I know some aren’t high on him or any QB in general, but I can’t see us passing on him if he falls that far.

I’d think they were pretty high on something else…

I know Moeaki is fragile, but he is a great player. In the sixth round, he has optimum value.

Crowder was from Texas, and Moss was a rare case.

We are projected the 9th pick at the moment, not the 12th. I’d like McClain though. He is a beast and has great size. I think Spikes is almost just as good an NFL prospect though.

It was Moss and Marcus Thomas who were from FL.

The thing about picking McCoy with a 2nd rounder is that would alleviate a lot of the “he’s tabbed to start right now” talk. I agree with your take on Orton and think the way they sit right now, the Broncos could use a 2nd rounder on McCoy and let him learn behind Orton for 2 years.

1. See my response to Emmett Smith below in regards to Colt McCoy. I think he is a perfect fit for our offense and would be great value late in the second round.

2. Arenas projects, to me as a nickel corner at the next level, and that is where he would be most effective. He has five sacks this season out of the nickel, and he is a relentless tackler in addition to being a genius when the ball is in his hands. I like his prospects as a return specialist even though we have Royal. We need someone to return punts and kicks so Royal can be fresh for offense.

3. People continue to forget about Seth Olsen, which is troubling to me. He is the heir apparent at LG, and we can get quality starting offensive linemen in the third, fourth, or fifth rounds. Our starting guards next year, likely are going to be Olsen and Kuper, fourth and fifth round picks respectively. Johnson is great value in the fourth.

I would like to see us go after the Pouncey brothers if they declare, but that’s not for certain.

1. I’m not high on McCoy as a prospect per se (like you’re high on Suh), but if he is available at that slot, we really should take him just because McCoy is a little bit like KO Mark 2 and now we have good depth at (relative) value, plus the leverage to trade if we need to. Plus, there’s that pesky ankle of Kyle’s…

2. Arenas… he’s a pretty polarizing figure. I’m with you: one “undersized” corner is fine, but two is setting us up for failure. I project him as a nickel corner only, which still leaves us with the need to replace Bailey/Goodman either in FA or 2011 draft. For me, only get Arenas if you can also get Haden or Lindley.

3. I’m fine not addressing the O-line until then, given our previous picks. I’m especially fine with it being Mike Johnson. He can play anywhere on the interior (not quick enough for OT, though) and is a massive blocker who pulls well.

I simply don’t think that 1) trading into top 5 is ever worth it; and 2) we are as well off as you claim. We need depth at CB badly, we need a solid stud to go opposite DJ badly, we need interior line help, we need a speed WR, and we really need quality depth at DE/DG. Finally, you ignore the effect Suh’s cap portion would have. In a draft this deep at nearly every position, trading away multiple picks is near-suicide. Absolutely not.

First off, why is Colt McCoy not a good option? That comment rubs me the wrong way a little bit, not because you disagree with my pick though, which is totally fine.

The Patriots/Broncos quarterbacks are products of the system, there’s no doubt about it. Drew Bledsoe had the Pats in the playoffs, and when he went down, Tom Brady was plugged in and led them to three Super Bowls. When Brady went down, Cassel came in and led them to 11 victories as well as 4000 yards passing. Now, Kyle Orton is putting together the most efficient season of his career, though his numbers are fairly pedestrian.

It’s not a coincidence that any of this happened. Look at the effect the loss of McDaniels has had on Brady and Cassel. Pats are 7-5, and probably worse than they were last year. Brady is not having a great season, probably one of the worst statistically in his career. Cassel has been a bust for KC and was benched in a losing effort to the Broncos.

My point is this: The quarterback is not asked to be the focal point of this offense, but they need to make plays. They are as good as the players around them, and as Brady/Cassel prove, the position can be a revolving door if needed. Now, I know you are going to point to Tom Brandstater and say that he’s our QB of the future. I would love that more than anything, but Colt McCoy’s value in the second round is too good to pass up, and he would be the best player on our board undoubtedly.

McCoy has more raw talent than any of Brady, Cassel, Orton, or any other McD quarterback. He is a natural leader, accurate, and he can make plays with his feet. He is smart, knows how to distribute the ball, and has decent arm strength. He is not a gadget player, he is a pure pocket passer who happens to have great speed. Now, you’re telling me that with a year of coaching and dissecting film that this kid’s potential doesn’t excite you in the least? I know Orton has done “fine” and I know he has been decent for us, but how could we pass on a potential playmaker like McCoy whose skill set is tailor made for our offense? It doesn’t seem logical to me.

I think when toying with the notion of drafting a QB, too often people think that the QB has to be the focal point of the offense. We wouldn’t have to ask McCoy to be a Matt Stafford or JaMarcus Russell. We have an offensive line which is as good as any in the NFL. We have skill players as good as any team in the NFL. Yet our offense still ranks in the bottom half of the league. Is that not curious to anyone else? We would ask McCoy to do exactly what Orton does, except McCoy has more natural talent and is a much more gifted athlete.

As for Moeaki, he is a far better prospect than Branson, though I was impressed by Branson’s YouTube highlight. He is a great receiving TE, but he seems like kind of a wuss with the ball in his hands. He goes down really easily and is a liability in the blocking area. Moeaki does everything well. He may be slower, but he still has great vision with the ball. I have had the privilege of watching him for five years now, and I think he is going to be a phenomenal addition to an NFL roster.

The best center prospect, Maurkice Pouncey of Florida, is a junior and has not yet declared or indicated either way. If he comes out, he would be an excellent option later in the first, and his brother Mike is almost as good a prospect as a G/C, probably more geared toward the second round though. Again, if Pouncey comes out, I would love to see him on the Broncos. He is a solid player. Nobody from this class jumps out at me, though I like Johnson, Idaho’s Mike Iupati, UMass G Vladimir Duccasse, Iowa OL Kyle Calloway, Matt Tennant, and some others.

