Each week, FanHouse's Rollercoaster Report will take a look at several NFL Draft prospects to find out which players' stocks are on the rise, and who's stuck in freefall. This edition previews the 2009 NFL Combine, which runs Feb. 18-24 in Indianapolis, and features a massive list of potential draft picks.
On the Rise
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State: It's not exactly a common occurrence for a tight end to sneak into the first round, but Pettigrew certainly has that potential – part of the reason that recent chatter has the Eagles snatching him up at No. 21 to replace unrestricted free agent L.J. Smith. Pettigrew showed off at the Senior Bowl, drawing rave reviews for his blocking ability and for the matchup problems his 6'5'' frame creates.
Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers: Big receivers are all the rage right now, which is why the 6'4'' Britt has gone from a third-round guy to a potential first-round pick. He probably won't blow anyone away with his 40 time (he's probably going to be around 4.5), though his size and ability to make plays after the catch may offset that. If he clocks in faster than people expect, teams will be all over him.
Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut: Playing at UConn meant Butler flew under the radar as it was, but a knee sprain late in the year didn't help. He's healthy again now, which is why he finds his draft possibilities rising. Butler -- a cousin of Willis McGahee -- is also coming off a strong Senior Bowl-week effort and could play in basically any defensive scheme, plus return kicks, making him a valuable guy.
Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose State: Don't worry about the fact that you have not heard this name before. You will. Gilbert is a freak of an athlete, listing at 6'5'' and just under 300 pounds. During the Senior Bowl broadcast, the announcers touched on the fact that he can squat nearly 600 pounds ... oh, and he can do this, which is just ridiculous.
Dropping Off
Nic Harris, SS/LB, Oklahoma: It's that slash in Harris' position that is causing consternation amongst scouts. There's no doubting Harris' on-field skills or off-the-field intangibles, but he played mostly strong safety at OU and now projects to be a linebacker in the NFL. He's been a little behind making that transition, so he needs a nice combine showing.
Quan Cosby, WR, Texas: Throughout his time as a Longhorn, Cosby proved himself to be a weapon at the wide receiver position. Fine. Here are the problems: At the Senior Bowl, he measured in at 5'9'', two inches below his the already-smallish 5'11" Texas listed him as. And he's 26 years old, having spent some time pursuing a baseball career.
William Moore, FS, Missouri: Had he come out last year, after a sensational 2007 season, it's possible Moore would've skyrocketed into the first round. Instead, he's trying to prove that he's worthy of a first-day selection. Moore dealt with injuries all season long, then had an anemic Senior Bowl showing and now there's the possibility whichever team drafts him could see him as a linebacker instead.
Maurice Evans, DE, Penn State: Teams use the combine as much to weigh a players' off-field characteristics as much as their physical ability -- Evans needs to prove the former is not a major concern. Evans was arrested at the start of the 2008 season for possessing marijuana, then recently sentenced to one-year probation because of those charges. That issue, combined with questions about Evans' ability to play on the defensive line at the next level, has him in a precarious spot.
