Draft Picks, where are we now?

He showed real flashes, Eddie Royal level, before his injury, and then since then, nothing. Maybe he’s still playing with an injury.

The odds of any draft pick making an NFL career is not that great. See this article from Bleacherreport

My opinion? For what its worth:

Round 1, 12 overall — Knowshon Moreno — He is doing just fine. He needs to work on not fumbling the ball, but he has improved considerably. He will have a good career.

Round 1, 18 overall — Robert Ayers — He has contributed to this team. Sitting out one game is not cause for alarm.

Round 2, 37 overall — Alphonso Smith — A controversial pick, he will always be under the microscope. He showed early flashes of greatness and has not been the same player after he injured his ankle. It is not cause for great alarm when Ty Law, a proven multiple award-winning veteran, comes in to play. CB’s generally take more time to become impact players.

Round 2, 48 overall — Darcel McBath — Coming along nicely.

Round 2, 64 overall — Richard Quinn — His day will come if we just wait awhile.

Round 4, 114 overall — David Bruton — Coming along nicely.

Round 4, 132 overall — Seth Olsen — I have not seen much from him so I do not have an opinion.

Round 5, 141 overall — Kenny McKinley — His early career has not been good. He is a project, imo.

Round 6, 174 overall — Tom Brandstater — He looked good in the preseason.

Round 7 – 225 overall – Blake Schlueter — I’m glad we got rid of him.

CFA – Chris Baker – He made the active roster and is being brought along. While I would like to see him get more playing time, I believe he will get playing time when he is ready.

CFA – Marquez Branson – TE – too early to tell but he is on the practice squad.

CFA – Tony Carter – CB – too early to tell but he is on the practice squad. Remember though that he was kept on the squad when the team released Jack Williams .

CFA – Mitch Erickson – G – too early to tell but he is on the practice squad. But he was drafted in ’08, so it is time for him to prove himself. (much like Carlton Powell).

CFA – Kelly Braxton – LB – too early to tell but he is on the practice squad.

CFA – Everette Pedescleaux – too early to tell but he is on the practice squad injured list.

Other additions that I consider much like the draft:

Coach McDaniels – I give him a B+ thus far
Coach Nolan – I give him a B+ thus far
Coach Priefer – F (we need to dump him)
Coach Barone – C
Coach Gase – C+
Coach Donatell – B+
Coach Martindale – B
Coach Phifer – B
Brian Xanders – B+

Coaching holdovers:
Coach Turner – B
Coach Dennison – C

Some will proclaim a player a “bust” in their first 8 games. Some will proclaim a player a “superstar” in their first 8 games. I believe either extreme is unwarranted unless supported by the facts. I believe Coach Priefer, for example, is a bust. I cannot think of any rookie this year on any team that is an unqualified “superstar” regardless of where they were drafted. Finally, I believe all of our draftees still on the roster are progressing nicely.

My last point is about the team. We are, in fact, a rookie team composed of veterans and rookies. This is the first year under a new coach and composed of a LOT of new players. Our midseason slump is baffling and upsetting. Yet I am behind the team 100%. GO BRONCOS!

Ayers is playing his role very nicely, IMO. He is not asked to straight up pass rush very often, but rather to stack the edge in the run game and contain the pocket in pass rush situations. I thought he had a very good game against Pittsburgh and not just because of the TD. Though I have no crystal ball to say why he was inactive, my inclination is to believe that, being a rookie and all and susceptible to the rookie wall, he was given a rest in order to reward the reported hard work and good attitude of Moss.

Maybe that’s just delusional homerism looking for the positive spin (on why he was inactive), but from a performance standpoint, I think Ayers is developing nicely. His has been an unglorious role, but hedone it pretty well and with a team oriented attitude. I’m excited about his future.

The whole reasoning behind it was that we were going to win now, he would have an impact this year, and was worthy of a 1st round pick. All of those statements or reasons appear to be false, I shutter to think what player we are passing on this draft due to a knee jerk reaction IMO. Smith hasn’t shown he can be anything more than a nickle back, how do you wasted a 1st rounder for a nickle back? Think if we miss out on someone like Brandon Spikes, Colt McCoy, Terrance Cody, or Taylor Mays, to take a marginal nickle back.