FOXBORO -- The National Football League's draft of college players is a peculiar animal.

It's the primary means by which the league's 32 teams rebuild themselves, year after year. For most of those teams, their needs are varied and rarely involve putting one position atop their wish lists two years in a row or more.

But somehow, it all returns to the quarterbacks.

Year after year, the big buzz surrounding the NFL Draft involves which of the ``big name'' collegiate quarterbacks will end up with one of the teams that have proven to be a quarterback's graveyard. Sometimes it works out, as Drew Bledsoe did for the Patriots with the No. 1 pick in 1993, and sometimes it doesn't, as the Bengals found out with David Klingler in 1992.

It almost makes one wish that the teams would get all of the quarterback foolishness out of the way quickly and let everyone else get to the serious business of restocking their teams at other positions. After all, the Patriots won three Super Bowls with a quarterback who was selected with a compensatory pick in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, so what's the fuss?

With Tom Brady still in place, the Patriots have no need to project themselves into the race for one of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft, which begins a week from Saturday. It appears that maybe three or four quarterbacks will go in the first round, but that there are few others worth drafting at all -- and this year, the first quarterback may not be selected until almost 45 minutes into the festivities. With Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush likely to be the first pick, and with the New Orleans Saints having spent big money on former San Diego No. 1 pick Drew Brees, that leaves it to the Tennessee Titans -- whom the Patriots will face on Dec. 31 -- to make the decision that will draw the most attention on Draft Day.

Most observers believe that will be Southern Cal's Matt Leinart (6-5, 223) will be that player. A three-year starter for the Trojans, the tall lefty makes up for in experience and game smarts what he may lack in arm strength.

Leinart is supposed to be the most ready to step into an NFL offense of any of the quarterbacks in the draft, but some believe the quality of the talent around him may have masked his deficiencies. He has also had two surgeries on his left rotator cuff, and some believe he has ``gone Hollywood'' and won't be too happy as part of the Nashville scene.

The wild card in the quarterback mix is Texas' Vince Young, whose dazzling performance against USC for the national championship suddenly turned the quarterbacking hierarchy on its ear.

Young (6-4, 229) is big, strong, agile, mobile and a natural leader, but his fundamentals are lacking and his arm-strength is pedestrian, at best.

The junior-eligible throws inconsistently and with a low sidearm delivery, which will be targeted by the larger, quicker defenders he'll face in the pro game. In fact, there are so many holes in his mechanics that the draft ``experts'' believe the team that selects him will have to be patient for as many as three to five seasons for him to grow into the pro game. But his leadership skills are undeniable -- and a lot of players with better skills have failed miserably in the pros because they couldn't lead.

The most complete package at the top of the quarterbacking class may be found in Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler (6-3, 228), a four-year starter who threw for just under 10,000 yards in his career.

He's got all the tools and throws a flawless ball with some oomph behind it, but may be just a little cocky about his arm strength and sometimes tries to force the throws into coverage. He didn't get a chance to truly shine at Vandy because of the talent surrounding him, but has shown enough to convince the scouts that the best is yet to come.

But after that trio, it may not be until the third round before another quarterback is selected, The first is likely to be Texas A&M's Reggie McNeil (6-2, 198), who's just as likely to run for yardage as he is to throw for it. He was often the fastest player on the field for the Aggies and made use of it, but also proved that he had strong fundamental passing skills and was willing to work to develop them. Toledo's Bruce Gradkowski (6-1, 217) became the first player in NCAA Division 1-A to complete more than 70 percent of his passes in consecutive seasons. More suited for a West Coast offense, Gradkowski is tough and smart, a solid game manager, can scramble for yardage and is of impeccable character.

Alabama's Brodie Croyle (6-2, 205) was a two-year starter with his junior year cut short by an ACL tear. A more traditional drop-back passer with limited mobility, he makes up for that with good decision-making under pressure. He's particularly good in the shotgun formation.

Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst (6-4, 223) is the son of David Whitehurst, who quarterbacked the Packers for eight years. He's seen as a raw prospect who has the physical gifts but still needs to improve in game management and decision making and is likely to be a second-day selection.

Others in that boat are Oregon's Kellen Clemens, Eastern Washington's Erik Meyer, Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs, Missouri's Brad Smith, Furman's Ingle Martin, Northwestern's Brett Basanez, UCLA's Drew Olson, Alabama State's Tavaris Jackson, Fresno State's Paul Pinegar and Alabama-Birmingham's Darrell Hackney. Virginia Tech's Marcus Vick has fallen off the radar screen of many teams because of his numerous scrapes with the law, while Boston College's Quinton Porter is the only New England-based signal-caller with an outside shot to be drafted.

And what are the Patriots' intentions?

Much may depend upon what Doug Flutie decides to do with himself over the next couple of weeks. The veteran backup is an unrestricted free agent and is reportedly considering a career in broadcasting, but might return for one more season if asked.

If Bill Belichick does not believe that last year's No. 3, Matt Cassel, is ready to step up to the backup's job, and if Flutie is indeed finished, Belichick will have to choose between either drafting another developmental talent in the lower rounds, or finding a veteran free agent with fewer miles on the odometer than the 43-year-old Flutie. The latter would appear to be the safer choice.

SATURDAY: The defensive line prospects are previewed.