Gosselin top 10

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Rick Gosselin's Top 10 players in the draft....some surprises

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The first article Gosselin has wrote on the draft cites several NFL general managers. Pretty interesting stuff. Either he's way off on a couple (Rogers & Cody), or the draftnik community really doesn't have much of an idea of where players are truly ranked by NFL people.

1. Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan

A three-year starter with 252 career catches. Edwards, the winner of the 2004 Biletnikoff Award, is the best blend of polish and accomplishment on this draft board.

2. Ronnie Brown, HB, Auburn
DARRON CUMMINGS/AP
Auburn tailback Ronnie Brown shot out of the blocks and perhaps to the top of NFL draft boards with his time in the 40.

His 4.48-second 40-yard dash at 233 pounds at the combine shot him to the top of the running back board. He also has the best hands among the draft's elite backs.

3. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, HB, Auburn

Just a stride behind Brown with a 4.50 40, Williams was the reason Brown spent his career as a part-time starter. Williams rushed for 1,100 more career yards than Brown.

4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal

The NFL loves accuracy, and that's Rodgers' strength. He has a lightning-quick release and completed 63.8 percent of his career passes. But at 6-2, he lacks prototype size for the position.

5. Cedric Benson, HB, Texas

Benson may indeed be the best back in the draft. But by not running at the combine, he opened the door for Brown and Williams to pass him – and they did. Benson was a 5,500-yard career rusher at Texas.

6. Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn

Adam "Pac Man" Jones went to the combine with top billing at the cornerback position. But Jones didn't work out and Rogers did. What he showed NFL scouts was a 6-0 corner with 4.31 speed.

7. Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin

Pass rushers don't slide on draft day, and the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year brings speed off the edge. James had eight sacks last season and forced seven career fumbles.

8. Adam "Pac Man" Jones, CB, West Virginia

Jones has an edge over Rogers in that he's an elite kick returner. But Terence Newman was an elite college kick returner, too, and has returned just one NFL kick for the Cowboys.

9. Alex Smith, QB, Utah

Smith has the height (6-4) that Rodgers lacks and may wind up as the top quarterback on the board. But he has started only two seasons at a lower-level conference and is only 20 years old.

10. Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma

Like James, Cody led a major conference in sacks this season. He plays the game on the other side of the line with 38 career tackles for loss. But James worked out at Indy, Cody didn't