Underclassmen Beefing Up What Could Be Last Draft : Pro football: There are few future superstars, but the overall depth is good. College juniors are expected to do well.

If this is the last draft, it is a stylish one.

It is a characteristic NFL draft with a familiar mix: some strength at the top, pretty good depth, a few Pro Bowl prospects, few if any superstars.

There are no obvious Dan Marinos, but there won’t be any Brian Bosworths either, probably, at least during the first round, when the 28 NFL teams begin choosing this morning at about 8:02 PDT--an hour earlier than usual.

Two Heisman Trophy winners are in it this time, wide receiver Desmond Howard of Michigan and quarterback Ty Detmer of Brigham Young, and Howard will go early.

But Detmer won’t even go ahead of a junior from UCLA, Tommy Maddox, who ranks as one of the top quarterbacks on the board, behind David Klingler of Houston.

The leading USC prospects are linebacker Kurt Barber and cornerback Calvin Holmes.

“Look for a lot of trading up and down--depending on need--because the field is so well-balanced,” Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones said the other day.

Selections during the last half of the 12 rounds will be made Monday.

THE CONCEPT

It will be the league’s 57th annual draft of college players, the 25th common draft since the 1960s AFL-NFL merger, and it will be the last of the series unless a federal judge authorizes a continuance, or unless the NFL Players Assn. signs a collective bargaining agreement for the first time in 10 years.

THE ORDER

The NFL-worst Indianapolis Colts have the first two choices, the Rams are No. 3, and the Raiders No. 16. In most of the rounds, the Rams will draft in the first three. The Raiders are pretty much stuck on 16.

The Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins will choose last except during the first round, when they will have the No. 6 choice as the result of a trade with the San Diego Chargers.

“There are at least that many blue chips,” Washington scout Mike Hagen said. “We’ll get one of them.”

THE CLASS

Most of the league’s draft specialists have been recommending the same prospects--five of them juniors--as certain picks in the top eight. They are, on offense: Klingler, Howard and Stanford tackle Bob Whitfield. On defense: Linemen Steve Emtan of Washington and Sean Gilbert of Pittsburgh, linebacker Quentin Coryatt of Texas A&M; and cornerbacks Troy Vincent of Wisconsin and Terrell Buckley of Florida State.

Some opponents are predicting that the Colts will choose defensive players one-two--probably Emtman and Gilbert.

THE JUNIORS

“It’s a juniors’ year,” said Dallas’ chief scout, Bob Ackles.

Three have sufficient talent but are thought to have insufficient maturity: Howard, Maddox and Emtman.

Others highly thought of by many: Whitfield, Buckley, Gilbert, Tennessee wide receiver Carl Pickens and Ohio State defensive end Alonzo Spellman.

THE VALUE

Three players could prove to be more helpful to NFL teams than those in the early spotlight:

--Derek Brown, Notre Dame tight end, caught the ball with the precision of a superb wide receiver for a coach, Lou Holtz, who isn’t much for passes. Still, Holtz has given Brown’s tight-end career a significant push by teaching him to block.

--Kent Graham, Ohio State quarterback, has the ability of a natural NFL passer but went to the wrong schools, where he didn’t learn much about passing from Holtz or John Cooper.

--Pickens lacks Howard’s speed, but he is four inches taller and his athletic ability is perhaps unmatched at his position.

THE STRENGTH

“Overall, it’s a much better draft than last year’s,” said New York Jet General Manager Dick Steinberg, the former Ram scout who got the Jets into the playoffs during his second season in charge.

“I think the offensive line, linebackers and the defensive interior line are the strong groups. The weakest area is probably running back.”

The only back the scouts are talking much about is Indiana’s Vaughn Dunbar, although two fullbacks have NFL potential, Tommy Vardell of Stanford and Tony Brooks of Notre Dame.

THE STRATEGY

It will be a good draft for the coaches, who are happy enough not to have to decide between, say, a great quarterback and a great back. If this is the last draft, most teams are going into it with the strategic inclinations of Philadelphia Eagle Coach Rich Kotite, whose defensive team already is perhaps the NFL’s best.

