The annual NFL scouting combine is just around the corner and with it will be an increase in talk and speculation about the NFL draft.
Most of the time, I don’t pay attention to a lot of the talk leading up to the draft. This year, however, I’ll be listening just a little more closely. Don’t get me wrong, I still think it is a lot of people saying a lot of things and many of those things are simply speculation.
One thing is true without a doubt: The Broncos need to have a strong draft.
I know, stop the presses. But the fact is, it’s really true.
The battle lines over NFL economics are being drawn in the fight over a new collective bargaining agreement. That makes the draft even more important. The fact is, the draft is the cheapest place to get good talent.
There is also little doubt that drafting is, at best, an inexact science. But the Broncos certainly need a better formula than they have had in recent years.
A handful of observations as the Broncos head into draft season:
1 – THEY CAN’T MISS WITH THE SECOND OVERALL PICK. I’m not sure if they’ll keep the pick, package it in a trade, draft a guy and then trade him or whatever else. The options are many yet the bottom line is they have to come away with at least one impact player.
Again, this is often easier said than done but because of some recent slips in the draft, coupled with their place in the NFL pecking order right now, the Broncos have to come away with a player or players who can make a significant contribution next year.
2 – EMPHASIZE DEFENSE. New Vice President John Elway has indicated this will be the way the Broncos go and I hope it turns out to be the case. I’m not saying the offense doesn’t need some work but I think we all recognize how much the defense needs to improve.
Even though wide receivers Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas recently had surgeries that have to be considered major, I can’t help but think the Broncos’ offense still has a good number of pieces in place. I’m not ready to call it a scary offense, but it is also far from a liability.
Some people may say, with tongue in cheek or not, that the Broncos should draft exclusively defensive players. As it stands now, the Broncos don’t have a full compliment of draft picks so I can understand this thinking. I’m not sure I want to see them go that direction, but I do want to see them draft more defensive players than offensive players.
If they can re-sign Champ Bailey, I say focus on the front seven. If Champ goes elsewhere, oh boy. That would create an interesting situation at cornerback, to be sure.
3 – GET FOOTBALL PLAYERS. I’m so tired of guys who have all the “tangibles” such as height, weight, 40 time and all the rest, but then simply don’t measure up when it comes to getting it done on the field.
I want to see the Broncos pick guys who can play, who are tough, who have true heart, who live and breath the game of football. Those guys are out there. Hopefully the Broncos can find them.
What are you looking forward to most as we get into the build-up to this year’s draft? Thanks for reading and posting.
Sincerely,
Mike
Whoo, Mike – you never spoke truer than #3.
I just hope that we pay the most attention to our Defensive front 7. How many times have we heard “it all starts up front” and yet some people are still looking for the Broncos to focus on a replacement for Champ. We won’t need a replacement for Champ if we can keep opposing Q’s playing duck and cover.
With the switch back to a 4-3 Defense that will mean Ayers and Doom will move back to their natural DE position, so IMO that rules out Bowers. If Carolina takes Fairley, then I say we have to grab Peterson. I can just imagine having Champ on one side with Peterson on the other, man that would be sweet. Although I would still rather have Fairley over Peterson but Peteson over Bowers. That would be ideal!!!!
MarshMelo,I agree with you completely what a tandem,you can build a secondary around peterson.Heres a thought for stockpiling a few picks,trade moreno,we should be able to get a second/third for him;I mean seriously folks,2 years,and only 2 100 yard games?!?!.Besides he has’nt proven he can stay healthy.we should go after williams from carolina,a true power bck,how sweet would that be for a change?
i said get peterson because 2 years from now he will be the best player in this draft
And the Peterson train is just rolling through town again….
I’m waiting for the next train, the Fairley train, and if that one doesn’t stop, I’ll wait for the next one, the Dareus train.
Bowers would be a big risk. I do not believe he will be worthy of a #2 pick. I think Fairley will be taken by Carolina. I think we should trade down and hope to pick up Peterson at the 5-8th pick. Regardless of who we pick, we will still need to address the D-Line. We must have 2-4 guys that can get pressure consistently if we want to win some games next year.
We also need a legit fullback and TE
I like the tone of your article Mike, a little wind in your sail, a little fiery, telling them what we need to address, D, starting with the front 7, and that they better not mess up that #2 spot and that you are tired of physical specimens and that you want football players instead.
Couldn’t agree more. One of your most honest and better article in my opinion.
Fairley or Dareus with the #2 overall. Please do not trade back. It`s going to take a few years anyway to get were we want to be, so we might as well stick it out and take either of those two studs. They are both monsters up the middle. WE DO HAVE A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE TO BUILD THROUGH THE DRAFT AND GET IT RIGHT!
Mike #3 has been missed for two years in a row. Don’t draft choir boys / nice guys. Get the real deal. We have nothing to show for 5 1st round picks in two years.
All six pick s have to be starters not projects.
Let’s get Jake Locker! Oh wait, we’ve pulled our head out of our !@#, nevermind.
Thanks Mike.
I’m hoping We address the front seven on D as well, and of course, re-sign Champ (and Vickerson, the pass snagger… Well, he can get pressure on the QB too, but I’ll never forget that jump and snag INT he got against the Raiders, beautiful).
Sounds like We might be needing to get some help on the O-Line too. I just want to see some post season already. ( =
From Rotoworld:
“D.J. Williams will take over as weakside linebacker with Mario Haggan or Joe Mays in the middle and Haggan or Wesley Woodyard at strongside. Justin Bannan will start at one tackle. Jamal Williams will start next to him if he restructures his $5 million salary. Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers are the defensive ends. The Broncos are expected to target front-seven players early in the draft as well.”
Yes, Williams and Bannan have been so-so, but that actually sounds like a pretty good D-line to me. I say we take Fairley or Peterson 1st round, a LBer and safety with the two 2nds, and then DTs / LBers / best available in the later rounds. That’s just what I think.
Please please start Woodyard! He deserves a chance. By the way, OJ Atogwe was released by the Rams. He’s a pretty good safety, how about picking him up? And I’m still sticking to my mantra of not taking Bowers. We don’t need him with Ayers and Doom at DE. He’s not big enough to play DT. And I don’t think Fairley is good enough to warrant the #2 pick (even though the Panthers will likely take him at #1). He isn’t nearly as good as Suh. I still say Peterson if Champ leaves.
say what you will people,peterson IS one of the top 3 players in the draft,and think about it,does he,or does he not remind you an awful lot of champ when he was coming out of college.face it folks,HE IS A SPECIAL TALENT,champ wont be here forever,I say grab him at #2,let champ groom him,and then with our second pick,take a d-lineman,come on,who’s with me?