrated: Wade

Day 2 Sleepers

DeAndre Jackson, Iowa State
C.J. Gaddis, Clemson
Bo Smith, Weber State
C.J. Wilson, Baylor

Safeties

1. LaRon Landry, LSU

2. Michael Griffin, Texas

3. Reggie Nelson, Florida

4. Brandon Meriweather, Miami

5. Josh Gattis, Wake Forest

6. Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech

7. Eric Weddle, Utah

8. Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State

9. John Wendling, Wyoming

10. Marvin White, TCU

Overrated: No one

Underrated: Gattis

Day 2 Sleepers

Daren Stone, Maine
Eric Frampton, Washington State
J.D. Nelson, Oregon
Leonard Peters, Hawaii
Melvin Bullitt, Texas A&M

I’ll be back later tonight with updated linebacker rankings.

-We have more news on Patrick Willis. Apparently, the Jets are now interested in Willis’ services. The Jets are talking with teams picking in the top half of the draft about possibly dealing Jonathan Vilma to move up and get Willis or one of the two stud defensive tackles. It’s not likely that Willis would slip to 15 but if he does, the Jets could have a trading partner in the Steelers. Pittsburgh is looking to move down and Vilma would fit in well with the Steelers new Tampa 2 scheme. Apparently, the Jets are looking to pick up some bigger linebackers in this draft with interest in both Willis and David Harris.

-The Packers have made an offer to the Chiefs for running back Larry Johnson. The deal is said to involve at least four draft picks on Green Bay’s part, including a first and second rounder this year.

-According to a league source, the quarterback that teams will be interested in trading up into the bottom of the first round for is Michigan State’s Drew Stanton. Names like Kevin Kolb and John Beck have been surfacing recently but we were told that the guy teams really want is Stanton. As a matter of fact, a few teams have Stanton rated as the top quarterback in this draft.

-In our mock draft we have OT Joe Staley going to the Texans at pick 10. While he may not end up in Houston, Staley is shooting up draft boards and is now considered the No. 2 tackle by a lot of teams. That’s bad news for Levi Brown, who could slip in the draft due to Staley’s recent surge.

-The Calvin Johnson free-for-all is in full swing. We said earlier the Falcons were serious about moving up but we’re hearing close to 10 teams are interested in getting up to the second pick if the Raiders pass on Johnson. Included in that list are the Falcons, Redskins, Packers and Bears. Getting up to No. 2 is key because there’s been talk that much like last year with the Saints and Reggie Bush, the Browns will go away from need and take Johnson - the top rated player on their board - with the third pick.

We may have another update later today but if not, we’ll have a few tomorrow for sure.

This is the latest buzz going around the NFL. Keep in mind a lot of stuff gets thrown out before the draft that never actually happens, but it’s fun to talk about all the rumors flying around this time of year. Here are some of the more juicy ones we’re hearing at the moment:

-The Cowboys are desperately trying to trade running back Julius Jones. Dallas believes Marion Barber is ready to carry the load and if the team trades Jones, they would select another running back on Day 1 of the draft. The Cowboys are currently looking to move Jones for a second round pick and the team most interested is the Buffalo Bills. Don’t be surprised if Dallas and Buffalo make a draft day deal involving Jones.

-More news out of Dallas is that the Cowboys are targeting S Brandon Meriweather. Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips like Meriweather’s coverage abilities and his presence could help make up for Roy Williams’ awful play.

-The Bills are said to be hot for Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis. Buffalo lost starting linebackers London Fletcher-Baker (free agency) and Takeo Spikes (traded to Philadelphia) this offseason. Whether or not the Bills land Willis will depend on what the 49ers do with the pick before. San Francisco is debating over Willis, Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson and Michigan DT Alan Branch. If the 49ers opt for Branch or Anderson, it shouldn’t take long for the Bills to turn in the card with Willis’ name on it.

-It’s no secret that the Lions want to trade down out of the No. 2 slot. One team that hasn’t been talked about but is believed to be interested in moving up if Calvin Johnson is still available is the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson would give the Falcons the playmaker they need at receiver. However, drafting Johnson would also cut down on the number of excuses used to describe why Mike Vick is an average quarterback. The Falcons did sign Joe Horn this offseason but he’s 35 and on the downside of his career. If the Lions do stay at No. 2, they’ll most likely select Clemson DE Gaines Adams.

-A hot name right now is Michigan’s David Harris. Pro Football Talk reported that the Patriots are interested in Harris with the 28th pick. The only problem is he may not be there when they select. We’re hearing both the Bengals and Jets also have Harris high on their wish list. If the Patriots really want the Michigan linebacker, they may have to take him at 24, or he could go one pick later to the rival Jets.

-Rumors have circulated recently that Alan Branch, Ted Ginn and Reggie Nelson are slipping in the draft. The truth is that while some teams have questions regarding these three players, others are very high on them. Branch should still go in the top 11 picks, while Nelson and Ginn probably won’t get past 20.

 Check back throughout the day and all the way up until the Raiders select Ryan Leaf, I mean JaMarcus Russell, for the latest draft buzz. We’ll be updating it every time we hear something interesting from around the NFL.

