BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A reprise of the legendary quarterback draft of 1983, when six players from that position were selected during the first round, may occur this weekend. This time, cornerbacks will be the featured performers.

And the Bengals could take one of them.

As many as six cornerbacks have been projected as possible first-round selections when the NFL draft starts Saturday: Ohio State's Shawn Springs, Texas' Bryant Westbrook, Iowa's Tom Knight, Nebraska's Michael Booker, Louisville's Sam Madison and Kansas State's Chris Canty.

Springs, Big Ten defensive player of the year last season, and Westbrook, whose efforts were equally dominating, almost surely will be among top-five selections.

But scenarios exist under which the Bengals might feel compelled to take one of the other highly regarded defensive backs with their 14th overall choice. If they don't take a cornerback in the first round, they likely will grab one in the second or third.

''There's more depth at cornerback this year than there has been in most drafts I can recall,'' said Dick Haley, the New York Jets' director of player personnel. ''You can take a guy in the first two rounds who can play for you.''

Cincinnati needs to stockpile linebackers to accommodate its proposed switch to a 3-4 defense. But should the Bengals' negotiations with free-agent linebackers Wayne Simmons or Darrin Smith - dormant, yet not dead - culminate in an agreement before Saturday, they'd turn their first-round focus to another position.

That would probably be cornerback, because it could be the most talent-laden position in the draft. Though the Bengals led the NFL with 34 interceptions last year, they also yielded more passing yards than any team except Baltimore. This shortcoming, along with the plethora of three- and four-wide receiver alignments the Bengals face, necessitates drafting a cornerback.

If the Bengals believe they can sign a decent free-agent linebacker after the draft or following June 1, when veterans around the league are destined to be cut for salary reasons, they might make cornerback their top first-round priority.

Depending on which scout or draft expert is doing the talking, the most desirable cornerback after Springs and Westbrook is Booker, Canty or Knight.

• Booker (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) played with Westbrook at Oceanside (Calif.) El Camino. ''He's a very interesting player,'' draft expert Jerry Jones said. Booker appears to have acceptable physical prowess, with a 4.48-second clocking in the 40-yard dash and a 39ï-inch vertical jump.

• Canty (5-9ó, 190) is an early entry junior with a reputation for cockiness. ''He's up and down the charts,'' Jones said. ''Everybody likes his play, and nobody likes his mouth.'' Canty's attitude will cost him a small fortune if teams ignore him until the second round. He enhances his prospects with capable punt-return skills.

• Knight (5-11, 195) draws praise for his instincts and smoothness. He appears to have survived major knee surgery in 1994, though that may scare some teams.

• Madison (5-11, 180) also has impressive credentials, having set a school record with 16 career interceptions. He also did a nice Deion Sanders impression, catching three passes for 163 yards and a touchdown.

The Bengals should obtain a worthy cornerback even if they wait until the second or third round.

Clemson's Dexter McCleon (5-10, 195) and Maryland's Chad Scott (6-1, 200) have been mentioned in some circles as possible first-round picks, and the Bengals supposedly are high on Ohio State's Ty Howard (5-9, 185).

McCleon started the 1993 Peach Bowl against Kentucky at quarterback, and he played baseball in 1993-94.

Scott is envisioned as a safety in the NFL, though he has the speed (4.5 in the 40) to remain at corner. Howard, who played opposite Springs, has been projected as a third- to fifth-round selection.

Notes

Besides officially announcing the signing of free-agent fullback Scottie Graham to a two-year contract, the Bengals signed defensive lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen to a one-year deal. His contractual rights reverted to Cincinnati after Monday's deadline for tendering offers to restricted free agents passed.

Previous draft stories

LB SEARCH NEAR AN END April 16, 1997
'IMPACT' PLAYER, TRADE UNLIKELY April 13, 1997
14TH PICK NOT TOO LATE TO GRAB GOOD PLAYER April 13, 1997

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