The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux Donald Brown, who led the nation in rushing after the 2008 season, is just one player whose intangibles have vaulted him up the 2009 NFL Draft board.

With just over three weeks left until the draft, this week we will take a look at the offensive players in this year's crop who have the best chance to make a dynamic impact in their rookie seasons. They may not all be the most highly rated, but have the experience and intangibles to contribute early.

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor - Sure, Smith isn't a flashy pick, but he has the athleticism, strength, tenacity and toughness that will make him a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle for the next 10 years. Playing under the radar at Baylor, Smith, a former tight end, has shown during the draft process that he has the character and drive that teams love and will be willing to invest a top-five pick on.

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech - Most rookie wide receivers have a tough time adjusting to the NFL in their rookie season because they aren't used to running crisp, NFL-caliber passing routes. Crabtree already has that polish and Velcro hands that can help any offense. Though he doesn't have blinding speed, he is strong, tough and agile and has every intangible you could ask from a wide receiver. He was not a product of Texas Tech's pass-happy offense; he took it to another level. Expect to see many teams looking to maneuver up into the top-10 of the draft to take Crabtree if he slides out of the first five picks.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri - Maclin has lightning-fast speed and will be a major deep-threat during his career and sparingly in his rookie season. However, he will need time to learn the subtleties of playing receiver in the pros. The reason he will have such a major impact as a rookie will be on special teams in the return game. An absolute game breaker in college, those skills should successfully translate immediately to the NFL and he has the potential to take the distance whenever he touches it.

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State - Pettigrew is the best and most complete tight end in this year's class and that is why he will certainly make a strong impact in his rookie season. Most tight ends these days are basically big receivers who can't block. Pettigrew is an old-school tight end who is a terrific in-line blocker and also has good enough hands to move the chains, grab first downs, and carry defenders on his back. He's not going to stretch the seam with blazing speed, but he is a very good receiver and as of now is underrated in that aspect. Even if his pass-catching skills need time to develop, he will instantly give a team in the mid-first round something that most lack - a tight end that can block.

Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut - While his fellow draft-classmates Chris Wells of Ohio State and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia are more highly rated on most draft experts' boards, Brown is the most complete of the three. He isn't overly flashy in any area but he is very good at just about anything you can ask of him. Running backs generally have one of the easiest transitions to the NFL and Brown, with his patient running skills, pass-blocking ability and hands in the passing game, should be no exception. Combine those skills with the fact that he has tremendous work ethic and team mentality, and he is one of the biggest "sure things" in the draft. He's never going to break those 80-yard runs, but he'll get you five every carry and setup his blocks well. His all-around skills have almost guaranteed that Brown will hear his name in the first round of the draft. He should make a name for himself early in his rookie year.

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