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Whether he goes to the Chargers or Giants or the Raiders, it seems more than likely that Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning will be drafted first or second.
Now that his family and agent have stepped in to notify the Chargers that he doesn't want to play for them, Manning is going to face some public outcry. But the warning signs were there early.
At the NFL combine in February, Manning hinted that going to the Chargers No. 1 overall wasn't a slam dunk.
"That's what you hear," he said. "You try not to listen to things. It's hard not to when you see your name as a possible 1 or 2. All I can do is control what I can do.
"There are a lot of good players. It just depends on what the team needs. You don't know if San Diego wants to draft a receiver or whatever else they need as a team or if they're going to trade or what happens. So, I don't worry about being first."
THE BEST OF THE BEST?: The draft may be thick with receivers, linebackers and quarterbacks, but many consider Miami safety Sean Taylor the best overall player on the board.
Taylor had 10 interceptions and 77 tackles in his junior season and turned pro early. Aside from his unique athletic ability, the 6-foot-2, 227-pounder has impressed teams with his love for playing defense.
"(Defense) is more of a challenge," he said. "Everybody can play offense and get 25 or 30 carries, you're bound to break one. It's hard to play defensive back and be consistent and get interceptions and make tackles. You have 10 other guys, including yourself 11, trying to get to the ball and make plays. It's more of a challenge."
Taylor is expected to go either to the Redskins (No. 5) or Lions (No. 6) and could be an opening-day starter. Confidence won't be a problem.
"I think I'm a leader," he said. "All safeties, like the offense has a quarterback, you should be a quarterback in the defensive backfield. I think I was a quarterback back there (at Miami)."
WARNER ON THE MOVE: If the Rams intend to release Kurt Warner after June 1, expect them to draft a quarterback this weekend.
Tulane's J.P. Losman, Tennessee's Casey Clausen and Michigan State's Jeff Smoker reportedly have visited Rams Park. It's not a pressure-filled situation either, since any rookie would sit behind Marc Bulger and Chris Chandler for a year or two.
But since any quarterback of that caliber can be taken in the second or third round, the Rams could use the 26th pick to address the offensive line or even running back.
Often-injured Marshall Faulk is near the end of his career and the Rams apparently aren't sold on backup Lamar Gordon, who also has durability questions. Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech and Greg Jones of Florida State both visited and the team also could grab Oklahoma State's Tatum Bell in the third round.
McKAY'S DAY: Rich McKay will begin today much like he did the past two years, when he was guiding the Bucs.
Atlanta's new president/general manager isn't saying whom his team will select No. 8 overall, but popular opinion suggests if Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall is available, he could be Atlanta's man. If not, McKay may take Miami defensive tackle Vince Wilfork or Texas wide receiver Roy Williams.
Or, he could trade down - if the right offer comes along - and spend the day waiting. That's what he did the previous two years, when Tampa Bay had no first-round picks.