Pro Football : Perkins Appears to Have Started a Giant Rebuilding Job in Tampa Bay

This time, there’s a quick, easy answer to the National Football League’s annual spring question: Who won the draft?

Ray Perkins won it for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The new Tampa Bay coach rebuilt much of the team with Vinny Testaverde and an NFL-record 19 other draft choices in 12 rounds.

That didn’t surprise his friends in New York, where the Giants remember Perkins as a thorough personnel man.

Although his 1979-82 record as coach of the Giants was only 24-35, he laid the foundation for the team that won the Super Bowl last winter.

At Tampa Bay, Perkins is also doubling as coach and personnel chief, going into the field himself to inspect the talent.

“I think that’s the right role for me,” he said.

It seems to be.

The eight probable winners:

FOUR STARS

Tampa Bay: Rival scouts report that Perkins made the most of every Buccaneer pick after trading to get seven choices in the crucial first four rounds.

Only Testaverde’s is a household name--and Testaverde still has to prove that he is an NFL-quality passer. But he won’t have to do it alone if, as it seems, the Buccaneers guessed right on linebacker Winston Moss of Miami, Fla., wide receiver Mark Carrier of Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La., and their numerous other high picks.

THREE STARS

Houston: The Oilers made their draft in one round with two gems: Alonzo Highsmith of Miami, Fla., who has been called the best fullback of recent years, and Haywood Jeffires of North Carolina State, said to be the best receiver on the 1987 board.

Pittsburgh: The Steelers enjoyed one of those lucky days when good, solid players just happened to be available every time they drafted for four rounds, starting with two cornerbacks--Purdue’s Rod Woodson and Clemson’s Delton Hall--and continuing with Cal State Long Beach wide receiver Charles Lockett, a projected low first-round talent they got in the third round.

San Francisco: As usual, Coach Bill Walsh positioned the 49ers to improve, drafting an underrated back, Terrence Flagler of Clemson, and two 6-foot 4-inch, 280-pound guards to go with new center Randy Cross. They are Harris Barton of North Carolina and Jeff Bregel of USC. Next, Walsh drafted 6-7 wide receiver Paul Jokisch of Michigan.

TWO STARS

San Diego: Trading for linebacker Chip Banks and drafting tight end Rod Bernstine of Texas A&M; and defensive back Louis Brock of USC got the Chargers started right. Though Banks vetoed Buffalo, how could anyone hate San Diego?

Buffalo: The Bills landed seven players, and possibly that many starters, in the first four rounds, beginning with a typically impressive Penn State linebacker, Shane Conlan.

Dallas: The Cowboys found depth in a draft headed by defensive lineman Danny Noonan of Nebraska.

Green Bay: The Packers also got depth and an even higher-rated No. 1: Auburn tailback Brent Fullwood.

NO STARS

Washington: Without a first-round choice, the Redskins were second-guessed by some scouts on their second-round pick, Nebraska cornerback Brian Davis.

Chicago: Round 2 wide receiver Ron Morris of SMU might save an otherwise strange draft that began with Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh.

NFL Notes

There was a standoff at El Segundo and Anaheim. The Raiders will have another winning draft if John Clay or Bruce Wilkerson is a typical Raider blocker and if former Packer James Lofton plays this year. The Rams will have had a successful draft if Donald Evans can rush the passer and if Jim Everett keeps improving. . . . Ram Coach John Robinson’s Everett trade remains the coup of this draft. . . . The Raiders’ fourth pick, quarterback Steve Beuerlein of Notre Dame, could be the sleeper of the year. He has an NFL arm.

The Kansas City Chiefs are better if Frank Gansz is an NFL coach and if either of his Mutt-and-Jeff draft choices--Paul Palmer, 5-9 and 185, and Christian Okoye, 6-2 and 255--is an NFL runner. . . . USC still holds the NFL record with three players drafted in the first five of 1977: Ricky Bell, Marvin Powell and Gary Jeter. . . . The day may come when people say that the St. Louis Cardinals won the draft with quarterback Kelly Stouffer, safety Tim McDonald and San Diego State tight end Robert Awalt. But right now, Stouffer, as the day’s sixth choice, is a gamble. . . . Both New York teams got value in almost every round in drafts supervised by George Young of the Giants and Mike Hickey of the Jets.