Though the prospects in the 2007 NFL Draft have played their last college football game, their draft status is far from being determined. Check out this list of position "battles" that will surely play out this off-season, and have a potentially major impact on who your team selects.
Quarterback
JaMarcus Russell vs. Brady Quinn
JaMarcus has a big lead entering the off-season, and with his physical gifts, you've gotta figure that he'll be able to fend off Quinn.
Troy Smith vs. Drew Stanton vs. Kevin Kolb
The battle for third QB off the board is wide open, as Smith and Stanton are neck-and-neck on most draft boards. Right now, I'd give a slight edge to Stanton over Smith, because Stanton should be very, very impressive this off-season (and make people forget about the fact that he's, well, not that effective when he's actually in games). Kolb is more of a dark horse candidate, but he's got the talent to vault up the draft board this off-season.
Running Back
Adrian Peterson vs. Marshawn Lynch
Like Russell/Quinn, this one has a clear front-runner. However, I could see some GM's being turned off by Peterson's injury concerns, so if he isn't off the board by the 8th pick or so then Lynch would come into play.
Michael Bush vs. Kenny Irons vs. the field
Personally, I'm not sold on either Bush or Irons, and I think the door is open for someone to post a good 40-time at the Combine and vault both of them for the #3 RB off the board.
Wide Receiver
Dwayne Jarrett vs. Ted Ginn vs. Robert Meachem vs. Dwayne Bowe vs. Sidney Rice
Receiver will be, in my opinion, the most fascinating position to watch this off-season. Calvin Johnson is cemented as the top guy at the position, but after that things are wide open. Dwayne Jarrett has major Combine disaster potential, because most people think he's faster and stronger than he is. Ginn has major Troy Williamson potential (which by now should be a red flag for scouts). Meachem and Bowe are closing the gap fast, and Rice is a wild card who has raw ability that GM's could fall in love with. I'm telling you right now, anybody on this list could be a top-12 pick on draft day, and anybody could be a second round pick. Just you watch.
Tight End
Zach Miller vs. Greg Olsen
The only 2 tight ends of significance in this year's class will battle it out this off-season for the right to be taken by a very good team (Chicago possibly) in the late first round. They are incredibly similar players who had incredibly similar college careers, so the Combine will be crucial.
Offensive Line
#3 offensive tackle: everybody vs. everybody
I mean really, after Joe Thomas and Levi Brown, is there anybody that really jumps out at you? There's a logjam of good prospects with question marks, which should make things interesting this off-season.
Defensive Line
Jamaal Anderson vs. Gaines Adams
Adams was the front-runner when the season ended, but I get the since that Anderson holds a lead now. He's got the size advantage, so Adams is going to need a big-time off-season performance to catch him.
Jarvis Moss vs. Quentin Moses vs. LaMarr Woodley vs. Victor Abiamiri vs. Charles Johnson vs. Anthony Spencer
I could honestly see these pass rushers going in any order on draft day. 40-time, strength, and quickness drills will all determine who goes where.
Quinn Pitcock vs. Tank Tyler vs. Justin Harrell
Branch looks to be pretty set as the #1 DT this year, with Okoye as a solid #2. After that it's murky, as there's a strong sentiment that Pitcock is highly overrated.
Linebacker
Paul Posluszny vs. Lawrence Timmons
It's the high motor/average athletic ability guy against the highly talented yet unproven guy in a battle for the top OLB spot this year.
Buster Davis vs. Brandon Siler vs. H.B. Blades vs. Jon Abbate vs. David Harris
Patrick Willis has the top middle linebacker spot locked down, but after him there are plenty of guys with knocks on them - either good leaders with questionable measurables, or vice versa.
Cornerback
Leon Hall vs. Darrelle Revis vs. Marcus McCauley
Hall holds down the top spot right now, but there are a whole host of reasons to question whether he can keep it. Expect Revis to outperform him this off-season. McCauley had a disastrous senior year but looks fantastic on paper. He's the type of guy a GM could fall in love with and take higher than everybody thinks he should go.
Safety
Michael Griffin vs. Eric Weddle vs. Brandon Meriweather
All are behind Reggie Nelson (and of course LaRon Landry) in my opinion, but they're still battling for a spot in the late first round. Weddle's the most interesting, because he was so great in college but has the "gets the most out of limited physical ability" wrap.
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