Plus Iupati (Idaho), Asamoah (IL), and Johnson at G.

I was talking to another draft analyst about him, and he thinks he could go first or second round. Clayborn is the best DE prospect in the draft IMO, and the most versatile by far. Then again, I also said Shonn Greene was the best RB prospect last year, and he got a bad draw when it comes to the team who drafted him. Clayborn is the best five technique prospect I can see, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t fall to the third round at all.

He is outstanding in space, and gets into the backfield with ease. He is a relentless pass rusher. He is extremely athletic for his size, and a lot faster than he looks.

Clayborn on the right end would be an outstanding find for us, especially in round three.

It’s still odd to assume the organization is going to give up on such high picks after one season. McBath and Bruton are, of now, the future at safety. One guy I would love to see us get is Myron Rolle, who will fall because of his year spent at Oxford. I would love to add him. I like Mays, and I think we could get him later in the first.

I like Iupati also. I would pick him up in the second if I knew for certain that Seth Olsen could make the transition to center, our only true weakness up front in terms of size.

I also would love to pick up Haden, and at first that’s what I projected. I will make another without trades and see if he falls again. My opinions change almost every day. I just love the draft, it’s like compiling a Christmas list. I love seeing it all on paper and imagining it. To me, the draft is as fun as the games, even a little less stressful.

Good comments here.

on a rebuilding team, maybe. On a team like the 2010 Broncos who are likely to not have many glaring holes? No. We can afford to have DJ on the field in nickel or dime, then McClain in on running situations when he’s a rookie. Going forward, we have leverage to either release or trade DJ as need/production dictate (or, for that matter, have two stud ILBs on the field), and we have given the rookie time to learn. Sounds ideal to me.

I’m with you on planning for the Goodman/Bailey decline. Honestly, as much in favor of a trade down as I am, if Haden is available when we first pick… I would have a very tough decision. Mays is intriguing for us — arguably, he might be a VERY good fit. We are at least solid at S (if not set entirely, depending on how you view Bruton), and we might have some area of improvement possible at the SAM position. Mays projects more as a OLB at the NFL level anyway, which would essentially allow us to ignore S and OLB entirely for the next 3 years (assuming we resign Doom).

and honestly, I would be in favor of that move. A 6th round replacement isn’t a bad idea to fill that, nor is Marquez Branson on the PS (as Emmett pointed out).

But maybe we could shuffle him/Olson, or use the final year of Wiegmann’s contract to teach Johnson. It’s not a death sentence, to be sure.

Remember, Spencer Larsen never had any experience playing fullback either. And just ask Moreno how he’s doing.

NFLDraftScout has him raked as the 12th best prospect, which is odd.
ESPN has him rated as a high-mid second rounder
DraftCountdown has him as a high second rounder, maybe late first if someone wants him bad enough.

It’s all about the value one team places on him. As is cliche, it only takes one team to make him a top 20 pick, or a third round pick.

I’m also going to be controversial and say i’m not sold on DJ Williams at his current price point either.

agree with caveats. Interior O-line is very very important. That being said, Mike Johnson is quite a prospect and would more than adequately fullfil that bill.

Saying “first and foremost” is dangerous, to me. It backs you into a corner and doesn’t allow you to pick the best football players. It also is sliding dangerously close to saying we must use our first pick (wherever that may be) on an interior lineman, something I am adamantly against as a rule of thumb.

And I would agree, but find me a good center prospect that is for sure declaring for this draft. I can’t find one worthy of the top three rounds other than Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey from Florida, who are juniors and not guaranteed to leave early.

4 career INTs (not really a ball hawk), 7.3 INT return yards avg. this year (not really supremely dangerous). He’s not the second coming of the Phonz.

Still, he’s a great blitzing nickel option: 42 solo tackles and 5 sacks in 2009.

I really like Spikes, and have for a while. I think he could end up being a big steal on draft day that late in the first.

As for Arenas, I know his size is cause for concern, and I know he and Alphonso don’t exactly provide us with the most intimidating corners, but Arenas fits everything this team is looking for in a draft choice:

Toughness, Versatility, and Coachable

That’s why I like him so much, and that’s why I’ve grown to respect guys like Woodyard and Bruton who love to play special teams and do whatever it takes to help the team. Arenas can help your team in so many ways, and we would have two more drafts to replace Champ or Goodman, not to mention I think Champ will probably play with us for a while longer.

Don’t get me started on Clayborn! He is amazing man. I mean, watching him every week reminded me of Trevor Pryce in the glory days. I know Pryce was a first round pick, and Clayborn could be too. He is so versatile. He can play end in a 4-3 or 3-4, he could play inside in a 4-3, or he could stand up and rush the QB in a 3-4. Just like Pryce. Love the guy, I cant wait to see him in the bigs.

I think you have swayed me on MJ, he is a solid player, and would bring great value in the fourth round.

Moeaki is a great player, and I think again, the versatility aspect is what attracted me. And the fact that he goes to Iowa.

Chas Henry is a good prospect, though I haven’t seen him that much. UF’s offense rarely has to punt! Joking aside, if we’re waiting until 2011, Ryan Donahue from Iowa is going to be a phenomenal punter. His career long is 90. Obviously not in the air, but he hits it 60 yards on a pretty consistent basis.

I rec’d this comment because you were the only one to address all of my picks, which is my intention with these things. People tend to focus on one or two picks at the most in their comments.