PHILADELPHIA -- Defense, defense and more defense; NFL teams can't accumulate enough defensive talent these days. The NFL is a copycat league, and the hunters are sure to follow in the footsteps of the New England Patriots.

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This has been the decade of the defensive tackle. Six DTs went in the first round last year, with five going in the first 13 picks. Only four college defensive tackles were worthy of first-round status in 2002, but each went in the top half of the opening round. The 2001 NFL Draft also included six tackles in round one.

Three defensive tackles -- Tommie Harris, Vince Wilfork and Randy Starks -- are locked in as first-rounders on April 24. However, the importance of the position could help at least three other top college tackles into the top 32.

This defensive draft class has a solid mix of talent at several positions. Entering the draft, however, the star defenders are overshadowed by their offensive counterparts. That could change slightly on draft day, as Sean Taylor, Kenechi Udeze, Will Smith, the trio of DTs and a handful of defensive backs and linebackers are holding steady as solid first-round selections.

Defensive Ends

Each of the past two drafts produced an elite pass-rushing defensive end. Baltimore selected Arizona State's Terrell Suggs with the 10th pick last year; North Carolina's Julius Peppers was the Carolina Panthers' prize in 2002. The top two defensive ends in this class stand out, but there will also be excellent value for teams looking to add talent in the middle and late rounds.

TOP-RATED DE
Kenechi Udeze (Southern Cal) -- Udeze gets the nod as my top- ranked defensive player in the 2004 NFL Draft. He gained a wealth of experience as a three-year college starter, playing both tackle and end. Udeze (6-3/275) possesses the size, athleticism and ability to develop into a Michael Strahan-type defensive end in the NFL. He has the quickness and power to beat pro offensive tackles, and uses a wide array of moves to elude blockers en route to the quarterback. The former Trojan is a disruptive force on the line of scrimmage and will warrant double teams. There are a handful of players in this draft with similar pass-rushing ability, though Udeze's 24 sacks and 11 forced fumbles over his final two college seasons help him stand out. None of Udeze's peers, including Ohio State's Will Smith, possess the SC product's elite combination of pass-rushing and run-stopping ability. Udeze's time at defensive tackle was a key element in his improvement against the run. A solid NFL line coach will pass along a few helpful techniques in an effort to round out Udeze's bag of tricks. He should start as a rookie and provide a significant impact. Projected draft position: top 10.

SECOND-BEST
Will Smith (Ohio State) -- The 6-foot-3, 267-pound Smith is a top- level talent and should be a familiar name to all football fans from his days in Columbus. There's no denying his athleticism, wide array of pass-rush moves and experience, but Smith will be hard-pressed to be as productive as Udeze in the NFL because of less natural talent. He's a high-motor player in the mold of Jerome McDougle, an undersized end who went in the first round last year. Teams might be turned off by his size, but he has good strength for his build, especially in his upper body. He needs work against the run since he lacks the bulk to be a consistent force against the run. Still, Smith is a first-round prospect with solid overall ability. Projected draft position: top 20.

THE NEXT LEVEL
Antwan Odom (Alabama), Jason Babin (Western Michigan), Marquise Hill (LSU) - Unlike some of the other juniors in this draft, Odom (6-6/275) left campus after a disappointing college campaign. He probably would have been a top-15 pick with another year in school, but teams are drooling over his potential despite the poor junior season. Odom, who should contribute immediately as a situational pass rusher, will be a solid bargain at the top of round two. Babin (6-2/258) possesses better game speed than his 4.6 40-time would indicate. He knows how to get to the quarterback and has a knack for making big plays. Babin is limited only by his lack of ideal size. LSU's Hill is an intriguing prospect who stands out because of his play against the run. At 6-foot-6 and nearly 300 pounds, Hill has tackle size and excellent run-stopping ability. While Hill lacks the savvy pass-rushing moves of his peers, he has the potential to get to the QB consistently because of his power.

SLEEPER
Jared Allen (Idaho State) - The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Allen, the son of former NFL player Ron Allen, won the I-AA Buck Buchanan Award with a stellar 17.5-sack season. He's worthy of a second-day selection because of his pass- rushing ability. Allen, who could add some bulk to his large frame, will benefit from solid NFL coaching. The size and ability is already there, so it wouldn't be asking too much to have Allen contribute as a situational pass rusher as a rookie. He has a big upside.

