By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

Talk about the quarterbacks all you want, but this year’s NFL Draft isn’t about the glamour guys.

Local draft handicapper Bart Burcham said the draft is heavy on defensive players and offensive linemen. In fact, Burcham said his favorite players in this year’s draft are Marcell Dareus and Patrick Peterson.

His other three top players on are 6-3, 319-pound Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green (6-4, 211) and Julio Jones (6-3, 220).

“I don’t like any of the quarterbacks in the first round. I like the ones who will go in the second round better,” said Burcham.

“There are two players I like a lot and five more who are pretty good. The rest are fill your need type players.”

The NFL draft will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday on ESPN with the first round and continue on Friday and Saturday.

In recent years Burcham has been uncanny in naming players selected in the first round as well as the exact team that selects them. Here are this year’s predictions:

1, Panthers: It’s Down between Newton, Green, Peterson and Marcell Dareus. I think the owner wants to take Newton for ticket sales or whatever. They need an offensive line and defense to be successful, so Newton won’t win it for them. Still, it’s Cam Newton, QB, Auburn.

2, Broncos: They need to stop the run. They were dead last in the NFL in defense last year so I have them picking Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama.

3, Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing well enough at quarterback. They need to shore up their defense. I see them taking Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M.

4, Bengals: They need a quarterback, but they need a wide receiver. The pick here is A.J. Green, WR, Georgia.

5, Cardinals: Their quarterbacks are worse than anyone in the draft. I’m not a big fan of Newton and Gabbert, but the pick here is Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri.

6, Browns: They need a receiver desperately among all their needs. They should take Patrick Peterson, but they’ll go with Julio Jones, WR, Alabama.

7, 49ers: They’d love to have a quarterback like Newton or Gabbert, but they’ll probably go with Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU, who is 6-4 and can run with the receivers and return kicks.

8. Titans: They need a quarterback, too, but they’ll try to trade down if Newton or Gabbert are gone. If not, they take Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. He’s 300 pounds and he can move. He dominated the national championship game in the second half.

9, Cowboys: Their secondary is getting bad, but their offensive line is getting old. The pick is Tyron Smith, OT, Southern Cal.

10, Redskins: Robert Quinn, LB, North Carolina. He could be a great pass rusher and they have no pass rush.

11, Texans: This could be cornerback, but I think they’re looking for another defensive end, so they take J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin.

12, Vikings: Another team in need of a quarterback. They have a team ready to win, they just need a quarterback, so they take Jake Locker, QB, Washington.

13, Lions: The Lions are building a good team and they keep building. It could be another defensive lineman, but I have Prince, Amukamara, CB, Nebraska.

14, Rams: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois. They got the guys they wanted last year on offense, now they go back after defense.

15, Dolphins: Mike Pouncey, C-G, Florida. Their offensive line needs help and they might go for Mark Ingram or QB Adam Dalton, but the best choice is Pouncey.

16, Jaguars: The Jags look for more high-character guys and they like Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue.

17, Patriots: De’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. He’s a big question mark because of his knee injury that has him falling in draft circles. The Patriots need a better pass rush.

18, Chargers: I have Cameron Jordan, DE, California. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went in the top 10 picks.

19, Giants: Their line got old all at the same time. I think it’s Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. He’s the second or third best offensive lineman in the draft.

20, Buccaneers: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri. He’s a good pass rusher and he may go higher as well. He’s the one piece they’re missing on defense.

21, Chiefs: This is another organization that’s building a solid team. They add Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin.

22, Colts: They need a lot of help on the offensive line, so the pick is Nate Solder, OT, Colorado.

23, Eagles: Andy Reed loves taking offensive linemen, but they got with Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado.

24, Saints: They need to bolster their front line, so it’s Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa.

25, Seahawks: I’ve change this pick 15 ties. I can see them taking a quarterback, a running back, defensive line, but I think it is Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State. He can step in and start right away.

26, Ravens: If Smith is still available, that’s the pick. Otherwise it’s Cameron Heyward, DL, Ohio State.

27, Falcons: They have to take a defensive end. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple. He can play inside or out.

28, Patriots: This should be Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. The Pats have been to visit him several times.

29, Bears: They need offensive line help so it’s Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor. They have to protect QB Jay Cutler.

30, Jets: This could be Phil Taylor, NG, Baylor, unless Heyward drops.

31, Steelers: They have to take a cornerback. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas.

32, Packers: If Ingram falls, it could be him, or they could go with a WR. But they need some pass rush help so it’s Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA.

NOTE: Raiders do not have a first round pick.