By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In January at the Senior Bowl, Bengals coaches said the draft class of linebackers looked like one of the deepest in several years.

After three more months of intense review, the team's scouts agree with the coaches on the talent available at linebacker in the NFL draft today and Sunday.

Miami's D.J. Williams is one of the top linebackers available in this year's draft. (AP/file photo)

So add linebacker to the growing list of positions - that includes everything but quarterback and place kicker - from which the Bengals might select.

The Bengals' linebacker trio is all but set with Nate Webster in the middle and Brian Simmons and Kevin Hardy on the outside. But with Hardy entering his ninth NFL season, there is a need to develop future starters.

"Every draft class is unique," Bengals football operations director Jim Lippincott said before the team's uniform unveiling ceremony Thursday. "In 2002, there weren't enough good linebackers. This class has a lot of linebackers. Purdue has four by itself."

As is the case at almost all positions, the top two linebackers are sure bets to be off the board by the time the Bengals get on the clock around 3 p.m. with the 24th pick.

The clear top two linebackers available were Miami Hurricane teammates Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams.

The Bengals visited privately with Vilma, an inside linebacker, and Lippincott said, "He was one of the brightest people we've ever talked to."

But unless they trade up, Vilma is likely to go to the New York Jets at No. 12. Williams, a bigger outside linebacker, is expected to stay in Florida and go to Tampa Bay with the 15th overall pick.

The Bengals would have a chance to get the draft's third-rated linebacker, Auburn's Karlos Dansby. The Bengals did well the last time they chose an Auburn linebacker, Takeo Spikes in 1998.

Dansby probably won't survive the first round, so the Bengals could still get an impact player at No. 49 in the second round. Oklahoma's Teddy Lehman, whom the Bengals staff coached in the Senior Bowl, is relentless in pursuit and made a good impression in Mobile, Ala.

Dontarrious Thomas was Dansby's teammate at Auburn. Thomas can play inside or outside linebacker and is expected to be available when the Bengals take their second pick in the second round, No. 56 - the pick acquired in the Corey Dillon trade.

Thomas will enter the NFL as a better run stopper than pass defender.

Another possibility with that 56th pick is Michael Boulware of Florida State. He is the brother of Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware, whom Bengals coach Marvin Lewis drafted in 1997 when he was Baltimore's defensive coordinator.

Michael Boulware is 225 pounds and, with 238 tackles in his final two collegiate seasons, projects to be a dynamic NFL strong safety.

The Bengals might even go later in the draft - end of Day 1, start of Day 2 - and take a sleeper who's not so much a sleeper any more. Keep the name of Darrell McClover (the third Miami Hurricane linebacker) in mind. He could be a steal.

The list

Top five linebackers (inside and outside) available in NFL draft:

Player	Ht-Wt	College	2003 stats	Comment
1. Jonathan Vilma (ILB)	6-0, 230	Miami (Fla.)	127 tackles, one sack, three passes broken up	Unquestioned team leader, intelligent, plays bigger than 230
2. D.J. Williams (OLB)	6-1, 250	Miami (Fla.)	88 tackles, six sacks, one TD rushing on fake punt	Great sideline-to-sideline speed, can dominate but can disappear
3. Karlos Dansby (OLB)	6-3, 247	Auburn	84 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six passes broken up	Fast for his size but learning position, needs to play more disciplined
4. Daryl Smith (OLB)	6-2, 234	Georgia Tech	129 tackles, even games with 10-plus tackles	Needs to improve man pass coverage or he'll likely be moved inside in NFL
5. Teddy Lehman	6-1, 240	Oklahoma	117 tackles, two sacks	Good instincts, good future as a likely second-round pick playing in the 4-3

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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