I just had to see what the added picks could bring.

The procedure is the same as in the past; BPA rankings are a dominant consideration but positional need is equally important. Need picks will be explained, and alternate picks will be listed, especially when choices were considered ambiguous.

The Big Board is DrafTek's, and you may disagree with them, therefore it's partly an academic exercise to see what maximum utility would look like.

Disagreements with DT's Big Board are welcome but would be even more welcome if you can explain why your suggested alternate choice is better.

NEEDS:(I'll describe these loosely, input on this area is welcome)

Offense

OG(moderate), OC(moderate), RB(moderate), WR(moderate), TE(low), QB(low)

Defense

DT34(highest), DE34(highest), OLB34(moderate), ILB34(moderate), CB(high), S(high)

#12) - B. J. Raji (NT) ----------------------- REACH: ( + 7)

#18) - Tyson Jackson (L-DE34) -------- REACH: ( - 1 )

#48) - Patrick Chung (SS) ---------------- REACH: ( - 5)

#79) - Derrick Williams (WR-F) --------- REACH: ( - 2)

#84) - Jonathan Luigs (OC/G) ---------- REACH: ( - 1)

#114) - Kevin Barnes (CB) -------------- REACH: ( - 4)

#149) - Jasper Brinkley (ILB34) -------- REACH: ( - 7)

#185) -Tom Brandstater (QB) ---------- REACH: ( - 4)

#225) - Ian Johnson (RB-C) ------------ REACH: ( - 1)

#235) - Ra'Shon Harris (DT/DE34) --- REACH: (  0 )

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DISCUSSION

1a) - B. J. Raji (NT) is a controversial pick but this was a chance to try a new selection for the first pick. What became apparent when making this pick was the opportunity to consider 'pairs' of picks. In other words, the following pick played a small role in evaluating this pick. There were a number of players who could still be available when the next pick came six spots later -- such as Maualuga (ILB), Moreno (RB), Wells (RB), Cushing (OLB), Mathews (OLB), etc. -- so the opportunity the opportunity to fill a desired position such as LB or RB could arise again later. The feeling was the next pick was well positioned to find a 'falling value' at this point, as well as being able respond if there was a run on a position.

Surprisingly, there was no clear direction for this pick. Numerous alternatives occurred to me. Those names have already been discussed extensively. The dominant consideration was selecting a player who was able to become an immediate starter, along with filling a need. Raji should fall because of his positive drug test but I still consider him to be worth the risk at a lower range.

1b) - Tyson Jackson (DE34). Jackson's pick completed a 2/3rds rebuilding of the defensive line. At this point, the Broncos would have taken the top two defensive lineman in the draft -- a significant accomplishment. His choice was again guided by the principle of choosing a player who could be expected to start immediately or play a significant role as backup on day one. As with the Raji pick, ability to stop the run played a big role in his selection.

Possible Alternates -- Clay Mathews (OLB34) was nearly picked here. His BPA was only one point lower, and I believe he fits the profile of the type of player we'll be looking for. I'd even prefer him to Cushing at this point. Many alternatives occurred to me but none stood out. The only surprise consideration was Laurinaitis, who I've ignored since the news of the impending switch to the 3-4 but struck me as another player in the mold of Mathews, with versatility and pass coverage abilities that might make him surprising useful player despite not being considered a 3-4 type of player.

2) - Patrick Chung (SS). Chung struck me as the type of player they'll want to pursue -- i.e., team oriented and an overacheiver with a high football IQ. I was seeking a theme for this MOCK that would shift the emphasis from BPA and need, and all of the choices are considered solid citizens and good players who make others around them better.

Alternates. I gave strong consideration to Eric Wood (OC) again. I'm anticipating that the extra picks wil allow us to explore picking players at spots that we've previously ignored somewhat, because we now have picks in a different range, and because we can meet still meet our need though other picks and our strategy is less forced. Moore (SS), Jairus Byrd (CB/S) and Marcus Freeman (LB) were considered. The most notable thing about this pick is the group of desirable choices the go immediately before it. There could be a tremendous opportunity to select a falling value (e.g. Sintim (OLB), Delmas (FS), Sean Smith (CB/S), etc.).

