My Personal Broncos Big Board (Rough Draft)

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 3:13 AM MDT Comment 15 comments

Hey guys! Thanks for taking the time to look at this project for me. The idea behind this is simple: create a master list from which to make our first round choices. In other words, the Broncos would strike names from the list as their names are called on draft day and simply select the top remaining prospect when they're on the clock, avoiding redundancy when relevant. I considered all positions except for offensive tackle and tightend, because I believe this franchise could be well served by chosing elite talents at every other position. Our needs and the reality of the draft obviously skewed the results in such a way as to render many other positions irrelevant. And so, without further ado:

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest
B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Brian Orakpo, OLB, Texas
Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State
Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California
Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Brian Cushing, LB, Southern California
Sean Smith, DB, Utah
Aaron Maybin, OLB, Penn State
Clay Matthews, OLB, Southern California
Everette Brown, OLB, Florida State
Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
Robert Ayers, OLB, Tennessee
Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois
Evander Hood, DE, Missouri
James Laurinatis, ILB, Ohio State

Notes: Be it my faith in Kyle Orton and/or suspicions about Stafford and Sanchez, but I would not spend a first round pick on a QB in this draft... Crabtree and Moreno are the only offensive players I would invest a top pick on this year and I only do so because I believe they are exceptional talents... the absolute worst case scenario of Matthews/Laurinatis wouldn't thrill me, but it would likely make us a better team in a "solid, but not spectacular" sense... perhaps a realistic but still wistful best case scenario of Raji plus Maualuga would inspire backflips out of me... there are a great deal of interesting 3-4 OLB that should be available from our #18 pick to our #48 pick, so perhaps we shouldn't look at those options at #12.

Alright guys, time to tell me where I went wrong! What do you think of my list and the resulting potential drafts? Who did I over- or under- rate and who did I miss entirely? What would your Top 18 for the Broncos look like, what would you expect it to yield and how does that make you feel? The real draft is just around the corner and, with the dust beginning to settle, it's time to crystalize our opinions for we can be accurately happy/sad about the results on that fateful day. As always, thanks for reading and I look forward to our continued conversation in the comments. Go Broncos!

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

1 recs | Comment 15 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Work In Progress.

Just one more thing! Please be constructively critical so that I may use your input to adjust my big board where necessary. This is a work in progress and I don’t expect to be 100% (I never do, even if my tone may seem to indicate that from time to time) so feel free to have it. Thanks!

"The mystic chords of fandom, stretching from every trade and signing to every active account and guest all over this broadband, will yet swell the chorus of union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature". ~ Abraham Lincoln-ish

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 3:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey....good idea.

Making a “big board” is much more interesting than a mere mock. Here is where I disagree with you.
1. I think Everette Brown should be much higher. I feel he is top 10 talent, regardless of what Mel Kiper thinks. Most mocks are in agreement with me.
2. Malcolm Jenkins MIGHT be the best DB available in this draft but this draft is extremely weak for DB’s. Next year will be much better. I would consider Jenkins at 18, but not 12. If this were a normal DB draft, I think Jenkins would be a late first rounder or early second.
3. No Peria Jerry? I think he is better than Ziggy Hood.
4. I know you love Rey Rey, and I do to, but I think he could be around at 18 and I don’t think Tyson Jackson will. I would value Tyson Jackson higher than Rey Rey.
5. If you are going to throw WR’s into this list, surely Maclin must be rated higher than Sintim or Laurenitis on the big board. Maclin will be a top-twenty, possibly top-ten pick, while Sintim and Laurenitis will not.

Other than that, I agree with most of this. I have a man crush on Clay Matthews because of his versatility and football I.Q. Too bad he isn’t higher on your list. Thank for the post!

by swg777 on Apr 10, 2009 7:02 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Point By Point.

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed comment. Let me adadress your points independently.
1) Everette Brown: maybe it’s the Gator fan in me, but I can’t get over how poorly FSU DEs have fared in the NFL. I’m not sure he’ll be able to transition as effectively as some of the others to OLB in the 3-4.
2) Malcolm Jenkins: I struggled with his ranking more than most and I think I will drop him a few pegs when I redo this thing. Maybe #8 would be a better slot, even though I’m just not sure about where to put him.
3) Peria Jerry: Honestly, I think I’d be more amenable to dropping Hood than including Jerry. I’m not in love with the idea of converting DTs to 3-4 DEs unless it’s necessary.
4) Maualuga/Jackson: I’d be fine with flipping them and I actually went back and forth on that as well.
5) Jeremy Maclin: I have Crabtree up there because I believe he’s elite, while Maclin is merely a healthier Percy Harvin and I don’t see either being true #1 WR at the next level.

