Looking Ahead. . . 2007 Draft Possibilities. (My thoughts.)

[Requiem]

It's been an interesting start to both the NCAA and NFL football seasons. I'm not going to make this a real formal article like I would if it was for GC, but I thought it'd be nice to start getting this thread and draft talk going again. Not sure if I'll be able to go down to Mobile this spring, but it's probably unlikely. Although I've been trying to keep track on prospects coming out this year as much as possible, which is usually why I'm a ghost on these boards around the end of the week.

The Broncos season is far too young to determine our most pressing needs as of right now, but I thought from what I have seen on our play so far and based on our free agents this next year, that there are some needs that do have to be addressed. I'll start out with the positions and play breakdown from the Broncos so far this year, and I'll bring to mind some college prospects that could help out our team this coming season. Enjoy guys.

Quarterback

Jake Plummer has been highly criticized here in Denver, especially in the early going of this season. The Broncos have no need to waste a high pick on a quarterback, given the fact they took Jay Cutler this past year at #11 overall, but we have to consider if the Broncos are going to keep Plummer next year if Cutler ends up winning the starting job to be his back-up at a reduced price, or will we trade/release Jake and find a guy in FA or the draft to develop as a back-up. My guy feeling is we'll try to keep Jake here in Denver at a reduced price, but the chances are he'll want to go somewhere in start -- with that said, I'm sure we'll look to free agency rather than the draft if we want to get a back-up for Cutler.

Top prospects this year are Brady Quinn, Troy Smith and Drew Stanton. All first-rounders in my opinion, so there's no chance in hell we'll be drafting them one there. Second tier guys go as followed, (not in a particular order) Chris Leak, Trent Edwards and Jordan Palmer who are legitimate first day picks. If the Broncos are looking for a youngster on the second day that could slip into the later rounds, maybe a Tyler Palko or Drew Tate sorta guy.

Runningback

A lot of people feel like this is a need, regardless of how well Tatum has performed this early on in the season, but I don't feel the Broncos will go here that early unless Tatum and Mike completely stink up the joint the rest of the season and it's made clear that neither can be a go-to-guy for us.

Michael Bush, regardless of season ending injury is my top prospect. I'd love to see him here, and I know that SoCal secretly creamed his panties when he heard he was hurt because if he wasn't, the Broncos would have had no chance in hell at getting him without going through a series of trades. In the end, I don't think the injury is going to hurt Bush that bad because he has too much physical talent to pass up and even with his short campaign this year, he showed why he was the top back in the country. Behind him you have guys like Darby, Irons and Booker who I'm not all too impressed with, but definitely have first-day grades on them. A really interesting back I think the Broncos could find somewhere on Day Two would be Pittsburgh St.'s Germaine Race, who up this year has over 600 college carries for 5,000 yards and 70 touchdowns through his junior year. Yeah, he's that good -- but he's not playing top flight competition. He'll be an interesting prospect to watch though.

Marshawn Lynch is the top junior, and there are a lot of people on this board including myself who think he'd do a great job here.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

First off, I'm glad that Walker's having a great year so far, but Rod Smith has had a slow start to the season, but that could be due to the minor injuries he's been having. Kircus is looking nifty in his role, and we haven't see much of Marshall. Rod's age definitely has to be taken into consideration when deciding on what kind of need we have at receiver. The jury is still out on Davis and Brandon though, I still have hopes that Brandon can be a threat for us in the future, but he has only had two throws his way this year. I know it's early, but based on what I've seen, Denver could use an upgrade at the position.

This year is loaded with wide receivers. I'm not sure if Big Guy, SoCal and others agree, but if you include the juniors who are LIKELY to come out this year, you have a list shaping out like this for the first round:

Dwayne Jarret
Calvin Johnson
Ted Ginn, JR.
Sidney Rice
Jason Hill
Jeff Samardzija (Is a first-round talent, but he could drop if he doesn't pick a sport exclusively. . .)

