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Agents play key role in top pick

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Posted: Wednesday April 14, 1999 04:25 PM

In the most confusing top of the draft in years, finally the chess pieces are being played. And the king, as it turns out, is Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch.

The Cleveland Browns hold the top pick and have decided that Couch is their man. But that doesn't mean he'll necessarily go at No. 1. The Browns have contacted the agents for their top three -- Couch, Oregon quarterback Akili Smith and Texas running back Ricky Williams. And they're having preliminary discussions with each about structuring a contract by noon on Saturday. I've talked to Couch's agent, Tom Condon, and he's not going to roll over in these negotiations just to get Couch picked first. If things don't go smoothly with Condon, the Browns will then try to get a deal done for Smith or Williams.

If this seems like a ploy on Cleveland's part to force Couch to sign, think of this: After studying the college tapes of Couch and Smith, coach Chris Palmer is convinced he can win eventually with either quarterback. That puts the heat on the agents to play ball with the Browns. I look for Couch to sign for around seven years, in a deal that will be 10 or 15 percent richer than what Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf got a year ago.

Not so easy in New Orleans

Now for the other big question of this draft: Will the Saints be able to deal for the running back of their dreams, Ricky Williams? New Orleans GM Billy Kuharich admitted to me it was "a long shot" to get a trade done with any of the top four teams. The first three seem stuck on quarterbacks. Indianapolis holds the fourth pick and are shopping Marshall Faulk. If Faulk is traded, the Colts would pick Williams. But if that scenario falls through and for some reason Williams is still on the board, then Kuharich tells me it's probably 2-to-1 that he'd be able to deal for Redskins fifth pick and the Saints would have their man.

Arms on the move

Finally, on the veteran quarterback front, look for three guys to land within a week. Warren Moon will choose between Baltimore and Kansas City by draft day. Ex-Ram Tony Banks will be Baltimore's fallback if Moon chooses Kansas City. And Jeff Hostetler, rebounding nicely after 1998 knee surgery, impressed the Rams in a visit to St. Louis Tuesday.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's NFL Preview.

 

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SI's Peter King: Saints willing to pay for Williams Peter King's 1998 Draft Report Card Peter King's Top 10 players from the 1998 draft
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