My list of the top 100 prospects for the NFL draft, 1-25

1. Vernon Gholston, DE, OSU- He is the best pass rusher in this draft, and can beat his man with power. I am convinced he is the best prospect in this draft.

2. Chris Long, DE, Virginia- He's very versatile, and has a great motor. You can't miss with either Gholston or Long, I think Gholston will be more productive.

3. Jake Long, OT, UM- He's a Pro Bowl Right Tackle right now, a very safe pick to be an outstanding player. He can play left, so he is versatile. If healthy, he's a future Hall of Famer.

4. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas- He has some off the field issues that make him a risky pick, but on the field he is dynamite. I have doubts, though, whether he can make the tough runs, where he needs to get the most out of what is there.

5. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State- He's a franchise type corner, who can play in many defenses, and different coverages. He's the best corner I've seen come out since Deion Sanders.

6. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU- He needs to prove he's healthy, but he's sort of a tweener tackle for me. He'd be great as a three technique, though.

7. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC- He could bounce around, and play different fronts. He was awesome at the Senior Bowl, but inexplicably gained weight and looked heavy at the combine. He needs better consultation.

8. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State- More of a pure left tackle than Long, but not as good a player overall. He'll likely start from day one, and be a solid starter for years to come.

9. Keith Rivers, LB, USC- He's a pure LB who shouldn't be pigeon holed into weak side lb. He can play any position, and could be a Pro Bowler down the road.

10. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Ill- He's a very tough runner, which is tough to guage from running backs in spread offenses, but not tough to see with him. He's not far behind McFadden in ability, and might be a safer pick.

11. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy- He's a very tough kid who will whack you when he gets a chance. Great in all facets, but his ball skills aren't up to snuff. He's a good returner, although I would doubt many teams would risk his talent on returns.

12. Derrick Harvey, DE, Fla- He's much better against the run than given credit for, but isn't as good a pass rusher as thought. He's a solid player who will produce, though. He is a right end.

13. Chris Williams, OT, Vandy- I've gone back and forth on him, but he's got great feet, and great hand placement. He's not very physical at the point of attack, and whomever takes him will need to work him up. He's a deluxe left tackle.

14. Mike Jenkins, CB, USF- He's had some off the field troubles, but I've liked him. He has upside, but will need some time before starting. He's a good hitter, and is pretty good in coverage.

15. Brandon Albert, G/T, Va- He's gone under the radar, but is one of the best football players in this draft. He's versatile, but could be a top LG in a year or so. He can also play RT.

16. Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas- He's a smooth player, but a risky one. If you don't mind the mistakes, which are manageable, he's a very good corner. He just needs to learn when to take risks, and when not to.

17. Chad Henne, QB, UM- I realize I have him rated higher than everybody else, but he's the best pure QB in this draft to me. He reminds me of Mark Bulger in that he throws a beautiful ball that is easy to catch.

18. Jonathon Stewart, RB, Oregon- If healthy, he's just behind the other two running backs, but he's also got the best frame to take the pounding at the next level. It's not easy to project spread to the NFL, which makes it tougher for these backs.

19. Matt Ryan, QB, BC- I have a hard time putting him this high, but there are things to like about him. Everybody talks about his intangibles being off the charts, but what about his tangibles? If somebody wants to risk a top 10 pick, it wouldn't be me.

20. Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee- He reminds me of Al Wilson, the way he plays so low; and plays with great leverage. He's a cover 2 MLB.

21. Devin Thomas, WR, MSU- He's got fresh legs, and I believe deeply he's got the best set of tools to be the best WR in this draft by a comfortable margin.

22. Quentin Groves, DE/LB, Auburn- He's versatile, the type who could play OLB in a 3-4, or put his hand down as a 4-3 down lineman. He's had injury issues, but I think he's a tough player.

23. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami-Fla- He's got great size, and can cover. He can play both safety positions.

24. Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt- He scares me. He reminds me of Stockar McDougle, so buyer beware. He's not athletically gifted, but is a taxi ride to get around. He handled Chris Long well, so he's got that on his resume.

25. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville- His injuries have hurt him, he was ranked higher last year. Them's the breaks, but he's still likely to start in the NFL.