DT/DE Alan Branch to enter NFL Draft

[BroncoBen]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Alan Branch is skipping his senior season at Michigan to enter the NFL draft, delivering a blow to the Wolverines a week after they lost the Rose Bowl.

The 6-foot-6, 311-pound defensive tackle, a second-team All-American, is projected as a first-round pick in April's draft.

"It's always been a childhood dream for me, but it was surprising how tough of a decision it was," Branch said Monday.

Branch took advantage of a service the NFL offers to draft-eligible players who are not seniors, and the league gave him good news.

"I got my grade back and it said I was a solid first-rounder -- middle to late first round -- and it really did reinforce everything I've been hearing," he said. "It didn't really have that much pull in my decision, but it made me that much more confident."

[ludo21]

:pray:

get it done shanny!!

The talent in this draft is astounding. Even if we stay put at 21, we will get a very good player there

[orinjkrush]

pull the trigger. and stay away from CBs and TEs and WRs in the draft.

[That One Guy]

He was a 2nd team All American? By the way folks were talking about him, I thought he had already been selected for his first pro-bowl

Seriously though, seeing he got a draft grade of mid to late first would drop him to us if that held true. Good to see

[-Slap-]

This is one of the few players in the Draft I would be willing to trade up to acquire.

[Play2win]

Oh, Hell YESSS!!! :militia:


I heard he was a Bronco fan growing up too.... :)

[Orange_Beard]

Make it happen captin.

[maven]

Great! The more that come out the better it is for Denver making selections.

[ward63]

Please, Oh God...get Him!!!!!!!!!!!

[epicSocialism4tw]

This is the guy. He's 6'6+" and moves really well.

He might not dominate in his first season, but this is one of those guys that looks like he will turn into an all-pro.

It's time to invest in the D-line. It's time for Shanny to step up to the plate and get a difference maker at DT.

[CBF1]

Those DE's for Florida looked awful good tonight. Wonder how high Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey will go in the draft.

[CBF1]

Scratch my last post.... Harvey is only a sophmore. I heard a while ago that Moss will be coming out a year early.

[elsid13]

pull the trigger. and stay away from CBs and TEs and WRs in the draft.

Their to much quality talent not to take WR sometime in first day. This is best corp of WR, that there has in couple of years.

[footstepsfrom#27]

I watched Branch extensively in the Rose Bowl against USC since we're in such dire need in the D-Line. The initial report I'd read suggested he was not a playmaker...just a space eater. Based on the USC game only...I'd say that's not true. He showed excellent quickness and explosion and closed holes in a hurry in the running game and showed good push in his upfield rush. If he's there at #21...why not?

[OrangeShadow]

Hey they targeted a specific player last year and traded up a lot to get him. Branch is worth doing that for and i would LOVE to see it. The guy can give us pressure up the middle to collpase the pocket and take the pressure of the ends.

[BroncoBen]

"I got my grade back and it said I was a solid first-rounder -- middle to late first round --

All I have heard or read projects Branch to be a top 10 pick if not taken in the top 5. Branch is suppose to be the top Defensive lineman coming out in the draft. Some talking head had him taken #3 overall by the Cards.

The question now is if he is going to participate in the combines or sit out.

No way he slips to the Broncos at #21, not unless he does participate in the combines and has a bad workout.

[chrisp]

No way he slips to the Broncos at #21, not unless he does participate in the combines and has a bad workout.

You must not have been around here very long - every year we kick off the draft speculation by drooling over the players we have no hope of getting - Its a time-honoured tradition, stop p***ing on our fire ;D

On a serious note, I think people need to remember we don't have anything like the ammunition we had last year to trade up - we had another first-round pick then , this year we've got an extra third or something like that. We could move up a couple of spots but that's about it.

Of course I'm always optimistic for another blockbuster trade/steal, and Shanny is very good at pulling these off whatever else you might say about him, but we have to realise that drafting at #11 last year was probably a one-off, and we are going to have to hope that one of the less stellar names turns out to be a diamond in the rough.

[Rohirrim]

Unfortunately, once the combine is over, Branch goes in the top ten. I don't know if the Broncos can come up with the juice to climb that high. Plummer, anyone? Tatum, a third and our first? etc.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Unfortunately, once the combine is over, Branch goes in the top ten. I don't know if the Broncos can come up with the juice to climb that high. Plummer, anyone? Tatum, a third and our first? etc.
Not true:

1) Foster for a 7th and a bag of rotten fruit.
2) Both 7ths for another 6th
3) Both 6ths for another 5th
4) Both 5ths for another 4th
5) Both 4ths for another 3rd
6) 2 3rds for another 2nd
7) #21 and a 2nd for a top 10 pick

See how simple that was? ;D

[defenseman]

Know nothing about him. Is this guy that good? There is alot of quality in this years draft, I wouldn't be jumping too quickly. Lots to look at...dman

[ZONA]

Right now - I would take Florida's entire starting Dline over what we have now.

