The NFL draft is creeping right up, only a month away. The speculation, which for some fans started in October, continues to grow.

 Here’s a question: Up until now has cornerback Desmond Trufant been under-rated?

 In ProFootballTalk.com’s first mock draft, which was posted (without apology) on Sunday night, they have the Detroit Lions drafting Trufant with the fifth overall pick.

They have Alabama’s Dee Milliner — who most consider the top cornerback in the draft — going ninth.

Trufant, who is 6-foot and 190 pounds, ran a blazing fast speed of 4.38 at the NFL Combine. 

 Perhaps more importantly, he was a standout in the Senior Bowl for the losing North squad. Lions coach Jim Schwartz was the coach for the south teams so obviously he had a good look at Trufant that week.

 Trufant continued to impress at Washington’s Pro Day on March 13. According to NFL.com, representatives from the Seahawks, Jaguars and Colts were on hand that day.

 If bloodlines matter, Desmond’s brother Marcus was the first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2003 and also ran a 4.38 at the Combine.

 Not every draft expert rates Trufant so high. 

Scouts Inc., has him as the second-best cornerback behind Milliner and the 22nd best player on the draft board.

 ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Trufant as the second corner and has him drafted 28th by the Broncos, while he has Milliner going fourth to the Eagles and defensive end Ziggy Ansah going to the Lions with the fifth pick.

 Todd McShay of Scouts Inc., is more in agreement with Kiper. On Trufant he wrote: “His combination of speed and arm length is impressive. Trufant has good size, and in a league starved for good cover guys, his production could move him into the first round.’’

 CBSSports.com has Trufant ranked 21st on the big board.

 Perhaps, ProFootballTalk.com described the draft as a crapshoot. That’s the perfect word for it.

 No one knows. Maybe the PFT knows something about Trufant that others don’t. Maybe general manager Martin Mayhew and the Lions love Trufant and maybe they don’t.

 We’ll know on April 25.

 Until then, the speculation continues.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her new book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)