3a) - Derrick Williams (WR). Williams was selected again despite my wanting to try to take this draft in a new direction and explore other possible picks. Speed, playmaking & KR ability and the chance to finally take someone on the offensive side made him impossible to ignore.

Alternates. Coye Francies (CB) and Sherrod Martin (FS/CB) were strongly considered. The proximity of the next pick (five picks later) was an issue again. Sidbury (OLB34) and Ellerbe (ILB) were considered among many others. The possibility of falling values -- Kruger (DE), Victor Harris (CB), etc., could be an issue in the actual draft.

3b) - Jonathan Luigs (OC/OG). I chose an OC again I think he'd fit well with the emerging theme. I would be very happy if we're able to get any of the top group of Centers (Mack, Unger, Wood or Luigs), a most of them are ZB appropriate and should be able to play guard. I think picking an OL by this point would be very wise, but there's value later, too.

Alternates. No new possibilities. Rhett Bomar (QB) could be a possibility, along with some mentioned for the last pick.

4) - Kevin Barnes (CB). I bypassed some others, such as Captain Munnerlyn (CB), Morgan Trent (CB), because I thought Barnes was the best despite the ranking. Read this to see why. It's a deep CB crop and I wanted to add at a reasonably high round. This pick was very fortunate but I don't know if we can get that lucky in the real draft. The standard of immediate starterg/significant backup was an important criterion for this draft but I didn't expect to find starter quality players after the 3rd round as a rule. Barnes is an exception to that rule.

Alternates. McKillop (ILB) and Frantz Joseph (ILB) were considered because ILB had not been addressed yet.

5) - Jasper Brinkley (ILB). Selecting Brinkley once again was both necessary and desirable. I've de-emphasized LB in some of the recent drafts, but the real Bronco draft might take a different course considering the Cushing, Mathews and Maualuga are all quite possible picks. The ILB position is actually so shallow that the fact that they're not coming up more is because there just aren't many of them. However, all of my mocks have been fairly successful at finding them so we should be able to fill the position if we target it.

Alternates. Terrance Taylor (NT) was available if NT was still not filled. John Parker Wilson (QB) could be an interesting choice. Jason Phillips (ILB) could be a fall back choice if Brinkley was unavailable.

6) - Tom Brandstater (QB). I thought Brandstater was an interesting possibility even though I'm not overly concerned about filling the QB position. There was no clear choice at this point and the most intriguing possibilities were at QB, such as Reilly and Cantwell.

Alternates. If Sammie Lee Stillman had fell one spot I could have taken him. TE was still under consideration and I think there's good value around this range but none were particularly close this time. The strongest alternative was Kevin Ellison (SS), who has everything we would want except speed (4.7-40yd.). I think we should consider him though.

7a) - Ian Johnson (RB-C). I didn't find many RBs within range throughout this MOCK. This is mostly the luck of the draw. I'd be happy to see them take Johnson in this range in the real draft because of all the qualities he offers. He probably won't make the transition to the next level but he's the kind of guy we want on our team, and I imagine he'd find a way to contribute at whatever he's asked to do -- a good team player.

Alternates. Roy Miller (NT), Everette Pedescleaux (DE34) and Antonio Appleby (ILB) are nearby and make this a choice that could be used on a number of needs. I could see changing this pick to shore up many other areas but I choose Johnson because I'd yet to select a RB.

7b) - Ra'shon Harris (DE34). I was happy to find a DE34 left because I wanted to add one more. I just looked up Harris again recently and he's been rising.

Alternates. Everyone that's left in the draft. I can see a great number of possibilities although none stand out. The strongest possibilities are probably the speedy WRs nearby -- Tiquan Underwood or Deon Butler.

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I'll skip the comments section for now and edit later.