As a result, pass-rushing defensive linemen -- always a precious commodity -- are more valuable than ever entering this year 's NFL draft.

"When you have (pass rushers), you have a chance to play great defense. And when you have a chance to play great defense, you have a chance to win,'' Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "When you look at some of the great teams in the history of our game or the great defenses in the history of our game, they have dominant men up front."

A number of teams will have a chance to add such potentially dominant linemen in the first round, and as many as five could go within the first 10 picks: LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey, Ohio State end Vernon Gholston, Virginia end Chris Long, USC end Sedrick Ellis and Florida end Derrick Harvey.

The top-rated pure pass-rusher in that group is Gholston, who had 14 sacks as a junior last season.

"I love getting after the quarterback and affecting the game that way," Gholston said. "I know how (important) the defensive line is. If you got a front four that can control the game, you're destined for championships.''

Chris Long, the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, isn't as natural a pass-rusher as Gholston -- St. Louis Rams vice president of player personnel Billy Devaney said Long's a "tremendous run-down player " but is more of "an effort pass-rusher" -- but he gets after the quarterback, too.

"Every play, you have to block him to death and if you let up, that's where he's going to get his sacks from," Devaney said.

Inside, Dorsey is far and away the best of the bunch, although questions about durability because of his history of leg injuries -- especially the hairline fracture in his right tibia Dorsey played through during his junior year -- have come up.

"I don't think it's an issue at all," Dorsey said. "I've played every game since I've been at LSU, my whole four years, so I do not think it's a problem at all."

Neither does Devaney.

"(I) love Dorsey as a player. (I) think he's an impact guy," Devaney said. "He elevates people around him, makes them better. His passion for the game, his work ethic ... the guy's going to be a great pro."

QUICK READ: DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

THE TOP FIVE

Glenn Dorsey, LSU (6-foot-1 1⁄2, 297 pounds, 5.01 seconds in the 40-yard dash): Dominant run-stuffing defensive tackle with excellent feet and power who won the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Lombardi Award (best lineman or linebacker) last year. Past leg injuries raised red flags, however.

Chris Long, Virginia (6-3, 271, 4.81): Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long's son, he registered 14 sacks as a senior and plays with effort that's second-to-none.

Vernon Gholston, Ohio State (6-3, 266, 4.67): Quick, powerful end who registered 14 sacks last season as Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. He was dominant against UW and Michigan but also can be inconsistent.

Sedrick Ellis, USC (6-0 1⁄2, 309, 5.31): Strong inside presence who dominated play at the Senior Bowl and should succeed at next level despite less-than-ideal height.

Derrick Harvey, Florida (6-4 5⁄8, 271, 4.86): Speed-rushing end who had 8.5 sacks last year and could move to linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

THE PACKERS' PERSPECTIVE

General manager Ted Thompson was booed off the stage at last year's draft party for taking Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell with the 16th overall pick when the position seemed to be the last spot on the roster in need of help. A year later, though, the pick allowed Thompson to deal franchise-tagged defensive tackle Corey Williams to Cleveland for the 60th overall pick, and if Harrell can indeed play like the top-10 pick Thompson predicted he would've been this year if not for the arm injury that wrecked his final college season, the pick will have been brilliant.

Two-time Pro Bowl end Aaron Kampman and run-stuffing nose tackle Ryan Pickett remain the anchors of this underappreciated crew, while the team is hoping for big bounce-backs from end Cullen Jenkins and tackle Johnny Jolly, both of whom struggled with injuries last season — Jenkins with a series of nagging issues, and Jolly with a season-ending torn rotator cuff. Expensive pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's production might not match his salary, but the importance of speed on the edge figures to keep him around for another year.

The club kept 11 linemen (six DTs) last year, and Thompson won't be afraid to do so again if the group merits it, so don't be surprised if one or two of the team's eight picks go to the line.