socalorado
06-11-2008, 11:36 AM
Well, i got this from another DEN poster, and thought i'd put it up for ya. It seems like another slow day so what the heck. Figured i would post it here and let the Mods throw it where you want it later.
http://www.walterfootball.com/offseason2008den.php
Denver Broncos (Last Year: 7-9)
2008 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
RB Michael Pittman, WR Darrell Jackson, WR Samie Parker, WR Keary Colbert, WR Edell Shepherd, C Casey Weigmann, C Dylan Gandy, DT Dewayne Robertson, OLB Boss Bailey, ILB Niko Koutouvides, S Marquand Manuel, P Danny Baugher.
Draft Picks:
RB Ryan Torain, FB Peyton Hillis, WR Eddie Royal, OT Ryan Clady, C Kory Lichtensteiger, DT Carlton Powell, ILB Spencer Larsen, CB Jack Williams, SS Josh Barrett.
Offseason Losses:
RB Travis Henry, FB Paul Smith, WR Javon Walker, WR Derrick Hamilton, TE Stephen Alexander, TE Chad Upshaw, G/C Chris Myers, DT Antwon Burton, OLB Ian Gold, S Nick Ferguson, S Marviel Underwood, K Jason Elam.
2008 Denver Broncos Offense:
So, your coach sticks his neck out for you when the league is deciding on whether to suspend you or not for substance abuse. How do you repay him? How about not showing up to practice? Travis Henry, hampered by a hamstring injury all offseason, simply stopped attending Denver's organized team activities. Mike Shanahan responded by cutting the soon-to-be 30-year-old running back.
"We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team," Shanahan told ESPN.com.
So, big deal, right? Only in the Fantasy Football World. That's because Selvin Young will probably get all of the carries. Shanahan loves using dual-back formations, but he doesn't have much of a choice, as Young, rookie Ryan Torain, Andre Hall and dog-housed Mike Bell are the only halfback options on the team. Not that Denver really needs someone else behind Young, assuming there's no injury. Young started eight games in 2008, notching 729 yards on just 140 carries - a 5.2 average, which was much better than Henry's 4.1. In addition, Young had 35 catches for 231 receiving yards.
Young's production increased late in the season. He compiled 87 yards on 22 carries versus Minnesota's stout defensive line. He totaled 156 yards on just 17 rushes against Kansas City. Barring injury, Young should become Shanahan's next 1,000-yard runner.
The Young-Henry swap wasn't the only upgrade Denver's scoring unit received this offseason. Jay Cutler, who was inconsistent at times last year, found out why he sometimes played so poorly. Cutler was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes this spring. Of course, that sounds awful, but the third-year signal caller had no idea why he dropped more than 40 pounds during the course of the 2007 campaign. With proper monitoring and diet, Cutler will be healthier and better prepared to play football. Cutler finished last season with 3,497 yards, 20 touchdowns, 14 picks and a completion percentage of 63.6.
Cutler's performance also depends on his receivers, and that's where Denver's offense is going to run into a bit of trouble. Brandon Marshall emerged as one of the top receivers in the league last year. If his 102 receptions, 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns weren't enough, check out his numbers in the final four weeks of the season: 37 catches, 411 yards and three scores. Stretch those figures over a 16-game slate, and you have 148 receptions, 1,644 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pretty sick if you ask me. Unfortunately, Marshall suffered nerve damage in his arm when he slipped on a McDonald's bag, slammed his arm into his TV, was abducted by aliens and found that his dog ate his homework. Luckily for Cutler and the Broncos, Marshall is expected to be ready by training camp. He should be fine; as long as he's practicing in camp on time, I don't expect Marshall's production to drop too much, if at all. It's not like he's coming off a knee (thanks, Al Michaels).
Javon Walker's gone, but he didn't contribute much anyway last year (though you couldn't tell by the contract Al Davis offered him.) It's a joke that Keary Colbert, Darrell Jackson and Eddie Royal are battling for the No. 2 job. There's a chance Royal could become a decent wide out in this league, but rookie receivers seldom contribute. Colbert had 754 receiving yards as a rookie but has only 680 in the three seasons since. Shanahan likes him, but I wouldn't expect much. Jackson, meanwhile, is infamous for his drops. He's put up solid figures in the past, but he's way too unreliable.
