If Elway were drafting for T2, who should he target?

[Armchair Bronco]

Let's assume for the sake of argument that Elway finally sees the light and decides to hop on the Tebow Express. I know this is a stretch, but whatever.

In this case, what kind of players should Elway target in the draft and in free agency?

[Armchair Bronco]

Clearly, we need some backup QB's, but they have to be able to run the read-option offense. So this probably eliminates most of the pure pocket passers available in the 1st and 2nd rounds.

And we'd need to stockpile some RB's who run & think like McGahee and Peyton Hillis. Maybe we even try to get Hillis back from Cleveland (and hope that he stays healthy).

We also need to keep drafting defensive juggernauts. I'd rather see Elway spend our 1st and 2nd round picks on defensive guys.

WR is a need, but I just don't see Prima Donna WR's being very happy on this team. So WR's would be late-round picks.

[RhymesayersDU]

The question comes down to if you think Tebow needs weapons or if you want to try and go full blown 2000 Baltimore Ravens, i.e., become the nastiest defense on the planet.

If the latter, you draft defense early and often.

[CBF1]

T2.... really?

We need a Percey Harvin type of player. Someone that can run and catch the ball that has plenty of speed to hit a corner on an end round or reverse play.

[Armchair Bronco]

I think Tebow's already shown that he doesn't need a bevy of world-class weapons to be successful. We need a solid, mean RB (McGahee), and we need at least one guy like Decker. But look at what Tebow has done with guys who would probably be on the Practice Squad for teams like NO or GB.

I think we should focus on drafting mean, mean defensive players in rounds 1 and 2 for several years since a dominating D is so key to making this machine work. Then Denver will become a magnet for every Free Agent defensive player on the planet.

[Armchair Bronco]

Originally Posted by CBF1

T2.... really?

We need a Percey Harvin type of player. Someone that can run and catch the ball that has plenty of speed to hit a corner on an end round or reverse play.

I was thinking this, too. I'd trade away a 2nd round pick for Harvin.

[Lestat]

we need a top tier RB to compliment McGahee,a Eddie Royal circa 2008 type slot WR, a mauling OG and some serious upgrades at LB & CB opposite champ.

[titan]

There's no secret to having a successful draft. you draft the best player available, especially in the early rounds, regardless of position. While everyone was clamoring for a defensive tackle last year (Dareus), the Broncos took the best player available (Von Miller) in what didn't seem like a pressing need at the time (outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme).

The defensive tackle position was addressed later (Bunkley), and in retrospect Miller was the best pick the Broncos could have made.

The failures in the bronco drafts over the years have been when they targeted a position of need early, rather than taking the best player available.

[Wes Mantooth]

Nothing but top shelf D.

[Broncoman13]

You go after players that have been successful in the NFL AND were successful in college in a similar offense. Don't think the Raiders will be letting McFadden go anywhere. Hillis is definitely an option and would be a great at the first read in the option (FB Dive type play)... plus he has the added ability to move back to HB and catches well out of the back field. He had what I thought were the best hands of any player during his years with the Broncos. Felix Jones hasn't done much with Dallas, but I don't think Jerry Jones is ready to cut him lose yet.

In the draft, Jermichael Finley would be interesting in the 2nd or 3rd round. Too small to hold up to the beatings but maybe if he were only getting 10 or so touches per game... while you're looking at Finley you might as well look at Oregon's QB as well.

Denard Robinson is an obvious fit. And, if it somehow falls into your lap, you take RGIII in the first and don't look back.

Jeff Demps from Florida has a lot of familiarity in the system and can absolutely run (like Chris Johnson type speed!).

There is a chance that the Niners cut ties with Alex Smith after this year (one year deal and Kappernick may be ready... may not), but Alex Smith would be a great back up to Tebow, especially if you do commit to the current style offense.

There are a ton of benefits of going to this offense full time. Players that aren't normally drafted until the 5th-7th rounds are now available and "reaching" on a player in the 4th round isn't exactly a big risk.

All that being said, Tebow either learns to become a more traditional QB and mixes in the Zone Option just to show a different look (4 or 5 times per game) or the Broncos go a different direction. Reminds me a lot of 2005 when Plummer was winning games but Shanny had to get a "Shiny" QB in Cutler.

