2011 NFL Draft Grades: Denver Broncos Draft Grades From Around The Web

and not bad for year one. EFX seemed to work well as a team. Gives me confidence in Elway’s ability to lead the FO. And I know everyone was clamoring for DT, but oh how long its been since we had quality depth at LB!

Liked the way we took value while also addressing needs. We’ve still got several holes, but we should be in good shape as an organization if we address the draft like this every year.

John Elway’s first draft has the potential to be a great one that addressed all the team’s most glaring needs.

All of our needs addressed! You know…if you don’t count the biggest need – DT. Ha ha. These guys get paid to make comments like that.

I say B, because some picks are really going to have to prove themselves before I will consider them great picks. I do think this draft was designed not to have 4-5 starters game 1, rather to phase out older players as time goes on, which was a huge plus in my book. I can’t give them an A, I just can’t, for ignoring DT, that moved them down to a C in my mind after the draft. But the long term look of these draftees and the focus on other areas of weakness, combined with some good value picks brings it back up to a B. This draft could easily be a C or D if players like Carter, Irving, and Franklin struggle, but it could also end up being an A in the long run as well, depending on how the TE’s work out.

so, overall, I give this draft a B.

They have talked that they were having conversations on moving up to draft Fairly if he kept falling

I had made several mocks with us getting Dareus or Fairley in the first round, and another DT in the second. However, I am very pleased at how the draft went. I believe FA will provide us with the DT help we need. I see them bringing back Marcus Thomas, hopefully Justin Bannon, and signing maybe Mebane from Seattle.

I think last year we had players playing in a 3-4 that were, and are, better suited for the 4-3 DT position. So I am not worried. I trust the leadership of EFX will fill this hole.

DT are notoriously hard to draft. I read a comment on this web site that stated John Fox only drafted 3 DTs at Carolina – two were cut and one hardly plays. Apparently Fox likes super large DTs – most of the highly rated DTs were 6’1 and 300 pounds or so – maxed out in their size. The need for DTs to compliment the other defensive players drafted and remaining crew is obvious and will be addressed. I understand that it is hard not to lose confidence quickly due to the McD debacle – he was given a lot of trust and just completely JACKED up the team with poor player decisions in the draft and in other moves. We need to give the new regime some room to work before we judge. There are some free agents to sign yet and a few undrafted free agents that will be looked at (check out Ian Williams nose tackle from Norte Dame for example… 6’1+, 320 pounds, space eater run stopper projected to be gone by 4th and was undrafted and now with an admitted big chip on shoulder).

Finally, in reference to any angst of the DTs we passed on, please read this scouting report on Marcus Thomas – who was widely considered the BEST player on the FL team until he was kicked off for his love of the Mutha Earf product… we have him on our team and he is okay but certainly no Warren Sapp:

“…could potentially be the best defensive tackle selected… may be the best "pure" pass rusher from the defensive tackle position in this draft class. He is an excellent blend of power and speed for a prospect that could potentially be one of the legitimate steals in the NFL Draft. From a pure athletic, on the field prospect point of view, right up there with Amobi Okoye and Alan Branch… He is reminiscent of Warren Sapp, if I had to suggest anyone. He will need some coaching, but the ceiling as a DT prospect is extremely high. His draft stock is going to vary depending on what team you are speaking to. Could go as high as early round 2 or as late as early round 4, but wherever he is selected, the team who takes the chance could reap the benefits down the line”.

and evaluations. Those that think it wasn’t a good draft think so because we have so many stinkin’ needs on D and probably still feel we are not quite there…I agree with that, but we only had 5 picks (to start) and EFX made that 9 (great job!) and you cannot redeem the whole D with one draft. The spots they drafted made sense to me even though I too would have liked to seen us get a DT (Darius) but I do understand what they are doing, free agency will tell the tale. I also have high hopes for Marcus Thomas and Vick in a 4-3, I’ve always felt they were both better suited for it. One good FA DT, one that demands double-teams and that would make this draft an A++, here’s hoping. One last thing….Adam Caplan with Fox Sports is an idiot, his comments above may be the dumbest I’ve heard through this whole draft weekend. Von Miller a DE? It gives me hope that if my current career does not pan out I can go to sports writing because obviously they pay anyone with a pulse to do it.

If a B means I think it’s solid, then that would be the grade.

The patience was my favorite part. I’m so thrilled we didn’t trade away any 2012 picks chasing players for a 2011 rebuilding team. Patience was NOT a McD virtue. And that burned him like crazy. It’s the most important lesson he should have picked up from his short stint in Denver.

I thought both our draft day trades were wins for Denver. I’m surprised Green Bay asked for so little in that 4th round deal for Julius Thomas. Getting a mid 4th and 5th round pick to move back 9 spots in round 2 was quite fantastic.

