Denver Broncos: Reviewing the Draft - 2007 Edition

People always argue if a draft class was good or not and grade it. Most people including me think that it takes 2 or 3 years before you can actually grade a class. Leading up to the draft we will take a look at who the Broncos drafted in the past 10 years. These drafts were conducted by Mike Shanahan and Josh McDaniels.

Jarvis Moss - Defensive End - Florida - 17th Overall

Moss' figure was freakish. He was 6'7 260 pounds which is what made him an interesting prospect. However he had a red flag on him because of a suspension in college. The Broncos traded up from 21 to select Moss. The Broncos gave the Jaguars their third and fifth round pick along with their first to move up. Mike Shanahan was hoping to have the player that game up big against Ohio State in the BCS title game. In his rookie season he played in 6 games recording 12 tackles and one sack. He then broke his shin and was placed on IR. The next season was very average but in 2009 Moss was moved to outside linebacker in the transition to a 3-4 defense.

There was speculation that Moss would be cut after a weak preseason but he made the team. Then in 2010 preseasonThere was a high chance until Elvis Dumervil went out with a season ending injury. Finally in November of 2010, Moss was released and picked up by the Raiders.

Tim Crowder - Defensive End - Texas - 56th Overall

Crowder was the second defensive end for the Broncos in the draft and again, Shanahan decided it would be a good idea to take a defensive end that won the BCS title a couple years before. Crowder was a 6'4 260 pound defensive end. He had a decent rookie year playing 13 games and recording four sacks. However in 2008, he only played six games. He was waived by the Broncos at the beginning of the 2009 season and today plays in Tampa Bay.

Ryan Harris - Offensive Tackle - Notre Dame - 70th Overall

Harris is a 6'5 300 pound tackle. He started in Notre Dame for four seasons. He did not play a lot in his rookie year but in 2008 started every game and allowed only 1.5 sacks. In 2009 Harris was playing well until he suffered from a couple dislocated toe injuries which removed him the season severely impacting the Broncos running game. He is still with the team but has been rumored to not be returning the the Broncos this season.

Marcus Thomas - Defensive Tackle - Florida - 121st Overall

Thomas is a 6'3 315 pound defensive tackle. Thomas made five starts in his rookie year but appeared in all 16 games. He finished with 14 tackles and one interception. With the Broncos in his four year career, he has not missed a game yet. In 2008 he started every game but in 2009 and 2010 under Josh McDaniels, Thomas did get any starts.

This draft really suffered from trading up. Jarvis Moss is arguably the biggest bust in Broncos history. Trading up and losing our third and fifth round pick was really costly. Notably the Broncos did sign undrafted runningback Selvin Young, another BCS winning player from Texas. Young racked up a few 100 yard rushing games after taking over for Travis Henry but after struggling he was waived in 2009.

Grade the Draft