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NFL Draft: Top Ten Denver Broncos Draft Busts - #2 Jarvis Moss

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Getty Images

The Denver Broncos have had their share of ups and downs in the NFL Draft.  Over the next few weeks, we'll look at the highest of highs and lowest of lows.  We'll start with the Top-10 Draft Busts in Broncos history, followed by the Top-10 Draft picks in team history.  Agree or disagree, this will help us pass the time as we march full-steam ahead towards the 2011 NFL Draft.

We come to the top-2 picks on the list, and as has been said numerous times already this list is by no means the official list from #1 through #10.  Many of these guys could easily be #1.  Even as I go through the list I created, I find myself second guessing, um, myself.  There's no turning back here on the internet, however, so the beat - and this list goes on.....

#2 - Jarvis Moss, DE - Florida(2007, 1st Round, 17th Overall)

I think we have come to the conclusion that Mike Shanahan had some tough times in the NFL Draft, especially on the defensive side of the football. Moss was another example of this.  See if any of this is familiar - a defensive player has a huge game in the National Championship, causing his draft stock to soar.  That was Moss.  In truth, Moss was a tweener at the NFL level, not quite strong enough to play defensive end, not quite fast enough to play in space.

What made the pick that much worse was the face the Broncos actually gave up two additional picks to swap pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars - moving up from #21 to #17 - a move that most think wasn't necessary to get Moss.  The Broncos gave the Jags the #86(3rd Round) and #198(5th Round) to move up, giving the Broncos just 4 picks in the 2007 Draft.

What the Broncos were hoping they were getting in Moss - the defensive player that dominated Ohio State in the Championship Game, the explosive player that seemingly jumped out of the stadium to block field goals in big spots - that guy never showed up.  Moss did play in 34 games for the Broncos during his 4 seasons, but tallied just 23 tackles and 3.5 sacks. In between was a short period of time during Training Camp in 2009 when Moss left the team, reportedly to figure out if he still wanted to play football - a report that was later denied.

Moss was released in November 2010 before being picked up by the Oakland Raiders.  Whether Moss pulled the wool over the eyes of the Broncos, or talent evaluation was lacking, Moss' selection in 2007 - combined with the move to acquire him - puts him at #2 on my list.

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