It’s May, but who cares. I know you don’t. So it’s time to take an early look at who has the best potential keepers in 2007.

Remember the rules; three categories, Category One (Rounds 1-5), Category Two (Rounds 10-15), Category Three (Rounds 11-15). Once a player moves into categery one, he moves up two rounds each year.

2006 KEEPER RANKINGS 1. Griff Coomer 2. Jeff & Colby 3. Rich Calderon 4. Don Vozzola 5. Robio Murray 6. Matt Neatock 7. Molly Coomer 8. Richard Burrier 9. David Hightower 11. Bob Castrone 12. Rob Masterson

#1 Robio Murray 2nd Rd – Willie Parker (RB PIT) 6th Rd – Travis Henry (RB DEN) 13th Rd – Vince Young (QB TEN)

Based on what we know as of now, I have to give myself the top spot in the spring. Parker has been going top five in some mock drafts while Henry has gone late first, early second. Although Henry is by no means a sure thing, I’m the only person who can say I have two ‘first round’ keepers. Young is a bigger question mark. The Titans did little to upgrade their offense, so I’ll probably still draft a QB. However, I’ll give Vinny every shot to be my opening day starter.

#2 Richard Burrier 1st Rd – L. Tomlinson (RB SD) 9th Rd – Marion Barber III (RB DAL) 13th Rd – Matt Leinart

Putting Burrier here is a small stretch and yes, I am projecting here. This is Tomlinson’s swan song for the Bruisers, but you know what you’re getting with him. The reason I have Rich so high up on this list, is because Barber III has a good chance of becoming Dallas’ every down back. He’s going third round in both ESPN and CBS mock drafts. Burrier will still need to draft another running back early on, but he could FINALLY have a solid second back next to Tomlinson. With Leinart, he’s got great weapons and a new coach. He’s worth a risk at thirteen.

#3 Bob Castrone 1st Rd – Reggie Bush (RB NO) 9th Rd – Thomas Jones (RB NYJ) N/A

This may be a little high for Bob, since there are no superstars here, but pound for pounde, he’s got solid keepers. However, let me address the ‘Bush’ issue. Bob’s got Reggie Bush with the first pick if he wants him and I should assume he’ll keep him, especially after passing up on Steven Jackson last year to take Bush. However, do you keep Bush and lose your first, or do you take a chance on Cedric Benson with your 5th rd pick and keep the 10th overall pick in the draft? To add to the decision making; Bob must decide between veteren Thomas Jones in the 9th or youngster Brandon Jacobs in the 10th. For now, Jones has the slight advantage. Even if he took Bush & Jacobs though over Benson & Jones, Bob would still be top three on this list.

#4 Molly Coomer 5th Rd – Frank Gore (RB SF) 7th Rd – Marques Colston (WR NO) N/A

Like Griff below, Molly has a stud back sitting in the fifth round waiting for her. Gore was a star in SF, who gets nearly all the carries (including goal line touches). Molly gets the slight nod over her husband because she also has a potential top-ten receiver in Colston in the 7th round. If Marques can stay healthy, he could put up Andrea Johnson type numbers.

#5 – Griff Coomer 5th Rd – Larry Johnson (RB NE) 6th Rd – Chargers DST 15th Rd – Matt Schaub (QB HOU)

Last year Griff had the dream keeper lineup. This season, that dream is a third of what it was last year. There is some good news though. Alexander’s foot may be broken still, so he is a huge question mark. Secondly, with LJ only costing Griff a 5th rd pick, Griff actually gets to make a pick in the first round for the first time since we began the keepers. I see nothing in category two, but in the three spot, Griff could roll the dice on the new Texans QB.

