Scouts Inc Draft List...

[SoonerBronco]

Here's a little "insider" information for my fellow Broncos...

Much will change in the coming months, as underclassmen officially declare and players take part in postseason all-star games, individual workouts and the scouting combine, but here is our initial first-round mock for the 2007 NFL draft:

x -- Still to be determined by coin flip
y -- Still to be determined by playoffs
+ -- Underclassman



1. Oakland Raiders (2-14)
Projected pick: +JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
Russell vs. Brady Quinn? Let the great debate begin. Most teams have Quinn ahead of Russell, but Raiders owner Al Davis could fall in love with Russell's size and deep arm.


2. Detroit (3-13)
Projected pick: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
The Lions will be stoked if Quinn falls to them at No. 2. Wouldn't it be great, though, if Matt Millen takes another wide receiver (Calvin Johnson) with this pick?


3t. x-Cleveland (4-12)
Projected pick: +Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
The Browns want Russell with this pick, but they'll settle for a 330-pound playmaker to help solidify Romeo Crennel's three-man defensive front.


3t. x-Tampa Bay (4-12)
Projected pick: +Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
The Bucs have other more pressing needs, but coach Jon Gruden can't pass on the draft's most dynamic offensive weapon.


5. Arizona (5-11)
Projected pick: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
As usual, the Cardinals are a prime candidate to trade down. They should get lots of bidders if Thomas -- the only elite offensive lineman in this class -- is still available.


6. Washington (5-11)
Projected pick: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
Adams is a no-brainer for a Redskins defense that set a team record for the fewest sacks in a season (19) in 2006.


7. Minnesota (6-10)
Projected pick: +Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
It's hard to believe the Vikings still need defensive end help, but Erasmus James suffered a season-ending injury in the opener and Kenechi Udeze failed to notch a sack. Anderson is the complete package physically and he should capitalize on 13.5 sacks as a junior in 2006.


8. Houston (6-10)
Projected pick: +Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
Peterson is expected to make his decision to bolt for the NFL in the next few days. Drafting Peterson here would help to overshadow the Texans' colossal mistake of passing on Reggie Bush with the top overall pick last year.


9. Miami (6-10)
Projected pick: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
The Dolphins could consider QB Brian Brohm with this pick, but they also could go the free-agency route in order to get short-term relief. Hall would be a good value here and would help upgrade a patchwork secondary.


10. Atlanta (7-9)
Projected pick: LaRon Landry, S, LSU
Landry is a ball-hawk free safety who would instantly upgrade the athleticism of the Falcons secondary.


11. San Francisco (7-9)
Projected pick: +Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Dorsey might not fall this far, but the 49ers certainly wouldn't protest such a scenario. Dorsey is a disruptive force as a one-gap penetrating interior lineman.


12. Buffalo (7-9)
Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
Projected pick: The Bills have more pressing needs, including cornerback and middle linebacker. However, Okoye is a fast-rising 19-year-old with great potential.


13. St. Louis (8-8)
Projected pick: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
Carriker, a quick and powerful 290-pound defensive end, could be a good complement opposite DE Leonard Little.


14. Carolina (8-8)
Projected pick: +Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
The Panthers need help at middle linebacker, left tackle, safety and tight end, but it also might be time to address life after QB Jake Delhomme. If Brohm elects to leave school early, he should be taken somewhere between picks No. 10 and 20.


15. Pittsburgh (8-8)
Projected pick: Quentin Moses, DE/OLB, Georgia
Moses' stock is dropping after a subpar senior year, but it will spike once he works out at the combine next month.


16. Green Bay (8-8)
Projected pick: +Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal
QB Brett Favre could help maximize Lynch's explosiveness and versatility if they're working in the same backfield in 2007.


17. Jacksonville (8-8)
Projected pick: +Ted Ginn Jr., WR/RS, Ohio State
Ginn Jr. has a tough decision to make after injuring his ankle in the first quarter of the BCS title game. Assuming he turns pro, the Jaguars could use his speed. Despite spending first-round picks on the position in 2004 (Reggie Williams) and 2005 (Matt Jones), no Jaguar finished in the NFL's top 50 in catches.


18. Cincinnati (8-8)
Projected pick: Tank Tyler, DT, N.C. State
Tyler had a monster season as a senior, and his combination of power and quickness would help upgrade the Bengals' ailing defensive front.


