DEFENSIVE PROSPECTS

A look at the top defensive prospects in this NFL draft:

ENDS

Shawne Merriman...Maryland

Marcus Spears...Louisiana State

David Pollack...Georgia

Dan Cody...Oklahoma

Erasmus James...Wisconsin

* Potential steal: Matt Roth, Iowa

* Comments: Merriman didn’t become a full-time starter until last season and could play end or outside linebacker in the pros. Spears is huge, and might be best at base end or tackle. Pollack is smaller than most ends but was disruptive in that role at Georgia and clearly has the heart -- just perhaps not the size -- to succeed in the NFL.

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TACKLES

Shaun Cody...USC

Travis Johnson...Florida State

Mike Patterson...USC

Jonathan Babineaux...Iowa

Luis Castillo...Northwestern

* Potential steal: Ronald Fields, Mississippi State

* Comments: As long as Cody stays at tackle, he’s the best of the bunch. At 293 pounds, though, he could slide out to end. He was a four-year starter for the Trojans and has the experience and durability that NFL teams covet. Johnson is a solid run-stuffer who doesn’t have Cody’s credentials but was outstanding last season. Patterson is smallish at 5 feet 11 and 292 pounds, but he played a key role in USC’s run defense.

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LINEBACKERS

Darryl Blackstock...Virginia

Derrick Johnson...Texas

Demarcus Ware...Troy State

Thomas Davis...Georgia

Channing Crowder...Florida

* Potential steal: Lofa Tatupu, USC

* Comments: Blackstock, an outside linebacker, had 44 tackles for loss and 27 sacks in three years at Virginia. Johnson, also an outside linebacker, could be the first such player selected. Crowder and Tatupu are inside linebackers and are strong against the run.

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CORNERBACKS

Adam Jones...West Virginia

Antrel Rolle...Miami

Carlos Rogers...Auburn

Fabian Washington...Nebraska

Corey Webster...Louisiana State

* Potential steal: Stanley Wilson, Stanford

* Comments: Jones offsets average size with great speed and the ability to hit like a small linebacker. Rolle is bigger and solid in coverage but isn’t as good as Jones in run support. Washington ran a sub-4.3-second 40 at the combine, which is scorching. Wilson, the son of the troubled former NFL player of the same name, is an impressive all-around athlete who has consistently improved at corner.

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SAFETIES

Brodney Pool...Oklahoma

Ernest Shazor...Michigan

Josh Bullocks...Nebraska

Gerald Sensabaugh...North Carolina

O.J. Atogwe...Stanford

* Potential steal: Matt Grootegoed, USC

* Comments: Shazor is almost big enough to play inside linebacker in the pros, and that’s where he could wind up. In the last two seasons, Pool had 160 tackles and nine interceptions, so he’s a playmaker. Sensabaugh’s times at the combine were strong, and he has big-play potential -- he blocked three kicks in a game against East Tennessee State.

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Sam Farmer

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NFL DRAFT ORDER

The first three rounds of the NFL draft will be held Saturday (9 a.m.-4 p.m. PDT, ESPN), and the last four rounds Sunday (8 a.m.-3 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2). Order for Round 1:

*--* TEAM W-L TEAM W-L 1. San Fran. 2-14 17. Cincinnati 8-8 2. Miami 4-12 18. Minnesota 8-8 3. Cleveland 4-12 19. St. Louis 8-8 4. Chicago 5-11 20. Dallas-c 6-10 5. Tampa Bay 5-11 21. Jacksonville 9-7 6. Tennessee 5-11 22. Baltimore 9-7 7. Minnesota-a 8-8 23. Seattle 9-7 8. Arizona 6-10 24. Green Bay 10-6 9. Washington 6-10 25. Wash.-d 6-10 10. Detroit 6-10 26. Oakland-e 5-11 11. Dallas 6-10 27. Atlanta 11-5 12. San Diego-b 12-4 28. San Diego 12-4 13. Houston 7-9 29. Indianapolis 12-4 14. Carolina 7-9 30. Pittsburgh 15-1 15. Kansas City 7-9 31. Philadelphia 13-3 16. New Orleans 8-8 32. New England 14-2 a-from Oakland; b-from N.Y.Giants; c-from Buffalo; d-from Denver; e-from N.Y. Jets

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