Defensive Tackles

The spotlight is shining bright on this position once again. Last year's class had at least six DTs with first-round grades. There will be better value in the middle rounds this year, though only three DTs could go in round one on April 24.

TOP-RATED DT
Tommie Harris (Oklahoma) -- Harris has been on the NFL radar for quite some time. He's a top-level talent with the ability to create problems for opponents along the line of scrimmage. He's a disruptive force in the mold of pass-rushing DT Rod Coleman (Atlanta). Harris' greatest asset is his ability to burst out of his stance, work his way into the opponent's backfield and make a play. Players who can do that in the NFL wind up getting $15 million signing bonuses after a few years in the league. While Harris (6-2/290) can certainly ply his trade with great success, he lacks the bulk and patience to effectively stop the run. His desire to sack the quarterback often leaves him out of position against running plays. Can get lost upfield at times, but has the speed and agility to atone for overplaying the pass. Overall, Harris deserves to go in the top 10 on April 24 and will make some team extremely happy. Lovie Smith could do wonders in Chicago with a player like Harris. Projected draft position: top 15.

SECOND-BEST
Vince Wilfork (Miami-FL) -- Wilfork is the latest in the long line of great DTs from Miami. At 6-foot-1 and 325 pounds, Wilfork is a mammoth tackle with excellent run-stopping ability. He also has a knack for knifing his way into the opponent's backfield. While he might not be as much of a disruptive force as William Joseph, who went late in the first round to the Giants last year, Wilfork is a more consistent player with an NFL-ready game. He can take on multiple blockers and possesses good athleticism for a king- sized player. Projected draft position: top 15.

THE NEXT LEVEL
Randy Starks (Maryland), Donnell Washington (Clemson), Marcus Tubbs (Texas), Igor Olshansky (Oregon) -- Starks (6-3/315) has worked his way into the first 20 picks of the draft. He has a solid combination of skills, including the ability to rush the passer from the tackle slot. His quickness off the ball and strong lower body will enable him to make waves against the run. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Washington will win his share of battles in the trenches. Showed good pursuit skills in college and should develop further with some seasoning. Washington has a huge upside because of his physical stature, but needs to improve his overall conditioning. Texas' Tubbs will fit nicely in a 4-3 defense as a primary run stopper. He eats up space in the middle and possesses good lateral quickness. However, teams in search of a pass-rushing DT should look elsewhere. Olshansky is the resident strong man in this year's draft after posting 43 reps in the 225-pound bench press. He also has room to grow thanks to a 6-foot-5 frame. Might not be more than a spot player as a rookie, but Olshansky has good potential and projects to develop into a solid rotational tackle.

SLEEPER
Damane Duckett (East Carolina) -- Hard to top last year's sleeper, Dan Klecko, who was a big contributor for the Super Bowl champion Patriots. The 6- foot-6, 300-pound Duckett is the type of player who never really took off at the college level for one reason or another. He has the size and athleticism to develop into a solid starter, but he needs to dedicate himself to an NFL weight lifting and nutritional program and concentrate on improving himself physically first and foremost. He's little more than a developmental prospect at this stage, but Duckett could turn out to be a late-round steal if he works hard at the next level.

Linebackers

The linebacker position has steadily declined in recent years. The bigger players are moving up to the defensive line, and others are sliding back to play the Urlacher rover position in the secondary. Still, this year's class contains some intriguing prospects. The 2004 crop projects to be deeper and more talented than last year's group, though Green Bay's Nick Barnett is a star in the making and it remains to be seen if the top 'backers will be as good.

TOP-RATED LB
Jonathan Vilma (Miami-FL) -- Vilma is being slightly overlooked because he's only a shade over 6-feet tall. However, very few modern-day 'backers are 6-foot-4 anymore. Vilma has similar size as ex-Cane Ray Lewis, and the comparisons don't end there. He's a phenomenal athlete with the ability to play inside or outside. Vilma's speed and agility will allow him to play any LB spot in the NFL. Pro personnel directors love middle linebackers with size, but there's a long line of great players at the position who lacked ideal height. This doesn't prevent Vilma from being a force against the run, as he roams from sideline to sideline to make big plays. He will also be an asset as a cover man against running backs out of the backfield. Far better prospect than last year's No. 1-rated LB, Boss Bailey. Vilma would be an excellent fit for the New York Jets, who hold the 12th overall pick. Projected draft position: top 15.

