FIRST ROUND BREAKDOWN

NO. TEAM: 1. St. Louis (from N.Y. Jets)

PLAYER: Orlando Pace

POS.: OT

HT.: 6-6

WT.: 334

COLLEGE: Ohio State

IT’S A FACT: Only two-time winner of Lombardi Award

COMMENT: Can make it easier for Lawrence Phillips to sidestep defenders; the law is another matter.

*

NO. TEAM: 2. Oakland (from New Orleans)

PLAYER: Darrell Russell

POS.: DT

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 321

COLLEGE: USC

IT’S A FACT: Nine sacks, 19 tackles for losses in ’96

COMMENT: Raiders weren’t caught up in Russell-mania--the move to get this position was definitelymade off-the-Pace.

*

NO. TEAM: 3. Seattle (from Atlanta)

PLAYER: Shawn Springs

POS.: CB

HT.: 6-0

WT.: 197

COLLEGE: Ohio State

IT’S A FACT: Dad Ron was a Dallas Cowboy running back

COMMENT: What do you read in this? Springs was Big Ten defensive player of the year and had no interceptions.

*

NO. TEAM: 4. Baltimore

PLAYER: Peter Boulware

POS.: DE

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 254

COLLEGE: Florida State&

IT’S A FACT: Nation-leading 19 sacks in ’96

COMMENT: Similar to last year’s rookie defensive impact player Simeon Rice. Doubt if he can talk as good a game as Rice.

*

NO. TEAM: 5. Detroit

PLAYER: Bryant Westbrook

POS.: CB

HT.: 5-11

WT.: 199

COLLEGE: Texas

IT’S A FACT: Turned down basketball scholarships to play Longhorn football

COMMENT: Potential matchup: Bryant Westbrook on Michael Westbrook, the Redskin wide receiver. No relation.

*

NO. TEAM: 6. Seattle (from St. Louis via N.Y. Jets Tampa Bay)

PLAYER: Walter Jones

POS.: OT

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 301

COLLEGE: Florida State

IT’S A FACT: Gave up one sack in ’96

COMMENT: College for a Kingdome: Jones played only one season at Florida State.

*

NO. TEAM: 7. New York Giants

PLAYER: Ike Hilliard

POS.: WR

HT.: 5-11

WT.: 189

COLLEGE: Florida

IT’S A FACT: Was a prep All-American as a defensive back

COMMENT: Were there any “I Like Ike” posters among the Giant draft faithful in New York?

*

NO. TEAM: 8. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay)

PLAYER: James Farrior

POS.: LB

HT.: 6-1

WT.: 234

COLLEGE: Virginia

IT’S A FACT: Jets traded down to this spot from No. 1

COMMENT: Remember the Jets’ 1989 first-round bust Jeff Lageman? He was from Virginia.

*

NO. TEAM: 9. Arizona

PLAYER: Tom Knight

POS.: DB

HT.: 5-11

WT.: 196

COLLEGE: Iowa

IT’S A FACT: Bounced back from major knee surgery in ’94

COMMENT: A Knight in shining armor for Cardinals, whose secondary got jostled around frequently in ’96.

*

NO. TEAM: 10. New Orleans (from Oakland)

PLAYER: Chris Naeole

POS.: G

HT.: 6-3

WT.: 313

COLLEGE: Colorado

IT’S A FACT: First-team All-American in ’96

COMMENT: Did Al Davis get slickered? Saints get the offensive lineman they wanted at this position.

*

NO. TEAM: 11. Atlanta (from Chicago via Seattle)

PLAYER: Michael Booker

POS.: CB

HT.: 6-1

WT.: 203

COLLEGE: Nebraska

IT’S A FACT: High school teammate of Bryant Westbrook

COMMENT: The nice thing about being a rookie cornerback for the Falcons: two games against Jerry Rice.

*

NO. TEAM: 12. Tampa Bay (from Seattle)

PLAYER: Warrick Dunn

POS.: RB

HT.: 5-7

WT.: 188

COLLEGE: Florida State

IT’S A FACT: Averaged 6.9 yards a carry in Seminole career

COMMENT: Dunn’s first-round selection means Buccaneers frankly don’t give a damn about Errict Rhett.

*

NO. TEAM: 13. Kansas City (from Houston)

PLAYER: Tony Gonzalez

POS.: TE

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 244

COLLEGE: California

IT’S A FACT: Leading scorer in Bears’ NCAA tournament run to Sweet 16

COMMENT: Move over Deion: This two-sport star could have possibly been selected higher in the NBA draft.

*

NO. TEAM: 14. Cincinnati

PLAYER: Reinard Wilson

POS.: LB

HT.: 6-2

WT.: 259

COLLEGE: Florida State

IT’S A FACT: All-time Seminole sack leader (35 1/2)

COMMENT: Where was the sack dance in the Sugar Bowl against Florida and Danny Wuerffel?

*

NO. TEAM: 15. Miami

PLAYER: Yatil Green

POS.: WR

HT.: 6-2

WT.: 200

COLLEGE: Miami

IT’S A FACT: Hurricanes’ top receiver at 17 yards a catch

COMMENT: Jimmy Johnson didn’t have to go far to find a much-needed wide receiver for Dan Marino.

