The Biggest "Could have been" draft picks in the Shanny Era.

[DB-Freak]

Ed Reed instead of Lelie. By far

We must have discussed this about a million times, but my god.

After watching Bal-Mia,I can't get over it.

[DB-Freak]

After college, Reed was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (24th overall pick) of the 2002 NFL Draft. Reed has enjoyed a very successful professional career so far and has become one of the Ravens' most popular players. In his rookie season, Reed started in all 16 games and finished the campaign with 85 tackles and five interceptions. The following year he finished the season with 71 tackles and seven interceptions. He was also voted to his first Pro Bowl. In 2004, Reed was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press a season where, in addition to his record return, he also set the NFL mark for most interception return yardage (358) on 9 interceptions. Furthermore, in 2004, Reed became the only player in Pro Bowl history to block a punt and return it for a touchdown. In 2005, Reed only played in ten games due to an ankle injury. He finished the campaign with 37 tackles and one interception. In 2006, Reed made 60 tackles and five interceptions and was voted to his third Pro Bowl. In 2007, he made 39 tackles and seven interceptions. In the 2007 Pro Bowl he recorded two interceptions, tying the record with six others.

Reed has continued his strong special teams[14] play in 2002 with 4 blocked punts so far, returning 3 for touchdowns, tying an NFL record. In 2 postseason games, Reed has recorded 1 tackle, 3 interceptions and 5 pass deflections. He is also the first person in NFL history to return an interception, punt, blocked punt, and fumble for a touchdown.[citation needed]

Reed currently holds the Ravens franchise record for career interceptions with 43.[15] He also holds the franchise record for interception-return yards in a single game with 150.[15] During a game against the Eagles on November 23rd, 2008, Reed returned an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles for 108 yards.[16][15] This set an NFL record, breaking his own record of 106 yards.[15][17] The ball he intercepted and the jersey he wore during the play are now in the Hall of Fame. [15][18] In a 2009 AFC Wildcard game against the Miami Dolphins, Reed intercepted Chad Pennington twice, returning one for a touchdown. To date, he has 5 interceptions in 3 career postseason games.

Ed Reed has scored a total of 11 touchdowns in his career. He scored on 3 blocked punts, 1 punt return, 2 fumble returns and 5 interception returns.

Straight from wiki.

[tsiguy96]

if people knew what reed was capable of, every team in front of the ravens wold have taken him. and reed wouldnt be as good here as he is with the ravens, they have far better coaching and players to make his job a bit easier.

[baja]

Ed Reed instead of Lelie. By far

We must have discussed this about a million times, but my god.

After watching Bal-Mia,I can't get over it.

Just think if your team needed a running back when TD was drafted in the 6th.

[Killericon]

Just think if your team needed a running back when TD was drafted in the 6th.

It's funny...I was about to say "Think of how badly the Cards and the Titans must feel about Cutler." but then I remembered that they're both still in the playoffs.

[sirhcyennek81]

It's funny...I was about to say "Think of how badly the Cards and the Titans must feel about Cutler." but then I remembered that they're both still in the playoffs.



Only because 10 year Vets took them there...


:Broncos:

[Florida_Bronco]

I'll say it again, but going for a WR was the right move in that draft.

Anyone who remembers the 2001 season will agree. We were down to guys like Keith Poole, Scottie Montgomery and Chris Cole. Rod Smith was banged up during the year and Eddie Mac had suffered that horrible broken leg on MNF against the Giants. We desperately needed to reload at that position, and Lelie was a good pick until he decided to flake on his when we traded for the guy we should have picked, Javon Walker.

Now at safety, we had Kenoy Kennedy, who had been playing well for us, and we signed Izell Reese to start on the other side along with the Sam Brandon and Chris Young picks. Safety was not that big of a need for us that year, while receiver was most definetly our biggest need.

So again, picking a WR was the right choice.

[MileHighMagic]

How about taking Maurice Clarett ahead of Marion Barber. An entirely different comparison than Reed/Lelie but when you consider just how awful the Clarett pick was...

[sirhcyennek81]

Honestly we can sit here and say Shanahan should have picked Reed, or he should have drafted Shaun Rogers, or he should have gotten Steven Jackson...what is the point of doing that now? Dude is gone, we dont have these players, so lets move forward. New coach means new schemes and a different style of play, and thats exciting. I'll miss Shanahan, but hes gone. On to the next thing.