Don’t miss a special draft-day edition of Patriots Today on Saturday night on Patriots.com! Highlights of the newest Patriots, reaction and a full recap of the day. Plus, we’ll be hanging out at Vince Wilfork’s draft party at Pinz in Milford and we’ll hear what Wilfork and some of his teammates have to say about the Pats’ selections. So don’t miss Patriots Today on draft day!

How does Texas safety Michael Griffin sound at 24? Or even Michigan DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley at 28?
That’s exactly how yours truly picked in those slots representing the Patriots in a writers’ mock draft Wednesday evening conducted by sports radio WSKO in Providence, Rhode Island. The first selection came with the likes of cornerbacks Chris Houston and Aaron Ross still on the board as well as linebackers Jon Beason and David Harris. With the top needs of secondary and linebacker in mind, I thought Griffin represented the top value at that time. I think he’s a proven playmaker who would bring instant leadership, depth and youth to the New England secondary.

When I was back on the clock a few minutes later, players coming off the board in the mean time were Houston, Ross and Miami tight end Greg Olsen. That being the case I targeted linebacker with my 28th selection and went a half step outside the box to go with Woodley. I think he’s a flat out playmaker and football player. He’s not prototypical for a Patriots 3-4 outside linebacker, but I think Bill Belichick can put his impressive abilities to good use. I know others may have gone with either Beason or Harris, but I have questions about the Hurricane’s fit in New England’s scheme and think if the team wants Harris it might be able to trade down a bit and still grab him. If fact as the WSKO mock played out, neither Beason nor Harris got selected in the first 32 picks.

I think Woodley is good enough to forget the “prototypical build.” Plus, the second of two first rounders later in the round is the perfect place to maybe take a chance on a guy who won’t be around too much longer. That worked out with Logan Mankins a couple years back and I think it could work out with Woodley as well.

All told I think the Patriots would be very intrigued to see Saturday’s draft unfold as this writers’ mock did. While there are not sure-fire steals that slipped to 24, having their pick of Griffin, Houston, Ross, Beason, Harris and others would likely give Belichick and Co. plenty of solid options. Will they go the direction I went? Probably not, they know a heck of a lot more than I do. Will they go the right way with the pair of picks? Based on their track record, that’s a virtual certainty.

1. Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU – I think Russell is going to be one of the biggest busts in draft history. I also think Calvin Johnson is the highest rated prospect to enter the draft in years. Which way do you think the Raiders will go? Just take a look at Al Davis’ decision making over the last 15 years for the answer to that question.

2. Detroit Lions: Gaines Adams, DE Clemson – The Lions will most likely trade down from this spot but if they stay, look for them to take Adams to help improve their toothless pass rush.

3. Cleveland Browns: Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma – Despite injury concerns, Peterson is just too good to pass up here for the Browns. He has the ability to be a dominant running back for the next 10 years.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech – If the Bucs get Johnson here, someone should call the cops. He’s the best overall player on most draft boards, so to get him at No. 4 would obviously be a steal for Tampa Bay.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Joe Thomas, T Wisconsin – If Thomas is still on the board when the Cardinals pick, it should take about three seconds to get the card up to the commissioner. Their offensive line was garbage last year.

6. Washington Redskins: LaRon Landry, S LSU – The Redskins could go in a number of different directions here but the thought of teaming Landry with Sean Taylor might be too good for Washington to pass up.

7. Minnesota Vikings: Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame – Andy Hart loves Tavaris Jackson but he’s in the minority. Jackson has some skills but he’s extremely raw and not ready to lead an NFL team. With the Vikings current quarterback situation, it would be hard for them to pass up on Quinn here.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville – The Falcons would love to take Landry here but if he’s gone, Bobby Petrino could go with the 19-year old phenom he coached in college. Okoye will help improve a leaky Falcons rush defense.

9. Miami Dolphins: Alan Branch, DT Michigan – Branch is a beast in the middle and would add some size and youth to an aging Dolphins defense. Branch should be able to come right in and contribute as a rookie.

10. Houston Texans: Joe Staley, OT Central Michigan – Looking for a draft day shocker? Staley has been flying up draft boards and he fits in perfectly with the Texans zone-blocking scheme. If Peterson slides, he’ll be the choice here but don’t be surprised if Houston takes Staley to help improve its porous offensive line.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Jamaal Anderson, DE Arkansas – This pick will probably come down to either Anderson or Patrick Willis. The 49ers need to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the trio of Manny Lawson, Tully Banta-Cain and Anderson should help solve that problem.

12. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Willis, LB Mississippi – If the draft unfolds this way, the Bills will be ecstatic. They are pining over Willis after losing London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes this offseason. The former Ole Miss star would step right in as the Bills starting middle linebacker.

13. St Louis Rams: Adam Carriker, DE Nebraska – The Rams defense was abysmal last year, especially against the run. Carriker would add some size to the Rams front and he has the ability to play both inside or outside in St. Louis’ defense.