And the list behind them is almost too long to even name, I'm extremely high on Jarrett Hicks from Texas Tech, and he doesn't even make my top 10. . . but you have guys like Steve Smith, Dallas Baker and Courtney Taylor who are also first-day possibilities as well. There's loads of talent there, and even though the Broncos may have Walker and the potential of Marshall/Kircus in the future, we have the ammo (extra third-rounder) to get either a top end guy. . . or someone later on the first-day to bolster our receiving corps.

Onto the tight ends, we drafted Scheffler in the second round this past year who seems to be having trouble adjusting to the speed of the game, but in time he'll get better. Not a big fan of the current crop at the position, and the two best players are Greg Olsen and Zach Miller who are both underclassmen anyways. I believe Alexander's contract is up at the end of the season, so maybe we'll be looking for a late-round guy who could come in and step up as a blocker, but why not bring in Daniel Graham in free agency instead? Really unlikely that we'll draft anyone at the position.


Offensive Line

A line that seems to be getting older in regards to Nalen and Lepsis, but still a pretty decent unit. A lot of criticism on Foster and Carlisle this year, and the Broncos had made moves in the past several drafts getting guys who can play on the interior of the line (Myers, Kuper and Esinger) so I don't see those positions as a big need, but I'm not too high on Erik Pears being our LT of the future and even though Adam Meadows was brought in to back up Foster. . . he was out of football (good when he played) how good of depth do we have there?

I may be the minority here, but picking up an offensive tackle to help anchor the line in the future for Cutler, in particular a left tackle wouldn't be that bad of an idea. This draft has some damn good ones. Joe Thomas would be butter for the Broncos, but the kid is a top ten pick -- and would have been had he came out last year. Guys who could go shortly after that or in the middle of round one would be Levi Brown out of Penn State and Ryan Harris out of Notre Dame. With the extra ammo we have this year, and the fact that we'll need a young LT to anchor the line (I don't think Foster will make the switch) for Cutler in the future -- the time would be now to get a guy who can come up and be developed by us. I like Joe Staley out of Central Michigan too, and feel he'll go late day one, and he has experience at both RT and LT, and didn't allow one sack at LT all year last year. Doug Free is also an interesting prospect the Broncos could take at in the second round who is also a premier pass-blocking LT at the collegiate level.

I think I may be reaching the character limit, so I'll start posting the defensive possibilities and analysis on another post in this thread. So in conclusion -- out of the offensive positions listed -- I believe a LT and a WR should be a couple of our priority considerations on day one. I know that Lepsis is doing very good, but he'll be 33 at the start of next season and it may be time to plan for the future. I also think that getting Cutler another receiving weapon would be ideal too, I didn't mention Steve Breaston -- who I think would be a great late-first day. . . early-second day selection for us. He'd be able to do returns and could be an interesting weapon offensively. Sort of a Poor Man's Ginn if you ask me. . .

[OrangeShadow]

id like to see Micahel bush here or wait until next year see if steve slaton comes out

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I know you will think the world is ending Req, but I agree with most every thing you said, but hope you put a couple of DL at the very top of your priorities list.

QB - I wish they would sign LaFors to the practice squad to determine if he is a viable backup. The pool of vet backup QBs is pretty crappy. If Cutler wins the job, I don't see any way Plummer is here. Hope they can trade him, but as I have said before, I can see him packing his stuff in his Honda Element and retiring as a hermit at his cabin in Idaho.

RB - SoCal and I have been dreaming about M Bush for two years. Irons is a fine runner, but he looks a little thin in the core to me. Peterson - I just have this bad feeling that with his style he will be injured once he plays with guys as big and fast as he is. Tony Hunt from Penn St. could be a late first day pick. Later in the draft, Alley Broussard might surprise. DeShawn Wynn could be another second day surprise.