:Broncos:

[TDmvp]

I'll say it again, but going for a WR was the right move in that draft.

Anyone who remembers the 2001 season will agree. We were down to guys like Keith Poole, Scottie Montgomery and Chris Cole. Rod Smith was banged up during the year and Eddie Mac had suffered that horrible broken leg on MNF against the Giants. We desperately needed to reload at that position, and Lelie was a good pick until he decided to flake on his when we traded for the guy we should have picked, Javon Walker.

Now at safety, we had Kenoy Kennedy, who had been playing well for us, and we signed Izell Reese to start on the other side along with the Sam Brandon and Chris Young picks. Safety was not that big of a need for us that year, while receiver was most definetly our biggest need.

So again, picking a WR was the right choice.


yup at one time in the year you are talking about , losing late in the season , we had like 1 WR healthy by the end of a game ... and losing late we was going 4 and 5 wide with 1 wr a bunch of TE's and HBs on the field ... it was sad ...

[cutthemdown]

I really didn't want Lelie that yr after having watched him at Hawaii. Mainly because he wasn't physical and seemed to fall down a lot. Those things followed him to pros.

The right pick isn't always based on need.

[Florida_Bronco]

yup at one time in the year you are talking about , losing late in the season , we had like 1 WR healthy by the end of a game ... and losing late we was going 4 and 5 wide with 1 wr a bunch of TE's and HBs on the field ... it was sad ...

Exactly.

[sirhcyennek81]

I really didn't want Lelie that yr after having watched him at Hawaii. Mainly because he wasn't physical and seemed to fall down a lot. Those things followed him to pros.

The right pick isn't always based on need.


True. But we needed a WR with deep speed and good hands. Lelie was the guy. Hind sight is 20/20.


:Broncos:

[DB-Freak]

It's not to bash shanny or anything. Hindsight 20/20

Just thinking about the the old days.

[sirhcyennek81]

It's not to bash shanny or anything. Hindsight 20/20

Just thinking about the the old days.


So in 1990 we should have drafted Pickens instead of Maddox, right?


:Broncos:

[Florida_Bronco]

How about taking Maurice Clarett ahead of Marion Barber. An entirely different comparison than Reed/Lelie but when you consider just how awful the Clarett pick was...

You know, for all the hype around Marion Barber, the guy has still yet to put up a 1000 yard season.

Just saying.

[sirhcyennek81]

You know, for all the hype around Marion Barber, the guy has still yet to put up a 1000 yard season.

Just saying.


Lot of TD's though. I'd take his scoring potential...

:Broncos:

[cutthemdown]

Going back and looking at the 2002 draft it was a real dog. Tons of names that never made it in pro's. The one that sticks out is Brian Westbrook in the 3rd round. Really though not a good draft overall and probably outside of Ed Reed not a lot Broncos missed on.

James Harrison of the Steelers was undrafted that yr. Larry Foote went in like the 6th I think.

I noticed are friend Marquand Manual went to the Bengals in the 6th round.

[Florida_Bronco]

Lot of TD's though. I'd take his scoring potential...

:Broncos:

This is true, and his tough running would be welcome here, but it's not like we missed out on a superstar or something either.

[BoulderBum]

You know, for all the hype around Marion Barber, the guy has still yet to put up a 1000 yard season.

Just saying.

Yeah, but he'd run for 2k in our system.;)

[tsiguy96]

This is true, and his tough running would be welcome here, but it's not like we missed out on a superstar or something either.

id take hillis over barber any day of the week.

and, claurett was a third round pick. why people make such a huge deal over a third round pick is beyond me, but they picked him because it was only a third and he had tons of potential. too bad he sucked. like they said earlier, hindsight. and stuff.

[TheReverend]

Middlebrooks could've been Brees :)

By the way, I LOVED Middlebrooks.

[cutthemdown]

Middlebrooks could've been Brees :)

By the way, I LOVED Middlebrooks.

I hated the Middlebrooks pick because he was injured. I hate drafting injured players in the first round. IMO first round picks should fit the size/speed ratios you have set for team and be injury free to start off offseason program.

