Draft Board

There are a lot of people (myself included) who look at the Draft for what we can trade for/ get out of the draft. Either picks or people, this happens quite a bit come draft day. I saw a few questions here and there about what are salaries for 12th overall picks or what's the value of our Draft choices. Matt R provided me with this chart. It was hard to read at first so I re-did a little of it. I hope it helps.

As you can see from the chart, our # 12 pick has a value of 1200 points. In a trade Denver would have to get draft picks equal or close to that number to have in considered a good trade (i.e. #30 @ 620 #62 @ 284 and #94 @ 124 = 1028 pts). Teams can also add players to the mix which is a little more of a gamble for a team.

Examples:

*    Eli Manning was #1 Pick 8 years ago and has a Super Bowl Ring so Manning is worth probably 1800-2200 points.
*    Javon Walker who was a #20 Pick 8 years ago and he has had surgery after surgery and more bad seasons as he has progressed than good ones so his Draft day trade value would be around 350-600 points.
     After a team looks at how many "points" a player or draft pick is worth, they then add salaries. With current players this is easier because you know what their salary already is. The choice then becomes, do you pay play "X" 5 million dollars a year and then sign draft pick "Y" for 800k a year and hope player "X" has enough impact on your team that the trade seems worth it. Or do you stay with Player "Z" (original Draft Slot) in hopes of grooming the guy into your franchise player at his position.
With Draft Picks its a question of Do I pay players "A" and "B" 1.25 million a year and hoe they bond with the team and develop into the players we want or do I pay player "C" 2.5 million a year because he is already a well developed player.

After looking at projections these are my choices for Denver.

#12 Keith Rivers LB, USC
We really need help everywhere on defense. One of the main reasons we was 30th against the run and 28th in points allowed was its pedestrian line backing corps. D.J. Williams was playing out of position all year, while the lackluster Ian Gold wasn't making any plays at the weak side slot. Gold has been released, opening up an even greater void at his former position. The Broncos can mend it together by selecting Keith Rivers, assuming the Saints and Bengals both pass on him. If Rivers isn't here, Denver could go after Ryan Clady (OT Boise St.) or Kenny Philips (FS Miami)

# 42 Kentwan Balmer DT, North Carolina
We were 30th against the run last year and desperately needs to acquire some talent at defensive tackle. Kentwan Balmer is yet another first-round talent to fall into the second round because of how deep this draft class is. I don't think hear us complaining though. We could also go after Trevor Laws (DT Notre Dame) who has really improved his draft stock in the postseason with a good Senior Bowl showing and putting up 35 reps on the bench press. Sam Baker (OT USC) would also be a good choice here

#104 Adam Krause OG, Michigan
    Here is a great player who will fit our ZB and come in the 4th round. He can play Guard or Center but is more effective for us at Guard. He is almost NFL ready. The other option here is trade 104 and 115 (maybe 209 as well) and up to pick number 45 and grab Sam Baker (OT USC) if we haven't drafted him already or left the board.

#115 Adrian Arrington WR, Michigan
    Arrington is another Marshall type of player. He is not a top prospect but possesses the size to be a running team's WR. He can stretch a defense long enough to create a gap in the middle for a runner to disturb.

#140 Mike Hart RB, Michigan
    Honestly I was shocked to see his name so low on so many databases. If hart stays here (projected Round 4-5) I say we snag him with this pick or even find him in the 4th round at 104 or 115. He is the type of runner we are looking for and would be a 1500 yard guy easily in Denver's system

#202 Marcus Coleman OC, Wisconsin
    This is a move more for Depth than anything else. He is a great player and while the badgers struggled he did his best to ensure that The QB was covered and the runner could get to the second level. We could also trade this pick away with another for one further up in the draft. This one could be used for low key D Line or O Line players as well as Safeties and Corners.

#209 Todd Blythe WR, Iowa State
    Blythe like Arrington is ideal for a running team which Michigan, Iowa St. and USC are. I think that he would be an excellent 7th rounder and dropping so far would give him so much more to prove to people who over looked him before this.

Now Denver Has the #12, #42, #104, and #115. What do you think we should do?  Should we trade 12 and 42 for 6?  104 and 115 for 88?  42 and 104 for 34? What are you thoughts? Feedback and don't forget to take the poll at the bottom!