Wide Receiver - Unless Kircus, Marshall, Morgan or Hixon really break out this year, I would expect another WR drafted early, especially if they don't get the punt return situation straightened out. You mentioned the obvious choices. A big guy you did not list is Dwayne Bowe from LSU who should be there in the mid rounds. I really haven't seen anyone that has stood out as a punt returner

Offensive Line - Once again I agree. With Kuper and Eslinger (assuming he can gain the needed strength), I think the inside spots are solid, even if there is some shuffling. I don't know what to make of Pears. He had a couple of excellent preseason games and has been active while Meadows has been inactive. I wouldn't mind a Tackle that could learn a couple of years behind Lepsis.

That being said, the Broncs really need a couple of young studs on the DL and that has to be the priority.

[Requiem]

Okay. . . how about some defensive analysis. . . Since I think we're pretty set at linebacker and cornerback -- I'm not going to bother listing them. There's no chance we'd get a starter at any of those positions, and I feel that the Broncos Brass wouldn't even consider using a very high pick on any of those positions with the current crop of players we go there, but I do feel that there is a need at defensive line, (of course) along with the safety position.

Defensive Line

I've cried for years that the Broncos have let their best pass rushers go in free agency and have tried replacing them with Cleveland Browns and guys who've best days of football are behind them. Shanahan's recent comments in regards to only having a limited amount of guys on the line, and his expression in doing so may be a little hint that he does realize we have need there. Not only that, but Chukwurrah, who has been a solid specialist this year along with both our DT's who are active next to Warren (Veal and Myers) are free agents at the end of the year. With all the injuries Courtney Brown has, I think it's pretty much safe to say that we're going to need an upgrade there for the future and outside him, the average age of the ends and players on the line is 30 years or so anyways, so it's time for some youth and some upgrades. . .

I'll start off with the defensive ends, and we have a pretty solid crop of them going into the draft this year.

Quentin Moses and Gaines Adams on all boards are the top two ends in the country, it depends on who you ask, but the feeling is that Moses is probably the best end and best defensive player in the nation right now. I see them as legit top ten selections, but it's likely based on other needs the top teams will have that Adams could possibly slip into the early teens.

I don't think we have a realistic shot at these guys, it'll take a lot of ammo to get even close to them, but I thought I'd give credit to the two best pass rushers in the nation by far.

Even though I was concerned about Woodley's hight at DE (He's listed at 6'2 -- but I'm not sure I believe that) but he's came through with a real monster campaign so far. I think he's a true DE in the 4-3, and would have limited success in the 3-4. He'll be around at the time we'll be picking. Tim Crowder would be the next guy on my list, who is probably the most well-rounded against the run and pass out of the whole bunch. Not elite sack numbers, but he does well getting pentetration in the back on running plays and gets a decent amount of sacks. I think he'd be a very good fit here in Denver could could take over the duties of Courtney Brown at LE. Victor Ambiamiri would be a solid choice if we're looking for a speed rusher off of the edge, I think he's more of a second round prospect, and is similar in many ways to Justin Tuck who came out a few years ago. Behind him you have Carriker (who'd be ideal in a 3-4 as an end) and Ray McDonald and Baratka Atkins who I believe are late-day one considerables at the position.

In reality, if we went DL first round -- I'd probably take Crowder out of the bunch because I feel he's a better fit in our system and I believe he'd be great value. Now, if if his teammate Okam came out, I'd probably consider him more at the defensive tackle position.

Onto that position, DT. . . I thought it was a pretty solid crop, but injuries to Justin Harrell and Marcus Thomas being suspended didn't help matters much. If Frank Okam comes out, he's the top tackle bar none, and probably will go top fifteen.

A kid who is making some noise is 19 year old phenom (yeah, 19 and has played 4 years of college football) Amobi Okoye out of Louisville. He's a hard prospect to grade, isn't spectacular against the pass, but is a nice run stuffer. Strength coaches are going to love this kid because he's only 19 and even hasn't developed fully yet but is still a beast. WA asked me where I thought he'd go, and I said first-day is definitely in the realm of possibility, and I think he'll end up there. Not likely to ever be a kid like him to ever enter the draft, and I think someone will take him earlier than expected because of his age and ability to contribute a great deal in the long run.