[Play2win]

Steven Jackson... :wiggle:

[cutthemdown]

id take hillis over barber any day of the week.

and, claurett was a third round pick. why people make such a huge deal over a third round pick is beyond me, but they picked him because it was only a third and he had tons of potential. too bad he sucked. like they said earlier, hindsight. and stuff.

3rd round picks are pretty high picks. You still at that point are talking about one of the top 100 players in college football.

[cutthemdown]

In 2004 we should have taken Vince Wilfork over DJ Williams. And then next round Bob Sanders over Tatum Bell.

[TDmvp]

Here this will make you all feel alot better LoL ...

Cincinnati Bengals

1993 Round 1, 5th pick John Copeland DE
missed on Willie Roaf , Jerome Bettis , Dana Stubblefield , Michael Strahan de

1994 Round 1, 1st pick Dan Wilkinson DT
missed on Marshall Faulk , Bryant Young dt , Willie McGinest

1995 Round 1, 1st pick Ki-Jana Carter RB
missed on Steve McNair ,Derrick Brooks , Ty Law ,Warren Sapp , Kevin Carter

1996 Round 1 , 10th pick Willie Anderson T ,
missed on Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis,Walt Harris

1997 Round 1 , 14th pick Reinard Wilson lb
missed on Tiki Barber ,Trevor Pryce ,Jason Taylor,Darren Sharper

1998 Round 1 , 13th pick Takeo Spikes LB ,
missed on Randy Moss ,

1999 Round 1 , 3rd pick Akili Smith QB
missed on Edgerrin James,Torry Holt,Champ Bailey,Jevon Kearse, Al Wilson,Daunte Culpepper

2000 Round 1 , 4th pick Peter Warrick wr
missed on Jamal Lewis,Corey Simon,Brian Urlacher,John Abraham,

2001 Round 1 , 4th pick Justin Smith DE
missed on LaDainian Tomlinson who SD took with the 5th pick ,Richard Seymour

2002 Round 1 , 10th pick Levi Jones T
missed on Dwight Freeney , Albert Haynesworth , Ed Reed


Just LOOK at all the future HOFs they missed on for guys who never played , or didn't matter when they did ...

[Jesterhole]

Shanny picked Mobley instead of Ray Lewis, if I recall. Mobley is one of my favorite Super Bowl era Broncos, but looking back I'd much rather have had Ray Lewis this entire time.

[SouthStndJunkie]

You could play this silly second guessing game with any team in the NFL.

[tsiguy96]

Shanny picked Mobley instead of Ray Lewis, if I recall. Mobley is one of my favorite Super Bowl era Broncos, but looking back I'd much rather have had Ray Lewis this entire time.

thats not a miss at all. unfortunate yes, mobley was an animal though

[sirhcyennek81]

3rd round picks are pretty high picks. You still at that point are talking about one of the top 100 players in college football.


A compensatory pick late in the 3rd we would not have had otherwise. It wasnt a bad gamble, considering thats exactly what the draft is.


:Broncos:

[Florida_Bronco]

Here this will make you all feel alot better LoL ...

Cincinnati Bengals

1993 Round 1, 5th pick John Copeland DE
missed on Willie Roaf , Jerome Bettis , Dana Stubblefield , Michael Strahan de

1994 Round 1, 1st pick Dan Wilkinson DT
missed on Marshall Faulk , Bryant Young dt , Willie McGinest

1995 Round 1, 1st pick Ki-Jana Carter RB
missed on Steve McNair ,Derrick Brooks , Ty Law ,Warren Sapp , Kevin Carter

1996 Round 1 , 10th pick Willie Anderson T ,
missed on Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis,Walt Harris

1997 Round 1 , 14th pick Reinard Wilson lb
missed on Tiki Barber ,Trevor Pryce ,Jason Taylor,Darren Sharper

1998 Round 1 , 13th pick Takeo Spikes LB ,
missed on Randy Moss ,

1999 Round 1 , 3rd pick Akili Smith QB
missed on Edgerrin James,Torry Holt,Champ Bailey,Jevon Kearse, Al Wilson,Daunte Culpepper

2000 Round 1 , 4th pick Peter Warrick wr
missed on Jamal Lewis,Corey Simon,Brian Urlacher,John Abraham,

2001 Round 1 , 4th pick Justin Smith DE
missed on LaDainian Tomlinson who SD took with the 5th pick ,Richard Seymour

2002 Round 1 , 10th pick Levi Jones T
missed on Dwight Freeney , Albert Haynesworth , Ed Reed


Just LOOK at all the future HOFs they missed on for guys who never played , or didn't matter when they did ...