I’d rather have Moore, Carter and Thomas than Jarvis Jenkins. That move was the very definition of how you draft smart and take more than you give. The 49ers got their guy, but they paid a heavy price for it. Bravo front office.

I’m with you John (and many others), in that, there is absolutely no merit in ‘grading’ a draft class this early, but I also get the fun of trying. I’d say “B” – simply because We didn’t hit on too much up the middle run stuff-support on D.

I believe there are plenty of undrafted DT prospects We can scoop up, or grab a FA or two, so I am not one to worry, plus We’ve got Vickerson and Thomas, who I feel are underrated and growing exponentially, with their respective experience. I think Eddie Royal’s got it right (as he said the other day on his Facebook page), in that the Broncos are going to surprise a lot of people this year, including many-a Broncos fans.

I’m with the majority of the national guys. Would have been an A had we picked at least one big interior D lineman. As is, a B with a lot of potential upside. I like the fact that they didn’t go chasing guys who they overvalued like McD did over the past two drafts. It seemed like they had a much more fundamentally sound approach and plan.

Anyone else shocked that McShay said we “won” the AFC draft?

And Kiper said nice things about our draft? What the hell?

Other than that I came away with a few conclusions:

 - Regardless of if you (or I) like it or not expect Haynesworth to be in Orange and Blue next year. Washington didn’t draft a QB and we didn’t draft a DT. And I’m sure Elway still talks to Shanny. I think something is in the works there. Not saying I like it – I’m just saying expect it.

- Our defense is going to generate more turnovers. I like Rahim Moore in that center fielder role in our defense, but I really don’t think he’s strong enough, yet, to make tackles at an NFL level. I watched his gametape and he struggled wrapping up consistently BUT he was consistently around the ball. Quinton Carter is a straight up steal. He has that BLOW IT UP mentality that will jar some balls loose once he gets an NFL level strength and conditioning program.

- Nate Irving is the steal of this draft. You can’t teach the instincts he has. He is a sure and punishing tackler that sheds blocks well and flys to the ball. He plays faster than his measurables. He is SOLID in coverage, too, and combined with his instincts will generate some serious plays for Denver. He is my 2nd favorite pick in the draft.

- Von Miller is rare. Dareus is talented, yes, but I think too many people are expecting Suh with him and thats not reasonable. Miller is going to be a NIGHTMARE for OCs to scheme against. This guy is coming INTO the league with several different pass rush moves which is rare and he’s only going to get better. Look for him to make an impression early.

- EFX likes what we have on offense and we can expect a very defensive oriented draft for the next several years. Our offensive is very young save a few pieces here and there. We should be very excited at the youth on offense.

- The two DTs we wanted went off the board early. Jenkins and Ballard. Jenkins went to the skins and you can’t help but wonder if this was a move by Shanny to almost force Denver’s hand in trading Orton their way. Plus Jenkins can step in and fill Haynesworth spot.

- Can we get some 2012 mock drafts going yet?

I can’t give it a full A since we drafted Franklin and didn’t get a DT, but niether of those were horrbile mistakes and they got great value at every pick, including Nate Irving

Though Linebacker and Safety aren’t the sexiest picks in the moment, they are when it comes to crushing fools on the field. This is the draft that I’ve wanted for the last four years. We are on the way to seeing something really special happen with our D. In this draft there wasnt the usual “Oh crap! What did we just do moment…” that we seem to be used to seeing. I think we did great. Bring on Free Agency! Woo woo!

J

…C or worse if less than half the picks pan out while the drafted DL makes the other teams look good and whatever remaining plans the Broncos have for 2011 DL possibly do not pan out.

DL is/was considered a big need, wasn’t it?

Without DL I don’t believe in pass rush and certainly not rush defense. Instead of projecting sack counts I’d prefer to count QB hurries and QB pressures.

But I think this should go down as an A-, I understand that there are many more holes to fill, but I am so glad that no reaches were made, they stuck to their board, paid attention to their scouts, and got good value throughout, also were able to trade back and pick up some more picks, great job there as well.

I may quible over some of the selections versus who I would of liked personnelly, but agin I will defer to how the EFX crew had their ratings before rushing to judgement. They are paid to do it, I am just a fan.

I would also say this is an incomplete grade in the sense we can’t sign undrafted free agents, I am really curious of who they have targeted, cause there are some good players still out there that we will have to wait and see what happens.

and I still remain confident we can get a new CBA done on time before games are missed. Here is a pro-Broncos clip! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HR9caPH1Ns

1) During their post-draft presser, Fox and Elway kept referring to Miller as a difference maker and somebody that the other team has to account for. They wanted to draft a player who brings the most dirsuptive skill set to the draft, and that player is absolutely Miller. As early as week 1, opposing teams must account for Miller AND Dumervil at all times. They will absolutely have to game plan for the 2 of them.

