DT Phil Taylor » An alum of Gwynn Park, Taylor started his career at Penn State, then transferred to Baylor. With more teams playing a 3-4 defense, the demand is high for nose tackles. Though some project him as a second- or third-round pick, there’s just as much a chance Taylor could go late in the first round.

Taylor’s past weight issues have some teams concerned. Still …

“He’s huge and unmovable,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper said of Taylor. “Endurance is something he needs to work on, and he won’t give you a pass rush.

“He’s one of the few nose tackles who fits that role of being a huge occupier. [Oregon State’s Stephen] Paea is a penetrating nose tackle. If he’s there for Washington at 41, they’ll jump at the opportunity to bring Taylor into the fold. They need that type of player.”

DT Marvin Austin » He had a rough senior year, having been dismissed from North Carolina for dealing with an agent. There’s some concern about his character, but his talent doesn’t seem to be in doubt.

“If he had played this year, he would have been a first-round pick,” Kiper said.

Austin, who played at Ballou High School, likely will go in the second or perhaps even the third round. He’s considered better suited for a 4-3, and Kiper says he would be a good fit for Chicago or Indianapolis.

WR Torrey Smith » Smith won’t be like fellow Maryland wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey and be drastically overdrafted. But like Heyward-Bey, Smith is considered a talented but raw player. It helps that he should provide immediate help on kick returns. Kiper has him going to Jacksonville in the second round.

“I like his potential,” Kiper said. “He’s a vertical stretch guy, but he needs to work on his route running. He’s not fluid when adjusting. I look at him as a work in progress.”

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