Quinn Pitcock is just a kid who makes plays, but I'm not as high on him as others. Definite first-rounder though.

Brandon Mebane and Kareem Brown would round out my day one tackle considerations. Mebane has first-round talent in my opinion, but hasn't played up to it this year. I haven't got to see Brown play much, and maybe SoCal could elaborate on him more, but from what I've gathered he's a pretty decent pass rusher and a solid overall prospect on the line. Jay Alford is another guy to look out for too. . .

By far the biggest need, defensive line and I feel there's enough prospects and we have enough ammo to get one or two of the top rated prospects (outside Moses or Gaines) in this draft. If not, we could go the route of Free Agency, at DT -- Darnell Dockett would be cool. No chance we get Freeney though, IMO.

The other position I feel we could need a starter at in the future is Safety, some will disagree with me -- but I feel that a playmaking safety is something we've been missing for a while now. LaRon Landry is tops on my list, followed by Merriweather and Cedric Griffin. Kids who are making splashes recently are Aaron Rouse out of V-Tech who is a legitimate second-round selection and Eric Weddle out of Utah who is having a fantastic campaign.

[Requiem]

I'd just mention that as far as linebackers go. . . OLB. . . Paul Posluszny out of Penn St. and Rufus Alexander out of OU would top out my list. . . ILB. . . Patrick Willis, who I think can go top fifteen and will in my mind. . . and Buster Davis and HB Blades would be the other top prospects.

Leon Hall and DeAndre Jackson are my top two corners. . .

Don't forget MASON CROSBY, K - Colorado either, I think he'll go early in round 2.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

A couple of other DL to consider - Justin Harrel of Tenn is he is healed and Ray McDonald of Florida.

I think safety is a need, but as I have always said, that position is more easily addressed in FA and yu can get 3 decent safeties in FA for the price of one good DL. Landry is definitely the best, but don't forget Tarrell Brown from Texas - He's a mean one for his size. JD Nelson could be a mid round steal.

[Requiem]

Harrell was playing pretty good until his bicep (I believe) injury this year, he was definitely playing like a first-rounder. . . I forgot to include McDonald, because some people feel he's a DT/DE hybrid too, but that's good -- because versatility like that would boast well for our line, he's the kind of player we'd be looking for, but correct me if I'm wrong, McDonald has had two ACL tears. . .or it's one of the Florida lineman. . . I know McDonald missed time last year.

[Obushma]

DB-Eric Weddle

[WABronco]

Originally Posted by Big Guy

I think safety is a need, but as I have always said, that position is more easily addressed in FA and yu can get 3 decent safeties in FA for the price of one good DL.

Michael Lewis could be a nice pick-up.

[27atwater]

My pix

DE-Moses or Adams...Adams is possible w/ Wash's pick, but Moses will go top 5
S-Landry or Griffin
RB-Lynch or Irons
DT-Pitcock, Harrell or Alan Branch of Michigan
OT SLEEPER-Joe Staley of Central Michigan...he'd be a nice 2nd or 3rd for us.

[dbroncos78087]

If we can get Lynch that would be awesome, i would really like to see us move up in the draft again like we did this year. And snatch someone we shouldnt have gotten.

In the perfect universe i would like to get Calvin Johnson, but i doubt that will happen.

[27atwater]

inexperienced drivers!

[youcandoit1687]

well my early thoughts are that we(along with every team) will pick up atleast one receiver somewhere in the draft. bowe is a lot like marshall, i would prefer craig davis, one of the fastest on LSU's team and has good size and great hands. he runs good routes and is versatile(returned punts this last week and can do a lot of things as a receiver). he is also a pretty good downfield blocker from what ive seen.

meriweather is going to drop because of the FIU incident(he was the first guy i saw stomping and was right in the middle of it in clearsight). teams will be turned off by the fact that he was 1. "fighting" and 2. "fighting" a guy who was on the ground IMO. i dont want us to pick him up tho, bad character guy.

rouse is an interesting prospect at 6-4 i think, what are his hips like?

at DE, i like crowder and woodley, woodley seems a lot taller when ive seen him. my guess is he gets snatched up as a 3-4 OLB if he clocks the type of speed that i have seen from him.

i wasnt very impressed with thomas from florida when he played LSU. our mediocre middle oline handled him relatively well but that was his first game back.

irons would be an ideal back for us, great one cutter and has a lot of size to go with his speed

i like cedric griffin's versatility, he would be a good second rounder

i like the way mustard has been blocking at TE(havent seen film tho) and i think he could be our blocking TE for a while to go with scheffler

at TE, drew tate or chris leak could be good backups. they seem smart and have decent mobility(leak is improving at throwing on the run). neither are starter material but seem smart enough and athletic enough to be good backups

i think we will go BPositionOfNeedA. DL, S, OT are the majors with minors in QB, WR, K, and RB.hopefully we wheel-and-deal into the mid first so that we can pick up a target like adams or moses who might drop due to the receivers. i think we will use a lot of teams' needs for receivers to our advantage in this draft.

oh and im not sure if u mentioned limas sweed but he is an interesting guy. similar physically to calvin johnson but doesnt seem to have the hands

sorry im not very good at putting my thoughts into paragraphs haha i just kinda write what im thinking at that instance. braindead from school.

[ohiobronco2]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe our options concerning the Washington trade are as follows: A-We trade first rounders, if Washington finishes with a worse record than us (Given) and no lower than the 20th overall selection in the draft. Or B- We get Washingtons 3rd and 4th round selections. Now if I'm wrong and we are allowed to trade first round picks no matter what our record and Washingtons happens to be, then everything goes out the window and we may very well wind up with one of the elite prospects in the draft. Looking at the remaining schedule for Washington I could legitimately see them going 4-12, especially with the talk of benching Brunell for Cambell.

Either way I think as good as we have been on Defense we still need to address the line either through the draft or free agency. I've been searching the web and the only decent Free Agent DL available next year is Dwight Freeney and he's a pipe dream. Clearly with C. Browns health and the overall age on our line we need to look at the D-Line prospects in the Draft. If I understand the Washington trade correctly, with any luck we will have the following picks-Late Round ONE (Ours), Late Round TWO (Ours), Early Round Three (Washington), Late Round Three (Ours), Early Round Four (Washington), Late Round Five, Six, and Seven. I think these may be likely picks depending on how things shake up between now, combine and pro days.

Round 1 With Adams and Moses gone we should take the best remaining D-Lineman available. Pitcock, Woodley, Crowder, Carriker,Branch and Okam may all be available.

Round 2 I would like to see another D-Lineman come off the board here. Maybe an Anthony Spencer, Mkristo Bruce, McDonald, Banzuin or Marcus Thomas.

Round 3 (Early Washington)- If by any chance M Crosby was still available by our first 3rd round pick, I wouldn't hesistate to take him, but I wouldn't take him any earlier than this. I would also take Leonard from Rutgers if by some miracle he was still availble. RB-Maybe M. Hart or Garrett Wolfe. OT Long or D. Free. I would even consider drafting a decent LB like Davis, Everett or Watters if they happen to land here. O-Line Depth/WR/RB all possiblities here
Round 3 Anthony Gonzalez if he came out early. O-Line Depth/WR/RB all possiblities here.
Round 4- Prescott Burgess/ Tyler Palko-Chris Leak/ Overall Depth.
Round 5-Ryne Robinson out of Miami (OH) or Breaston out of Michigan (Probably long gone, but you never know). If Hixon is healthy we might want to go in another direction. But both of these guys are great play makers.
Round 6 Depth
Round 7 Depth

Free Agency.

Look at all safeties. Parrish, Lewis, and Deon Grant

RB- According to Footballs Future Michael Turner is a Free Agent. May be worth a look. I wouldn't think they would put a tag on the back up running back. Tatum has played excellent and I don't know if drafting a running back would really help us unless it was one of the top three being hyped in this draft. If we don't pursue them, I think Turner would make an excellent back on any team and would probably be amazing in ours.
TE Graham. He would easily replace Stephen the "n*ts" puncher Alexander. Great reciever and blocker.

