My Draft Showcase Mock

[Dedhed]

Here's the way I would draft based on Draft Showcase's Value board.
www.draftshowcase.com/valueboardD.htm (http://www.draftshowcase.com/valueboardD.htm)

Round 1-Amobi Okoye, 6'1" 317lbs DT, Louisville- May need to move up in order to get him, but I don't think too far unless he goes off at the combine. Huge upside here, and DT is our #1 need imo. Would have immediate rapport with Elvis.


Round 2-Joe Staley, 6'5" 300lbs OT, Central Mich- Perfect fit for the Broncos, and the only reason he falls into the second round is due to size. Would be an immediate upgrade over Foster. A converted TE that is still learning, and could be a franchise LT in a couple of years. Great in space, and holds up well at the point of attack.

Round 3 (from Wash)-Mason Crosby, 6'2" 215lbs K, Colorado-Upgrades a woeful ST unit that couldn't get a kickoff into the end zone down wind at altitude. Allows us to trade Elam for an early 4th rounder (maybe more).

Round 3-John Wendling, 6'1" 222 lbs S, Wyoming-Upgrades the depth at the safety spot, and on ST immediately. Is versatile enough to play either safety position, and is a long term solution to replace Lynch who I think may be entering his last year. Great speed for his size, and very good against the run.

Round 4 (for Elam)- Paul Soliai, 6'4" 334lbs DT, Utah- Would add considerable size to the interior DL. Fits well into a Bates scheme to keep the LBs running free.

Round 5- Kolby Smith, 5'11" 205lbs RB, Louisville- Overshadowed by Michael Bush during his career at Loiusville, but has legitimate tools and could be a player at the next level.

Rounds 6+7 to come

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Don't think you'll see Elam traded if they take Crosby. They were willing to go with 3 kickers in '05 and have Ernster exclusively kickoff. Of course that lasted a week since Ernster blew out his knee, but I think you'll see Crosby kickoff and take the longer FGs for '07 and then takeover in '08 if they draft him.

[yerner]

If we use a 3rd rounder on a bleeping kicker I'll puke. Elam has at least 1 more year in him.

[Drek]

A few problems I had with it:
1. Staley won't even get the shot to start, Foster was a first rounder with great phsyical skills and more experience at OT, he rode the pine for a year before getting in games.

2. Crosby might not last to the 70th pick. I'd love to have him myself and have been projecting us picking him there as well, but we should be realistic, many teams could jump on him in round 2.

3. Trade Elam? HELL NO! Even if we get Crosby Elam has proven himself a clutch kicker. I don't want to put our entire kicking/punting game on the shoulders of a rook when we have a great veteran like Elam on the team. Let Crosby adjust to the NFL as a punter with kickoff and long place kicking duties for a year or two, then takes over the show when Elam retires.

4. If Wendling's combine numbers are were they could very well be he might be the third or fourth safety off the board, in the mid to late second round.

I wouldn't put too much stock in their board, they have a lot of underclassmen listed who aren't even entering the draft, makes me question their evaluations, especially with the fact that if Dorsey was in this draft he'd clearly be a 1st rounder.

[DBroncos4life]

If we use a 3rd rounder on a bleeping kicker I'll puke. Elam has at least 1 more year in him.

He should go in the second.