Mock Draft V 1.0

When you take a look at the Denver Broncos in 2009, you will notice a few things. 1. Down the stretch, our offensive and defensive lines were mediocre at best 2. Kyle Orton did a decent job until defenses realized he throws about 500 screen passes per game. 3. Our defense was the strongest part of our team. Most importantly 4. WE WERE JUST TRYING TO WIN A MOTHER..........GAME! Just kidding. In all seriousness, the above 3 areas needed to be addressed this off season. I believe that Denver has done what they needed to do on the defensive line. They signed good, quality guys to add depth. Orton is going to be our starter next year(barring any unforeseen circumstances) and we all know his strengths and weaknesses. Since he isn't the world's most impressive quarterback, we need to give him the best chance to succeed. We need to do this by making our running game one of the best. If our running game can keep us away from 3rd and long situations then Orton's flimsy arm may not look so bad. We have a great running back core with Knowshon, Buckhalter, Hillis, and the recently picked up JJ Arrington. So we need to improve the offensive line. I caution you all that there are quite a few trades in this mock. I will try my best to make it easy to follow. I just don't see how we are going to stand by with the picks that we have. I think we are going to end up trading to get more picks.

We trade BMarsh to Seattle for their 14th pick and a 4th rounder.

We trade Scheffler to Cincinnati for their 3rd round pick.

Trade the 11th pick to the Giants for their 1st rounder (# 15) and their 3rd rounder (# 77). Point value of (1250-1255)

With the 14th pick,

Maurkice Pouncey C from Florida

This guy is a stud. He looks to be one of the best center prospects in quite some time. He comes in and immediately fills a need for Denver.

Analysis from mockingthedraft.com

Pass Blocking:  Pouncey moves really well on his feet and shows good agility in pass protection. Properly knows how to shuffle his feet to mirror defenders. Sometimes he gets out so quickly that he lunges, particularly when a defender is coming from the second level. Needs to do a better job of always extending his arms since they're shorter than desired.

Run Blocking: Shows great hand placement in run blocking. Really gets inside of opponents. Really excels with combo blocking. Can be overpowered by strong nose tackles – see the Tennessee game in 2009. Could do a better job of finishing off his blocks. Showed his worth run blocking as a guard his freshman season.

He is a very solid run blocker and a pretty good pass blocker. He can be a 10 year starter in the NFL. He fits the new power blocking scheme coming in at 6 ft 4, 308 pounds. Weigmann was 6 ft 2 and 285. I don't think this is a reach at number 14. He is climbing up draft boards and could be taken as early as a mid 1st.

Trade the 15th pick with Green Bay for their 1st rounder (#23) their 3rd rounder next year and  a 5th rounder this year. Point value (1050-950ish).

With the 23rd pick,

Golden Tate WR from Notre Dame

Golden Tate will help us with the loss of BMarsh. Tate is undersized at 5 ft 10 but he excels in almost every area.

CBS Scouting Report:

Release: Has adequate quickness off the line, but takes time to get to top speed. Most corners play off because he is the team's deep threat. Separates using hesitation move and pure speed once past the five-yard zone. Must be more effective using his hands to fight off the jam.

Hands: Fights for the ball in the air, usually winning with outstanding vertical and want-to despite giving up size. Makes difficult catches in traffic or when being interfered with. Adjusts well to high and low throws, displaying strong hands on high throws. Tracks the ball over either shoulder, good concentration to win in deep balls. Did drop some balls in crucial situations in 2009, and traps the ball against his chest when facing the passer.

Route running: Coached well in this aspect, and is a threat to run any route in the tree. Drops his hips and gets separation on out routes. Sells routes with head fake, getting between defenders down the seam in a hurry. Excellent awareness of the sideline, tapping feet to stay in-bounds. Extends his arms to create space downfield. Makes himself available to scrambling quarterbacks.

After the catch: Runs like a tailback after the catch or when taking the snap in a Wildcat formation, and could be used in both those duties at the next level. Elusive after the catch, displaying excellent vision and balance in the open field. Tough runner for his size due to strong lower-body build; able to push away would-be tacklers and usually pushes forward for additional yardage instead of heading to the sideline. Doesn't have elite acceleration after stopping his route or being hit, and will be caught from behind when defenders have a fair angle. Needs to put the ball in his outside hand to prevent turnovers. Uses his strength, hands and vision to get into the open on punt returns and is tough to track down once free.

He is a very solid player who looks to be a stud in the NFL level. I will call right now that he will get major consideration for offensive rookie of the year, regardless of where he lands. He would help ease the pain of losing BMarsh.

With the 45th pick,

Chad Jones S from LSU

I know that Safety is not the most pressing need, but this is a very deep class in the safety department and it wouldn't surprise me if we took one of them. With Dawkins edging closer to retirement, McBath may or may not have what it takes to fill the shoes. Bruton hasn't showed he has what it takes to fill the shoes. I debated between Chad Jones, Morgan Burnett, and Reshad Jones. Ultimately I picked Chad because he looks to have a lot of promise. He is rough around the edges. He needs some sharpening in a few areas (zone coverage) but who better to give him training then Dawkins.

CBS Scouting Report

Man Coverage: High and choppy backpedal because of his long legs. Good balance and sufficiently loose hips to change direction. Quick acceleration. Saw action in 27 games, including six starts, as nickel corner in 2008-09. Locates the ball and has good body control to make the leaping interception. Adjusts in the air and times his leap well. Good ball skills and the vision, agility and straight-line speed to generate yards after the interception.

Zone Coverage: High in his backpedal, but gains good depth on his drop. Allows the receiver to get too close before he turns with him, at times, allowing for small openings. Can do a better job of locating receivers in his zone.

Closing/Recovery: Closes downhill quickly and is a reliable open-field tackler. Trusts his own athleticism, but can be beaten over the top when he allows the receiver to eat up his cushion. Good straight-line speed, but lacks the elite second gear.

Run Support: One of his stronger areas. Attacks downhill and is an intimidating hitter. Good vision and anticipation to feel where the back is going and avoids blockers well. Has to improve fighting through blockers once engaged.

Tackling: Reliable open-field tackler. Breaks down well in space to make the secure stop against quicker athletes. Heavy hitter will occasionally lead with his shoulder to make the intimidating hit to protect the middle. Has shown the explosiveness to knock the ball free. Has four career forced fumbles.

Standing at 6 ft 2, 221 pounds, Chad is very athletic. He is an explosive hitter. He was also used as a return man for LSU. I think he has potential to be a big contributor in the future.

With the 77th pick(from the Giants)

Sean Lee ILB from Penn State

With the recent release of Andra Davis, there is some questions as to where Denver is heading. I think Sean Lee is a strong possibility. He is a high character, extremely intelligent football player. He is a sound tackler and highly competitive. His only real knock on him is his past injuries. He has been injury prone.

CBS Scouting Report

Read & React: Excellent football intelligence. Rarely blows an assignment. Reads his keys almost instantly and runs to the ball with no wasted motion. Shows controlled aggression against play-action. Quickly diagnoses screens and misdirection.

Run defense: Time away from the field allowed him to increase his upper- body strength. Relies on quick hands and feet to disengage from blocks, and is not afraid of taking on linemen in the hole. Still struggles to release when effectively tied up. Flows through the traffic efficiently. Good lateral agility and balance to protect his legs. Good straight-line speed in pursuit, especially for the inside linebacker position. High effort player who takes good angles in pursuit. Has the speed to meet ballcarriers on the edge at the college level but will not get to the outside against most NFL backs.

Pass defense: Understands routes and has enough straight-line speed to stay with most running backs and tight ends. High backpedal, but has improved his drop to get deep enough to prevent first downs. Can change direction when running downhill smoothly, but doesn't flip his hips quickly. Very good key-and-diagnose skills and a good burst to close, but is clearly more comfortable moving forward to the line of scrimmage than in reverse. Has trouble recovering in the few instances in which he bites on play action.

Tackling: One of Lee's greatest assets. Fundamentally sound wrap-up tackler who could provide the animated examples for hit-lift-drive. Plays on the balls of his feet and has the body control to break down in space and tackle smaller, shiftier ballcarriers. Long arms and accurate hands to trip up the ballcarrier. Could develop more explosiveness as a hitter. Reliable open-field tackler, but not an intimidator.

Sean sounds like the kind of player McD wants on his team. He is a very talented player with an injury prone past. If he is past his injuries, he will be a big time pick up for whoever gets him. I hope it's Denver.

With the 81st pick

John Jerry G from Mississippi

McD wants to move to a power blocking scheme and John Jerry is an excellent candidate. Standing at 6 ft 6, 328 pounds, He can help a lot with our porous run defense. CBS Scouting Report on his blocking:

Pass blocking: Strong punch at the snap as a pass blocker. Sticky hands and can control the pass rusher when he locks on. Can bend at the waist instead of his knees, especially as he wears down. Doesn't consistently place his hands accurately or move his feet actively when in pass protection and too often is left leaning or attempting to recover due to slipped blocks. Has to show more consistent lateral agility and balance to be considered an offensive tackle -- instead of a guard -- in the NFL.

Run blocking: Good initial pop at the line of scrimmage to stun the defender and can overcome his opponent with his strength and mass as a run blocker. Shows some nastiness and looks to pancake his opponent if he senses he's off-balance. Relies on his mass to gain movement at the point of attack.

We obviously need an upgrade at guard and I think John is a primary candidate. He is very strong and surprisingly agile. Can't go wrong with this pick.

With the 85th pick(from Cincinnati)

Jacoby Ford WR from Clemson

This pick is kind of a luxury pick. We could go with someone like Jordan Shipley or Jimmy Graham, but I think Ford offers more then all of them. His 4.28 speed would give us a lot of options. On top of being a great deep threat, he would be a huge asset in the return game. As the primary returner, Eddie could work solely on being a slot receiver. CBS Scouting Report on Jacoby:

Release: Good lateral quickness and underrated upper-body strength to escape the jam. Few defenders attempt to jam Ford due to his elite timed speed, explosiveness off the snap and smooth acceleration.

Hands: Generally looks the ball into his hands to make the secure reception. Has a tendency to allow the ball to get into his chest and will drop a catchable passes on occasion. Can snatch the ball outside of his frame and has improved adjusting to poorly-thrown passes. Good toughness to maintain control despite taking a big hit. Good hand-eye coordination and balance to track the ball over either shoulder.

Route running: Used predominately as a deep threat early in his career and still learning the nuances of running routes. Developing as a route-runner but has good foot quickness and balance to ultimately excel in this area. Rarely asked to go across the middle but has made strides when he's asked to do so.

After the catch: Faster in a straight line than he is quick. Doesn't dazzle with his lateral agility to elude in tight quarters, but if given space can be quite elusive and make defenders miss in the open field. Good vision to find the lane and has an explosive burst to squirt through the hole and into the open. Lacks the strength and size to run through tackles and too often goes down with initial contact.

I think Jacoby could be a huge asset to the team. An elite return man will give Denver a new aspect of the return game that we haven't had in a long time. Royal did a good job last year, but his primary concern should be bouncing back after a disappointing sophomore year. I would just like to point out that Denver will never pick Jacoby since the Raiders are locked to get him in the 1st round.

With the 105th pick(from Seattle)

Clay Harbor TE/FB from Missouri State

Clay stands at 6 ft 3, 252 pounds. He is listed as a fullback/tight end. He is very useful as a blocker and has a good pair of hands. CBS Scouting Report:

Hands: Reliable receiver who hangs onto balls in traffic or after a big hit. Good leaping ability to go over linebackers and safeties when needed. Uses his hands to catch passes when facing the quarterback.

Route running: Gets out into his route quickly, but can be knocked off his path by linebackers. Not really sudden, but will sink his hips at times to make routes crisp. Will be physical to get separation while making his cut. Works to get open if his quarterback is scrambling.

After the catch: Not an especially elusive or agile runner, but uses his length to hold off would-be tacklers in space. Tucks the ball away before heading upfield. Used on screens to get the ball in his hands, as quarterback play was uneven at best.

Blocking: Plays with his hand down on the line often, and shows some pop coming off the ball on run plays. Blocks with aggression and doesn't give up after initial contact. Good length and fair upper-body strength; extends to maintain space with end or linebacker on the edge and can stay engaged for a few seconds. Can get ripped off if he fails to use that length. Gets out-quicked by better ends on occasion, but fights hard on the next play. Combos to seal the edge and then get to linebacker with cut blocks; could try to sustain at the second level.

He sounds like a good prospect in McD's scheme. His technique will need some tweaking, but it shouldn't be too much of a worry. He also can help Larsen and Hillis at the fullback position.

With the 115th pick,

John Skelton QB from Fordham

I think that this guy is going to be a steal in the draft. Anytime you have a guy who can throw 50 yards with no trouble, you need to take a good, hard look at.  Skelton impressed many scouts at the combine. CBS Scouting Report:

Accuracy: Accurate enough to give his receiver a chance to make a play after the catch whether on a quick screen, out route, slant, fade or throw down the seam. Leads his man on slants and deep throws. Will aim the ball and feather it in instead of letting it loose.

Arm Strength: Throws 45-50-yard passes with little effort, but he rarely takes full advantage of his arm strength. Ball gets from hash to opposite sideline in a hurry when he steps into the throw. Good trajectory on deep passes, and the ball doesn't hang up. Inconsistent spiral, though the ball still has fair pace when it wobbles.

Setup/Release: Prototypical size and stands tall in the pocket. Waits patiently for routes to develop. Mostly in the shotgun when passing but will go under center on run plays and the occasional play-action. Release speed is not an issue whether in the pocket or on the run. Relies on his arm strength too much; will throw off back foot and into traffic. Throws from different arm angles and usually well-balanced. Could sell the ball fake more in play-action.