SECOND-BEST
D.J. Williams (Miami-FL) -- With the likes of Wilfork, Vilma, Williams and super safety Sean Taylor, the Hurricanes will be well represented once again on draft weekend. Williams is a fraction taller than Vilma and outweighs him by about 15 pounds, but he doesn't quite carry as high a draft grade as his former teammate. He possesses good but not great speed, and has solid range against the run. While Vilma can play every LB position, Williams is an outside linebacker. He will continue to get better with time, as his transition from fullback isn't yet complete. Still, Williams has the talent to make an immediate contribution. Projected draft position: late first round.

THE NEXT LEVEL
Daryl Smith (Georgia Tech), Karlos Dansby (Auburn), Teddy Lehman (Oklahoma), Michael Boulware (Florida State), Dontarrious Thomas (Auburn) -- This next level of 'backers is deep and talented. Smith is a tough and experienced middle linebacker. He has a very solid overall game and would be a good fit for the New York Giants at the top of round two, if he makes it that far. Auburn's Dansby is another player ready to make an instant impact. At 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, Dansby has ideal size to go along with good athleticism and range. His size enables him to make waves as a pass rusher or cover 'backer. Lehman has an excellent football background coming from Bob Stoops' program. He's an attacking outside linebacker with excellent speed and field vision. Lehman should find a home in the NFL on the weak side, but he also has experience in the middle. FSU's Boulware, the brother of Baltimore's Peter Boulware, possesses some of the same great traits as his older sibling. He's by far the best cover 'backer in this draft, as he uses solid instincts and exceptional speed to track receivers. He isn't expected to slip past the second round. Thomas leveled off during his college career, but maintains a solid draft ranking. He's a natural inside linebacker who does his best work between the tackles against the run.

SLEEPER
Cols Colas (Virginia Tech) - Colas is a shade under 6-feet tall, but he was very productive at Tech over the past two years and projects to be a real menace as an outside pass-rushing linebacker. His workout numbers are impressive -- something NFL scouts always love -- and he plays well in pursuit. His lack of size and top-notch athleticism make him a second-day gamble, but he's worth a late-round pick based on his workouts and pass- rushing ability. Might never be a complete player, but he's a solid developmental prospect.

Cornerbacks

The cornerback position is one of the deepest in the 2004 NFL Draft. While the top prospects don't grade out as highly as last year's big dog, Terence Newman, there is good talent that will provide value for teams throughout day one.

TOP-RATED CB
DeAngelo Hall (Virginia Tech) -- Hall would have benefited from returning for his senior season, but he's such a tremendous talent that he will be a top-15 pick on April 24. His best asset is his speed (4.3), but his confidence is a close second. Played mostly man coverage in college; that will help him make a quick transition to the pros. At 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Hall has good size to go along with soft hands and great playmaking ability. He can make up ground quickly with his speed and will be an exciting player on special teams if he gets the chance to return kicks. Hall is the top-rated corner in the draft and probably won't slip out of the top 12 picks since both Pittsburgh and the New York Jets would love to have a player of his caliber. Projected draft position: top 15.

SECOND-BEST
Chris Gamble (Ohio State) -- At this point, Gamble is an athlete first and a defensive back second. His exploits at OSU are well documented, and his athleticism should translate into a long and successful NFL career. However, he's not as polished a cover man as Hall and would be better suited to be an extra DB in zone coverages as a rookie. Gamble is somewhat of a gamble in round one because of his lack of an overall game at this point. Yet his size (6-1/197) and versatility (can play WR and return kicks) is an intriguing selling point. He will benefit from playing under a solid position coach in the NFL and should develop into a fine defender with time. The team that drafts him, however, must have patience and the understanding that he isn't a finished product. Projected draft position: top 20.

