Dedhed
02-22-2008, 05:27 PM
Here's my stab at a pre-FA mock draft. Subject to change when we sign Corey Williams, although even signing Williams wouldn’t change much for me as far as our draft needs are concerned.
The value at #12 is going to be on the offensive side of the ball, which is not at all where our needs lay. I know it’s impossible and unrealistic to predict trades, but it’s more fun, and, lets face it, no mock draft has much reality in it.
Broncos give pick #12(1200 pts) to the 49ers in exchange for:
Pick #29(640 pts) and Pick #39 (510 pts)
The Broncos give 1200 pts and the 9ers give up 1150pts. We should get a 5th rounder from them as well, but if it pushes the deal through it will be worth it.
That gives the Broncos picks 29, 39, 42, 104, 115, 130, 140, and 202.
I still want a 3rd rounder, and we'll give up pick #115 and Javon Walker to the Tampa Bay Bucs for pick #83. That puts a 4th round value on Walker.
So going into the mock the Broncos will have the following picks:
1(29)
2(39)
2(42)
3(83)
4(104)
5(130)
5(140)
7(202)
And here are my selections:
#29-Dan Conner, LB, Penn State- I’ve battled with whether this pick should be used to bolster a defense that is desperate for talent, or be used to further an offense that already has the makings of being a very potent unit. Ultimately I went with Connor because I think that adding a true MLB will upgrade two positions with one selection. I also think that the best OT in the draft will be available in the 2nd round. Connor is the all-time leading tackler at the school that churns out tacklers like it’s their god-given right. Conner is the most versatile LB in this class by a long shot, and will play the mike position in Denver for the next 10 years. Adding a true MLB and allowing DJ Williams to move back to the weak side will upgrade the defense more than any other pick and make Denver’s LB corps better than it has been in years. Connors has the tenacity and the instincts that you want from your middle linebacker, and will quickly step into a leadership role on a defense that will be desperate for leaders once John Lynch retires. Connor is a football player first and foremost, and will add a little ferocity to a unit that has been too much about finesse for a number of years now.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LIB6PaLSG-U (http://youtube.com/watch?v=LIB6PaLSG-U)
#39-Brandon Albert, OT, Virginia- I’m not even considering that Albert will play a down of Guard at the next level, and I think he is perhaps the best tackle prospect available for Denver’s system. At 6’6” and 315 lbs, I think he has the tools and the ability to be a LT in the NFL from day one. He’s great in space where a left tackle needs to be comfortable, he has the ability and power to dominate the point of attack, and both the size and footwork to be great in pass protection. Albert would give the Broncos OL some much needed power in the short yardage game while also upgrading the level of pass protection on the all important blind side. Investing in a guy like Albert will pay off for years to come.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806b5815 (http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806b5815)
#42-Red Bryant, DT, Texas A&M- A nose tackle type defensive tackle that will provide the perfect compliment to the more penetrating style of 2nd year DT Marcus Thomas. Bryant is a 'take on two and ‘stand them up' type of mauling defensive tackle who fills a big need for a Broncos team that hasn't had a player to fill that role since the turn of the century. Bryant anticipates the snap very well, and gets underneath his opposing OL on the majority of snaps. He has the ability to penetrate because of his anticipation, but excels in stuffing the run and keeping his 'backers free to run behind him. Bryant is 6’5” and 325 lbs of nasty demeanor, who has a low center of gravity and is very difficult to move backwards or even sideways. He also runs a sub 5.0 40 yard dash which gives him the ability to pursue better than most beefy guys in the middle, and could allow him to play on the edge during running downs. Adding Bryant would give the Broncos the beginnings of a solid young DT corps with Marcus Thomas. He’s got the type of versatility that you don’t often see from a trench man.
#83-Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt- I would consider taking a safety here, but with the departure of Walker the Broncos are looking pretty thin at receiver yet again, and I'm not sure there's a starter in this year's safety class. Earl Bennett is the first receiver in SEC history to catch 75 passes in 3 consecutive seasons. He’s also the only SEC receiver to catch 75 passes or more in back to back seasons. Bennett isn’t the biggest, fastest, or flashiest receiver in this draft, but he has been as consistently productive as any WR coming out. He runs nice routes and has the knack for finding soft spots in zone schemes. He has tremendous hands and excels in catching the ball in traffic. More like a running back after he catches the ball, Bennett is similar to Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, but more polished as a route runner given that he played receiver in college. And need I mention he would have immediate rapport with QB Jay Cutler, having been Jay’s favorite target from the day he arrived at Vanderbilt.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pDRIjZlJsAA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2-2yd_EPqB8&feature=related
The value at #12 is going to be on the offensive side of the ball, which is not at all where our needs lay. I know it’s impossible and unrealistic to predict trades, but it’s more fun, and, lets face it, no mock draft has much reality in it.
