Curry leads lean list of linebackers

Editor's note: This is the last in a nine-part series previewing the NFL Draft, April 25-26. today's installment was a look at linebackers.

His position is linebacker, but what Wake Forest's Aaron Curry really represents is safety.

As in, among the top prospects in this weekend's NFL draft, Curry might be the safest pick on the board.

Curry is as versatile as a defensive player can be coming out of college. Because of his size (6-foot-1, 254 pounds) and speed (ran the 40 in 4.52 seconds at the scouting combine), he can play any linebacker position in a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive scheme. He produced in college, starting in 49 career games while recording 332 tackles and setting a school record for interception return yards.

While Detroit is expected to pick Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first overall selection in the NFL draft on Saturday, his chances of being a bust are far greater than Curry's. It will take some time to turn around a horrible team like the Lions, and Curry wouldn't have as much pressure on him as an expected franchise quarterback like Stafford will.

Curry will still likely be the highest drafted linebacker since Penn State's LaVar Arrington went to the Redskins with the No. 2 pick in the 2000 NFL draft.

"He's not going to be a bust," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said of Curry in a conference call last week. "He's going to give you everything he has. He's got great character. He's got versatility. He can cover. He can rush the passer. Aaron Curry would probably fall into that category as the safest guy — maybe not a boom but certainly not a bust."

Curry is rated as the draft's top overall prospect by NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock and other experts. Hardly anyone would argue against him being a safe pick.

"I believe a safe pick means I can come in instantly and make an impact on anybody's defense," Curry said at the scouting combine. "And my versatility as a linebacker to be able to play in the 3-4, inside or outside, or 4-3, inside or outside, you just can't go wrong."

A few other linebackers look like safe picks in what's an overall weak linebacker class.

USC might enjoy a landmark achievement on Saturday. The Trojans are expected to have three linebackers selected in the first round, and it would be the first time in draft history a school has had three first-round picks taken at the same position. The three players are Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews and Rey Maualuga.