THE NEXT LEVEL
Dunta Robinson (South Carolina), Will Poole (Southern Cal), Ahmad Carroll (Arkansas), Derrick Strait (Oklahoma) -- Teams in search of a cornerback ready-made for the NFL will be interested in Robinson, who has comparable skills to Virginia Tech's Hall. He made the switch from safety two years ago and has the potential to develop into a shutdown-type corner. Robinson, who is a very physical cornerback, is worthy of a first-round selection. USC's Poole might also go in the first round on April 24. He emerged as a top defensive back after a strong 2003 season for the Trojans. Nice to see him sticking his nose in there against the run on a regular basis, but Poole might be better suited to play in a zone scheme as opposed to man- to-man. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Carroll has some of the best potential of anyone in his class. He's a former track standout who should improve with NFL coaching; probably won't slip past the second round. Strait garnered some valuable experience at Oklahoma. He compares favorably to former OU standout Andre Woolfolk, who was drafted in the first round last year by Tennessee. Strait could sneak into the first round because of his toughness and experience.

SLEEPER
Keith Smith (McNeese State) -- The only thing small-time about Smith was his I-AA competition, and even that's overrated when it comes down to it. Smith can play at any level, as evidenced by his strong senior campaign. He's a top athlete with 4.5 speed, good hands and strong playmaking ability. The emergence of Tusculum's Ricardo Colclough has opened the NFL's eyes to small school players at this position, so Smith might not even last until day two. He seems ready to help a team as rookie in nickel or dime packages.

Safeties

Last year's class was headlined by Troy Polamalu and Mike Doss, but Ken Hamlin, a second-round pick out of Arkansas, was the star of the group as a rookie for Seattle. While Sean Taylor is the lone elite prospect, the same kind of intriguing depth is present in this year's class.

TOP-RATED S
Sean Taylor (Miami-FL) -- The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Taylor is one of the most exciting players in the draft and projects to be a high-level impact defender. As a free safety at Miami, Taylor displayed his tremendous range and ballhawking ability. However, he possesses the hitting power of an elite NFL strong safety and will make pro receivers pay for catching passes in front of him. His draft stock is in question after lackluster workouts that produced a slower 40 time than anticipated. Still and all, Taylor plays at a high speed on the field and he's a natural playmaker. He should be a better player than Baltimore's Ed Reed and has the same type of ability as Dallas' Roy Williams. Taylor, who has great hands and routinely returned interceptions for big yards in college, is a blue-chip safety worthy of a top-10 pick. The only drawback from an NFL standpoint is the concern about investing huge cap dollars in a safety. Projected draft position: top 10.

SECOND-BEST
Sean Jones (Georgia) -- The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Jones should develop into a solid NFL free safety. He has good range and quickness to the ball, but Jones needs to improve his pass-run recognition. That will come with time and coaching. The former Bulldog doesn't have the knack for making big plays that makes Taylor such a desirable commodity. He's a solid player, though, and will be a strong value in the second round for a team in search of a legitimate free safety. Showed good power and a willingness to stuff the run in college. Projected draft position: second round.

THE NEXT LEVEL
Stuart Schweigert (Purdue), Will Allen (Ohio State), Bob Sanders (Iowa) -- The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Schweigert possesses most of the tools scouts look for in a starting free safety. He has 4.4 speed, a wealth of experience against top-level competition and good cover skills. However, Schweigert has some off-the-field concerns that might hamper his draft stock (second round). The other Will Allen from Ohio State isn't rated as highly as his defensive end teammate of the same name. Allen lacks great speed and seems better suited to play close to the line of scrimmage to take advantage of his run-stopping ability. He's not great in coverage and needs to play in a zone scheme to maximize his ability (third round). Iowa's Sanders is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. He has a world of physical ability, including sub-4.4 speed, but the biggest knock against him is his height (5-8). He'll have some problems when mixing it up against bigger players, but don't tell Sanders that. He's got a great attitude and the athleticism to perform at any level.

SLEEPER
J.R. Reed (South Florida) -- Much like last year's sleeper in this category, Rashean Mathis, Reed can play safety or cornerback. His versatility is a plus, though he will likely get a look as an NFL safety because of his lack of great speed, footwork and one-on-one cover skills. He was a playmaker in college and showed the ability to slide into the slot to cover smaller receivers. Reed is a very tough player with a nose for the ball. He excels as a run stopper and will be a great value on day two.