2) Denver obviously only graded 5 DTs as starters. By taking Miller, they passed up 4 of them. By trading back and adding TWO starters (irving & Moore), they passed on the 5th. They did not grade Austin as a starter, otherwise they’d have drafted him.

3) Would you rather them draft a late round DT, knowing full well that he wasn’t talented enough to start, over players that Denver obviously rated higher than the highest available DT on their board? Denver doesn’t need bottom of the roster DTs. We already have plenty of those.

4) Elway characterized Denver’s biggest need as “Front 7”. They drafted the best front 7 player in the draft according to MOST analysts. The real conversation is why NOT Dareus. To me, it’s because of level of impact. Not just that Darus can be accounted before and they may have felt like teams would have a harder time game-planning fro Miller than Dareus. But knowing that Denver is in Nickel 40+% of the time, Denver drafted the best nickel D-Lineman in the draft in Von Miller. He and Doom will be on the edges, Bannan (if he comes back, if not TBA) and Ayers on the inside. That’s a stellar Nickel DL. Maybe best in the NFL.

How long has it been since we were actually “nasty” on our OLine? Franklin reportedly is a nasty and some have considered him a dirty player. No better way can an offense be more proficient with what they are doing than to take an opposing defensive player or players out of their game. Players don’t play well when they are mad or upset, their mind is somewhere else and it makes a great time to attck their weaknesses…Way to go EFX…Can’t wait to see this young man busting someone’s gonads! I graded the draft a B only because we didn’t get a DT, but I see their plan and I love the direction the Broncos are going in…13-3 Bay!!! Until we ain’t!

Gave the Draft a B, would have gone B+ if I could.

4 front seven players taken, more than the last 3 drafts combined. Lack of DT bothers me, but not nearly as much if we had taken a DT just to take one and they turned out to be the Jarvis Moss or Willie Middlebrooks of DT’s. Take the best player that fits your system seems to be the model they followed.

Favorite pick for me is Franklin in the second round. When they described him as a nasty blocker especially in the run game, I liked it cause 3rd and short has been a problem for years around here and hopefully he will help with that problem. Line him up next to Kuper and run behind them.

How come the guy from foxsport gives the draft a “C”, yet his reason makes no sense?

Out main needs heading into the draft were defense, defense, more defense, RT, and TE. We arguably could have used upgrades at every position on defense heading into the draft. We also had no RT and our TE’s are terrible. So I really like how EFX stuck to the board and kept picking the best players available.

Von Miller won the Butkus award in his senior year and could be a terror as a 3rd down pass rusher. He fills a huge need at Sam linebacker. He is a for sure starter day 1.

Moore was by far the best safety in this class. He is a ballhawk, a hard worker, and a high character guy. He plays a great center fielder and is likely to start day 1 for us.

Franklin was a pick that I am not thrilled about, but I understand the pick. We need a RT so the need fits.

Irving is a guy I like a lot. He is a thumper of a MLB and it will be great to some competition at that spot. Parcells rated him as a 1st round talent. He could very well start this year.

Carter was arguably the 2nd best safety. He lacks some instincts, but he is an absolute thumper. Type his name into google and you will see clips of him just destroying receivers. He is a great SS prospect who could learn behind Dawk for a year and take over next year.

Julius Thomas is the TE that I wanted for a long time. Rich Quinn and Gronk will likely never be receiving tight ends and it is crucial to have receiving TE when you are developing a young QB. Thomas could start this year.

Mike Mohammad played 3-4 MLB for Cal. He is an extremely hard worker who will give us much needed LB depth and another ST player. I think he’ll eventually be a ST captain.

Virgil Green was projected to go a lot higher then this, but fell due to medical concerns. If he can stay healthy, he will give Tebow an extremely athletic TE to throw too. He was a fantastic option for Kaepernick.

Jeremy Beal is just a great value. He had a very productive career at Oklahoma and will give us nice depth at DE.

Overall, I like our draft a lot, but I can’t give us an A. Our biggest need was at DT and we didn’t address it at all. That stops me from giving us an A, but I like our draft a lot and we could easily have 4-5 starters from this draft. Great first draft by EFX with lots more to come.

If we can nab a stout DT or two in F.A. then I can easily see it becoming an A draft. I believe we got great value with all our picks, and Miller will be sensational teaming up with Doom. I feel much better about our defense going in to this season, and I haven’t had that feeling for quite a while. Now we need to see what Tebow can do. If nothing else, it will be an exciting time in Broncoland if for nothing else than the changes this team has seen over the last year or so. Hopefully this time we’ve found a coach that will stick around for a while.