We are about three years away from knowing who picked well and who picked poorly in the draft over the weekend. But it is not too soon to identify some winners and losers who might have escaped your attention.

Winners: Dope smokers.

The fact that wide receiver Percy Harvin failed a drug test at the combine did not prevent the Vikings from taking him in the first round. The Patriots took another player who reportedly failed the drug test at the combine, wide receiver Brandon Tate, in the third.

And at least three other players who were first-round picks failed drug tests at their respective colleges, according to multiple NFL front-office sources.

Harvin and his agent, Joel Segal, executed a brilliant strategy and avoided what could have been a draft free fall. They never acknowledged that he failed a drug test. They never issued a public apology. Instead, in the two weeks before the draft, Harvin personally phoned NFL general managers and head coaches, offering to address concerns and answer any questions.

Vikings coach Brad Childress subsequently asked if he could visit Harvin, and he flew to Florida on Wednesday to spend the day with him. Three days later, he made Harvin the 22nd pick in the draft.

One personnel executive said he believes the use of marijuana is so widespread among college players that NFL teams have become numb to failed drug tests. NFL teams, it seems, are only alarmed about marijuana smokers if they are failing drug tests once they are in the league.

Loser: USC's defense.

The Trojans' "D" lost eight players in the NFL draft, which is a wonderful reflection of the talent in the program, but a huge blow to the team. Included in the USC class were two first-rounders (linebackers Brian Cushing to the Texans and Clay Matthews to the Packers) and two second-rounders (linebacker Rey Maualuga to the Bengals and defensive tackle Fili Moala to the Colts).

Baldwin High alum Kaluka Maiava was picked by the Browns in the fourth round.

Winner: 'Wildcat' offense.

The Dolphins started a trend last year with the throwback formation, and now they added a weapon that should sharpen their Wildcat claws. Second-round quarterback Pat White has the athleticism to line up in several positions, to throw, run and catch.

Loser: Faith in former Patriots coaches.

While Bill Belichick worked the draft like the master he is, two of his proteges did poor imitations. Denver's Josh McDaniels and Cleveland's Eric Mangini did a lot of moving but might not have gotten very far.

McDaniels, who invited criticism with his handling of the Jay Cutler affair, drafted a running back in the first round after signing three runners in free agency. And then he traded away a first-round pick next year (he had an extra one from the Cutler deal) for a second-round pick this year — in a weak draft.

Mangini, meanwhile, could have added a dynamic player with the fifth pick, but he traded down. Not once. Not twice. But three times. Then he drafted center Alex Mack — not exactly a pick that had them dancing on the shores of Lake Erie. In the process of trading down, Mangini acquired three players from his old team—which, by the way, was not very good.

Winner: Donovan McNabb.

The Eagles quarterback got himself a new wide receiver to throw to in Jeremy Maclin and a new running back to hand off to and throw to in LeSean McCoy as the Eagles used six of eight draft picks on offense.

"I talked with Donovan and he's excited," Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday morning. "I was surprised Maclin was available. I thought he would have been gone much earlier in the draft. And the runner fits our system pretty good."

Losers: Undrafted players who should have been drafted.

In alphabetical order: Wisconsin outside linebacker Jonathan Casillas, South Carolina safety Emanuel Cook, Texas wide receiver Quan Cosby, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill, Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer, Clemson wide receiver Aaron Kelly, Miami cornerback Bruce Johnson, Iowa defensive tackle Mitch King, Indiana wide receiver Andrew Means and Virginia wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.