Luckily, Cutler won't have to rely on Mr. Excuse, Colbert, Jackson and a second-round rookie. Brandon Stokley is very good in the slot, as he totaled 635 yards and five touchdowns in just 12 full games. At tight end, Tony Scheffler emerged as a very potent target; despite missing the first four contests of the season, Scheffler compiled 49 catches, 549 yards and five scores.
Save for the No. 2 receiver position, I haven't really expressed any concern with the Broncos' offseason thus far. Well, that's because I haven't touched upon the offensive line just yet. Starting left tackle Matt Lepsis retired this offseason, forcing Shanahan to spend the No. 12 overall pick on Ryan Clady. I really like Clady as a left tackle in the zone-blocking scheme, but he's merely a rookie. It'll be tough to ask him to protect Cutler's blind side from Day 1 (Shanahan has already named him the starter). Erik Pears, slated to start at right tackle, is very mediocre and may have trouble holding off second-year Ryan Harris.
In the interior, Ben Hamilton will be back from a year off. He missed the 2007 campaign because of concussions. He was a reliable starter prior to the injury, and should be back at full strength. Right guard is fine with Montrae Holland, but there's a huge hole at the center position. In an effort to find an upgrade over the 37-year-old Tom Nalen, Denver signed Kansas City reject Casey Wiegmann, who isn't much younger than Nalen (35). Broncos fans will have to hope that fourth-round rookie Kory Lichtensteiger impresses at training camp. Otherwise, that's three major holes on offense.
2008 Denver Broncos Defense:
Even though Javon Walker, Jay Cutler and parts of the offensive line struggled in 2007, Denver's main crux was its defense. While the offense was ranked 21st, the defense was 28th, as it allowed 25.6 points per game.
One of the main problems the Broncos had was putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Take away Elvis Dumervil and his 12 sacks, and the team's top rushers were Tim Crowder and Josh Mallard, both of whom had four sacks each. To fix this problem, Denver traded a conditional 2009 NFL Draft pick to the Jets for Dewayne Robertson. Robertson struggled in New York, but only because Eric Mangini's 3-4 defense didn't suit his strengths. Robertson is an effective pass-rusher out of the 4-3, and he should become the secondary rushing option the Broncos are looking for.
Or perhaps the tertiary. Second-year defensive ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder have been practicing with the second team, but that may change soon. Rookie ends seldom thrive in the NFL and have more success with a season or two under their belt (see Mario Williams). Crowder had those four sacks, while Moss sat out the final 10 games of the 2007 campaign after breaking his fibula. I expect more out of at least one of them in 2008.
And that leaves us with Denver's other defensive problem, which was stopping the run. The team was 30th in that category, as its defensive tackles failed and put a lot of pressure on D.J. Williams, a weakside linebacker who was playing out of position in the middle. While Robertson will help with the pass rush, I don't see him doing much to address the run. Marcus Thomas, expected to start next to Robertson, is also better as a pass rusher rather than a run-stopper. So, can Niko Koutouvides handle run-stopping duties better than Williams? I'd like to think so, but he's a very average linebacker who really hasn't shown any reason why he should be a starter in this league. Meanwhile, Boss Bailey was signed to be the Broncos' strongside linebacker. Bailey was a complete failure in Detroit. Denver fans will tell you that he will revive his career now that he's reunited with his brother, Champ. I'm not buying it. At least the Broncos are set at weakside linebacker with Williams.
Denver's secondary is easily the strength of its stop unit. Even though Champ Bailey had somewhat of an "off year" compared to his prolific 2006 campaign, he was still one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. Starting across from Bailey was Dre' Bly, who signed with the Broncos last spring. While I've always seen Bly is an overrated corner because of his high interception totals, he wasn't a liability when you consider Denver's lacking quarterback pressure. One such liability was safety Nick Ferguson, who was benched in the middle of the season. Replacing him was Hamza Abdullah, who played really well down the stretch. Denver didn't really address the position in the draft, meaning they liked what they saw out of Abdullah and have faith in him.
John Lynch, meanwhile, has become the weakest link of the secondary. Lynch, who turns 37 in September, could be playing his final season in the league. Don't be shocked if Lynch is benched early.
I expect Denver's defense to be quite a bit better than it was in 2007. With the addition of Robertson, and the expected improvement of Moss, Crowder and Thomas, I doubt the Broncos will be a bottom-10 stop unit. That said, they're far from being dominant. They'll have a lot of work to do next spring.
2008 Denver Broncos Schedule and Intangibles:
Freezing temperatures and thin air create a hostile environment for opponents, which explains why Denver has an NFL-best 79-25 home record since 1995, although the team is just 9-7 the past two seasons.
At age 37, Jason Elam still got it done last year. He hit 27-of-31 field goals in 2007, including a 50-yarder. However, Elam signed with Atlanta this offseason, leaving the kicking duties between Matt Prater and rookie Garrett Hartley. The latter will probably win the job, as Prater is 1-of-4 in his career. Still, counting on an unproven rookie kicker, no matter how strong his leg is, could prove to be disastrous.
Hartley won't be Denver's only unproven special-teamer. Punter Todd Sauerbrun is gone, paving the way for Sam Paulescu, who has only five career punts.
Eddie Royal, who will be competing for the No. 2 receiving job, will serve as the team's punt returner. The team returned one for a score in 2007, but surrendered three touchdowns on special teams. That must improve if they want to make a playoff push.
The Broncos open up with an easy contest at Oakland, but things get considerably tougher after that. Sandwiched in between a game at Arrowhead, the Broncos have the Chargers, Saints, Buccaneers, Jaguars and Patriots on the slate. All but New Orleans made the Doggone Playoff last year. Fortunately for Denver, the team has only one difficult contest (at Cleveland) until battling the Bills and Chargers to close out the year. They'll play Miami, Atlanta, Oakland, New York Jets, Kansas City and Carolina in Weeks 9-15.
2008 NFL Draft Grade:
Good Moves: The Broncos made the right decision at No. 12 when Ryan Clady fell into their laps. In the wake of Matt Lepsis' retirement, they had nothing at left tackle. Clady, considered by many to be the best left tackle in the draft, should be able to start right away ... I'm not crazy about Eddie Royal, but I don't hate the pick. Royal was a second-round talent, though there were better prospects out there, like Limas Sweed and DeSean Jackson. Royal fills a need though ... Center was a huge need going into the draft. That's not the case anymore with the addition of Kory Lictensteiger ... Ryan Torain, chosen at selection No. 139, was a great value pick. Don't be shocked if he becomes Shanahan's next 1,000-yard runner ... Josh Barrett and Peyton Hillis, both fourth-round prospects, were steals in Round 7.
Bad Moves: I'm disappointed the Broncos didn't address the middle linebacker position until Spencer Larsen was chosen at 183. Looks like D.J. Williams will once again struggle in the middle. Denver could have taken Jonathan Goff where they selected Jack Williams. I don't have a problem with Williams, but Goff would have filled a bigger need.
Grade give on 4/29/08: B+
2008 NFL Draft Picks:
12. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
I guess I have to endorse this pick because I had it in my mock. In the wake of Matt Lepsis' retirement, the Broncos had to address the left tackle position. They obtained the best left tackle in the draft at No. 12, so Denver fans should be thrilled. (Pick Grade: A)
42. Eddie Royal, WR, Virignia Tech
Limas Sweed probably would have been better, but Eddie Royal is a decent receiver. I'm not going to complain about this selection, especially with all the madness that transpired on Saturday. (Pick Grade: B)
108. Kory Lichtensteiger, C, Bowing Green
Good luck to anyone covering the Broncos for any newspapers in the Denver area. Solid pick despite the media's disdain. (Pick Grade: A)
119. Jack Williams, CB, Kent State
I wasn't aware cornerback was such a huge need. Jack Williams is a decent player, but the Broncos should have pursued an inside linebacker or running back. (Pick Grade: C)
139. Ryan Torain, RB, Arizona State
I like Ryan Torain A LOT. And I'm not surprised Mike Shanahan drafted him here. Looks like Denver found its next 1,000-yard runner. (Pick Grade: A)
148. Carlton Powell, DT, Virginia Tech
I expected the Broncos to add defensive line depth early on Day 2. Carlton Powell is a decent player. I still don't get why Denver hasn't gone after an inside linebacker. (Pick Grade: B)
183. Spencer Larsen, ILB, Arizona
Finally, an inside linebacker. The shame is Denver could have obtained Jonathan Goff 30 picks earlier. (Pick Grade: C)
220. Josh Barrett, SS, Arizona State
I can't believe Josh Barrett made it all the way to Round 7. The Broncos found a gem. (Pick Grade: A)
227. Peyton Hillis, FB, Arkansas
Some had Peyton Hillis as the top fullback on the board. It's amazing Denver was able to land him in the seventh round. (Pick Grade: A)
http://www.walterfootball.com/offseason2008den.php
Denver Broncos (Last Year: 7-9)
2008 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
RB Michael Pittman, WR Darrell Jackson, WR Samie Parker, WR Keary Colbert, WR Edell Shepherd, C Casey Weigmann, C Dylan Gandy, DT Dewayne Robertson, OLB Boss Bailey, ILB Niko Koutouvides, S Marquand Manuel, P Danny Baugher.