Any Thoughts? How far off am I

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

What I would like them to do is find three youg DL that could contribute and another receiver:

What I think they will do is go balls to the wall to sign Graham and maybe a safety if they have any money left. Pick up another spare part DL. Draft 2 WR, a RB and a developmental OT with their first day picks.

If they are going with Cutler, they want to give him all the weapons. With luck in that scenario, they can get an early pick for Jake and use that to get the DL everyone wants.

[WABronco]

Originally Posted by Big Guy

What I would like them to do is find three youg DL that could contribute and another receiver:

What I think they will do is go balls to the wall to sign Graham and maybe a safety if they have any money left. Pick up another spare part DL. Draft 2 WR, a RB and a developmental OT with their first day picks.

If they are going with Cutler, they want to give him all the weapons. With luck in that scenario, they can get an early pick for Jake and use that to get the DL everyone wants.

I know Graham is the big fav around here, but another guy I think we should be keeping our eyes on is George Wrighster out of Jacksonville. He'd most likely come at a much lower price, even if he continues his breakout year...

[WABronco]

Originally Posted by WABronco

I know Graham is the big fav around here, but another guy I think we should be keeping our eyes on is George Wrighster out of Jacksonville. He'd most likely come at a much lower price, even if he continues his breakout year...

Jaguars signed TE George Wrighster to a five-year, $7.5 million extension that will keep him under contract with the team through 2011.

With 18 catches through six games, Wrighster is well on his way to a career-best year. We expect first-round pick Marcedes Lewis to play a more prominent role as the season progresses, but to this point, Wrighster has been by far Jacksonville's most productive tight end in 2006.

Shieet......

[phibacka31]

I would love to see daniel graham in a bronc uni. Him and sheff would be dynamic. Seriously! Through the draft I would love to see calvin johnson or ted ginn on the broncs, i know they are wrs, but gin would gieve us the return man and it's always good to add. I also like the DE out of purdue, can't think of his name. I agree with the dline help, not sure who is worth a look. The draft is so hard. I really want graham though.

[youcandoit1687]

heres SI's list of the 15 best WRs in college football

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...ontent.15.html

this year is ridiculous, some of those guys i hadnt even thought of because there are so many other guys. i mean they dont even mention limas sweed, steve breaston, dallas baker, rhema mcknight, paul williams, dwayne bowe, or craig davis. jeez, just so deep. im pretty sure it will set first round and second round records, probably third round too.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Bet one or two of those guys end up in orange.

I like Steve Smith late 2nd or 3rd round - speed and hands

[youcandoit1687]

probably one. i think everybody is gonna come outta this thing with a WR and they will likely see him as the next big thing. i mean even the 06 draft had plenty of late round talent that is coming around. 07 has plenty of top end talent, middle round talent, and bottom round talent. i havent been around for as long as many of yall but this has to be one of the best WR drafts and will likely rival 96 IMO.

[Requiem]

If several of the juniors declare this year, the potential for this WR class is unbelievable, not a lot of senior "studs" but a lot of solid players. I'd be disappointed if the Broncos didn't try and grab one on the first day. I mean, Christ.

[elsid13]

A young WR like Sweed would help set up this offense big time. Imagine a line up featuring Walker, Marshall and Sweed in couple of years.

[youcandoit1687]

i like sweed, he is similar to calvin johnson physically, just not quite as big and doesnt quite have the hands that johnson has. im not going to be too happy if we go with ted ginn. thats not what we need, hes an unproven commodity and we are in no ways masters of the WR position(although heimerdinger has coached some fine talent). id like sweed, or a smaller, slot guy like chansi stuckey, steve breaston, stroughter from oregon st. it all depends on the development of marshall and hixon as well as where we stand with kircus and clark.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Rod, Walker, Marshall and Kircus are all physical type receivers. Good group, but they need a speed guy to compliment them - Steve Smith would be a nice fit.