There are some real studs out there and if we can package a current player with some of our later round picks, we might be able to steal 2 Dlinemen in the first round. That's what we need. Get it done Mike.

[Rohirrim]

Know nothing about him. Is this guy that good? There is alot of quality in this years draft, I wouldn't be jumping too quickly. Lots to look at...dman

Let's put it this way; If the Broncos had Branch at DT, in a couple of years, Elvis would be a double digit sack star in the NFL. ;D

[Requiem]

Branch will be a top fifteen selection; more than likely top ten. Just remember that the Draft Advisory Council is very conservative on their grades; usually a half-round lower to a round lower to get kids to stay in school and get their degrees. There's really no shot at Branch unless the Broncos position themselves with a trade to move up again like they did last year without having to give up much ammo; then using one of the picks we have now on a guy.

I'm a Michigan fan, and I love Branch; but there are still other great options for us without having to trade up. Some of those guys are Glenn Dorsey from LSU; who I expect to declare and DeMarcus Tyler out of NCST. Not to mention the plethora of ends projected in that middle-to-late part of round one as it is.

Branch is a true difference maker and would be an absolute beast on this line; but it's unlikely we'll get him. This draft is exceptionally deep at defensive end and solid at tackle so there will be good guys all over the board.

About Jarvis Moss; there are some people who believe after last night's performance he'll go in the late-first round. It's possible; but the guy will likely be a second-round selection due to some off the field problems he'll need to address in interviews.

Denver doesn't HAVE to go DL in Round One; but they should.

[Darkhawk24]

There was no way Branch wasn't going to enter the draft. It was a pleasure watching this beast all year long. I'd do cartwheels if Denver could some how draft him. Though I think when it's all said and done he will go around the 8-12 range.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Denver doesn't HAVE to go DL in Round One; but they should.

If Denver neglects the defensive trench again in this draft like they have since taking Trevor Pryce at pick 28 in 1998, I will really start to question where Shanahan is going with this group of players. He has the horses on two levels of the defense to really have a special group. The only thing holding them back is consistent, effective play from the front four.

This draft is the deepest DL draft in a long time, and Denver has a pick in a spot where a few players who could be difference makers will be available.

I fear that Shanny will end up taking a RB, though. Unless someone of the calibur of Mike Bush is there for us to take (not Marshawn Lynch), I think that its a waste of time.

If we dont take DL in round 1, we HAVE to take OL. Period. There are no more glaring needs on this team than there are at those two spots.

[Requiem]

I have the strange feeling that Denver's going too look at getting Marshawn by trading up to #15 with the Steelers.

There are a lot of names out there though on the defensive line; which is why I said we didn't have to go round one. You can find difference makers all over the place; and it doesn't have to be a guy in round-one that does the trick. We won't know exactly the direction they're heading until some free agents are signed and we start hearing some draft rumors. I want them to address defensive line early; believe me. I hope they do; but with this depth it's not necessarily something they HAVE to do.

The Broncos have four picks on the first day; but I think they have five main issues.

1) The Defensive Line. . . DE/DT are both needed.
2) Offensive Line. . . Tackle depth is needed.
3) Running Back. . . Everyone wants that stud; but it's not easy to get.
4) Safety. . . Lynch is 35, Ferguson is 31. . . Abdullah and Cox are good role players; mediocre starters. . . IF THAT.
5) Wide Receiver. . . A slot guy; for when Rod retires; and it's not a given that Marshall develops.

Some of these will be addressed in free agency; perhaps wide receiver with another target like Daniel Graham at TE. Denver can't address all of them on the first day; and they just may see things differently than we do.

Hopefully not in the trenches though.

[Rohirrim]

I'm somewhat of a Cal fan (after the Buffs) and I think Marshawn is a great back, but he's not what the Broncos need (besides the fact that I'm concerned about his durability at the next level). Marshawn is a finesse runner. The Broncos already have enough of those. What they really need is a power back, a la Bettis. The guy to get, if they're going that route, is Michael Bush. If not Bush, then Brian Leonard, who, IMO, could be an H back weapon in Shanahan's hands, even playing out of the slot on occasion (he has excellent hands) but at the least would make those 3rd and shorts a done deal. No, I don't see Leonard as strictly a FB. He's much more a Bettis type than Bush is.

[CBF1]

Right now - I would take Florida's entire starting Dline over what we have now.

There are some real studs out there and if we can package a current player with some of our later round picks, we might be able to steal 2 Dlinemen in the first round. That's what we need. Get it done Mike.

I was thinking the exact same thing watching the game last night. REP

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Before folk get too attached to one player, they should wait till all of the underclassmen formally declare and the dust starts to settle. Every year we see all they hype around a few players early, only to see them drop to round 3+. I'm not saying Branch will drop like that, but by the time the combine is over, it is possible others will have passed him by.

I'm still sticking to my theory that the Broncs will give Cutler more weapons on offense, specifically a RB and a speed WR, but I hope the other two first day picks go to the DL.