Reading Defenses: Knows the second and third progression, and is willing to throw underneath route if deep receiver is covered up. Will pick apart a defense if given time. Looks to the quick screen before checking out deep throw. Will not look off the safety or creeping corner consistently, resulting in interceptions. Trusts his receivers too much, throwing jump balls when unnecessary.

If McD can help Skelton with reading defenses then he could be the next diamond in the late rounds. His arm strength is unmatched in this class. McD has made a name for himself by working with people such as Matt Cassel and turning them into stars. If he can do the same with Skelton, we might have just found our franchise quarterback.

With the 156th pick(from Green Bay)

Charles Scott RB from LSU

I know what a lot of you are thinking. Yes we just picked up JJ Arrington. Yes we have 4 quality running backs on our team. But Hillis is the only one that can be considered a short yard guy and he is used primarily as a fullback. I don't even want to mention how many running backs we lost in 2008. Scott is a good, young talent that could turn into the next "Denver system running back." For years we would pick up running backs in the late rounds and turn them into 1000 yard rushers. While Scott probably won't fit that bill, he could still be a very productive player in the Broncos running game. CBS Scouting Report:

Inside: Big, strong back with good feet for his size. Will hit a hole at full speed out of the I-formation, but also excels on draw plays. Patient to follow the fullback, get skinny through creases and come out the other side ready to bowl over safeties and linebackers. Uses his hands to direct traffic inside, and has the vision to work his way through. Tough for one defender to bring down when he's past the line driving his legs. Strong goal-line runner. Not particularly elusive behind the line, and doesn't sidestep penetrating defenders.

Outside: Runaway freight train in the open field, but does not have the speed most teams prefer in a bell-cow back. Doesn't always see or take advantage of space outside. Lacks the speed to consistently make the corner. Best as a north-south runner, but will make safeties miss one-on-one with a surprisingly quick cutback or stop-and-start move. Keeps four points of pressure or two hands on the ball when contact comes. Switches the ball to the outside hand once out of traffic.

Breaking tackles: Runs with a good lean and lowers his pads to knock over smaller defenders at the second level. Piles up yards after initial contact by running through arm tackles and keeping his feet moving after bouncing off players in traffic. Almost always leans forward for an additional yard or two before going down. Uses his length to stiff-arm closing defenders.

Blocking: Has the size to be effective in pass protection - and likes to be physical - but needs a lot of work in technique. Throws a shoulder into defenders if coming up to help the line, instead of trying to mirror and sustain. Misses blitzers coming off the edge, letting his quarterback take a big shot.

I like Scott's potential. He has had injuries in the past. His broken collerbone in his Senior year is the only reason he has fallen this fall. He would be a steal here.

With the 186 pick,

Ciron Black OT from LSU

Yes this is an OT. Yes I know we have 2 of the best young tackles in Clady and Harris. But Harris is a free agent next year. He also was injured a lot last year. This would be our insurance policy. Ciron is 6 ft 5, 327 pounds. He is a huge player that would add more beef to the power blocking scheme. CBS Scouting Report:

Pass blocking: An efficient blind-side protector despite less than ideal foot quickness. Lacks the depth on his kick-slide to remain at left tackle for some NFL offenses. Tough for pass rushers to beat outside due to his long arms and width. Good balance in protecting the edge and can slow even the speediest pass rushers simply by getting his hands on them.

Run blocking: Massive man with very good upper-body strength. Latches onto the defender and can overpower him quickly to eliminate his opponent from the play. Often gets under the pads of his opponent and can drive him off the line of scrimmage, but at the least is generally able to turn the defender and seal him from the ballcarrier.

Pulling/trapping: Rarely asked to pull in this offense and shows only marginal agility and straight-line speed when operating at the second level. Only marginal flexibility as a cut-blocker, though he was asked to do this often in LSU's scheme.

I like the potential for Black. If Harris were to leave next off season, Black could step right in and fill his shoes.

With the 224th pick,

Brent Bowden, P from Virginia Tech

I am not even going to go into detail. He is the 2nd best punter in the draft. He is better then Mitch Berger. This is a no brainer pick to me.

There you have it. This would be a great draft. It would fill a lot of needs in our team. I know that many people are going to call this unrealistic due to all the trades, but if Cleveland can trade down twice last year, there is no reason why we can't. Why simply trade down with Green Bay or Arizona and pick up 1 pick when you can move down twice and pick up more picks. In this draft, quantity may be better then quality since the quality of this draft is so high.