I am at the point now where I'd take RGIII and know he could run both systems (Traditional and Zone Read) which would likely keep Tebow under center for next year while RGIII learns the ropes (Win win, IMO). And if we truly don't like the system, then Matt Barkley is quickly making a believer of me. I thought he was pretty sloppy last year, but he has tightened up his game a lot this year and is quietly having one of the best QB seasons in all of College Football.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by CBF1

T2.... really?

We need a Percey Harvin type of player. Someone that can run and catch the ball that has plenty of speed to hit a corner on an end round or reverse play.

This.

The team needs explosive offensive players, particularly electric backs who can catch the ball.

It would also be nice to have a WR to pair with Decker who can actually catch the ball. Decker is earning a spot with his commitment to blocking and his being the only guy that Tebow can expect to make a play, but we need someone else to pair with him.

I'd carry out the whole draft like this:

Best player available at every pick out of: CB, MLB, DT, DE, RB, and WR.

[Vegas_Bronco]

We need corners, dline and a kick azz TE regardless of who is the qb.

[Turd_Ferguson]

Originally Posted by CBF1

T2.... really?

We need a Percey Harvin type of player. Someone that can run and catch the ball that has plenty of speed to hit a corner on an end round or reverse play.

Percy Harvin said something along the lines of if there is a God he will bring Tebow to the Vikings before the draft. I have no idea what his contract status is, but if he is still on his rookie contract they should go after him. I don't see a lot of receivers dying to come here unless they start throwing the ball a lot more, but his relationship with Tebow may give him more reason than others.

[Armchair Bronco]

Originally Posted by titan

There's no secret to having a successful draft. you draft the best player available, especially in the early rounds, regardless of position. While everyone was clamoring for a defensive tackle last year (Dareus), the Broncos took the best player available (Von Miller) in what didn't seem like a pressing need at the time (outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme).

The defensive tackle position was addressed later (Bunkley), and in retrospect Miller was the best pick the Broncos could have made.

The failures in the bronco drafts over the years have been when they targeted a position of need early, rather than taking the best player available.

But no one, not even Mel "I Know More Than You" Keiper, has the definitive book on the "Best Available Player". It's a very subjective stack ranking, especially once you get past the top 5 or 10 players in the draft.

#24 might be a DE. #25 might be a brusing RB. AFAIC, both of them are the best players available at that slot in the draft at their respective positions. So you need to make a choice based on some underlying philosophy.

I say you favor Defensive players but still try to stay reasonably close to your original stack ranking of players.

[Vegas_Bronco]

Originally Posted by Turd_Ferguson

Percy Harvin said something along the lines of if there is a God he will bring Tebow to the Vikings before the draft. I have no idea what his contract status is, but if he is still on his rookie contract they should go after him. I don't see a lot of receivers dying to come here unless they start throwing the ball a lot more, but his relationship with Tebow may give him more reason than others.

Willis was on jim Rome the other day and stated that the reason he stayed in denver was the fact that we were going to run the ball. As long as fox is here winning by running, we will continue to get decent wide receivers who are unselfish workhorses like rod smith and eddie mac. Id rather have a guy that blocks than one that wants the ball 15 times a game.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Broncoman13

You go after players that have been successful in the NFL AND were successful in college in a similar offense. Don't think the Raiders will be letting McFadden go anywhere. Hillis is definitely an option and would be a great at the first read in the option (FB Dive type play)... plus he has the added ability to move back to HB and catches well out of the back field. He had what I thought were the best hands of any player during his years with the Broncos. Felix Jones hasn't done much with Dallas, but I don't think Jerry Jones is ready to cut him lose yet.

Hillis would be a nice addition. He's a much more threatening player on the dive plays than Larsen. He would also be a reliable screen and wheel route player. You could even leave him in the spread to block. Having to take punishment from Hillis, Tebow, and a speed back for an entire game would be really difficult to deal with. I like the idea.

The traits that a back must have in this offense: hands, blocking ability, elusiveness, and (ideally) break-away speed. Hillis can do all but the speed stuff. Then you draft someone like Demps to fill that role.

In the draft, Jermichael Finley would be interesting in the 2nd or 3rd round. Too small to hold up to the beatings but maybe if he were only getting 10 or so touches per game... while you're looking at Finley you might as well look at Oregon's QB as well.

I dont think that Denver needs to draft another TE right now. I think that Virgil Green, Fells, Thomas, and Rosario are enough to work with. Virgil Green is getting more and more work, and has been blocking fairly well. He's supposed to be a good athlete as well, so I'd keep Fells to start and work in the youngsters.

Denard Robinson is an obvious fit. And, if it somehow falls into your lap, you take RGIII in the first and don't look back.

No need to draft a QB at all if you plan on keeping Tebow. It would be a waste of a pick when there are too many other holes on the field.

Jeff Demps from Florida has a lot of familiarity in the system and can absolutely run (like Chris Johnson type speed!).

I hope that the Broncos pick Demps...he'd be a perfect fit. An ideal second-round pick at where the Broncos will be selecting.

I am at the point now where I'd take RGIII and know he could run both systems (Traditional and Zone Read) which would likely keep Tebow under center for next year while RGIII learns the ropes (Win win, IMO). And if we truly don't like the system, then Matt Barkley is quickly making a believer of me. I thought he was pretty sloppy last year, but he has tightened up his game a lot this year and is quietly having one of the best QB seasons in all of College Football.

No need to discuss drafting QB's in a thread that asks what would be drafted if the Broncos stick with a QB.

[Armchair Bronco]

Originally Posted by Vegas_Bronco

Willis was on jim Rome the other day and stated that the reason he stayed in denver was the fact that we were going to run the ball. As long as fox is here winning by running, we will continue to get decent wide receivers who are unselfish workhorses like rod smith and eddie mac. Id rather have a guy that blocks than one that wants the ball 15 times a game.

Anyone remember Keith Burns? I always wanted him to be a hybrid Player/Coach given his awesome play on Special Teams back in the day.

Maybe we can do the same thing with Rod and Eddie. Those guys are still heroes in Denver, and I'm sure they could be effective advisors, if not junior/assistant coaches eventually.

[NFLBRONCO]

Originally Posted by CBF1

T2.... really?

We need a Percey Harvin type of player. Someone that can run and catch the ball that has plenty of speed to hit a corner on an end round or reverse play.

Yep I was thinking the same thing. Another Harvin and McFadden type RB would be nice.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Vegas_Bronco

Willis was on jim Rome the other day and stated that the reason he stayed in denver was the fact that we were going to run the ball. As long as fox is here winning by running, we will continue to get decent wide receivers who are unselfish workhorses like rod smith and eddie mac. Id rather have a guy that blocks than one that wants the ball 15 times a game.

Absolutely.

Decker is fitting into that category. We need another guy to step up next to him. I had hoped that DT would be the guy, but he's not stepping up. Maybe he's still not at full speed?

[cutthemdown]

Nobody last yr thought a good draft would be olb, te's, ot. I hope for the draft to just yeild good starters. Doesn't really matter what position to me.

[cutthemdown]

Broncos should just bring in option qbs as UDFA.

[vonqkilla]

DT, CB, WR.

BPA at those positions.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by epicSocialism4tw

Absolutely.

Decker is fitting into that category. We need another guy to step up next to him. I had hoped that DT would be the guy, but he's not stepping up. Maybe he's still not at full speed?

A really athletic WR that is tall and big, that could win 1 on 1 jump ball situations would be ideal also. Stupid to say a Larry Fitz type, because every team wants that, but just an athletic leaper with hands that snatch the ball from the air etc etc.

This offense, if it had WR that teams were afraid to single cover, would be even harder to stop. If we had really killer WR who could burn and get deep, it almost makes them keep at least one safety back, and probably the other one not quite as far in the box. Otherwise Broncos could end up getting a ton of long passes. The chances are there we have just only hit 1 or 2 of them.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by vonqkilla

DT, CB, WR.

BPA at those positions.

I still say you take whoever you think the biggest stud is.

Last yr I was saying Peterson, Green, Miller, Dareus. I think this yr Broncos do same thing. Make a list of the guys you think are sure fire studs then grab one of them. Even if it was Dend and he was better the Ayers we still improve.

I agree though a stud inside at DT, or some help at CB would be great.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Kirkpatrick