Broncos give pick #12(1200 pts) to the 49ers in exchange for:
Pick #29(640 pts) and Pick #39 (510 pts)
The Broncos give 1200 pts and the 9ers give up 1150pts. We should get a 5th rounder from them as well, but if it pushes the deal through it will be worth it.
That gives the Broncos picks 29, 39, 42, 104, 115, 130, 140, and 202.
I still want a 3rd rounder, and we'll give up pick #115 and Javon Walker to the Tampa Bay Bucs for pick #83. That puts a 4th round value on Walker.
So going into the mock the Broncos will have the following picks:
1(29)
2(39)
2(42)
3(83)
4(104)
5(130)
5(140)
7(202)
And here are my selections:
#29-Dan Conner, LB, Penn State- I’ve battled with whether this pick should be used to bolster a defense that is desperate for talent, or be used to further an offense that already has the makings of being a very potent unit. Ultimately I went with Connor because I think that adding a true MLB will upgrade two positions with one selection. I also think that the best OT in the draft will be available in the 2nd round. Connor is the all-time leading tackler at the school that churns out tacklers like it’s their god-given right. Conner is the most versatile LB in this class by a long shot, and will play the mike position in Denver for the next 10 years. Adding a true MLB and allowing DJ Williams to move back to the weak side will upgrade the defense more than any other pick and make Denver’s LB corps better than it has been in years. Connors has the tenacity and the instincts that you want from your middle linebacker, and will quickly step into a leadership role on a defense that will be desperate for leaders once John Lynch retires. Connor is a football player first and foremost, and will add a little ferocity to a unit that has been too much about finesse for a number of years now.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LIB6PaLSG-U (http://youtube.com/watch?v=LIB6PaLSG-U)
#39-Brandon Albert, OT, Virginia- I’m not even considering that Albert will play a down of Guard at the next level, and I think he is perhaps the best tackle prospect available for Denver’s system. At 6’6” and 315 lbs, I think he has the tools and the ability to be a LT in the NFL from day one. He’s great in space where a left tackle needs to be comfortable, he has the ability and power to dominate the point of attack, and both the size and footwork to be great in pass protection. Albert would give the Broncos OL some much needed power in the short yardage game while also upgrading the level of pass protection on the all important blind side. Investing in a guy like Albert will pay off for years to come.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806b5815 (http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806b5815)
#42-Red Bryant, DT, Texas A&M- A nose tackle type defensive tackle that will provide the perfect compliment to the more penetrating style of 2nd year DT Marcus Thomas. Bryant is a 'take on two and ‘stand them up' type of mauling defensive tackle who fills a big need for a Broncos team that hasn't had a player to fill that role since the turn of the century. Bryant anticipates the snap very well, and gets underneath his opposing OL on the majority of snaps. He has the ability to penetrate because of his anticipation, but excels in stuffing the run and keeping his 'backers free to run behind him. Bryant is 6’5” and 325 lbs of nasty demeanor, who has a low center of gravity and is very difficult to move backwards or even sideways. He also runs a sub 5.0 40 yard dash which gives him the ability to pursue better than most beefy guys in the middle, and could allow him to play on the edge during running downs. Adding Bryant would give the Broncos the beginnings of a solid young DT corps with Marcus Thomas. He’s got the type of versatility that you don’t often see from a trench man.
#83-Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt- I would consider taking a safety here, but with the departure of Walker the Broncos are looking pretty thin at receiver yet again, and I'm not sure there's a starter in this year's safety class. Earl Bennett is the first receiver in SEC history to catch 75 passes in 3 consecutive seasons. He’s also the only SEC receiver to catch 75 passes or more in back to back seasons. Bennett isn’t the biggest, fastest, or flashiest receiver in this draft, but he has been as consistently productive as any WR coming out. He runs nice routes and has the knack for finding soft spots in zone schemes. He has tremendous hands and excels in catching the ball in traffic. More like a running back after he catches the ball, Bennett is similar to Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, but more polished as a route runner given that he played receiver in college. And need I mention he would have immediate rapport with QB Jay Cutler, having been Jay’s favorite target from the day he arrived at Vanderbilt.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pDRIjZlJsAA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2-2yd_EPqB8&feature=related