Thanks for the suggestions and I’ll definitely take them under consideration!

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 4:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice job.

I’m no expert, but I’ve spent some time studying this and found myself agreeing to a very large extent with your list and rankings. I realize I’m in the minority, but I’d probably put Laurinitis higher on the list. His upside is not as great, but I think it’s very unlikely that he would be a bust/disappointment. Thanks!

by NedBronco on Apr 10, 2009 8:38 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Ceiling v. Floors.

I too am a big fan of solid guys with high floors as opposed to the boom or bust types with the tempting high ceilings. Including Laurinatis was a bit of a surprise for me, so I don’t think he’ll be sliding up much if at all, but I’ll give it a second look. Thanks!

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 4:25 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

James L...to me...is strictly a 4-3 MLB to me and not a good fit for Denver...but thats just me.

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Apr 10, 2009 5:15 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice

Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.

by Tim Lynch on Apr 10, 2009 8:52 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

A Man Of Few Words.

If I’m only going to get one word, I’m glad it was that one! That said, I welcome any further thoughts you wish to add if/when you have the time and inclination. Thanks for chiming in though!

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 4:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice job

I think you have Rey M. & T. Jackson too high but good job all and all

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast

by Steve O' on Apr 10, 2009 8:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Knowshon.

I think you’re a Moreno guy and, trust me, I’m with you. I actually had him above Jackson above Maualuga and I might go back to that in the revision. I’ll be sure to give it more thought next time around.

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 4:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about "overrated"

But I think there is a ton of risk associated with Maybin and Matthews. Maybin could be another story like Jarvis Moss, only with fewer excuses (hitting close to home, i know), and Matthews doesn’t have much of a track record to go off of. I think they both have the “potential” word too high on their resume, and the “production” word too low for McDaniels and Co. Should that move them down your list? I’m not sure. I know I moved them down mine because of it.

Also, I think Connor Barwin deserves to be mingling with that group. Including him would really make it important to address your question about whether Denver might be more likely to address OLB in the 2nd…. Frankly, i don’t know the answer. The OLBs are thick at the top of the drft, getting into the 3rd or so, and then the dropoff to projects is stark. We have a LOT of potential at that position right now, so the question is, how much more potential do we want to add in a draft that is definitely going to be kind to teams that need or want OLBs?

Amnesty, the idea that you can forgive transgressions against you, gives as much to one side, as it does the other. It has the noble quality of bestowing mercy to both parties.

There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.

by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 10, 2009 11:30 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting...

Every time I see Moss’ name, all I think of is Reggie Nelson. When we traded up to Jacksonville’s spot, I thought we had done it for him and was taken aback when we took Jarvis. I still have hope that he can turn things around, but all things considered, it was a bad pick.

I think I overvalued Maybin (and perhaps underrated Brown equivalently) for no apparent reason now that I review this thing. As for Matthews, maybe his supporters on this site are getting to me. With Clay, at least, I see the sort of overacheiver that the Patriots always loved and McD might like.

Connor Barwin was the last name off the list and will most likely make it in there in the second draft. I am starting to realize that I have a soft spot for Cincinnati Bearcat defensive players (Mike Mickens, anyone?) and I’m not sure why.

Anyway, thanks for commenting. It’s always nice to have the draftmaster help me out with this sort of project. Cheers and go Broncos!

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 4:35 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's about right

You could flip Everette Brown with Cushing and add Jerry in there.

"I told him (Montrae), don't worry, you'll pass out before you die" -- Rick Tuten

by littletinybroncos on Apr 10, 2009 12:52 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I Could.

As I said above, I think I’d be more likely to drop Hood than include Jerry. As for Brown and Cushing, I think Everette will get a bump in the next edition. Thanks for your two cents!

"The tree of victory must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of quarterbacks and coaches". ~ Thomas Jefferson-ish

by ejruiz on Apr 10, 2009 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you did well to leave Jerry off your list.

I feel he could play 3-4 DE, but it would be such a waste of his pass rushing skills which are much, much, much better suited for a 4-3 UT. Plus he doesn’t play with good leverage nor is very strong at the point of attack (anchoring).

Thus I just don’t see him as a fit in the 3-4 where none of his skills match what you want from the position.

"You can make mistakes, but you are not a failure until you blame others for those mistakes." -John Wooden

by Randall15 on Apr 22, 2009 3:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs