Final Thoughts: Overall, this Broncos draft deserves an A-. They met a lot of needs, got a lot of quality players, but there were some reaches and some injury concerns.
UDFA’s for the Broncos:
- OL Mitch Erickson (South Dakota State)
- K Garrett Hartley (Oklahoma)
- P Brett Kern (Toledo)
- OT Tyler Polombus (Colorado)
- WR Lorne Sam (Texas El-Paso)
- RB Anthony Alridge (Houston)
- OLB/SS Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky)
Denver has selected Ryan Clady as I expected and predicted months ago. A lot of people are down on him because of his Wonderlic scores, but real talent evaluators understand and know he was the best pure left tackle in the NFL Draft and can get it done in the NFL. Denver was extremely fortunate for him to be there at #12 when he was a consensus top ten player in the draft; but the trades and movement today certainly helped the Broncos and they’ve landed a potential franchise left tackle in Ryan Clady.
Clady has the best feet and the longest arms of any tackle in the draft and is an experienced player. According to Mike Shanahan, he was their #2 tackle on their board and is expected to play immediately. Those comparing him to George Foster are making an erroneous comparison and clearly don’t understand football.
NFL.com analysis on Ryan Clady’s selection:
Pick Analysis: Clady is an athletic lineman, who fits into Denver’s zone-blocking scheme. He’ll need some time to develop and may start his career off at right tackle. He started 32 games over the past three years, including 26 at left tackle. He has great feet and long arms.
Selection Grade: A - By selecting Ryan Clady, the Broncos have made the effort to protect their franchise quarterback Jay Cutler. He was their second ranked tackle overall, and a consensus top ten player by most experts and media outlets.
Selecting Eddie Royal at #42 might be a little questionable to most fans, but he has legitimate receiving potential as a deep threat and is an absolute terror in the return game. He’s a high quality, high effort player and is a special teams demon. He should be able to help the Broncos right away in both aspects of the game. Some may ask why we didn’t go after DeSean Jackson, but concerns regarding his character and ultimately being 20 pounds lighter than Royal may have factored into the decision making process to pass on him in the second round.
Keep in mind that Denver was high on Hester and Jones-Drew coming out of school as returners, and have been looking for their electric guy for a few years. With Royal on the squad, it’s possible they’ve found their man. Factor in that Denver has several injured wide receivers and new one year rentals, and the selection of Royal makes even more sense. According to PFW’s team grade chart, he was considered a high second rounder by most teams in the NFL.
Paraphrased from an interview at Mobile, Royal talks about his game:
“I know I’m a returner, but I want to show teams than I’m more than that. I can play the slot, I can also go out wide and play the Z. I want to get better as a receiver and become the best overall player I can be.”
Now those are the kinds of players you draft!
NFL.com analysis on Eddie Royal’s selection:
Pick Analysis: Royal has been compared to Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith. The Broncos need a return man and he can fit the bill. He’s incredibly strong for his size and can get behind the defense
Mike Shanahan on Eddie Royal:
Anytime you have a guy who can go the distance, it changes the mindset on special teams. Every time he touches the ball, he thinks he can go all the way. That’s what you’re looking for. We also like him as an inside slot receiver. He’s got the speed and quickness you look for.
Selection Grade: B+ - Royal will provide instant punt and kick return ability and can have an impact stretching the field as a sub package receiver. Where he’s ideal in a slot role, he has the ability to play on the outside in the NFL.
With questions surrounding Ben Hamilton, the age of Tom Nalen and the trading of Chris Myers, the Broncos obviously opted to get a future prospect on the inside of the line for the Broncos with the selection of Kory Lichtensteiger. He had the best blocking percentage rate out of any center in college football with 84.45%. In over 3,200 snaps in college, only allowed one quarterback pressure and was only penalized four times. He’s a tough player with great technique and discipline and should help the Broncos down the road.
NFL.com analysis on Kory Lichtensteigers’s selection:
Pick Analysis: Lichtensteiger has great technique, but short arms. The four-year starter at Bowling Green understands leverage and position. He’s very intelligent and plays with a lot of intensity. The Broncos like to a pick a position and attack it in the draft. The offensive line seems to be a point of emphasis this year.
Selection Grade: B - This selection is an A based on the help it gives the team and the need it fills, but Lichtensteiger is coming off of shoulder surgery and might not be ready at camp. However, he has the ability to be a long-term starter in the NFL.
This is probably one pick that Denver fans really don’t like, but the analysts on NFL Network seem to think he was one of the better players available. He’s a smaller cornerback, but built pretty well and is aggressive against both the run and the pass. Here’s a little tidbit from his profile (since I have not seen much of him) from NFL.com.
In 44 games at Kent State, