You've probably heard the analysis of this year's top playmakers. Quarterback Matt Ryan is the consensus top signal-caller in this year's NFL Draft. Darren McFadden, the stud running back from Arkansas , may be the best player in the draft. Michigan State 's Devin Thomas, California 's DeSean Jackson and Oklahoma 's Malcolm Kelly lead a core of wide receivers, a position that doesn't have a Top-5 guy, but a wealth of talent that could go in the first two or three rounds.

But who could be this year's Tom Brady or Marques Colston -- a late-round gem that virtually nobody saw coming?

Here's a look at 15 players at the three major offensive skill positions -- QB, RB and WR -- who could be a steal when their name is called on the second day of the draft.

--Quarterback --

Josh Johnson, San Diego (6-foot-3, 213 pounds): The descriptions you read of Johnson are pretty consistent -- good athlete, needs to work on being a better quarterback. So why is he such an intriguing player to NFL scouts? Because he's a dangerous runner and he's got a strong arm. His statistics certainly don't hurt either -- 113 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 31-4 record in three years of college.

Kevin O'Connell, San Diego State (6-5, 225): One of the taller QBs in this year's draft, O'Connell got the attention of scouts with his strong, accurate arm and his ability to read defenses. He figures to be a developmental project, especially considering his lack of experience against big-game competition.

Matt Flynn, LSU (6-2, 230): What he lacks as a passer -- ability to thread the needle with his passes -- he makes up for with his accuracy, most of the time, and his leadership skills. He's a winner after having led the Tigers to a national championship earlier this year.

Dennis Dixon, Oregon (6-3, 195): A torn ACL late in the college season possibly cost the Ducks QB the Heisman Trophy, not to mention a significant payday in the NFL. He'll probably spend his first season, if a team takes a chance on him, on injured reserve. But he's got the athleticism and leadership that someone will give him a shot, even if he has to miss his rookie season.

Anthony Morelli, Penn State (6-4, 226): The former Penn State signal-caller never lived up to the expectations in college. Despite that, he's got the tools -- big strong arm, ability to hit all the throws -- to be a developmental pick for somebody late in the draft.


-- Running Back --

Cory Byrd, South Carolina (6-1, 212): Boyd has similar skills as those of East Carolina 's Chris Johnson -- a runner who can also catch the ball. But Boyd lacks Johnson's speed to outrun the competition and beat defenses consistently. Yet, he could be a solid third-down back who could come in on passing downs.

Justin Forsett, California (5-8, 196): Forsett could be a poor man's version of  Philadelphia 's Brian Westbrook. The former Bears runner has the speed to beat defenses, but his lack of size -- not to mention his knack to get injured -- will make him no better than a late-round pick, which could also, in turn, make him a steal.

Xavier Omon, Northwest Missouri State (5-11, 218): Possibly the sleeper pick of the draft, the small-school stud has shown a knack to take on would-be defenders full-steam ahead. With a low center of gravity, Omon's toughness is matched by his ability to catch passes, making him a dual threat.

Chauncey Washington, Southern Cal (5-11, 215): He's not Reggie Bush. Shoot, he's not Lendale White. He won't go on the first day of the draft, but Washington has the elusiveness to be a productive back in the pros. He might not be a full-time starter, but he could be a contributor in a two-back setup.

Ryan Torain, Arizona State (6-0, 214): A control-the-clock-type of back, Torain faces an uphill battle as he recovers from a fractured foot suffered last season. But if Torain can recover fully, he could be the kind of tough-nosed runner that teams will look to pound the ball late in games.


-- Wide Receiver --

Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest (5-11, 198): Moore doesn't drop many. Put that with his quickness, willingness to block downfield and ability to also play on special teams and the Demon Deacons wideout brings more than enough intangibles to the table.

Dorien Bryant, Purdue (5-10, 169): His small build is a detriment, but his speed and hands makes Bryant worthy of consideration by NFL scouts. He'll need to add some weight at the next level if he wants to compete on offense, otherwise he's best suited as a kick or punt returner. He needs to take his game up a notch.

Marcus Henry, Kansas (6-3, 207): Henry is the prototypical possession receiver if there ever was one. He has good size, good hands, but a lack of speed will drop Henry into the second day of the draft. If he uses his size to his advantage, he'll be the kind of receiver who can move the chains.

Arman Shields, Richmond (6-1, 187): Depending on the source, Shields either does or doesn't run good routes. One thing is certain is that he's been slowed by a knee injury that cost him a portion of the 2007 season. Nevertheless, he'll be given a chance because of his athleticism, and that's all he needs.  He was one of only two Colonial Athletic Association players -- the other being Delaware QB Joe Flacco -- to take part in the NFL Scouting Combine.

Brandon Breazell, UCLA (6-0, 168): Just like Shields, Breazell is a playmaker who lacks size -- a concern for NFL scouts and coaches. But unlike Shields, the former Bruin was able, amazingly, to avoid injury. He's also shown the ability to make big plays, something teams will take into consideration late in the draft. He ran the 40 in 4.38 seconds at UCLA's pro day last month.

Whether any of these guys will be the next Brady or Colston is anybody's guess. But if they are, we'll find out sooner rather than later.

TOP 15 DRAFT GEMS
(Following is a list of draft choices chosen in the 4th round or later who've made an impact in the NFL in the past 25 years)

1. QB Tom Brady (2000, 6th round, New England Patriots)
2. RB Terrell Davis (1995, 6th round, Denver Broncos)
3. RB Bo Jackson (1987, 7th round, L.A. Raiders)
4. QB Rich Gannon (1987, 4th round, New England Patriots)
5. WR Andre Reed (1985, 4th round, Buffalo Bills)
6. RB Herschel Walker (1986, 5th round, Dallas Cowboys)
7. QB Marc Bulger (2000, 6th round, New Orleans Saints)
8. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (2001, 7th round, Cincinnati Bengals)
9. QB Matt Hasselbeck (1998, 6h round, Green Bay Packers)
10. WR Keenan McCardell (1991, 12th round, Washington Redskins)
11. RB Rudi Johnson (2001, 4th round, Cincinnati Bengals)
12. WR Donald Driver (1999, 7th round, Green Bay Packers)
13. WR Marques Colston (2006, 7th round, New Orleans Saints)
14. QB Brad Johnson (1992, 9th round, Minnesota Vikings)
15. QB Derek Anderson (2005, 6th round, Baltimore Ravens)

Michael Hicks is the managing editor for Draft Stock and an associate editor for SportsBuff.com