Every spring, pro clubs invest the most draft selections on defensive backs. With many NFL offenses looking to their big-play receivers to become dominant players on their attack, pro cornerbacks have become the critical position on defense to neutralize these game-breakers.

NFL cornerbacks are the best athletes on the field every Sunday. They need to match up with big receivers who run 4.4 40-yard times and need to combine quickness, instincts, recovery speed and toughness. They also have to come up to support in run defense, taking on 300-pound linemen, and bring down 230-pound running backs.

Ohio State's Nate Clements might come out after his junior year. (Allsport)

This year's class features several blue-chip juniors along with a solid senior class of cover men. Wisconsin junior Jamar Fletcher is a playmaker who has excellent ball instincts and reactions. He has faced some of the best receivers in the nation in the Big Ten and has limited them to little production on a game-to-game basis.

Ohio State junior Nate Clements hopes to follow the success of recent Buckeyes corners in the NFL. He has size, speed and ball reactions to make the jump to the pro level after this season.

Baylor's Gary Baxter is the highest rated senior cornerback. He has excellent size, agility and the recovery speed to match up in man coverage.

This position has annually been a heavily drafted area in the early rounds, with 13 players selected on the first day last year. The 2001 NFL Draft could supply as many as four No. 1 picks, with more than a dozen hearing their names called on the first day.

More draft analysis

Cornerbacks

1. Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin
Junior, 5-10, 175
Lightning-quick corner has been the best cover man in the nation over the past two seasons. His outstanding ball reactions combined with his fine instincts and recovery speed make him the blue-chip prospect at the position.

2. Nate Clements, Ohio State
Junior, 5-11, 190
Tough junior cornerback displays well-developed cover skills on the outside. He has the agility, speed and toughness to play the run and match up with big athletic receivers.

Baylor's Gary Baxter is the top senior prospect. (AP)

3. Gary Baxter, Baylor
Senior, 6-1, 190
Agile senior corner has been one of the stellar defenders in the Big 12 over the past three seasons. He is well developed in all areas, combining size, instincts and the speed to match up in the deep game.

4. Fred Smoot, Mississippi State
Senior, 5-11, 175
Quick senior cornerback has graded out high over the past few seasons playing against the tough SEC receivers each week. His excellent recovery speed and ball reactions will allow him to play early as a pro.

5. Will Allen, Syracuse
Senior, 5-10, 185
Fast senior corner has come on strong over the past two seasons. He has a quick break on the ball with the speed to match up with the nation's fastest receivers in man-to-man coverage.

6. Andre Dyson, Utah
Senior, 5-10, 175
Quick cornerback has been one of the best cover men in the west over the past three seasons. He has a quick setup and break on the ball with the recovery speed to match up in the deep game.

7. Andre Lott, Tennessee
Senior, 5-10, 185
Sturdy senior defensive back has been a mainstay in the Vols secondary over the past three seasons. He has fine instincts with the footwork and speed to play man-to-man coverage and the toughness to play the run.

8. Raymond Walls, Southern Mississippi
Senior, 5-10, 175
Athletic senior has made a nice transition to defense in recent seasons after starting his career as a receiver. He has all the athletic and physical skills to develop into an NFL starter in time.

9. Ken Lucas, Mississippi
Senior, 6-0, 200
Big, sturdy cornerback has elevated his play this season, showing the physical skills to match up with big receivers. He can jam at the line of scrimmage and match wideouts stride for stride in man coverage.

10. Ligarius Jennings, Tennessee State
Senior, 5-9, 190
Athletic, compact cornerback is fluid in coverage with the recovery speed necessary to stay with fast receivers. His postseason will determine if he can move up even further on the charts.

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.