19. Tennessee (8-8)
Projected pick: +Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
Jarrett is a dynamic playmaker with extraordinary hand-eye coordination, but he might not run well enough to land a spot in the top 15. However, the former Trojans receiver could make quite a team with the former Longhorns quarterback (Vince Young) in Tennessee.


20. N.Y. Giants (8-8)
Projected pick: +Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
The Giants must upgrade their cover-corner situation, and Revis displays the athleticism and ball skills to fit their needs. Revis will compete for the second cornerback taken behind Hall in this year's class.


21. Denver (9-7)
Projected pick: Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal
The tragic passing of Darrent Williams will force the Broncos to re-evaluate their personnel needs this offseason.


22. Dallas (9-7)
Projected pick: +Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
Nelson, a speedy center fielder with excellent ball skills, would provide an ideal complement next to hard-hitting S Roy Williams.


23. Kansas City (9-7)
Projected pick: +Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
Rice's draft stock could fluctuate greatly depending on his postseason workouts. Assuming he grades out as a late first-round prospect, the Chiefs would welcome his pass-catching services on the perimeter.


24. y-New England (from Seattle)
Projected pick: +Jarvis Moss, DE/OLB, Florida
Moss is an undersized pass-rushing end who would fit well as an outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 defensive scheme. Plus, Bill Belichick obviously has a thing for Gators players.


25. y-N.Y. Jets (10-6)
Projected pick: Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn
Irons' draft stock is plummeting after a disappointing senior campaign. However, don't be surprised if he works his way back into the first round by running well and checking out physically at next month's combine. The Jets might be desperate enough to take a gamble.


26. y-New Orleans (10-6)
Projected pick: Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State
The Saints need lots of help on defense, and selecting McCauley would be a step in the right direction. McCauley is raw but he's also a 6-foot-1 cornerback with 4.3-second speed in the 40-yard dash.


27. y-Philadelphia (10-6)
Projected pick: +Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
Timmons is unpolished, but he's a big hitter with great speed for his size.

28. y-New England (12-4)
Projected pick: Jeff Samardzija, WR, Notre Dame
Samardzija could easily slip out of the first round due to his desire to play both baseball (Cubs) and football professionally. The Patriots should be "in the know" thanks to their old buddy Charlie Weis.


29. y-Indianapolis (12-4)
Projected pick: Patrick Willis, ILB, Ole Miss
The Colts' run defense was abysmal during the regular season, so drafting a one-man wrecking crew like Willis makes a lot of sense with this pick. Willis notched 265 tackles during his final three seasons at Ole Miss.


30. y-Chicago (13-3)
Projected pick: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
Brown could slip after a disappointing senior season, but it's still tough to find a tackle with his combination of size and agility.


31. y-Baltimore (13-3)
Projected pick: LaMarr Woodley, DE/OLB, Michigan
The Ravens could use a youth influx at linebacker, and Woodley would be a good fit thanks to his experience playing in a similar hybrid 3-4/4-3 defensive scheme at Michigan.


32. y-San Diego (14-2)
Projected pick: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
A young weapon like Bowe at wide receiver could take an already-potent Chargers offense to the next level.


What do you think we could trade to the Cards for that pick

[bloodsunday]

If Denver takes a corner in round 1 I will scream.

Foxworth moves to CB opposite Bailey. Paymah moves to Nickel. We do the right thing and get a decent safety.

[BroncoInferno]

Everyone best bear up and prepare for CB round one with Dwills passing, especially if the guy is a good return man. Shanny has always seemed obsessed with secondary depth.

[elsid13]

I saw this from the inside site too, and laughed. Proving once again that place doesn't really follow the teams they pull stuff out of thier butts.

[Inkana7]

D-Line, Safety or Running Back. You should get a good selection at the 15-29 range of these positions. Corner? Psh.

[OrangeShadow]

Id love to sign either ken hamlin or michael lewis in free agency then draft D line o line and RB

[bpc]

Hughes is good but Nelson projects as another Ed Reed. We would be dumb to pass that up.

IF we draft a CB in the 1st round, it proves that we have no faith in either Fox or Paymah to ever pan out.

I think the staff things more of them than that.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

What's the over/under on how many of the players on this list fall to the 3rd or lower rounds come April?

[dbfan21]

I would love to see us get Reggie Nelson out of Florida. He could learn a lot from Lynch and Fergy and step in as a full-time starter in '08.