Willie Anderson, Takeo Spikes and Levi Jones were all good picks.

[TDmvp]

Willie Anderson, Takeo Spikes and Levi Jones were all good picks.

yea i did have a star by them as not bads .... but figured was no need hehe..

[HEAV]

Ed Reed instead of Lelie. By far

We must have discussed this about a million times, but my god.

After watching Bal-Mia,I can't get over it.


Eight season's later Denver still looking for that playmaking safety...

Selecting Ash was a reach in the 2002 draft,it was Shanny's desperate attempt to save Brian Griese, by getting a playmaker with speed.

The real gem of that draft was Portis.


Here's another wasted pick! George Foster!

Players passed up:Willis McGahee, Larry Johnson, Nnamdi Asomugha.

Granted at the time Denver had Portis in 2003... But then after the season Denver traded Portis for Bailey.


It's always 20/20 when you look back... every franchise has it's own hit or miss chart.

[Florida_Bronco]

Selecting Ash was a reach in the 2002 draft,it was Shanny's desperate attempt to save Brian Griese, by getting a playmaker with speed.

That's bull**** HEAV. We drafted Lelie because all we had at WR was an older and injured Rod Smith and we didn't know how well, if at all, Eddie Mac would come back from that injury.

It had nothing to do with saving Brian and everything to do with getting some young talent at our weakest position.

[Ray Finkle]

Eight season's later Denver still looking for that playmaking safety...

Selecting Ash was a reach in the 2002 draft,it was Shanny's desperate attempt to save Brian Griese, by getting a playmaker with speed.

The real gem of that draft was Portis.


Here's another wasted pick! George Foster!

Players passed up:Willis McGahee, Larry Johnson, Nnamdi Asomugha.

Granted at the time Denver had Portis in 2003... But then after the season Denver traded Portis for Bailey.


It's always 20/20 when you look back... every franchise has it's own hit or miss chart.


Lelie was suppose to be a top 15 pick....not to mention ED REED WAS NOT ON THE BRONCOS LIST...F'N drop it people. Jeez, do you think that there are some Bills fans lamenting still that they could have had Atwater....grow a pair and stop bitching.

[Garcia Bronco]

In 2004 we should have taken Vince Wilfork over DJ Williams. And then next round Bob Sanders over Tatum Bell.


Yep

[UboBronco]

Eight season's later Denver still looking for that playmaking safety...

Selecting Ash was a reach in the 2002 draft,it was Shanny's desperate attempt to save Brian Griese, by getting a playmaker with speed.

The real gem of that draft was Portis.


Here's another wasted pick! George Foster!

Players passed up:Willis McGahee, Larry Johnson, Nnamdi Asomugha.

Granted at the time Denver had Portis in 2003... But then after the season Denver traded Portis for Bailey.


It's always 20/20 when you look back... every franchise has it's own hit or miss chart.


You really have to be kidding with this...

EVERY TRUE BRONCO FAN at the time was thrilled that we went for Lelie...

That at the time, people in forums such as this were calling for a wide receiver... To go back now and say we missed, WOW.. talk about people who did not know what was reality. If you can go back to all of our drafts, I mean through 1960, as I have, then quit trying to just pick out "certain" times after the results are in. Anyone can be the perfect GM a 7-10 years after a draft, just do it before.....

[tsiguy96]

this post is stupid. every team in the league can make an identical post. t he draft is more or less a crapshoot. you cant tell if a guy is gonna be great in teh pros, can only try to apply his skillset and hope it works out with coaching. unless its calvin johnson.

[TheChamp24]

Lelie back in 2002 was a great pick. He showed flashes his rookie year, then the next few years. Thing is, he wanted to be a #1 WR, but he never was/is a #1. He is a perfect #2 guy, a guy who could stretch the field and make big plays. Too bad his ego got ahead of him and diminished his career.

[fdf]

You know, for all the hype around Marion Barber, the guy has still yet to put up a 1000 yard season.

Just saying.

OTOH, Clarett has?

