Draft Directory: Marino's Big Board

Not sure who the top players are at each position this weekend? Leave that arduous assignment to Tom Marino of Scout.com, a veteran evaluator of NFL talent for over 35 years, to compile his list for you. Who can the Chicago Bears expect to see on the board in each of the seven rounds?

BEST QUARTERBACK
Matt Ryan, Boston College
40: 4.95v Ht: 6046v Wt: 228v Rating: 1.15
Chance to be a very good one. Can make all of the necessary throws Accurate in the short and intermediate zones. Will throw off back foot some, but his forte was throwing the seam passer. Smart player who won't be overwhelmed. Better from the off his person. Uses size to effectively shield defender on under routes or in the red zone. Has the athletic ability & strength to avoid the hold up and the speed to climb a defender on his open releases. Liked ability to snatch the ball away from his body. Should factor quickly as an inside receiver & develop into a frontline player.
QB – BEST OF THE REST

BEST RUNNING BACK
Darren McFadden, Arkansas
40: 4.36v Ht: 6012v Wt: 211v Rating: 0.98
Best back to enter the draft in the past two decades. Is a big back who showed excellent quicks, moves in the hole and the speed to run away from folks. Breaks secured tackles and finishes. Good backside vision, excellent hands and was extremely dangerous in space. Runs tall, but can create and finish. A slasher, who can put his foot in the ground and go. Best football player in the country. My first player off the board. A young Eric Dickerson.
RB – BEST OF THE REST

BEST WIDE RECEIVER
Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
40: 4.66v Ht: 6036v Wt: 227v Rating: 1.155
Impressive looking player with excellent hands, body control & ability to adjust to the ball. Catches equally well on or off his person. Uses size to effectively shield defender on under routes or in the red zone. Has the athletic ability & strength to avoid the hold up and the speed to climb a defender on his open releases. Liked ability to snatch the ball away from his body. Should factor quickly as an inside receiver & develop into a frontline player.
WR – BEST OF THE REST

BEST TIGHT END
Dustin Keller, Purdue
40: 4.59v Ht: 6020v Wt: 242v Rating: 1.191
Very impressive athlete who only lacks size to become a top pro TE or H. Runs extremely well, has excellent body control, and hands to catch the ball on or off his person. A legitimate up the seam threat who flashed run instincts to go along with the strength to break secured tackles. Adequate blocker who initially gets into his block, but didn't finish with any consistency. Will need to improve his overall functional play strength. Late 1 top of 2nd consideration.
TE – BEST OF THE REST

BEST OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Jake Long, Michigan
40: 5.25v Ht: 6070v Wt: 313v Rating: 1.11
Massive, smart and nasty. Comes off the ball, hit on the rise. took good angles, fit on blocks, sustained well and finished consistently. Doesn't have LOT feet, but is a force who should play a very long time on the right side. I particularly liked his game in and game out consistency. Once he got his hands on people was very difficult to shed. Plays on his feet and was very aware. How quickly do you draft a right offensive tackle? Drafted by Miami.
OT – BEST OF THE REST

BEST OFFENSIVE GUARD
Branden Albert, Virginia
40: 5.20v Ht: 6055v Wt: 309v Rating: 1.144
Junior eligible player with excellent size, range and athletic ability. Pass sets were quick and efficient. Good stunt awareness, feet and range. Good knee bender. As a run blocker, engages quickly with good hand placement and sustain. Very impressive on his pull and lead. Can improve his overall body strength, but I saw little else that I didn't like with this player's game. Round # 1
OG – BEST OF THE REST

BEST CENTER
Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green
40: 5.28v Ht: 6022v Wt: 298v Rating: 1.435
Four year regular. Very good player although not impressive to look at physically (short arms). Good balance and quick feet. Very tough and nasty. Very smart and aware (makes all front calls). Quick to the second level. Shows good knee bend and leverage on his blocks. Struggled with big people on pass protection, but never stopped working. A blue collar player, who plays the game with passion and heart. Has strong second day draft consideration.
C – BEST OF THE REST

BEST DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Glenn Dorsey, Louisiana State
40: 5.12v Ht: 6014v Wt: 297v Rating: 1.105
A top prospect who converts quickness to power. Can split a double team, range to make plays and when he came and countered on his pass rush was virtually impossible to single block. Loved his intensity level , quickness, strength and know how. Strong at the point and showed good movement down the line. Took good angles away and has the speed and quicks to factor outside the tackle box. Injured for much of 07 season. A difference maker.
DT – BEST OF THE REST

BEST DEFENSIVE END
Chris Long, Virginia
40: 4.81v Ht: 6030v Wt: 272v Rating: 1.11
Quality individual and player. Finishes everything. Great playing character, tenacity and toughness. Good initial get off, sees things quickly, reacts, and shows excellent play range. Rare backside effort. Wasn't as nifty as I expected (bend and trim the edge). Great bend and core strength. More of a self made player then a natural talent. Great leverage meeting and playing off blocks. The ultimate team guy. Top defensive player in the country.
DE – BEST OF THE REST

BEST INSIDE LINEBACKER
Dan Connor, Penn State
40: 4.67v Ht: 6023v Wt: 231v Rating: 1.145
Is an experienced, aggressive, athlete with outstanding playing instincts. Loved his first step quicks, his key & diagnose and ability to get to the ball. I liked the way he effectively stepped up and met the lead and his tackling ability. Got depth on his spot drops, settled and moved to the ball. Good hands. The most talented Penn State LB in a quarter century. Some early off the field immaturity (pranks), but it's absolutely not a problem. Should factor quickly. Round # 1.
MLB – BEST OF THE REST

BEST OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Keith Rivers, Southern California
40: 4.59v Ht: 6022v Wt: 241v Rating: 1.115
Has outstanding playing skills, runs extremely well, and has very good playing instincts. Has absolutely great intangibles. Good first step quickness and the ability find the ball on the inside. Doesn't linger on blocks and closes to the ball extremely well. Will fail to secure at times, but overall was a solid tackler. Versatile; could play all three linebacker positions and never has to come off the field in sub packages.
OLB – BEST OF THE REST

BEST CORNERBACK
Mike Jenkins, South Florida
40: 4.43v Ht: 5102v Wt: 197v Rating: 1.14
A shutdown corner with adequate size and outstanding quickness. Has race horse speed, a very smooth compact, explosive hips and the ability to stick his foot in the ground and close to the ball. No wasted movement or extra steps. Underneath close was rare. Impressive play instincts and anticipation. Has the speed to easily stay on top of receivers on deep routes. Inconsistent hands and was just an adequate tackler. Special player. Top round selection.
CB – BEST OF THE REST

BEST SAFETY
Kenny Phillips, Miami (FL)
40: 4.51v Ht: 6022v Wt: 212v Rating: 1.166
Athletic big man who runs well in his pads. Comes down hill quickly and enters the fray with good control. Good angles on wide plays and hits with force. In coverage, keys the defense and made all of the back end adjustments. I liked his movement (pedal, turns and range), but just didn't get into the throwing lanes or make many plays on the ball. Game appears to be all ahead of him. Top round consideration.
S – BEST OF THE REST