Draft Picks:
RB Ryan Torain, FB Peyton Hillis, WR Eddie Royal, OT Ryan Clady, C Kory Lichtensteiger, DT Carlton Powell, ILB Spencer Larsen, CB Jack Williams, SS Josh Barrett.
Offseason Losses:
RB Travis Henry, FB Paul Smith, WR Javon Walker, WR Derrick Hamilton, TE Stephen Alexander, TE Chad Upshaw, G/C Chris Myers, DT Antwon Burton, OLB Ian Gold, S Nick Ferguson, S Marviel Underwood, K Jason Elam.
2008 Denver Broncos Offense:
So, your coach sticks his neck out for you when the league is deciding on whether to suspend you or not for substance abuse. How do you repay him? How about not showing up to practice? Travis Henry, hampered by a hamstring injury all offseason, simply stopped attending Denver's organized team activities. Mike Shanahan responded by cutting the soon-to-be 30-year-old running back.
"We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team," Shanahan told ESPN.com.
So, big deal, right? Only in the Fantasy Football World. That's because Selvin Young will probably get all of the carries. Shanahan loves using dual-back formations, but he doesn't have much of a choice, as Young, rookie Ryan Torain, Andre Hall and dog-housed Mike Bell are the only halfback options on the team. Not that Denver really needs someone else behind Young, assuming there's no injury. Young started eight games in 2008, notching 729 yards on just 140 carries - a 5.2 average, which was much better than Henry's 4.1. In addition, Young had 35 catches for 231 receiving yards.
Young's production increased late in the season. He compiled 87 yards on 22 carries versus Minnesota's stout defensive line. He totaled 156 yards on just 17 rushes against Kansas City. Barring injury, Young should become Shanahan's next 1,000-yard runner.
The Young-Henry swap wasn't the only upgrade Denver's scoring unit received this offseason. Jay Cutler, who was inconsistent at times last year, found out why he sometimes played so poorly. Cutler was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes this spring. Of course, that sounds awful, but the third-year signal caller had no idea why he dropped more than 40 pounds during the course of the 2007 campaign. With proper monitoring and diet, Cutler will be healthier and better prepared to play football. Cutler finished last season with 3,497 yards, 20 touchdowns, 14 picks and a completion percentage of 63.6.
Cutler's performance also depends on his receivers, and that's where Denver's offense is going to run into a bit of trouble. Brandon Marshall emerged as one of the top receivers in the league last year. If his 102 receptions, 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns weren't enough, check out his numbers in the final four weeks of the season: 37 catches, 411 yards and three scores. Stretch those figures over a 16-game slate, and you have 148 receptions, 1,644 yards and 12 touchdowns. Pretty sick if you ask me. Unfortunately, Marshall suffered nerve damage in his arm when he slipped on a McDonald's bag, slammed his arm into his TV, was abducted by aliens and found that his dog ate his homework. Luckily for Cutler and the Broncos, Marshall is expected to be ready by training camp. He should be fine; as long as he's practicing in camp on time, I don't expect Marshall's production to drop too much, if at all. It's not like he's coming off a knee (thanks, Al Michaels).
Javon Walker's gone, but he didn't contribute much anyway last year (though you couldn't tell by the contract Al Davis offered him.) It's a joke that Keary Colbert, Darrell Jackson and Eddie Royal are battling for the No. 2 job. There's a chance Royal could become a decent wide out in this league, but rookie receivers seldom contribute. Colbert had 754 receiving yards as a rookie but has only 680 in the three seasons since. Shanahan likes him, but I wouldn't expect much. Jackson, meanwhile, is infamous for his drops. He's put up solid figures in the past, but he's way too unreliable.
Luckily, Cutler won't have to rely on Mr. Excuse, Colbert, Jackson and a second-round rookie. Brandon Stokley is very good in the slot, as he totaled 635 yards and five touchdowns in just 12 full games. At tight end, Tony Scheffler emerged as a very potent target; despite missing the first four contests of the season, Scheffler compiled 49 catches, 549 yards and five scores.
