This may have been a bad year to try to project the first round
of the First-Year Player Draft.  All signs point this year to be
about as muddled a field as anyone can remember. In talking to
countless people in the scouting industry, what was once thought
to be a very rich and deep draft class hasn't played out exactly
according to plan.  It's not that this is a class devoid of
talent. In fact, there is some of the depth people hoped for.
But there hasn't been the separation at the top people thought
they'd see.  As a result, one month before Draft Day, there are
far more questions than answers. In other years, there's usually
as many as 35-40 potential first-rounders. This year, it seems,
many feel there are only 15-25, tops, who fit the typical "first
round" definition.  As a result, scouts are scrambling to get
extra looks at guys they may have earlier dismissed as top
picks. That's allowed some players to rise up the charts and
firmly into the first round.  There is some consensus at the
very top, more o