Broncos Mock Draft Version Five
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 22, 2009 8:33 PM MST
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After the Broncos' loss to the Oakland Raiders, some new areas of weakness have really emerged, namely on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines.
Thanks to former Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears, Denver is currently armed with the eighth overall pick, one that could be very attractive to teams who want to move up for an elite level prospect in a very top-heavy draft.
One candidate who could possibly be willing to trade up is the Baltimore Ravens. Trading up would be completely out of character for the Ravens, as they usually keep their picks or trade down for more. They consistently build their team through the draft, and often end up taking the best player available when they pick.
This season, their main target in the draft needs to be a premiere wide receiver, and they will not be able to pick one up if they stick with the 21st overall pick. That is why they should trade up with the Denver Broncos and acquire wide receiver Dez Bryant, who could be the top receiver prospect the Ravens crave.
Here is my projected trade:
Ravens Receive
- Broncos' first round pick (8th overall)
Broncos Receive
- Ravens' first round pick (21st overall)
- Ravens' second round pick (54th overall)
- Ravens' fifth round pick (150th overall)
It may seem a bit steep for a top ten pick, but the Ravens really seem to be on the verge of a Super Bowl contender, and an elite wide receiver prospect could vault them to where they need to be.
Meanwhile, the Broncos' draft slate appears to be much more filled out than it previously was, looking as such:
- 21st overall (from Baltimore)
- 54th overall (from Baltimore)
- 55th overall
- 87th overall
- 134th overall
- 150th overall (from Baltimore)
- 192nd overall
- 242nd overall
With eight picks, the Broncos can much more easily take advantage of this very deep draft, and they need to start it off by going big in the first round.
1. First Round, 21st overall (from Baltimore): Mike Iupati, Guard, Idaho
6'6" 330 lbs.
Iupati is a very hot prospect right now. He has very imposing size and would fill an enormous void on the interior of Denver's offensive line at left guard.
For a long time, I have been defending former Iowa guard/tackle and current Broncos reserve Seth Olsen as the player to be the heir apparent at left guard, but the Broncos would be wise to take Iupati and hope Olsen can be the future at the center position or depth at tackle and guard.
Iupati is an elite level guard prospect, and the Broncos can get him for a relative bargain. He would provide Denver with great size on the interior, and would be the fourth piece out of five in what could potentially be the most talented young offensive line in the NFL with Ryan Clady, Ryan Harris, Chris Kuper, and Iupati.
Denver has really struggled to run the ball consistently and their interior pass protection has been marginal at best, though Kyle Orton doesn't always do the greatest job of escaping the pressure. Iupati would greatly help Denver's pass protection, and would give Ryan Clady the help he needs at the left tackle position to succeed.
2. Second Round, 54th overall: Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech
6'3" 230 pounds
This might seem a bit off the wall for Denver, who already have one of the deepest and most talented receiver cores in the NFL, but this would be a very, very smart pick.
Besides the fact that Thomas would likely be a first round pick if he had a quarterback who could get him the ball better, he fits a lot of different roles that Denver would like to have filled.
First of all, the Broncos lack a true deep threat opposite Brandon Marshall. Certainly Eddie Royal has excellent speed, but his skills would best be used from the slot as many Denver fans anticipated. Thomas has excellent speed, and could sneak into the first round based on his measurables alone.
Also, Thomas would take a lot of pressure off of the Broncos' other receivers. Though Brandon Marshall has seemingly been the only wideout on quarterback Kyle Orton's radar all season long, another big play receiver could really free up Marshall on the opposite side and Royal in the middle.
Thomas would also be a solid developmental prospect in case Brandon Marshall bolts in a couple of years.
3. Second Round, 55th overall: Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford
6'2" 240
Not a big shocker here. As I mentioned in the early stages of the reasoning for Mike Iupati, the Broncos have really struggled running the ball, largely due to their lack of depth (or use of it in the case of Peyton Hillis).
While many believe Peyton Hillis is the obvious answer for the Broncos as the team's power back, head coach Josh McDaniels has refused to use him this season for whatever reason, and he is simply being wasted. Sadly, Hillis could be traded or released come this offseason if the team doesn't find a better use for him, though now that he has not played much his value may be diminished.
All of that being said, Toby Gerhart would be the perfect fit for the Broncos as a power back. The Broncos have really struggled with short yardage plays, and the additions of Gerhart and Iupati could potentially erase those struggles.
4. Third Round, 87th overall: Myron Lewis, Cornerback, Vanderbilt
6'2" 204
Lewis is a relatively little known prospect but he has very good measurables and has proven to be a very durable, versatile player in his football playing career.
He has nine interceptions the last two seasons, and was named second team All-SEC in 2009. His size makes him a very attractive prospect for the next level, especially because of his ability to help in the running game as an effective tackler.
His size helps him bat down balls much more frequently than many other cornerbacks, though his speed at times is somewhat of a liability. He is quicker than fast and reminds me a lot of Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears.
5. Fourth Round, 134th overall: Micah Johnson, Middle Linebacker, Kentucky
6'2" 258 lbs.
The Broncos could very easily look to this position much earlier in the draft, but Johnson is great value here. He is a mammoth against the run, and almost fits the exact same mold as current Denver linebacker Andra Davis. He is not so much fast as he is quick, but he is very versatile.
Johnson is close to a liability in pass coverage, but he can stay in on passing downs to rush the passer, an area he excels. Some scouts believe him to be best fit as a pass rusher or strong side linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme.
6. Fifth Round, 150th overall: John Skelton, Quarterback, Fordham
6'5" 258 lbs.
Skelton is a very intriguing prospect to me. I recently found out about him, and was extremely impressed. He is quickly becoming one of the more popular prospects in the draft, and according to other reports, the Broncos have been scouting this kid since August.
They have been watching him this whole season, and with good reasoning. Skelton is a physical marvel and has all of the tools to succeed at the NFL level. With proper coaching, which he would receive in Denver, he could wind up being one of the bigger steals in the draft. He has great footwork, escape-ability, and good zip on short range passes. He throws a nice deep ball and can make any and every NFL throw.
Watch for this kid on draft day, he is an intriguing prospect.
7. Sixth Round, 192nd overall: Anthony Moeaki, Tight End, Iowa
6'3" 247 lbs.
As I have said in previous mock drafts, I think the Broncos are going to have a tough time passing on the versatility of Moeaki, especially at a position where they could lose Tony Scheffler at the end of the season.
Moeaki has been oft-injured in his time at Iowa, but he is one of the better players to come through Iowa City this decade. He will likely fall in the draft due to his injury plagued career, but he is an excellent blocker in addition to being a good pass receiver.
He has good vision after the catch, though his speed is average. He could be a nice find for some team late in the draft.
8. Seventh Round, 242nd overall: Erik Cook, Offensive Lineman, New Mexico
6'6" 315 lbs.
Cook adds quality depth and versatility to the Broncos' offensive line. He is a very underrated prospect who could be the sleeper to fill the Broncos' void at center for the future.
He has experience in college at all of tackle, guard, and center, and could really provide the Broncos with some quality depth if injuries occur throughout the season.
There may be questions as to why I have not included defensive line in this particular segment. I believe the Broncos will address the defensive line with the deep free agent class of 2010. The defensive lineman available in 2010 are fairly deep, though it is very heavy on the top end and it lacks a lot of true 3-4 fits other than Terrence Cody as a nose tackle.
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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Comments
I love this mock but
I don’t like the idea of a WR with our 2nd pick but maybe it is needed. In a draft that has depth at DL, I would like to get one.
Other than that, excellent mock. I would be jumping for joy with anything like this.
thanks swg
I think if we are staring Thomas in the face at that point, he will be hard to pass on. His measurables and potential have absolutely no ceiling, and he has been productive (over 25 yards per catch in 2009) in a run-first offense.
I think this draft is deep at DL, but I fear that only one or two has potential in the 3-4 as a nose tackle now that Adrian Clayborn has decided to go back to school. I’ll need to do some more research.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 22, 2009 10:52 PM MST up reply actions
you think cook will last that long? I thought he would go a lot easier due to his versatility / how well he has performed to date
I checked my two most reliable sources
ESPN.com and CBSSports.com/NFLDraftScout.com, and they both rated him as a seventh round pick, though ESPN.com gave him great grades in every major category I.E. run blocking, pass blocking, and intangibles.
I think a lot of o-linemen go unnoticed, especially the ones from smaller schools.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 22, 2009 10:54 PM MST up reply actions
I have to say
Sayre, I’m usually skeptical and don’t agree with most of your mock drafts but I think I love this one. If we could make a trade with Baltimore like this and pick up Gerhart with our 3rd pick I would love it. Here’s to hoping. Not to mention if we lose players like Sheffler or Hillis we might accrue some more mid round picks. Let’s not forget Shanny will be coaching again and I’m sure (depending on where he lands) he’ll inquire about some of his players in Denver. I’m excited already.
Thanks
I think Baltimore would be a nice candidate for us. They are only a Dez Bryant away from being a legit contender, and we need some help along the front but need to maximize value with the Iupati pick.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 22, 2009 10:55 PM MST up reply actions
Wooohooo!!!
Finally, somebody else carrying the Iupati torch!!!
The guy is a freak. Huge. Strong. Athletic.
Awesome draft all together. I’d be smitten.
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind-- Pearl Jam, "I am Mine"
by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 22, 2009 10:51 PM MST reply actions
Best G in the draft
I think you convinced me last week, and seeing that pitiful run blocking in person did me in. If we don’t take Iupati, I might actually be a bit disappointed.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 22, 2009 10:56 PM MST up reply actions
Cool.
I’m flattered.
My concern is whether they can find takers to trade back, but your Baltimore scenario makes insane sense.
My other concern is that Iupati might morph into a Albert like pre-draft phenom. Albert went at 13, although he played mostly guard in college. I haven’t been able to find Iupati’s dimensions— namely arm length— and wonder if by time all is said and done he’ll enter the tackle derby and become a very viable option in the Top 10.
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind-- Pearl Jam, "I am Mine"
by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 23, 2009 7:25 AM MST up reply actions
oops...
Didn’t finish my thought…
The Patriots under Belichick have shown a willingness to ‘reach’ for players that fit their system. Pioli did it with Jackson in KC. I wonder if McD would have the audacity to draft a player projected to play G in the Top 10?
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind-- Pearl Jam, "I am Mine"
by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 23, 2009 7:28 AM MST up reply actions
Hmm..
I wouldn’t doubt it, especially if they felt Iupati wouldn’t last until later. There’s another guy from UMass named Vladimir Ducasse who could also be a good fit for our offense, and some sites have him rated higher than Iupati. I wouldn’t be shocked, but I’d be pretty surprised.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 1:51 PM MST up reply actions
You know what might be interesting?
a 31 team list describing the values necessary and the reasonable expectations of a trade for Denver to move into their 1st round position, whether that is up and down. Then we could rank the scenarios….
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
"That's MR.Styg..."
by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 23, 2009 12:26 PM MST up reply actions
That would be interesting
And also quite the project. I wonder if the Cardinals would be willing to trade up with us? Maybe Minnesota if they want a QB bad enough? There will be other teams trying to trade down, namely the 49ers who currently have two top 15 picks.
Here are some candidates to trade up:
1. New England
I know it’s not normal for the Pats to trade up, but they have three second round picks for the second straight year. I doubt they are going to keep them all. They could trade their first and one of their second round picks to move up and get a guy like Dez Bryant or Joe Haden.
Possible Trade: Broncos first for NE first and TEN second
2. Baltimore
Baltimore needs Bryant, but they could unload picks for a more proven guy in Boldin, something I didn’t really think of until now.
3. Houston
Houston could use a top flight safety, and they would be wise to look at a guy like Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays if they drop to our pick.
4. Green Bay
Green Bay needs to upgrade at RB, and C.J. Spiller will not fall to their first round pick. Could be a candidate to trade up.
5. Minnesota
Vikes might like to look for a QB of the future or maybe a defensive end like Derrick Morgan, or Terrence Cody (?) if they wanted to move up.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:01 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Houston
The Houston comment intrigues me. Do we think that the Broncos are all set at Safety from the 2009 draft and that we can ignore Mays at the 8th pick? I think the jury is still out and I wouldn’t be surprised to see us pick another safety with the 8th pick in order to build behind our strenth at Safety on the current roster.
"Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas." -- Shoseki
I think with McBath, Bruton and Barrett
we’re in good shape. We’ll get another year or two out of our current safeties, and McB and Bruton have both showed they have the game, as well as Barrett showing a lot last year. Not saying I wouldn’t love to have some more depth there, but there are bigger areas of need.
I'd pitch in some labor for that.
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind-- Pearl Jam, "I am Mine"
by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 26, 2009 4:53 PM MST up reply actions
Could be a possibility
I definitely don’t know about that, but that could happen. Granted, Albert played guard in college yet he was clearly better suited to play tackle at the next level, and he came from a major program in Virginia that has churned out a couple of pretty good young o-linemen the last couple of years.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 1:50 PM MST up reply actions
I just saw that Scott Wright at Draftcountdown...
…lists him as a ORT in his latest mock, going at 31 to SD. I’m not a big Scott Wright fan, but at least one guy has already turned him into a tackle.
The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind-- Pearl Jam, "I am Mine"
by PredominantlyOrange on Dec 24, 2009 9:00 AM MST up reply actions
I don't see trading up for Suh
We have a lot of other needs, and I though Suh is an excellent prospect, we really can’t afford to trade up in this draft.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:02 PM MST up reply actions
Your building a dynasty here, McD would never hear of it.
If he drafts one more small DB, WR or OL I’ll scream!
I think it's insane to value college "production" from a guy of that size
Look at San Diego’s WRs— no one knows their names nationally outside of Vincent Jackson (just becoming a household name) but they’re massive and create mismatches at all levels. Just wait until the talent catches up to the spread offense on the defensive side of the ball— we’ll see more Sean Smiths every year. I CANNOT BELIEVE HE WENT IN THE LATE SECOND. I’d take him over Alphonso Smith any day of the year.
by legendarywalton on Dec 24, 2009 3:43 AM MST up reply actions
Good one Sayre
No way we can let any chance to get Gerhart, pass us by…Talk about Beast!
-Richee
-Measure your performance against your best competitors and consider how you can use it to beat them the next time!
-Your concious mind can only hold one thought at a time, positive or negative. Which is it going to be???
He certainly is a beast
And he would help our short yardage woes immediately
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:02 PM MST up reply actions
I love the Iupati pick
Were it not for the O line crumbling on every third and short, this team would be 13-3. Some beef in the middle of that line turns the Broncos into contenders overnight.
I think so too
Short yardage situations have to be fixed. I really don’t understand why Hillis isn’t getting in the game though…
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:03 PM MST up reply actions
Hillis could help...
However, it’s hard for any running back even large ones like Hillis or Christian Okoye even to get positive yardage when defensive linemen and linebackers meet them in the backfield the moment they get the football.
I liked your other drafts much better
I don’t think guard is as big a need as Center which you didn’t get.
I also think that this is the draft to get a d-lineman or two and you didn’t get one. Our defense is going to struggle until we get better up front.
I think they are planning on working Seth Olsen
into the center postition, which would put more of need at Guard.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
I read cook as an all around back up lineman, which works in the 7th. If he’s good enough to start at center next year, which is what we need then he wont still be around in the seventh.
I would be happy if they were planning on putting Olsen in at center, but this is the first I’ve heard of it. Where did you see it?
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 10:11 AM MST up reply actions
If I remember correctly
they working giving him quite a bit of work during camp at center. But, hey I could be wrong. He was drafted as a G/C however.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
that may be
But he’s not listed as a back up center. Only as a third string guard, on the depth chart. So I’m not pinning any hopes on him snapping the ball.
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 10:57 AM MST up reply actions
That is true,
and Hamilton is listed as the backup center at this point. I also think they tried out Erikson some there as well during camp. They are all kind of smallish for a lineman these days. We need to have some size and power on the line so I’d agree with your original point about needing a center. A great guard and center would be perfect I think.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
I would love Lupati and a good Center to go with him.
It might be fun even to just bring in both of the Pouncey twins. :)
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 11:28 AM MST up reply actions
Is it true the Pouncey twins would only count as one draft pick?
;^)
Now where did that Kool-Aid vendor go?
by pubkeeper on Dec 23, 2009 1:48 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I think you are just reading the picks
And not the reasoning. I’ll save my comments until you do so.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:03 PM MST up reply actions
Did you mean me?
because I read the explanations for your picks and I disagree with them. You seem to get to focused on bringing in guys who have impressed you and don’t do a good job matching up the strengths of this draft with the people that we need on our team.
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 2:09 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Here is another mock to give food for thought
I didn’t factor in any trades just what we have now.
1st Round: Terrance Cody-NT-Alabama
I know all the concerns about him but I am willing to take a chance. He has worked hard to drop his weight lower and has improved his conditioning. Watching our run defense I just think we need this guy and he can protect DJ and my 4th round selection, to come in a moment. I also considered Rolando McClain and Joe Haden here. Haden, in my opinion is one of the best CB prospects to come out in a long time.
2nd Round: Arrellious Benn-WR-Illinois
Good size and athleticism, will be a good backup to B.Marsh and eventually a starter
3rd Round Markice Pouncey-C-Florida
We need someone to take over from C. Wiegmann. Pouncey adds more size to our interior but is still athletic enough to get to the 2nd level. This is assuming he comes out because he is a junior.
4th round Micah Johnson-ILB-Kentucky
Dipping in to the Wesley Woodyard factory. Micah has good size, speed and is excellent on pass coverage. Martindale will need to work on his tackling ability but I believe that can be coached. Only caveat maybe that he may continue to rise up the draft boards and by the time April rolls around may be a 2nd or 3rd round pick
6th round Reggie Stephens C/G-Iowa State
Adding more depth to our interior line, Stephens is another masher with great size. Can play Center or G and might be able to even kick out to RT, not LT though.
7th round-David Pender-CB-Purdue
I really liked the selection of Eric Cook and if I hadn’t already taken two interior lineman would have done so here. Instead I took David Pender of Purdue, Good size, mediocre speed. Another idea I had was Boo Robinson, A DT/DE from Wake Forest. He would add beef to the DL and could play 5 technique. He was a projected 4th rounder at the beginning of the year but has slipped.
"No more my bad just make the play"-McJedi
by RockyMountainThunder on Dec 23, 2009 8:13 AM MST reply actions
Somehow I noticed every pick of yours
Except the one we have the same. Yes, I think Micah Johnson would be excellent value in round 4. However, I read a scouting report that he was pretty good in pass coverage. I’ll have to see if I can find it again. Either way I really like the Johnson pick and the one a round earlier with the cornerback from Myron Lewis. Either way I think that your draft would be excellent for the Broncos.
"No more my bad just make the play"-McJedi
by RockyMountainThunder on Dec 23, 2009 8:19 AM MST up reply actions
Nice
Not totally sold on Cody, but don’t dislike him either. I think Haden would be a better pick if available. If we were to go WR I think it would be someone who would be a solid 2 receiver who can help stretch the field, this would help put Royal in his natural position as a slot IMO. Benn could be a good choice here. The rest of your picks look pretty solid and make sense.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
Hm...
I don’t think Terrence Cody is a good value pick at ninth overall.
I like Benn, but I don’t know that he will fall that far in the second.
I love Pouncey, but if he declares, he is a first round pick for sure.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:04 PM MST up reply actions
Didn't know about about Pouncey
Who is more regarded, Markice, or his brother Mike? I guess I had Markice targeted around the 3rd round but it may have been based off of some preseason information.
Cody would’nt be good value at 9 but if you think he’s THE GUY than you draft him wherever. Again, I’m sure McDaniels would love to fall back as you stated here
Arrellious Benn is hard to judge because his production dropped this year but it was more to do with other factors on the Illinois offense.
I really like your write up on John Skelton. But everything I’ve heard coming out of the Broncos organization is that they really like Brandstater and think he’ll be the QB of the future.
Should we start an Iupati ’10 campaign.
"No more my bad just make the play"-McJedi
by RockyMountainThunder on Dec 23, 2009 2:51 PM MST up reply actions
I think Maurkice is the higher regarded prospect
They rate him as the best center in either this years draft or next year’s, so I’d say he’s probably a “can’t miss” kind of guy who would be a lock for the first round.
I don’t know that Cody is even worthy of a first round pick, crazy as it sounds. The guy has had problems academically and with his weight in the past, though what nose tackle doesnt? I’m just not sure he has the intangibles that a first round pick requires. Your first round pick should be a player you can build around. Cody seems more like a role player to me.
Benn’s production has dropped the last two seasons because illinois’ quarterback play is atrocious. The fact that he is still a highly rated prospect really says something about his skill set.
I read on an article posted on here recently that the Broncos have been scouting Skelton since August. I think they have an obvious interest in him.
Iupati should start immediately.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 3:17 PM MST up reply actions
Nice mock Sayre
Really love the pick of Iupati at 21. I believe he could start his rookie year, which is a big plus. As you know it usually takes linemen a couple years to figure out their role on the line in the NFL.
But, while I like your reasoning for your second round pick at WR, I just don’t see McDaniels going that direction. That pick will probably be either a CB or DT I think. But, like I said last week we won’t know his directin until it happens. McDaniels is pretty good at keeping that to himself. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a two to three year draft plan laid out either.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
Thanks
I think Iupati would be a nice pair with Clady on that left side of our line. Both guys are mean, and both are massive.
I think WR in the second could definitely happen, especially if a talent like Thomas is still available. Like I said in the post, I think DL will be addressed heavily in free agency. We need big bodies, and there are only a couple of good prospects at NT in this draft.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:06 PM MST up reply actions
That would be great on the left side,
but as we’ve seen this year we really need a center who can be a consistent anchor on the line. Olsen would be a good choice there. I thought I remembered the Broncos giving him a good bit of work at center in camp this year. So maybe they have something in the works there already.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
Intrigued but not yet smitten
The interior offensive line is clearly the most glaring need – at present. We’ll know more about that after potential injuries, signings and retirements play out. I’ll happily join the crowd and have a man crush on the trade down / Iupati pick if and when:
1) He excels at the Combine. The Vandals are not exactly an NFL feeder program and
the 1st is early for all but the very elite Guard prospects. Another guy I’m looking at
is the “vladianator”. Vladimir Ducasse is 6-5 330 lbs out of U Mass. Someone to
keep in mind for later rounds.
2) We know whether Ryan Harris will make a full recovery. Turf toe has ended
promising NFL careers. If there is any doubt then we should consider the
wisdom of taking an elite OT prospect like Okung or Trent Williams who can play
Guard if Harris is o.k., but slide over to RT if needed. Can Iupati also play RT?
3) Number 8 may be low enough that a truly blue chip projected player is available.
Opportunities to take those kind of guys don’t come along that often … unless
you’re Detroit.
Hmmm.
1. If he excels at the combine, he will have done so without pads. I’ll take more stock in the senior bowl workouts or whatever offseason bowl he participates in.
2. Harris came back and played with the turf toe once already this season, I think he should be back next year for sure.
3. I think a QB is definitely an option. I just am not sold on Jimmy Clausen.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:08 PM MST up reply actions
I agree on the Causen statement,
I really think he should have stayed at ND for his senior year and honed his skill set. He might have some real value then.
"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Walter Gagenot
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible."
Could've stayed and I see your point,
But new coach and system coming in is what made him declare, and I think I’d have done the same. Pretty risky to stay, if he doesn’t pick up the new system or has issues with the new coach he loses out big time.
Sayre, can stats guys comment too? :-)
I like your pick with Cook. I got to see him play a lot this year and I agree with your assessment of him. Not controversial in that slot, and I think he could go a bit higher.
I am glad you didn’t simply grab every SEC player around like I see in other mocks with their lazy research.
This is my favorite mock you have done, despite a few of them that I would disagree with.
"But I hate the way our identity has changed..Kyle Orton might not be the flashiest quarterback, but the guy is a winner, and that formula worked for us. I hate to say it, but that’s the truth." --Brian Urlacher
Thanks TJ
I think Cook could definitely go higher. As I pointed out to someone else, the two sites which I reference for round projections are ESPN and NFLDraftScout, and both projected him as a seventh round pick.
I definitely like a lot of SEC guys, but I didnn’t see picking all of them in this one.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:09 PM MST up reply actions
Sayre like the lupati pick But !
With a trade with Balt to be at 21 . What happens if some
other team beats us to him ? Have you researched other
teams possible offensive line trouble spots and needs ?
So in other words what would be plan B If he is gone ?
by broncosfaninphilly on Dec 23, 2009 10:09 AM MST reply actions
Could happen
Plan B would be to go after Vladimir Ducasse or possibly a guy like Brandon Spikes at LB, maybe a quarterback or dare I say: Running back.
We could go many directions in the first round.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:10 PM MST up reply actions
Man, I like the 1st pick
Not sure about the rest, I think there has to be some thought to the DL, or are you thinking they try to address that in FA?
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I agree with others
I overall like the mock, but would definately like to see the DL adressed. I wouldn’t mind selling out our whole draft to move up and get Suh. I’m usually not excited about that, but guys like him ie Sapp/Haynesworth just don’t grow on trees. Suh would be somebody you could build your team around for the next 10 years.
Is there anyway somebody could list the free agent D Linemen this year. I thought Wilfork was on that list. If so, I would be for your mock, but man we’ve got to upgrade our D Line.
"Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak "
Ted Nugent
Free Agent D-lineman
With the CBA up in the air it is hard to say for sure who will be UFA and RFA but here is a sampling of the FA D-lineman
Some of the top DT/NT
Vince Wolfork-Patriots
Casey Hampton-Steelers
Aubrayo Franklin-49ers
Justin Bannan-Ravens-I think the Broncos might sign him
Ryan Pickett-Packers
Tank Tyler-Panthers
Top DE
Adewale Ogunleye-Bears
Richard Seymour-Raiders
Darryl Tapp-Seahwaks
Marcus Spears-Cowboys
Brett Keisel-Steelers
Jarvis Green-Patriots
Kyle Vanden Bosch-Titans
Mark Anderson-Bears
Reggie Hayward-Jaguars
"No more my bad just make the play"-McJedi
by RockyMountainThunder on Dec 23, 2009 10:59 AM MST up reply actions
I like some of those names
But I think we’ve got to draft D-line. For cap reasons and for cash flow reasons.
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 11:04 AM MST up reply actions
DL was addressed in free agency
It’s the last paragraph. I like only a couple of DL in this draft, though there is always the chance we go after them. You kind of have to pick and choose. The DL free agent class is fairly deep while offensive line is pretty weak.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:11 PM MST up reply actions
I don't think the DL class is as deep as you think it is
I say this because looking at the list a lot of those guys won’t work in a 3-4, a lot are going to get tagged since those have been expanded this year as well.
I also think this years d-line choices are a lot better than they’ve been for years, so now is the time to get one or two.
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 2:15 PM MST up reply actions
Take a look at the list someone posted below
I think we could take a D-lineman in the draft, but there are slim pickings for the 3-4 types, and we have other areas, namely offensively, that need to be addressed.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 3:18 PM MST up reply actions
It's actually up above
If you look at it it’s hard to make a case that anyone but Seymor will be available and be an upgrade.
I would agree with you talking about Nose Tackles Cody and Williams seem to be the best and they have questions. I would be happy with Williams if we traded back though.
However DE which is our biggest need IMO. Has a ton of prospects this year that are looking good. Heyward, Bailey, Oldrick, even Alualu and Wooten. It’s as good and as deep as you could really want in a position.
I also get that there are other needs that should be addressed but I don’t think any of them are going to have as big an impact as D-line.
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 4:55 PM MST up reply actions
Sayre........ a man after mine own heart.
Micah Johnson from UK. I’ve had a chance to watch this guy in person and on tv quite a bit (being in kentucky and all) and that pick really excites me. He reminds me of Wesley Woodyard, also from UK, but with ridiculous tackling ability. He is probably a bit faster than Andra Davis that you compared him to. He played against U of L last year in 2007 and I was at the game. This was when Michael Bush (of the raiders) was the RB for the Cards.
Anyways, the moral of the story is this. He played quite a bit and had 0 tackles but made a huge impact, from my memory, because Bush only ran outside when Micah came into the game as the middle linebacker. That was the most memorable thing about that game, to me. Bush being scared to run up the middle. Fun times.
The only downside of this pick is that I’m not sure they ran a 3-4 at kentucky. I want to say that they ran a 4-3, because a lot of kentucky schools run the 4-3. That’s the one thing that might take the kid a while. Adapting to the 3-4. Other than that, I really like that pick.
If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.
Girl, you don't need to be a 10, as long as you have a good smile and smell like bacon.
I think he's an underrated guy
He reminds me of Jasper Brinkley from last year’s draft. He does have better speed than Davis, and I think he could excel in our system. He is a good tackler.
by Sayre Bedinger on Dec 23, 2009 2:12 PM MST up reply actions
I like this list better for team needs than your QB-oriented mocks
And I think that WR may be an actual need. It’s great that Marshall caught 21 passes against Indy, but that tends to say that no one else was getting open, and he averaged less than 10 yards per catch.
But I would rather see the team focus more on the OL and DL with the picks in rounds 3-5. Your argument about FAs has some merit, but using draft picks lets the team get both depth and youth behind any FAs they sign. And the OL needs both talent and depth, based on the results this year.
See I look at the 21 catch game a little differently
I don’t think it means that no one else was open I think it means that Marshall is the best at adjusting to Orton’s passes so Orton focuses on him more.
We have a huge body of work that shows us that Scheffler, Graham, Stockley, Gaffney can get open and be targets Royal has even shown that he can do it, though not as much as the others. I’m just not buying that the drop off is because they’ve suddenly lost the ability to get open. Nor do I believe that Orton doesn’t have enough time to make it to his second read, on a play.
Which is one of the reasons why I don’t like spending a second round pick on a WR, when we need a center and d-line.
by Fan in Exile on Dec 23, 2009 1:34 PM MST up reply actions
Good draft
I’d be plenty happy with this draft. Honestly, my faith in McX’s drafting ability has taken a hit lately when looking at last year’s draft. It’s still too early to tell for sure, but production from the entire class has been limited.
Now where did that Kool-Aid vendor go?
Nice mock Sayre
It’s tough doing a mock, I know I entered the contest last year and we didn’t pick a single one of my guys. I will be happy with any interior D or O line. I think we should trade St Louis all our picks plus Jarvis Moss for a boy named suh:)
"Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak "
Ted Nugent
Is there any chance
that Gerald McCoy falls to us and if so, does everybody think he would fit in our system? Would he play NT or DE?
"Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians - except for the occasional mountain lion steak "
Ted Nugent
No chance... but I'd love to have him
VASTLY superior to Cody.
by legendarywalton on Dec 24, 2009 3:46 AM MST up reply actions
If we can't, or don't get Iupati
What do you think of Jon Asamoah from Illinois. Not a first rounder but a 2nd or 3rd?
"No more my bad just make the play"-McJedi
by RockyMountainThunder on Dec 23, 2009 3:26 PM MST reply actions
Hah! Just saw this... I posted below.
I think it’s conceivable we could get both— and I’d advocate it. Jon has kind of come out of nowhere but he put on size easily without limiting his explosiveness— apparently he ran a 5.04 40!?!?!? If that holds up at the combine, he skyrockets into the second round.
by legendarywalton on Dec 24, 2009 3:48 AM MST up reply actions
yay Sayre !
i’m just happy you don’t have us taking a QB in this mock. ; )
thx for all the work that goes into this very professional & learning a lot reading them!
oh and the pictures are really really helpful as it helps to put names to faces !
ok mock
I really do not like mocks that involve thought up trades. Trades into the top 10 rarely happen and when they do is mostly for a QB and frankly this QB class is not very good. Clausen should not even be considered a 1st round pick and is being talked up for some reason. Locker went back to school and no one knows how Bradford was affected by the injury. I personally love Bradford but want to see how he does in workouts before I decide if I will consider him a 1st rounder. Bradford and Clausen will both probably be avail around the 8th pick so we might be able to get someone to trade up and reach on a QB like the Jets did on Sanchez.
I love the Lupati pick if we can trade back. If we have to stay at 8 my top three are Haden, McClain and Gerald McCoy. McCoy is a top 5 talent but I do not think he may fall a bit. I think we need a more balanced draft. I think there was a little to much offense in this draft when it is obvious our Dline still needs an upgrade. There is not going to be a CBA so there is going to be slim picking to upgrade through FA. That only leaves trades and the draft. We need a new starter at LG and C on offense. On Defense we could use a MLB, CB and Dline. We should balance the draft on these positions in my opinion.
Also where did you hear that the Broncos have been scouting Skelton since August?
by gnarlybroncodude on Dec 23, 2009 10:04 PM MST reply actions
This article mentions the teams that have sent scouts to Fordham
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
"That's MR.Styg..."
by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 23, 2009 10:29 PM MST up reply actions
I actually like Claussen if he can be drafted to sit for a few years (mid to late 2nd round).
Very smart, obviously tough. I’m not sure if he’s a great leader or what his attitude is like, but he picked up a pro style offense and continued to improve throughout his career with above average accuracy, especially underneath, where McDaniels needs it the most.
He did have the best college WR tandem in Tate and Floyd, and the TE Rudolph is very similiar to Tony Scheffler. That line sucked for two of his years though.
by legendarywalton on Dec 24, 2009 3:40 AM MST up reply actions
Toby Gerhart, carrying the "plucky white back that could" torch.
Total pass. We should draft both Iupati, and Jon Asamoah. If Pouncey is around in the third, get a center and solidify the line with gigantic power blockers that can grow together. Our defense has been patched together with duct tape and rubber bands all year, so I don’t doubt we could bring in some solid defensive line talent through free agency. Control the line of scrimmage on offense, control the tempo, rest your defense, score some easy points. It’s obvious we don’t have the OL skill necessary to run McDaniel’s scheme and that had better be rectified quickly, above all other needs (even though there are many).
by legendarywalton on Dec 24, 2009 3:37 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
Gerhart is so much better than that
He’s not Joe Dudek. ;-) I’ve been watching him at Stanford for a couple of years and love the guy. He’s the rare talented white RB, if you will, who can power and put on the burners, too. I think it’d be a great pick.
At any rate I do thnk Denver needs to add RB depth somewhere in the draft.
I also expect them, as some have pointed out above, to draft DE or DT early in the draft.
I love Iupati so if they do trade down that would be a fine pick.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants country, and damned proud of it.
re: Gerhart
I wouldn’t worry about the color of his skin. If he merely turns into a Mike Alsott he’ll be fine, but race (which is a social grouping) is irrelevant to success.
The real question as it applies to us is whether another power back is the solution to our problems. Additions to the OL make much more sense when the problem is blocking. I’ve said Gerhart is worth considering but he’s a FB type for a team that runs a base 3-WR set. I think the tendency is to frame the situation as if we’re a 2-back team. Gerhart still has value to us but replicates what Hillis does. Do we want to use Hillis? Is the problem Hillis or how he fits into our scheme? Gerhart may lack the deficits that — apparently — have limited Hillis but we need to understand what the problem is or it doesn’t make sense to draft yet another Hillis-type.
I don’t have the answer, but I think we need to understand the McDaniels scheme better. My feeling is that we need to add RBs who do more rather than less. Utilization within a one-back set seems to depend on breadth of ability and ability as a true RB, i.e., speed, etc. I see the need for a Maurice Jone-Drew type rather than a typical power back type. We need a RB who has more than power.
no goats, no glory.
Ball certainly fits this mold...
We’ll see if he is still here for training camp, he could be an exciting young prospect to watch develop…
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
"That's MR.Styg..."
by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 27, 2009 12:24 PM MST up reply actions
Sayre...Don't know for sure if he is coming out yet as he is a Junior but I would like to know where you think that this future NFL star may fit into the draft (maybe ours?)
Ryan Mathews(5’-11"/220#’s)-Junior Running Back-Fresno State: Here are some highlights from his bio…
“(2009) Leads the NCAA in rushing by more than 25 yards per game (161.6 yards per game)… has two of the Top 10 rushing games in the NCAA this season, 234 yards against No. 5 Boise State and San Jose State, those games rank third and fourth in Bulldog history, respectively… against the Broncos he score on runs of 69, 68 and 60 yards and a averaged 12.3 yards per carry… leads the NCAA win seven runs of 50-yards or more (69, 68, 68, 60, 59, 58, 55)…. set a school record with seven straight 100-yard plus games… had 104 yards in the first half against UC Davis in the season opener and never played in the second half… had a career-high 38 carries for 145 yards against No. 7 Cincinnati… only played two plays in the fourth quarter in the last three games combined, both against New Mexico State in a 157-yard two touchdown performance… didn’t play in the fourth quarter at Hawaii or San Jose State in Fresno State’s large wins.”
“Junior running back Ryan Mathews, who for the majority of the season has led the NCAA in rushing, was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated. Mathews set a school record with 1,664 rushing yards this season and has score 37 career touchdowns, also a Bulldog record. His rushing average of 151.3 yard per game ranks ahead of Stanford’s Toby Gerhart for best in the nation.
Mathews had nine consecutive 100-yard games this season and more his seven 50-plus yard runs were more than any other player in the nation. He put 234 yards and scored three touchdowns against No. 6 Boise State."
I live near-by Fresno and have been watching the kid for several years and I believe that he is the real deal…Also played with Tommy B. for 2 years…
Like I said I don’t know if he is going to come out but am hearing that it is very likely…Would love to know what you think of him and when you think he might go?
-Richee
-Measure your performance against your best competitors and consider how you can use it to beat them the next time!
-Your concious mind can only hold one thought at a time, positive or negative. Which is it going to be???
I prefer drafting interior O-line and D-line for the first 3-4 rounds.
We need youth with potential on both sides of the LOS. It takes longer to develop linemen than most other positions so we might as well start investing picks in the lines now. I think we have a good enough combination of youth and talent at WR that we could afford to pass on that position for a year. I am very agreeable with getting another QB in the later rounds, developing another young QB while the Broncos continue to learn McD’s offense makes a lot of sense.
I agree, Larsen shouldn’t get any bigger. I am getting tired of his bone crushing hits knocking the pixels off my TV, once they fall to the floor they are very hard to find.
So..
I am all for upgrading our interior line, but I do like the idea of picking up Rolando McClain instead of trading down. He’s versatile and a natural leader and I think we’ll regret not taking him.
As for our interior o-line I’m sure there will be plenty of players available in the later rounds and UFAs. Realistically we need a RG and a center and I don’t believe they command our coveted first round pick.
As for Gerhart – I don’t think he’ll be top level NFL RB or even close. However, he does warrant a conversion to fullback and I’d be happy picking him up for that purpose. If he can be a hardnose runner than awesome, if not, he will come into the league as a top three fullback and help give Moreno/Buck in the run game.
Our secondary also needs help – not because they’re not capable but because they’re on the older side. I figure we can keep that secondary intact for one or two more seasons. It appears we have some solid safeties waiting in the wings, but, at this point, it does not look like Alphonso Smith is going to pan out and we’re going to have to address an heir apparent to Bailey.
I think Scheffler will be out after this season – traded for a 3rd or 4th round pick which will allow us to pick up a couple of corners. We could also use a true #2 WR so Eddie can work slot duties.