[Clockwork Orange]

Any mock that has the Broncos taking a corner in round one immediatly goes on my mental ignore list along with anyone (and there's at least one every year) who says "Trade our entire draft for (insert player name here)!"

[SoonerBronco]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

Any mock that has the Broncos taking a corner in round one immediatly goes on my mental ignore list along with anyone (and there's at least one every year) who says "Trade our entire draft for (insert player name here)!"

What you don't think we should "Ditka" our draft?

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by SoonerBronco

What you don't think we should "Ditka" our draft?

It's quite possibly the dumbest idea imaginable, but I'll be damned if Iron Mike didn't give it the ol' college try.

The scary thing is that every year there's someone here who wants the Broncos to make the same mistake.

[crush17]

Anything other than D-line help 1st round is a terrible decision.

[KansasBronco]

Mock drafts this time of the year are a complete JOKE. We haven't even had free agency yet and they're predicting who will go where. It's a waste of time to do these. They have us taking a corner. What if we get a veteran corner in free agency? That would change everything. The scouting combine also is a factor.

[SoonerBronco]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

It's quite possibly the dumbest idea imaginable, but I'll be damned if Iron Mike didn't give it the ol' college try.

The scary thing is that every year there's someone here who wants the Broncos to make the same mistake.

Even I would not want the Broncos to Ditka the draft for Peterson...just not a good idea.

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by SoonerBronco

Even I would not want the Broncos to Ditka the draft for Peterson...just not a good idea.

Peterson would make more sense than some of the others that people have screamed "trade the whole draft" for. I remember people clamoring for the Broncos to blow the whole draft to move up for Alex Smith and Mike Williams.

Oy vey.

[RhymesayersDU]

I can appreciate the fact that whether we want to think about it or not, we need to find a CB... But first round? Yikes...

[SoonerBronco]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

Peterson would make more sense than some of the others that people have screamed "trade the whole draft" for. I remember people clamoring for the Broncos to blow the whole draft to move up for Alex Smith and Mike Williams.

Oy vey.

Glad we didn't do that...which illustrates your point quite nicely.

[Ratboy]

Originally Posted by bloodsunday

If Denver takes a corner in round 1 I will scream.

Foxworth moves to CB opposite Bailey. Paymah moves to Nickel. We do the right thing and get a decent safety.

I honestly believe it will be opposite.

Paymah looked pretty good at the end of the season. Shanahan said in the past he thought Paymah had the best features to become a good corner.

[mattob14]

Anybody else get the feeling were picking about 5 slots too low this year? I just don't see much difference in talent from the guys in the latter third of the first and those that will be available in the second/early-third rounds. There's some exciting players at the top of the draft, though. Oh, and Shanahan should lose his job if he takes Hughes over Nelson.

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by mattob14

Anybody else get the feeling were picking about 5 slots too low this year? I just don't see much difference in talent from the guys in the latter third of the first and those that will be available in the second/early-third rounds. There's some exciting players at the top of the draft, though. Oh, and Shanahan should lose his job if he takes Hughes over Nelson.

I actually like the spot we're in. There's going to be plenty of talent to be had if they choose to just sit still, but they've got the ammo to move up a few spots should they see someone they just have to have.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

Any mock that has the Broncos taking a corner in round one immediatly goes on my mental ignore list

You might want to prepare yourself for a disappointment. I hate the idea, too, but Darrent's passing coupled with Shanny's obsession with secondary depth, it isn't outside the relm of possibility. Paymah hasn't been on the field a whole lot, and as it stands would presumably be the nickle back if the status quo is maintained. So don't be surprised if that's the direction we go. I hope not, but I'm bracing myself.

[SoCalBronco]

Please Shanny...no corners on Day 1.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Please Shanny...no corners on Day 1.

Provided the player is also a good return man, I'd be OK with a corner in round 2 or 3. Seriously, is everyone really sold on Paymah at this point? He'd be the third CB if the status quo is maintained.

[Clockwork Orange]

Originally Posted by BroncoInferno

Provided the player is also a good return man, I'd be OK with a corner in round 2 or 3. Seriously, is everyone really sold on Paymah at this point? He'd be the third CB if the status quo is maintained.

A corner any where from round 3 on wouldn't bother me. It's this idea that the Broncos are suddenly desperate for help at that position that does.