[BroncoMan4ever]

It's funny...I was about to say "Think of how badly the Cards and the Titans must feel about Cutler." but then I remembered that they're both still in the playoffs.

with a backup in Tennessee and an aging replacement in Arizona

[ohiobronco2]

In the 1996 draft, we could have had the following players. This is no joke, doesn't include the 6th round.

Ray Lewis
Brian Dawkins
Terrell Owens
John Runyan
Joe Horn
La’Roi Glover
Orpheus Roye/Marco Rivera

[HEAV]

You really have to be kidding with this...

EVERY TRUE BRONCO FAN at the time was thrilled that we went for Lelie...

That at the time, people in forums such as this were calling for a wide receiver... To go back now and say we missed, WOW.. talk about people who did not know what was reality. If you can go back to all of our drafts, I mean through 1960, as I have, then quit trying to just pick out "certain" times after the results are in. Anyone can be the perfect GM a 7-10 years after a draft, just do it before.....


EVERY TRUE BRONCO FAN

First off you can go **** yourself with the "I'm a true fan" self label.

Second I stated in my post that every team has a hindsight of 20/20

Thrid I hated the Leile selection. I (like a few on here) wanted a Ed Reed. But lived with the Leile pick after the Portis selection.

Also every draft year a few players get hyped to levels they cannot reach. Leile was/is one of thsoe players.

At the time I wasn't ready to cast of Rod and Eddie for dead (Like so many real fans were).

[Florida_Bronco]

OTOH, Clarett has?

That wasn't exactly my point.

[NUB]

Hindsight is 20/20, but the Clarett pick was unarguably dumb.

[HEAV]

That's bull**** HEAV. We drafted Lelie because all we had at WR was an older and injured Rod Smith and we didn't know how well, if at all, Eddie Mac would come back from that injury.

It had nothing to do with saving Brian and everything to do with getting some young talent at our weakest position.

We drafted Leile so he could strecth the field, take pressure of Rod and Eddie and to make short passes into big plays for Brian Greise.

Because at the time the dink and dunk offense was being called a joke by more than a few people.

But again as I stated before Clinton Portis was the gem that saved that draft.

Some people (on here) just love to battle for no reason but to battle...

[HEAV]

Hindsight is 20/20, but the Clarett pick was unarguably dumb.

Ya but a few Homers around this joint will say "But but he was worth the risk and, and , and it was a comp pick selection..."



Clarett was a favor pick to Bobby Turner. Bobby thought he could turn the kid into something. Sadly it blew up in the teams face.

[colorado jones]

This thread is a waste of server space.

[spdirty]

I thought Garcia threw his laptop out a window when we took Lelie over Reed.

[DB-Freak]

This thread is a waste of server space.

The thread wins then.

[Florida_Bronco]

We drafted Leile so he could strecth the field, take pressure of Rod and Eddie and to make short passes into big plays for Brian Greise. That was assuming that Eddie Mac could come back. Do you not remember how horrible of an injury that was?

Some people (on here) just love to battle for no reason but to battle... You should talk, after the way you treated ApaOps during the Rick Roll incident.

[baja]

In the 1996 draft, we could have had the following players. This is no joke, doesn't include the 6th round.

Ray Lewis
Brian Dawkins
Terrell Owens
John Runyan
Joe Horn
La’Roi Glover
Orpheus Roye/Marco Rivera

This looks like a Goodmans draft

[Ambiguous]

Just think if your team needed a running back when TD was drafted in the 6th.

I'm gonna get flamed for this, and don't get me wrong, TD is one of the Best Broncos to ever wear the uniform.

But honestly, I think this is what gave Shanny the "any RB can work in our system" mentality, which was his undoing this year. We needed a guy who can pound the ball based on natural talent, not our system. That should have been Selvin Young this year.

This combined with all but completely ignoring the defense = disaster.

[baja]

No doubt in my mind that Shanny's ego is his biggest enemy and the root cause of his demise as the Broncos coach.

[Taco John]

I'm gonna get flamed for this, and don't get me wrong, TD is one of the Best Broncos to ever wear the uniform.

But honestly, I think this is what gave Shanny the "any RB can work in our system" mentality, which was his undoing this year. We needed a guy who can pound the ball based on natural talent, not our system. That should have been Selvin Young this year.