QB isn’t something that I see being addressed this draft unless we’re gifted a top level talent in later rounds.
Why does Madden suck at ranking the Broncos so much?
Since I don't get cable
I don’t get to see many college games even if I have the time, so I appreciate bringing this to my attention Sayre. You do an awful lot of work and put some thought in to these Mocks. So far this season, I have seen Terrence Cody and have been force fed Notre Dame games constantly. I really don’t like the Charlie Weis era of ND players so I am not high on Claussen. I also don’t care for McCoy at all. I’m really not high on any of the QB’s and hope we do not take one. So far, out of the lot, I would lean towards Bradford, but he is hurt and I think it will affect his professional career. I will keep an eye out on this Skelton kid and see what happens. Thanks.
Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
what's missing
I like this mock but it’s hard not to notice what’s missing — help on the DL. The trade with Baltimore is plausible, and that’s usually a problem when composing a mock, but the added numbers still didn’t allow us to take advantage of the depth at DL in this year’s crop.
I can’t help but wonder if there aren’t some DL prospects who would fit in around the 3rd. I have no particular favorites but some names come to mind.
(?) Jerrell Powe
There are others, but I’m still evaluating. Many of the possibilities are names we’ve discussed before — such as Arthur Jones, who has dropped because of injury concerns. It seems a shame not to avail ourselves of some developmental DL prospects in a crop that’s relatively deep in that area. I haven’t forgotten about holdovers such as Pedescleaux, Powell or Baker, but there are sound reasons for a continued focus in this area. Numbers give us more chances to succeed besides adding depth. I’d love to see (at least) one solid DE34 backup/potential future starter come out of our draft. This draft seems to be too good an opportunity not to take advantage of.
no goats, no glory.
more comments on DL
I missed your last paragraph the first time around.
We’re going to know whether a new CBA is approved by March at the latest and signs point to an uncapped year, which means the pickings are slim for FAs. It’s not a bad idea to look for help through the FA market but the chance of finding it will drop without a new CBA. We’ll have a chance to sign FAs before the draft so we’ll know by then if we need to draft some DLs.
The real question is whether we want to develop talent on the DL, beyond what we have already. I have to believe that they’d like to have some DL talent come in through the next draft since we’re not really that deep. There’s a lot of intermediate-aged talent, such as Fields and Thomas. And there’s some experienced depth, such as Holliday, Peterson (he’s intermediate in experience, although older), and Smith. But the experienced depth can’t be counted on for the long term and also begs for an upgrade. I’d love to project players such as Baker, Powell and Pedescleaux as possible future starters but the truth is that we haven’t brought in any DL34 types of draftees except Thomas, so we’re still short of talent in that area.
The basic logic of team-building is that you’d like to have some talent in the developmental pipeline, especially if you have a foreseeable hole. Vonnie Holliday has limited time left but I’d view L K Smith’s spot as the likeliest candidate for an upgrade.
Also, I forgot mention McBean in the young talent. I don’t look at him as a target for immediate upgrade but I see his position as a candidate for upgrade. Whether or not he’s eclipsed by a more talented player, he would seem to have utility as depth.
no goats, no glory.
Front 7
I think the front 7 is average at this time but to be a dominant Defense they need at least 1 if not 2 more great player in the front 7.
... if you have a belief, you will tend to find things that support it. But if you have a prejudice, you’ll move heaven and earth to maintain it. BroncoBear
changes over time
Free agency changed many things. and most teams adopted a strategy of drafting DL talent and holding on to it. One of errors in judgment that Shanahan/Sunquist committed was failing to develop DL talent while also letting go the few DLs who had been developed, such as Pryce, Hayward, etc.
The Brownco experiment was an attempt to remedy that failure, and it wasn’t really a bad idea since the need was there. It was too late, however, since we’d gone through an extended period in which we failed to re-stock through the draft.
Building a successful team requires some investment in the DL. What we have in young talent isn’t much of an investment — we’ve spent a a single #4 pick on Thomas (not counting Moss or Dumervil). What we have in experienced DL talent didn’t require much investment either — a #7 pick for Le Kevin Smith. We did sign Fields away for the 49ers, but everyone else was signed as relinquished FAs. We’re in a better situation than we deserve to be given our investment but it was seem prudent to finally invest something on the DL now that we have the chance.
I could also add Ayers into the the equation since he’s a de facto DE at times but the point is that we’ve spent very little when most teams consider it a priority investment. Spending some draft picks on the DL seems to be the only way to ensure that we have some talent. And we have room for at least one upgrade at DE34. Adding developmental depth at the appropriate point in the draft (i.e., ~3rd – 4th) seems like the best way of building up a team. The lag time that is required to develop DLs means that we have to draft some now if we want to have them down the road. It’s also prudent to add gradually since there’s less of a disruption than when adding too many new players at once.
no goats, no glory.
what's missing
I like this mock but it’s hard not to notice what’s missing — help on the DL. The trade with Baltimore is plausible, and that’s usually a problem when composing a mock, but the added numbers still didn’t allow us to take advantage of the depth at DL in this year’s crop.
I can’t help but wonder if there aren’t some DL prospects who would fit in around the 3rd. I have no particular favorites but some names come to mind.
(?) Jerrell Powe
There are others, but I’m still evaluating. Many of the possibilities are names we’ve discussed before — such as Arthur Jones, who has dropped because of injury concerns. It seems a shame not to avail ourselves of some developmental DL prospects in a crop that’s relatively deep in that area. I haven’t forgotten about holdovers such as Pedescleaux, Powell or Baker, but there are sound reasons for a continued focus in this area. Numbers give us more chances to succeed besides adding depth. I’d love to see (at least) one solid DE34 backup/potential future starter come out of our draft. This draft seems to be too good an opportunity not to take advantage of.
no goats, no glory.
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