Save for the No. 2 receiver position, I haven't really expressed any concern with the Broncos' offseason thus far. Well, that's because I haven't touched upon the offensive line just yet. Starting left tackle Matt Lepsis retired this offseason, forcing Shanahan to spend the No. 12 overall pick on Ryan Clady. I really like Clady as a left tackle in the zone-blocking scheme, but he's merely a rookie. It'll be tough to ask him to protect Cutler's blind side from Day 1 (Shanahan has already named him the starter). Erik Pears, slated to start at right tackle, is very mediocre and may have trouble holding off second-year Ryan Harris.
In the interior, Ben Hamilton will be back from a year off. He missed the 2007 campaign because of concussions. He was a reliable starter prior to the injury, and should be back at full strength. Right guard is fine with Montrae Holland, but there's a huge hole at the center position. In an effort to find an upgrade over the 37-year-old Tom Nalen, Denver signed Kansas City reject Casey Wiegmann, who isn't much younger than Nalen (35). Broncos fans will have to hope that fourth-round rookie Kory Lichtensteiger impresses at training camp. Otherwise, that's three major holes on offense.
2008 Denver Broncos Defense:
Even though Javon Walker, Jay Cutler and parts of the offensive line struggled in 2007, Denver's main crux was its defense. While the offense was ranked 21st, the defense was 28th, as it allowed 25.6 points per game.
One of the main problems the Broncos had was putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Take away Elvis Dumervil and his 12 sacks, and the team's top rushers were Tim Crowder and Josh Mallard, both of whom had four sacks each. To fix this problem, Denver traded a conditional 2009 NFL Draft pick to the Jets for Dewayne Robertson. Robertson struggled in New York, but only because Eric Mangini's 3-4 defense didn't suit his strengths. Robertson is an effective pass-rusher out of the 4-3, and he should become the secondary rushing option the Broncos are looking for.
Or perhaps the tertiary. Second-year defensive ends Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder have been practicing with the second team, but that may change soon. Rookie ends seldom thrive in the NFL and have more success with a season or two under their belt (see Mario Williams). Crowder had those four sacks, while Moss sat out the final 10 games of the 2007 campaign after breaking his fibula. I expect more out of at least one of them in 2008.
And that leaves us with Denver's other defensive problem, which was stopping the run. The team was 30th in that category, as its defensive tackles failed and put a lot of pressure on D.J. Williams, a weakside linebacker who was playing out of position in the middle. While Robertson will help with the pass rush, I don't see him doing much to address the run. Marcus Thomas, expected to start next to Robertson, is also better as a pass rusher rather than a run-stopper. So, can Niko Koutouvides handle run-stopping duties better than Williams? I'd like to think so, but he's a very average linebacker who really hasn't shown any reason why he should be a starter in this league. Meanwhile, Boss Bailey was signed to be the Broncos' strongside linebacker. Bailey was a complete failure in Detroit. Denver fans will tell you that he will revive his career now that he's reunited with his brother, Champ. I'm not buying it. At least the Broncos are set at weakside linebacker with Williams.
Denver's secondary is easily the strength of its stop unit. Even though Champ Bailey had somewhat of an "off year" compared to his prolific 2006 campaign, he was still one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. Starting across from Bailey was Dre' Bly, who signed with the Broncos last spring. While I've always seen Bly is an overrated corner because of his high interception totals, he wasn't a liability when you consider Denver's lacking quarterback pressure. One such liability was safety Nick Ferguson, who was benched in the middle of the season. Replacing him was Hamza Abdullah, who played really well down the stretch. Denver didn't really address the position in the draft, meaning they liked what they saw out of Abdullah and have faith in him.
John Lynch, meanwhile, has become the weakest link of the secondary. Lynch, who turns 37 in September, could be playing his final season in the league. Don't be shocked if Lynch is benched early.
I expect Denver's defense to be quite a bit better than it was in 2007. With the addition of Robertson, and the expected improvement of Moss, Crowder and Thomas, I doubt the Broncos will be a bottom-10 stop unit. That said, they're far from being dominant. They'll have a lot of work to do next spring.
2008 Denver Broncos Schedule and Intangibles:
Freezing temperatures and thin air create a hostile environment for opponents, which explains why Denver has an NFL-best 79-25 home record since 1995, although the team is just 9-7 the past two seasons.
