Day Three 2011 NFL Draft Results For the AFC West

by KaptainKirk on May 1, 2011 1:03 AM MDT in 2011 NFL Draft Coverage

At last the three day event known as the NFL Draft has ended. The Denver Broncos added more depth and speed to the team and did so without sacrificing character. It's no secret that this was at least part of the plan for the 31 other teams in the League. The Broncos don't have to contend with all 31 of them each year, but there are three teams that they will clash with twice each season as members of the AFC West Division. As Sun Tzu stated; "If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose." So let us learn what our division opponents did in Day 3 of the 2011 Draft.

THE RAIDERS

Oakland had two picks in the 4th-Round, in which they selected DB Chimdi Chekwa (113) and RB Taiwan Jones (125). In the 5th-Round they chose WR Denarius Moore (148). Round 6 TE Richard Gordon was taken at 181. In Round 7, with the 241st pick, Oakland drafted WR David Ausberry.

Chekwa is a 6'1", 191 lb. Cornerback who typifies the Raiders--he has speed, running a 4.38 40. But as with all the other Oakland qualities, Chekwa doesn't have great hands. When describing Chimdi, I picture Darrius Heyward-Bey on Defense. Jones is another speedster. The 6'0", 196 lb. RB from Eastern Washington runs a 4.35 40, but isn't built to endure a regular workload. He is a poor blocker, so will only see limited touches. He could be a real weapon for the Raiders in the screen game if he can stay healthy. Moore is a 6'0", 194 lb. WR out of Tennessee has 4.43 speed, but unlike many of Oakland's other speedy Wideouts, he has soft hands. Denarius is more of a possession receiver. Gordon and Ausberry are longshots to even make the team.

THE CHARGERS

San Diego blew their wad early, with 5 picks in the first 2 days of the draft. That left them without any selections in the middle rounds. They had two picks in the 6th round which they used on RB Jordan Todman (183) and OL Steve Schilling (201). In Round 7, the Chargers picked up OLB Andrew Gachkar with #234. Todman lacks the girth to be a pure inside runner and is more of a slasher type Running Back. Schilling has the strength and durability to become a starter, but needs to finish his blocks. Gachkar is a developmental project at OLB. He has the speed but must work on his technique and excel on Special Teams to stay in the NF.

THE CHIEFS

Kansas City had five picks on Day 3. In the 4th-Round they chose DB Jalil Brown (118). In the 5th, QB Ricky Stanzi (135) and OLB Gabe Miller (140). With the 199th pick (6th Rd) they took DL Jerrell Powe and in Round 7, RB Shane Bannon (223).

Brown has the size to succeed at the next level and with some technique work, could become a starter. Stanzi is an underrated player that will have the luxury of developing behind Matt Cassel and may end up as one heck of a steal. Miller better be an outstanding Special Teamer to stick with the Chiefs. Powe is a run stuffer who projects to the Nose Tackle position. Bannon has had good production but is not the type of athlete that will be able to succeed in the NFL.

There you have it. I believe the West will be a competitive division when football begind again.

Go Broncos!

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Comments

Cheifs probably had the best draft. I'll give them an A- and I give us a B+

Raiders did alright but not as good as the above. The Chiefs first pick might have been their worst. Baldwin is boom bust.

by ShyandObese on May 1, 2011 1:17 AM MDT reply actions

Some good pick by all but some I never even heard of...Thank you tRaiders..

by bfree2bronc on May 1, 2011 1:25 AM MDT reply actions

I agree with your grade for the Broncos B+

Other sites gave the Broncos a B, but that’s ok. Time will tell how many are starters, how many are still on an NFL team whether its the Broncos or other teams, and how many are gone. I like the chances of the Broncos picks. But this was not a BPA selection system, it was picking for need. The Broncos pickers simply defined BPA as what they needed.

by OrangeandBluesBros on May 1, 2011 7:14 AM MDT reply actions

Other sites also gave the Broncos an A. Just depends on which sites you're looking at. :-)

Either way, as Adam Schefter notes (see below) we’ll… know more in two years.

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.

by underdog on May 1, 2011 8:21 AM MDT up reply actions

Washington Post for one gave Broncos a B

by OrangeandBluesBros on May 1, 2011 9:10 AM MDT up reply actions

It was an A as far as the picks we got. I give them a B because sometimes I think out of the box.

I’m sure glad I wasn’t the one picking…LMAO!

by bfree2bronc on May 1, 2011 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions

A lot of MSM people on Twitter are saying the Broncos

had a Top 5 draft. Most notably Adam Schefter who said we had the 3rd best draft in his opinion

by gnarlybroncodude on May 1, 2011 12:32 PM MDT up reply actions

i agree...

