First Drafted Offense in Over 20 Years
In today’s Denver Post there is an article on the rehabbing offensive line, and the new faces that will be taking their place when not healthy. Besides having many young players on the offensive line I have noticed a change at the way the Denver Broncos are being built. After watching the 97 Broncos from NFL Network’s Americas Game series, I heard something that really surprised me. On offense only one first round player that Denver drafted was starting. Ironically, because of Shanahan’s poor draft history on D, the defense had a higher number of Denver 1st round draftees starting. So out of roughly 13 guys only 1 was a first round prospect. That man of course was Elway. This is how Shanahan likes to build his teams. Free Agents and overachieving low round draft picks are his method. Josh McDaniels looks like he prefers the draft. In fact we may have the first all Denver drafted offense in the last 20 years with nine early round prospects. Granted Daniel Graham is still a starter on the team, but who knows where he will be after this season. Even so it's a very differenlty built team than we have seen in a long time.
1997 Broncos Offense
QB =Elway – 1st round
RB = Davis – 6th round
FB = Griffith- FA
WR = R. Smith- FA
WR =E. McCaffery- FA
WR = Willie Green- FA
TE = Sharpe – 7th round
RG = Shlereath- FA
LG = Diaz-Infante- FA
LT = Zimmerman- FA
RT = Jones - FA
C = Nalen – 7th round
2010-11 Broncos Offense *possible starters by 2011
QB =*Tebow – 1st round
RB = Moreno – 1st round
WR = *D. Thomas - 1st round
WR =*E Decker -- 3rd Round
WR = E Royal – 2nd Round
TE = *Quinn – 2nd Round
RG = *Beadles – 2nd Round/ Olsen – 5th Round
LG = Kuper 5th Round
LT = Clady- 1st Round
RT = Harris – 4th Round
C =* Walton – 3rd Round
Last all drafted offense was 1989
1990 Broncos Offense
QB =Elway – 1st round
RB = Humphrey – 1st round Supp
FB= J Alexander – UDFA by Denver
WR = Jackson- 6st round
WR =V. Johnson- 2nd round
TE = Kay- 7th round
TE = O. Mobley – 6th round
LG = Widell- 2nd round
RG = Bishop- 6th round
LT = Perry - 2nd round
RT = Laner – 5th round
C = Kartz – 7th round