The Oakland Raiders are on the clock

The Indianapolis Colts have had their parade. They’ve had five whole days to bask in the afterglow of their first Super Bowl victory ...

And now it’s time to start thinking football again.

There is seemingly no end to the NFL season. The Pro Bowl will be played today, and less than two weeks after that the scouting combine -- in Indianapolis -- officially kicks off next season.

The Oakland Raiders have the first pick in the draft, so they’re on the clock, and speculation has them taking Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell -- think Brian Urlacher’s body and Brett Favre’s velocity -- but “speculation” is the operative word. The Raiders need a lot of help; they easily could decide to trade down for more picks.

A lot can happen between now and the morning of April 28, when the first draft pick is chosen. Here’s an early look at some of the players up for grabs:

Five ‘can’t miss’ picks

* Calvin Johnson, receiver, Georgia Tech: Built like Terrell Owens from the neck down, he seems to be much better than Owens from the neck up. He could wind up being the first receiver picked No. 1 since Key-

shawn Johnson in 1996.

* Joe Thomas, offensive tackle, Wisconsin: It’s rare that a rookie can step in and play left tackle right away -- San Diego’s Marcus McNeill did it in 2006 -- but Thomas looks to be that type of player. There is some concern that he skipped the Senior Bowl, but certainly not enough to dissuade a team such as Cleveland or Arizona from grabbing him.

* Adrian Peterson, running back Oklahoma: He’s already good enough to supplant at least half the starting running backs in the NFL. He doesn’t waste a lot of time by dancing in the backfield, just makes one cut and hits the hole. He’s fast and doesn’t shy from contact.

* Alan Branch, defensive tackle, Michigan: At 6 feet 5, 330 pounds, Branch blots the sun as a run stopper and is quick enough to get to the quarterback. He opted to skip his senior season and is a probable top-10 selection.

* LaRon Landry, safety, Louisiana State: Landry might not be the top safety on every team’s board, but many scouts see him as the elite player at his position. He was a four-year starter in college and his team’s top tackler as a senior.

Five intriguing gambles

* Russell, LSU: He had a spectacular Sugar Bowl in which he upstaged Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. Russell will have one of the NFL’s strongest arms right away, but his decision making is a question mark. He’s a little quick to evacuate the pocket and take off running, and he had some lousy games to go along with his good ones.

* Quinn, Notre Dame: Last year, Matt Leinart was the star quarterback who slipped down the draft board. This year, it could be Quinn. He’s a good leader who’s accurate when protected, but he can get rattled under pressure. That will scare off some teams.

* Marcus McCauley, cornerback, Fresno State: Projected as a first-round pick last year, he took a step back as a senior. McCauley has a great build for the position and he is fast, but he seemed to lose his confidence and focus this past season and was even benched in the final month.

* Tony Ugoh, offensive tackle, Arkansas: Uncommonly quick at 6-6, 300 pounds, Ugoh has attracted a lot of attention. Scouts wonder, though, if the former track-and-field thrower is simply a one-year wonder.

* Isaiah Stanback, quarterback, Washington: A scrambler whose college career was cut short by a sprained foot, he sees himself as a quarterback. Former Huskies quarterback Warren Moon sees him that way too. Others think he’s a better fit as a receiver in the pros. Either way, he’s an outstanding athlete who will find his way onto a roster.

Five small school stars

* Michael Allan, tight end, Whitworth (Wash.): He made some nice catches at the East-West Shrine game that helped boost his stock. At 6-7, he’s more of a big-target receiver than a run blocker.

* Kevin Boss, tight end, Western Oregon: Like Allan, he looks as if he’ll be drafted somewhere between the fifth and seventh rounds and he’s more of a receiver than blocker. He’s coming off a broken collarbone, though, which could worry some teams.

* Andy Collins, quarterback, Occidental: The Oregon transfer was the MVP of the 2006 Aztec Bowl -- which pits all-star teams from the U.S. and Mexico -- and played well in a Texas-vs.-the-nation game. He’s accurate and smart, and that could land him a job.

* Oren O’Neal, fullback, Arkansas State: He has the ability and attitude teams want. Punishing blockers who don’t ask for the ball can carve out lucrative careers.

* Matt Gutierrez, quarterback, Idaho State: Before he was sidelined by an injury, Gutierrez was slated to be the starter at Michigan. Instead, Chad Henne stepped in and never relinquished the position. Gutierrez transferred so he could play, and he performed well last season.

Five legacy links

* J.D. Nelson, safety, Oregon: Nelson’s dad, Darrin, is a former Stanford running back who spent 10 years with the Minnesota Vikings.

* David Lofton, safety, Stanford: He probably learned a lot from his dad, who made a living beating defensive backs. James Lofton is a Hall of Fame receiver who played for Green Bay, the Raiders, Buffalo, Philadelphia and the Rams.

* H.B. Blades, linebacker, Pittsburgh: He is the son of Bennie and nephew of Brian, both of whom played in the NFL.

* Jordan Kent, receiver, Oregon: His dad, Ernie, is Oregon’s basketball coach. Jordan was the sixth man for the Ducks before switching to football two years ago. Although he’s raw, having a hoops background worked for Pro Bowl tight ends Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates.

* Ikaika Alama-Francis, defensive end, Hawaii: He’s a talented pass rusher who is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. His father, Joe Francis, is a former Green Bay quarterback.

Let’s see, a quarterback hunter whose dad was a quarterback ...

Paging Dr. Freud ...

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sam.farmer@latimes.com