“I think you have to consider the offensive line,” Kotite said. “(But) I think you have to be cognizant of the fact that the only way you’re going to get to the Super Bowl is to have a superior defense--so you keep replenishing the defense.”

THE PASSERS

Because most teams need quarterbacks, the leading prospects will be selected several notches higher than their ability warrants.

In that context, Klingler has what it takes to be one of the day’s top picks. He could help, among others, the Raiders. By seizing the opportunity, the Raiders could trade up for him.

Virginia’s Matt Blundin is probably the second-best value.

The extraordinary promise Maddox showed in 1990 wasn’t sustained at UCLA last season for reasons that weren’t entirely his fault, but he isn’t expected to be ready for the pros. Miami’s Craig Erickson might be drafted again after refusing to sign as the Eagles’ fifth-round choice a year ago. In a compatible system, Detmer could make himself at home. With the right coach, Graham has the potential of any of the above.

THE LOCALS

UCLA: After Maddox, the pros will draft defensive backs Dion Lambert and Matt Darby. They also are talking about 265-pound fullback Kevin Smith, wide receiver Michael Moore and linebackers James Malone and Randy Cole. The other rated Bruins: center Scott Spalding, wide receiver Paul Richardson, running back Shawn Wills and two defensive players, Brian Kelly and Stacy Argo.

USC: After Barber and Holmes, the pros are considering two talented but sometimes injured backs, Scott Lockwood and Mazio Royster. The scouts also are talking about two offensive linemen, Derrick Deese and Michael Moody; two defensive players, Matt Gee and Matt Willig, and punter Ron Dale.

Pasadena City College: Ray Ethridge is considered the best receiver in the Los Angeles area.

The scouts are considering:

Cal State Fullerton fullback Reggie Yarbrough, Pomona-Pitzer wide receiver Nate Kirtman, Cal State Northridge cornerback Tremelle Barnes and tackle Donald Goodman, Azusa Pacific tackle Ross Ritter and Cal State Long Beach wide receiver Mark Seay and two of his defensive teammates, Ed Lair and Bingo Williams.

NFL Draft Menu

A look at the order of selection and the needs of each team heading into today’s draft in New York. No., Team (1991 Record): Needs 1. Indianapolis Colts (1-15): OL, DB, DL 2. Indianapolis Colts (1-15)*: WR 3. Rams (3-13): DL, OL, RB 4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-13): DL, OL, CB 5. Green Bay Packers (4-12): DL, DB, RB 6. Washington Redskins (14-2): DB, DE, LB 7. Miami Dolphins (8-8): DL, CB, WR 8. New England Patriots (6-10): OL, DL, DB 9. Cleveland Browns (6-10): OL, DE, LB 10. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): OL, RB 11. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9): OL, DL, QB 12. Miami Dolphins* (8-8): LB 13. Dallas Cowboys (11-5): DB, DE, LB 14. New York Giants (8-8): WR, DB, LB 15. New York Jets (8-8): LB, OL, DL 16. Raiders (9-7): QB, LB 17. Atlanta Falcons (10-6): RB, RB 18. San Francisco 49ers (10-6): RB, RB 19. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)*: DL, LB, DB 20. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6): QB, WR, DB 21. New Orleans Saints (11-5): WR, RB, DB 22. Chicago Bears (11-5): OL, DL, WR 23. San Diego Chargers (4-12): DL, DB, OL 24. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)*: OL 25. Denver Broncos (12-4): OL, WR, DL 26. Detroit Lions (12-4): TE, OL, DL 27. Buffalo Bills (13-3): DL, DB, OL 28. Washington Redskins (14-2)*: OL *-Second choice in first round. LEGEND: QB--quarterback, RB--running back, WR--wide receiver, TE--tight end, OL--offensive lineman, DL--defensive lineman, DE--defensive end, LB--linebacker, DB--defensive back, CB--cornerback. Note: Lacking first-round choices, Philadelphia Eagles (drafting about 20th later on) must have a running back; Phoenix Cardinals (drafting about sixth) are short of blockers; Houston Oilers (about 22nd) could use another wide receiver; Minnesota Vikings (about 12th) need defensive help and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second, third or fourth) need everything.