Edwards Says He’s Best Catch

NEW YORK — Braylon Edwards is No. 1 all over the place -- on his jersey, in the hearts of Michigan fans, and in his mind -- but not necessarily in the NFL draft.

Although he is widely regarded as the most athletic prospect in this weekend’s draft class, the former Wolverine receiver is not likely to be the first player selected. San Francisco, with the top pick, is leaning toward Utah quarterback Alex Smith.

Miami, which drafts second, needs a running back more than a receiver, although the Dolphins could use both, and this class features at least three outstanding tailbacks. It is unlikely, though, that Edwards will slip past the third spot, where the choice belongs to Cleveland.

Dropping a few slots can cost a top player a million dollars or more, but Edwards doesn’t seem concerned about slipping too far, if at all. He’s confident of what he can do, confident that he has more to offer than former USC receiver Mike Williams, who sat out of football last season yet is seen by many scouts as a tremendous prospect.

“I don’t think there’s any reason I can’t go into the NFL and dominate,” Edwards told reporters this week.

“I’m not that stressed about going one or seven -- wherever I land is where I land.”

Already, he’s living the life of an NFL star. He has the six-carat diamond earrings, a $140,000 Bentley Continental GT coupe, and the 2004 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best college pass catcher. He heads a strong draft class of receivers that includes Williams, who at 6 feet 5 is two inches taller but fractionally slower; South Carolina’s Troy Williamson, who in the last four months has gone from a second-rounder to a potential top-10 pick, largely because of his eye-popping speed in workouts; and other likely first-rounders Mark Clayton of Oklahoma and Roddy White of Alabama Birmingham.

But Edwards, a player Arizona Cardinal Coach Dennis Green described as “fantastic,” appears to be the gem of the group in the eyes of many NFL talent evaluators.

“He’s a classy kid, he’s a mature kid,” said Floyd Reese, general manager of the Tennessee Titans. “I think, at least the little bit that we know of him, that he’s a competitive kid. I think football is important to him. I think that being the best is important to him. When you have talented kids that have all of those intangibles, then you probably have a pretty good chance of having a successful pro player.”

Then again, maybe not. Michigan has had a long line of ballyhooed receivers who have churned out mixed results in the pros. Among the Wolverines who came before Edwards were Anthony Carter, Desmond Howard, Amani Toomer, Derrick Alexander and David Terrell -- an up-and-down collection of pros.

“I have met a couple of those guys,” Edwards said. “A lot of them had prolific college careers. They’ve done OK in the NFL. The main thing, they said, is stay humble and learn the game.”

Like Carter and Terrell, Edwards wore No. 1 at Michigan, long considered a special honor at the school. Of the five Wolverine players to wear that number -- Greg McMurtry and Tyrone Butterfield being the others -- Edwards posted the best statistics, catching 242 passes for 3,432 yards. His 39 touchdowns set a Big Ten record.

As for staying humble, well, Edwards is still working on that.

“Am I the best player in the draft? I believe so,” he said. “I just believe the things that happened to me over the last four years

Playing in the NFL has been his focus for most of his life, perhaps longer than most prospects. His father, Stanley Edwards, played running back at Michigan and in the NFL. His last season was 1987, with Detroit, and he also played for the Houston Oilers.

“I’ve always been around NFL-caliber guys my whole life,” the younger Edwards said. “He’s always thrown the ball to me.... A lot of the things I see now, I saw in college. A lot of the drills.... I saw those things when I was 12, 13, 14 years old.”

It remains to be seen how Edwards’ been-there-done-that attitude will go over with his new teammates and coaches. About that, too, he seems unconcerned. He’s at the top of his game. His Bentley is paid for. He’s No. 1. Whether the draft backs him up on that or not.

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NFL Draft Order

The first three rounds of the NFL draft will be held Saturday (9 a.m.-4 p.m. PDT, ESPN), and the last four rounds Sunday (8 a.m.-3 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2). Order for Round 1:

*--* TEAM W-L TEAM W-L 1. San Fran. 2-14 17. Cincinnati 8-8 2. Miami 4-12 18. Minnesota 8-8 3. Cleveland 4-12 19. St. Louis 8-8 4. Chicago 5-11 20. Dallas-c 6-10 5. Tampa Bay 5-11 21. Jacksonville 9-7 6. Tennessee 5-11 22. Baltimore 9-7 7. Minnesota-a 8-8 23. Seattle 9-7 8. Arizona 6-10 24. Green Bay 10-6 9. Washington 6-10 25. Wash.-d 6-10 10. Detroit 6-10 26. Oakland-e 5-11 11. Dallas 6-10 27. Atlanta 11-5 12. San Diego-b 12-4 28. San Diego 12-4 13. Houston 7-9 29. Indianapolis 12-4 14. Carolina 7-9 30. Pittsburgh 15-1 15. Kansas City 7-9 31. Philadelphia 13-3 16. New Orleans 8-8 32. New England 14-2

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a-from Oakland; b-from N.Y.Giants; c-from Buffalo; d-from Denver; e-from N.Y. Jets