This combined with all but completely ignoring the defense = disaster.



I've managed to miss what anybody sees in Selvin Young. Add Ryan Torain to that list as well.

[Florida_Bronco]

I've managed to miss what anybody sees in Selvin Young. Add Ryan Torain to that list as well.

Oh come on TJ, you didn't see some of the moves Selvin had last year?

[Meck77]

It's funny...I was about to say "Think of how badly the Cards and the Titans must feel about Cutler." but then I remembered that they're both still in the playoffs.

Ironic isn't it. Sad really. Shows you some good coaching can do. As far the cards go they couldn't suck forever with all those draft picks even if they didn't hit on all of them.

[cutthemdown]

Oh come on TJ, you didn't see some of the moves Selvin had last year?

TJ is spot on. Selvin runs with no power and very little wiggle. IMO he doesn't have a wide variety of moves. Of course all these players are professional athletes and will make some moves. Compared to top line RBS though and Selvin about as avg as they come.

My prediction for Selvin is out of the NFL very soon or a career 3rd stringer.

[cutthemdown]

I'm gonna get flamed for this, and don't get me wrong, TD is one of the Best Broncos to ever wear the uniform.

But honestly, I think this is what gave Shanny the "any RB can work in our system" mentality, which was his undoing this year. We needed a guy who can pound the ball based on natural talent, not our system. That should have been Selvin Young this year.

This combined with all but completely ignoring the defense = disaster.

Lol at pounding anything with soft finesse style Selvin Young. Not only did TD have more wiggle the young, he had so much more power it's not even worth discussing. Selvin Young won't be a Bronco next yr IMO.

[sirhcyennek81]

Ironic isn't it. Sad really. Shows you some good coaching can do. As far the cards go they couldn't suck forever with all those draft picks even if they didn't hit on all of them.


So Collins and Warner were picked ahead of Jay in the 2006 draft?


:Broncos:

[Rohirrim]

What I would like to see is the person who can make up this list BEFORE the draft. ;D

[Old Dude]

Hindsight is always 20/20.

I remember reading an article over twenty years ago that dealt with the same issue. The guy showed (can't recall the author), with hindsight, he could draft an almost unbeatable team, despite never using a first round pick and never drafting higher than the last pick in the second round.

He compiled a roster of hall of famers and all-pros, backed up by all-pros at every position.

[montrose]

Ed Reed would not be half the player he is today and we selected him instead of Lelie. In Baltimore, he was mentored by Ray Lewis and received the best defensive coaching in the business. Under Shanahan's defensive coaches - there's no way in hell we could've developed Reed, Justin Tuck, Reggie Nelson, or just about any other defensive player you name as well as the teams that drafted them.

[Ambiguous]

Lol at pounding anything with soft finesse style Selvin Young. Not only did TD have more wiggle the young, he had so much more power it's not even worth discussing. Selvin Young won't be a Bronco next yr IMO.

My wording was a a bit off. My point was that the guy in Selvin Young's spot should have been the real deal, not some scrub. Hopefully our next coach will see that.

[Taco John]

Oh come on TJ, you didn't see some of the moves Selvin had last year?


When I think of Selvin Young, "moves" are not what comes to mind. Going down after first contact does, though.

[TheReverend]

It's funny...I was about to say "Think of how badly the Cards and the Titans must feel about Cutler." but then I remembered that they're both still in the playoffs.

Ironic isn't it. Sad really. Shows you some good coaching can do. As far the cards go they couldn't suck forever with all those draft picks even if they didn't hit on all of them.

LOL

There's no way that was a serious reply to his post, right Meck?

[Florida_Bronco]

TJ is spot on. Selvin runs with no power and very little wiggle. IMO he doesn't have a wide variety of moves. Of course all these players are professional athletes and will make some moves. Compared to top line RBS though and Selvin about as avg as they come.

My prediction for Selvin is out of the NFL very soon or a career 3rd stringer.

Selvin actually has a good amount of wiggle, although you're right that he's just not big enough to run with much power.

If he could develop his kick return skills I could see him being our modern day Vaughn Hebron.

[Rohirrim]

When I think of Selvin Young, "moves" are not what comes to mind. Going down after first contact does, though.

Yeah, he does have a touch of the "Q" disease.