NO. TEAM: 16. Tampa Bay (from San Diego)

PLAYER: Reidel Anthony

POS.: WR

HT.: 5-11

WT.: 183

COLLEGE: Florida

IT’S A FACT: 18 touchdown receptions for Gators in ’96

COMMENT: Can a big-play receiver and Buccaneers’ scatter-armed quarterback Trent Dilfer really co-exist?

NO. TEAM: 17. Washington

PLAYER: Kenard Lang

POS.: DE

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 277

COLLEGE: Miami

IT’S A FACT: Led Hurricanes with 11 1/2 sacks in ’96

COMMENT: Some say that k.d. lang would have been a better selection.

*

NO. TEAM: 18. Houston (from Kansas City)

PLAYER: Kenny Holmes

POS.: DE

HT.: 6-3

WT.: 264

COLLEGE: Miami

IT’S A FACT: 29 career sacks for the Hurricanes

COMMENT: Three players among the first 18 draft picks and the best Miami can do is a tri-Big East championship?

*

NO. TEAM: 19. Indianapolis

PLAYER: Tarik Glenn

POS.: T

HT.: 6-5

WT.: 355

COLLEGE: California

IT’S A FACT: Reportedly the biggest player ever at Cal

COMMENT: Big is not better in the NFL: Glenn will have to bear down and lose some weight.

*

NO. TEAM: 20. Minnesota

PLAYER: Dwayne Rudd

POS.: LB

HT.: 6-1

WT.: 247

COLLEGE: Alabama

IT’S A FACT: Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year

COMMENT: This year’s Warren Sapp of the draft. He didn’t look too happy about waiting this late to be selected.

*

NO. TEAM: 21. Jacksonville

PLAYER: Renaldo Wynn

POS.: DT

HT.: 6-2

WT.: 288

COLLEGE: Notre Dame

IT’S A FACT: 16 1/2 sacks in last two seasons for Irish

COMMENT: Jaguars find themselves in a Wynn situation, getting much-needed DT without having to trade up.

*

NO. TEAM: 22. Dallas (from Philadelphia)

PLAYER: David LaFleur

POS.: TE

HT.: 6-7

WT.: 280

COLLEGE: LSU

IT’S A FACT: Leading receiver for the Tigers in ’96

COMMENT: Cowboys not skating on thin ice in trading up for LaFleur--replacement for Jay Novacek desperately needed.

*

NO. TEAM: 23. Buffalo

PLAYER: Antowain Smith

POS.: RB

HT.: 6-2

WT.: 224

COLLEGE: Houston

IT’S A FACT: Had 1,239 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing for Cougars

COMMENT: Former JC player is selected well ahead of nation’s leading rusher, Iowa State’s Troy Davis.

*

NO. TEAM: 24. Pittsburgh

PLAYER: Chad Scott

POS.: CB

HT.: 6-1

WT.: 203

COLLEGE: Maryland

IT’S A FACT: High school team was winless his senior year

COMMENT: Great Scott, he’s going to replace Rod Woodson?

*

NO. TEAM: 25. Philadelphia (from Dallas)

PLAYER: Jon Harris

POS.: DE

HT.: 6-7

WT.: 270

COLLEGE: Virginia

IT’S A FACT: 15 career sacks for the Cavaliers

COMMENT: Bet you didn’t see his name on many mock draft lists.

*

NO. TEAM: 26. San Francisco

PLAYER: Jim Druckenmiller

POS.: QB

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 230

COLLEGE: Virginia Tech

IT’S A FACT: 35 touchdown passes the last two seasons for the Hokies

COMMENT: Compared to Jim Kelly, but the big question is, how do you get that name on the back of a jersey?

*

NO. TEAM: 27. Carolina

PLAYER: Rae Carruth

POS.: WR

HT.: 5-10

WT.: 194

COLLEGE: Colorado

IT’S A FACT: Career average of 18.8 yards a catch

COMMENT: One of fastest in draft (4.29 in the 40). Should make interesting intrasquad races with Rocket Ismail.

*

NO. TEAM: 28. Denver

PLAYER: Trevor Pryce

POS.: DT

HT.: 6-5

WT.: 282

COLLEGE: Clemson

IT’S A FACT: Played two seasons at Michigan before transferring

COMMENT: Pryce is right--he’s the perfect size for the Broncos, who continue to get bigger on the defensive front.

*

NO. TEAM: 29. New England

PLAYER: Chris Canty

POS.: DB

HT.: 5-9

WT.: 194

COLLEGE: Kansas State

IT’S A FACT: Two-time All-American

COMMENT: Watch out. He was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in senior season.

*

NO. TEAM: 30. Green Bay

PLAYER: Ross Verba

POS.: T

HT.: 6-4

WT.: 299

COLLEGE: Iowa

IT’S A FACT: Was a tight end in high school

COMMENT: Packers’ last first-round selection of a Big Ten offensive tackle was Tony Mandarich in 1989.