The NFL Draft produces many skilled position players in the early rounds each year and this year will be no different. The senior class has a dozen prospects who carry a high grade into their critical final season.

QB Drew Brees heads the senior class of passers after a stellar junior campaign. He is expected to put up big passing numbers again this season operating in the Purdue wide open offense.

Purdue's Drew Brees is the top quarterback prospect. (AP)

QB Chris Weinke returned for his final season 20 pounds lighter, which has improved his mobility and stock as a pro prospect. He led Florida State to a national title last season which elevated his stock immensely entering his senior season.

QB Marques Tuiasosopo is an athlete with the ability to scramble and make plays on the perimeter. He is the highest rated west coast passer this season.

The senior running back class has several blue chip prospects in Deuce McAllister, Lamont Jordan, LaDainian Tomlinson, Travis Minor and James Jackson.

McAllister is the best all-around prospect with the ability to run both inside and outside plus outstanding hands as a receiver. Jordan and Tomlinson might challenge 2,000 yards rushing this season after impressive efforts as juniors.

The wide receiving position commands many premier picks in the NFL Draft each year and will most likely again next spring. Wide receivers Santana Moss, Quincy Morgan, Rod Gardner and Bobby Newcombe have all displayed big play ability and could solidify a high draft position with an impressive senior season. Moss and Newcombe can also win games with their outstanding punt return skills.

TEs Jabari Holloway and Alge Crumpler are well rounded prospects with the tools to stay at the top of this class. Both need improvement from their young passers to put up better numbers this season.

The offensive line is always a critical area that NFL clubs address often and early in the draft. This season the top senior tackle prospects entering the final test are OTs Leonard Davis, Kareem McKenzie and Jeff Backus.

Davis has shown the ability to dominate at times which will guarantee him a very high selection if he can duplicate his junior season performance. Guard Steve Hutchinson and center Ben Hamilton head the interior linemen after performing at a consistently high level over their careers.

Hutchinson and Backus form a dominant leftside of the line for Michigan and both grade out high on a game-to-game basis. They both could be premier picks in April if he continue to show the well rounded abilities they displayed as underclassmen.

Coyle, a full-time NFL scout, has published Draft Insiders' Digest, an NFL Draft and free agency publication for the last 10 years.

He attends practices, games and individual workouts across the country as well as breaking down game films to study the nation's top players. He writes for numerous pro weeklies on the NFL Draft and free agency in addition to game matchups and player profiles.

Coyle attends NFL minicamps in May and June and numerous training camps throughout the summer. He is a frequent guest on sports talk shows from coast-to-coast, and has also been a personnel consultant to several NFL teams in recent years.