By MIKE O'HARA
The Detroit News

INDIANAPOLIS - On his one visit to Ford Field, Charles Rogers got a glimpse of what the Detroit Lions future can be like if a young, talented group of players grows up together and becomes winners.

Rogers would like to be part of the growth spurt.

Rogers is one of the stars of this year's NFL draft. If the Lions had a wish list, they couldn't fill it any better with what the tall, explosive wide receiver from Michigan State and Saginaw High School has to offer.

And the Lions have something to offer Rogers - a young quarterback in Joey Harrington, a new head coach in Steve Mariucci and the potential for an exciting home field in downtown Detroit.

Rogers was at Ford Field last year for the Lions' 37-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the third game of the season. It was Harrington's first pro start, and he had moments of brilliance.

Harrington rallied the Lions to a 17-17 tie in the second quarter. He nearly pulled off a winning drive in the final minute of the game. A pass grazed the fingertips of tight end Mikhael Ricks in the end zone. Harrington's last pass was intercepted, ending the drive.

"I feel like he did great, the way he jumped into the fire," Rogers said over the weekend in his visit to the NFL's combine workouts. "He jumped in quick, early. I feel like he handled himself real good.

"His future's going to be bright. He's a great guy. He's got a good personality."

Before he saw them play at Ford Field, Rogers scouted the Lions at work when they held training camp in Saginaw. Rogers studied the receivers.

"Herman Moore and Johnnie Morton," Rogers said. "I learned from those guys. I never met them or talked to them. I like how Herman used his size. I liked how Morton used his speed."

Rogers has made comparisons to other great receivers when asked how he rates his style of play - a combination of Michael Irvin, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

What intrigues him most is the idea of starting fresh with a young quarterback and seeing their careers grow together.

Rogers used the Dallas Cowboys as a reference point. The Cowboys drafted Irvin, their star receiver, in 1988 and added the quarterback, Troy Aikman, the next year.

The Lions building process would be in reverse - the quarterback, then the receiver.

"That would be interesting, build something like Dallas built something - with Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin," Rogers said. "Maybe we can get something started. I'm not a Detroit Lion yet, but it's looking good.

"You never know. They have the No. 2 pick. I might go No. 1."

"That's the rub of the draft - what might happen ahead of the Lions - that will chafe them until the annual talent lottery begins April 26. The Cincinnati Bengals have the first pick. The Lions draft second.

Conventional wisdom dictates that the Bengals draft Carson Palmer, the quarterback from Southern California who won the Heisman Trophy last year. But the Bengals have been burned on first-round quarterbacks - most recently, Akili Smith in 1999. He was the third pick overall and has never produced.

Next up are the Lions. They are almost powerless to do anything except hold their breath for the next nine weeks.

The cost of moving up to the top pick would be prohibitive for a team that must build its roster. The Lions have won only five games in the last two years.

There are other players who could help the Lions. Cornerback Terance Newman of Kansas State would fill a need. So would Andre Johnson of Miami (Fla.), the second-rated receiver in the draft.

But no player in this year's draft pick can match Rogers' potential to give the Lions a cornerstone player.

The Houston Texans have the third pick and would love to have Rogers. General Manager Charley Casserley sees no chance that Rogers will get past the Lions.

"He has amazing potential," Casserley said. "We've been scouting him for two years. He's going to be a superstar in this league."

Lions President Matt Millen compares Rogers to Moss - without the problems that followed the Minnesota Vikings star receiver in college and the pros. Rogers has soft hands and game-breaking speed. He would give the Lions a chance to score at any time - and open the field for such other players as running back James Stewart and wide receivers Az-Zahir Hakim and Bill Schroeder.

"He makes everybody else better," Millen said. "He makes Az better and he makes Bill better. It just moves everybody up."

The Lions used the last two drafts to build the team at key positions. In 2001, their top pick was offensive left tackle Jeff Backus, who plays the most crucial position on the line. He protects Harrington's blind side. Last year, they finally landed a franchise quarterback in Harrington. The second round produced right defensive end Kalimba Edwards, a pass-rush specialist who led the team with 6 1/2 sacks in limited playing time.

Rogers would be the fourth key piece to the puzzle. There are still some gaps - cornerback, linebacker, speed at running back and safety.

Rogers has the greatest potential to solve one of the Lions' biggest weaknesses - score touchdowns.

"I'm a deep threat," he said. "That's what I am. A deep threat. I stretch the field."

All the way to the end zone.

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