Fields Probably To Be Only Local Talent Drafted Today

Even if your interests include area college football and the NFL draft, you should have plenty of free time today.

Other than Washington State’s Mark Fields, perhaps the top available linebacker, action should be slow for locals in today’s first two rounds.

Actually, the NFL might be able to sneak in a third round if the second can be concluded before 5:30 p.m.

Still, don’t expect anyone other than Fields to hear his name called today.

Fields, the Pacific-10 Conference’s defensive player of the year, has been touted as a certain first-rounder.

At 6-1 7/8 and 244 pounds, Fields ran 40 yards in 4.52 seconds for scouts. Pro Football Weekly predicts Fields to be taken by the New York Giants with the 17th pick, while Sporting News places him with the Kansas City Chiefs with the 19th choice.

USA Today, though, suggests Fields will slip to Carolina with the 32nd selection.

While many scouts call Fields the best of a fairly weak field of linebackers, National Scouting service has him rated the third best at his position, while BLESTO scouting service has him at fourth, with Ohio State’s Lorenzo Styles rating the best.

Cougar defensive tackles Chad Eaton and Don Sasa could go early Sunday. Pro Football Weekly labeled Sasa the 10th-best and Eaton the 12th-best at their position.

Eaton is slotted higher by National (fifth-best DT) and BLESTO (sixth-best).

The other local with a reasonable chance in the draft is WSU cornerback Torey Hunter, touted as the 11th-best cornerback by Pro Football Weekly.

For the Seattle Seahawks, who have promised to take one of three wide receivers - UCLA’s J.J. Stokes, Ohio State’s Joey Galloway or Colorado’s Michael Westbrook - the ratings are split.

National Scouting places them: Westbrook, Galloway, Stokes. BLESTO ranks them Galloway, Stokes, Westbrook.

One writer, Gordon Forbes of USA Today, suggests the Hawks will take none of the three, but will, instead, go for Penn State tight end Kyle Brady.