#6 Rob Masterson 5th Rd – Joseph Addai (RB IND) 9th Rd – Braylon Edwards (WR CLE) 12th Rd – Ravens DST

Last year he had nothing. This season, Rob is sitting pretty. In fact, he has a tough decision to make. He can keep Jackson, who is on par with Tomlinson, Johnson & Alexander, in the first, or he can keep a potential top-ten back in Joseph Addai in the 5th round (thus keeping his first round pick). My money is on Jackson. That’s a lot of talent to give up. I’d like Edwards more if he didn’t have a rookie QB coming in, but he’ll only cost Rob a 9th. As for the Ravens defense, you can’t beat having a top-five defense only costing you a 12th round pick.

#7 Rich Calderon 2nd Rd – Torry Holt (WR STL) 6th Rd – Deuce McAllister (RB NO) 15th Rd – Philip RIvers (QB SD)

No team’s keepers have confused me more. What to do, what to do? Rich has two great receivers in rounds one and two, but I have to believe he’ll stick with a back in category one. Do you keep Caddy in the 2nd or DeAngelo in the 5th? In Tampa, we know the Caddy is starting and he should improve with a new QB, so my bucks on him despite the higher pick. In category two, the Deuce is still loose with a six and Chester Taylor can be had with only a 10th rd pick. Chester now has Peterson breathing down his next. He may still be a good keeper, but will he survive the year? As for Rivers in the 15th…it’s a no brainer. A top-ten QB in the last round. For Rich, he should be doing a lot of paying attention in the pre-season.

#8 David Hightower N/A 7th Rd – L. Maroney (RB NE) N/A

With only one keeper, Maroney in the 7th, why is David even this high? Simple…he’s got the top pick in this year’s draft. Even if he didn’t and he kept a returning Portis, Dave would still have a solid combo. However, with the first pick, Dave should be able to piece together one of the league’s best running back combos…Shaun anyone? If Alexander is healthy, Dave should win more than one game this year.

#9 Don Vozzola 5th Rd – Willis McGahee (RB BAL) 6th Rd – Michael Turner (RB SD) N/A

Doesn’t it feel like Don’s had McGahee on his roster forever? Yet he still only will cost him a 5th round pick. Despite this, I have Don lower on the list than both the Coomers (who also have star backs in the fifth) because McGahee has yet to put himself into elite status. Maybe with his new team, McGahee can stop pretending to be just a ‘Rudi Johnson’ type of back. Sadly for Don, he nearly shot to the top of this list when there was talk of a Michael Turner trade. But the Chargers kept him and he’s still just a backup. Since Don could keep him again next year (only costing a fifth), it might be worth wasting a 6th rounder this year on him.

#10 Eric Vozzola 2nd Rd – Ronnie Brown (RB) 7th Rd – Ahman Green (RB HOU) 13th Rd – Kellen Winslow (TE CLE)

Eric walks into 2007 with Ronnie Brown, who will only cost him a second. With an early top pick again this season, let’s see if he can be successful in finding a running mate. Green is a stretch in the 7th, but Eric has no one else. Winslow when healthy was a stud last year, despite not having a decent QB on the Browns. Hopefully Eric will be checking his email more than once every three months and will be ready for this draft.

#11 Matt Neatock 3rd Rd – Randy Moss (WR NE) 6th Rd – M. Jones-Drew (RB JAX) 14th Rd – Reggie Brown

Despite the low rating, there is potential. Moss’ draft position has been bumped way up. thanks to his trade to the Patriots. Matt will have to take a good hard look at who he thinks will be falling to him in the third. Moss is currently going in that round in most mock drafts. As for Jones-Drew, in most mocks, he’s going way ahead of Fred Taylor. Not bad for a guy who won’t be starting at the start of the season.

#12 – Jeff & Colby 5th Rd – Donovan McNabb 9th Rd – LaDell Betts (RB WAS) 12th Rd – Jaguars DST

Man, the difference a year makes. Last year, Jeff & Colby had one of the best backs in the business and this year the pantry is dry. With no second running back last season, the boys decided to morgage the future for a championship, but it cost them Jacobs and Benson; two starters in ’07 who are going in the 2nd and 3rd rounds in most drafts. Even McNabb and the Jaguars DST are stretches at this point. They might be better off just starting from scratch.