U switch out the franklin pick with paea or austin and we’d get an A+! Could have gotten OL later or through FA. Or kept ryan harris.

by chap on May 1, 2011 7:38 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

The Franklin pick, instead of Austin or Paea bothered me

But Denver needed an RT for the running game. If Franklin pans out in a couple years, I’ll upgrade my draft grade to an A from a B+

by OrangeandBluesBros on May 1, 2011 9:14 AM MDT up reply actions

From Adam Schefter, of ESPN via Twitter

AdamSchefter :
My day-after sense of the teams that had the top 5 drafts. 1. Buccaneers; 2. Cardinals; 3. Broncos; 4. Lions; 5. Texans. #knowmoreintwoyears

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.

by underdog on May 1, 2011 8:21 AM MDT reply actions

Sounds about right

"The only thing I’m addicted to right now is winning." -Charlie Sheen
"I'm going to be a Bronco forever" -Rahim Moore

by Pmoreno95 on May 1, 2011 9:08 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

I think that the Bengals should be in there.

You can be dumb... that's ok! There are many dumb people.
You can be an a$$hole... that's ok! There are many of these as well.
Unfortunately you cannot be both...
Ok... prove me wrong.

by BeachBronco on May 1, 2011 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions

The Giants?

They were getting value steals all over the place, was my sense watching it live.

I gave the Broncos a B-B+, but I’m a tough grader. EFX seem very sold on Franklin as a mauler in the run game whom they can coach up with respect to footwork. I know McG isn’t too high on him, but he graded out pretty well on a number of sites. I like Harris when healthy, but that’s the problem: he has a hard time staying healthy.

I didn’t love the Moore pick, but coupled with QC I like it a lot more. I loved the Irving pick. No problem with Miller over Dareus, though honestly I’d have been happy with either of the two or Peterson.

by JeffG on May 1, 2011 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions

Btw, some good quickie analysis on IAOFM plus video highlights of some of the later picks

http://www.itsalloverfatman.com/broncos/entry/gut-reaction-broncos-picks-on-film-late-rounds
in case you missed it…

pay particular attention to Quentin Carter highlights. The guy is a helluva hitter and one of my favorite picks of their draft.

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.

by underdog on May 1, 2011 8:29 AM MDT reply actions

next for us

http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2011DT.php

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. DA

by Whidbey Bronco on May 1, 2011 8:44 AM MDT reply actions

This guy caught my eye.

Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons. Age: 27.
A power back who doubles as a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield, Jason Snelling logged 44 receptions in 14 games this past season.

You can be dumb... that's ok! There are many dumb people.
You can be an a$$hole... that's ok! There are many of these as well.
Unfortunately you cannot be both...
Ok... prove me wrong.

by BeachBronco on May 1, 2011 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions

yeah, he'll be on our list

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. DA

by Whidbey Bronco on May 1, 2011 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions

And for what it's worth

McShay rated the best drafts in order: 1) Broncos 2) Browns 3) Lions

The QB position is set!

by broncofaninIL on May 1, 2011 9:30 AM MDT reply actions

Bannon has had good production but is not the type of athlete that will be able to succeed in the NFL

Just curious as to what makes you say this? I am under the impression he’ll be a FB not a RB.

Tim Tebow wears 3WM and drinks Tuscan whole milk.

by BroncoMath101 on May 1, 2011 9:43 AM MDT reply actions

I should have added "as a RB"

I agree with the assessment of FB.

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru.
Follow me on Twitter @MHR_KaptainKirk

by KaptainKirk on May 1, 2011 9:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Broncos had the best draft in the Division.....

The Chiefs are right there and IF Baldwin is a stud than they will have had an excellent draft from where they were picking however I think he was a reach there and better players were on the board for them. Clearly their plan was to get a WR first and despite the dropoff from the Top 2 WR, he was arguably the next best.

Anyway, late round picks are all coin flips but any team drafting Von Miller and Rahim Moore got a hell of a lot better regardless of how late round picks turn out. But it does look like the Chiefs and the Raiders seem to have gotten same late round value with a few picks. Time will tell…….

by OC Bronco Fan on May 1, 2011 10:21 AM MDT reply actions

First comment

I LOVE the Von miller pick and think he will be a force with us for a long long time… And also the Moore pick… When you watch film of him he looks like a solid everyday player.. Now I’m an easy grader but I’d give the broncos an A

by Futurebuff24 on May 1, 2011 10:53 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

Welcome Fb24

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks
My ship finally came in, but it was the Kobayashi Maru.
Follow me on Twitter @MHR_KaptainKirk

by KaptainKirk on May 1, 2011 4:20 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks

by Futurebuff24 on May 1, 2011 10:13 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Pretty happy with our draft. Very solid, addresses many of the areas of need. Hard to address all of the areas with just one draft. I like KC’s draft for the future. I don’t see it helping them immediately beyond Baldwin. The biggest factor when looking back at a draft in a couple of years is not just how good the players were or how they project to be, but how well they can be coached. Potentially, there are 6-7 solid starters in a few years for Denver, and KC might have a few in there as well, but I just don’t see it from SD or Oakland.

by Joshua Moczygemba on May 1, 2011 11:09 AM MDT reply actions

Broncos draft was Excellent!!

we set our selves up to be in great position going into free agency, we can either go hard after a 330 plus DT or trade Orton for picks & use those to get Shaun Rodgers or Haynesworth to finish up a great defensive rebuild

NO PRESSURE= NO DIAMONDS

by SH3LL on May 1, 2011 4:28 PM MDT reply actions