14. Reggie Nelson, S Florida – The Panthers could use some help at linebacker but with Willis off the board, this is too high to grab Jon Beason or David Harris. Mike Minter is entering his final season and Carolina has very little depth at the safety position. The athletic Nelson would make an already good Panthers defense even better.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Leon Hall, CB Michigan – With the Steelers going to more of a Tampa 2-style defense, Hall would be a solid selection for them because he likes to play off receivers. Darrelle Revis is also a possibility here, depending on which player Pittsburgh likes better.

16. Green Bay Packers: Marshawn Lynch, RB Cal – Vernand Morency is currently the starting running back in Green Bay. Enough said.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jarvis Moss, DE Florida – The interior of the Jaguars defensive line is tremendous but they need to get more pressure on the quarterback. Moss will help Jacksonville in that regard.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Darrelle Revis, CB Pitt – The Bengals selected Jonathan Joseph in the first round last year but they still need to upgrade the cornerback position, especially after losing Tory James. Deltha O’Neal is coming off a terrible season where he got beat on a regular basis. Revis would give the Bengals another talented young corner to team with Joseph for the foreseeable future. David Harris and Jon Beason are also strong possibilities at this spot.

19. Tennessee Titans: Chris Houston, CB Arkansas – With the loss of Pacman Jones, the Titans need to bolster the cornerback position and Houston fits in nicely with what Tennessee likes to do on defense. A fast, strong cornerback, Houston excels at playing man-to-man defense and can also return kicks.

20. New York Giants: Levi Brown, T Penn State – The Giants really struggled at offensive tackle the last two years and after releasing Luke Petitgout, they need to address the position in the draft. If Jones lasts this long, he would be a great value pick for the Giants.

21. Denver Broncos: Paul Posluszny, LB Penn State – The Broncos are trying to move up in the draft but if they stay at 21, defensive end or linebacker will probably be the pick. With Al Wilson gone, Posluszny fills an immediate need and could help add some size to the Broncos linebacking corps.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Meriweather, S Miami – Jerry Jones is easier to read than the Sunday comics. The Cowboys love Meriweather’s coverage skills and his presence will make Roy Williams’ annual Pro Bowl appearances look a little more credible.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Ted Ginn, Jr., WR Ohio State – This would be a dream scenario for the Chiefs. Not only would they get one of the top receivers in the draft, Ginn could also replace the recently departed Dante Hall as Kansas City’s return man. Any team that gets a player with Ginn’s physical tools this late in the draft should thank its lucky stars.

24. New England Patriots: Jon Beason, LB Miami – This is an extremely tough call between Beason and Michael Griffin. I actually think Griffin may be gone by this point in the real draft. If he’s still on the board, the Patriots may have to pull the trigger. However, Beason is a player they like and he fills a more pressing need in my opinion. Tough call here but we’ve been projecting Beason to the Pats for three months now, so we might as well go down swinging.

25. New York Jets: Anthony Spencer, OLB Purdue – The Jets need to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and Eric Mangini is still trying to find players who fit his defensive scheme. Spencer kills two birds with one stone and he should help the Jets increase their sack total in 2007.

26. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Griffin, S Texas – The Eagles really struggled at safety last year and even though Brian Dawkins is still a stud, he’s starting to get up their in age himself. Griffin could start as a rookie and take over as the Eagles leader in the secondary once Dawkins retires.

27. New Orleans Saints: David Harris, LB Michigan – The Saints need size in the middle of their defense, both at DT and MLB. Tennessee’s Justin Harrell could be a possibility here but I think that’s a bit of a reach. Harris would add some much needed size and speed to New Orleans’ defense. The only problem is he may not still be available when the Saints pick.

28. New England Patriots: LaMarr Woodley, OLB Michigan – I really believe the Patriots will trade down from this spot but if they stay put, New England has the luxury of taking the best player available. Woodley would be a monster in Bill Belichick’s defense. He can combine with Rosevelt Colvin and Adalius Thomas to form a dangerous trio of pass rushers off the edge.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Ben Grubbs, G Auburn – The Ravens need help along the offensive line and they’re a team that usually takes the best player available. Grubbs is not only the top rated guard in this draft, he would also fill a big need for Baltimore. Grubbs is a powerful run blocker, something the Ravens look for in their guards.

30. San Diego Chargers: Dwayne Bowe, WR LSU – The Chargers are in desperate need for receiver help and Bowe would be a great pick at this point in the draft. Bowe is a little raw but he has the potential to become a dangerous NFL receiver.

31. Chicago Bears: Greg Olsen, TE Miami – Olsen could be gone by now but if the Panthers and Jets pass on him, I really don’t see Olsen fitting in with any other team. The Bears have been looking for a quality tight end for years and Olsen will give Rex Grossman another weapon in the passing game. Now all Grossman needs to do is learn how to throw a forward pass.

32. Indianapolis Colts: Aaron Ross, CB Texas – The Colts will be looking at CB or LB here. After losing both Jason David and Nick Harper, Ross would add some depth to the Colts secondary. He’s also a dangerous kick returner, another area the Colts could stand to improve in. Florida State LB Lawrence Timmons is also a possibility here.