At age 37, Jason Elam still got it done last year. He hit 27-of-31 field goals in 2007, including a 50-yarder. However, Elam signed with Atlanta this offseason, leaving the kicking duties between Matt Prater and rookie Garrett Hartley. The latter will probably win the job, as Prater is 1-of-4 in his career. Still, counting on an unproven rookie kicker, no matter how strong his leg is, could prove to be disastrous.
Hartley won't be Denver's only unproven special-teamer. Punter Todd Sauerbrun is gone, paving the way for Sam Paulescu, who has only five career punts.
Eddie Royal, who will be competing for the No. 2 receiving job, will serve as the team's punt returner. The team returned one for a score in 2007, but surrendered three touchdowns on special teams. That must improve if they want to make a playoff push.
The Broncos open up with an easy contest at Oakland, but things get considerably tougher after that. Sandwiched in between a game at Arrowhead, the Broncos have the Chargers, Saints, Buccaneers, Jaguars and Patriots on the slate. All but New Orleans made the Doggone Playoff last year. Fortunately for Denver, the team has only one difficult contest (at Cleveland) until battling the Bills and Chargers to close out the year. They'll play Miami, Atlanta, Oakland, New York Jets, Kansas City and Carolina in Weeks 9-15.
2008 NFL Draft Grade:
Good Moves: The Broncos made the right decision at No. 12 when Ryan Clady fell into their laps. In the wake of Matt Lepsis' retirement, they had nothing at left tackle. Clady, considered by many to be the best left tackle in the draft, should be able to start right away ... I'm not crazy about Eddie Royal, but I don't hate the pick. Royal was a second-round talent, though there were better prospects out there, like Limas Sweed and DeSean Jackson. Royal fills a need though ... Center was a huge need going into the draft. That's not the case anymore with the addition of Kory Lictensteiger ... Ryan Torain, chosen at selection No. 139, was a great value pick. Don't be shocked if he becomes Shanahan's next 1,000-yard runner ... Josh Barrett and Peyton Hillis, both fourth-round prospects, were steals in Round 7.
Bad Moves: I'm disappointed the Broncos didn't address the middle linebacker position until Spencer Larsen was chosen at 183. Looks like D.J. Williams will once again struggle in the middle. Denver could have taken Jonathan Goff where they selected Jack Williams. I don't have a problem with Williams, but Goff would have filled a bigger need.
Grade give on 4/29/08: B+
2008 NFL Draft Picks:
12. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
I guess I have to endorse this pick because I had it in my mock. In the wake of Matt Lepsis' retirement, the Broncos had to address the left tackle position. They obtained the best left tackle in the draft at No. 12, so Denver fans should be thrilled. (Pick Grade: A)
42. Eddie Royal, WR, Virignia Tech
Limas Sweed probably would have been better, but Eddie Royal is a decent receiver. I'm not going to complain about this selection, especially with all the madness that transpired on Saturday. (Pick Grade: B)
108. Kory Lichtensteiger, C, Bowing Green
Good luck to anyone covering the Broncos for any newspapers in the Denver area. Solid pick despite the media's disdain. (Pick Grade: A)
119. Jack Williams, CB, Kent State
I wasn't aware cornerback was such a huge need. Jack Williams is a decent player, but the Broncos should have pursued an inside linebacker or running back. (Pick Grade: C)
139. Ryan Torain, RB, Arizona State
I like Ryan Torain A LOT. And I'm not surprised Mike Shanahan drafted him here. Looks like Denver found its next 1,000-yard runner. (Pick Grade: A)
148. Carlton Powell, DT, Virginia Tech
I expected the Broncos to add defensive line depth early on Day 2. Carlton Powell is a decent player. I still don't get why Denver hasn't gone after an inside linebacker. (Pick Grade: B)
183. Spencer Larsen, ILB, Arizona
Finally, an inside linebacker. The shame is Denver could have obtained Jonathan Goff 30 picks earlier. (Pick Grade: C)
220. Josh Barrett, SS, Arizona State
I can't believe Josh Barrett made it all the way to Round 7. The Broncos found a gem. (Pick Grade: A)
227. Peyton Hillis, FB, Arkansas
Some had Peyton Hillis as the top fullback on the board. It's amazing Denver was able to land him in the seventh round. (Pick Grade: A)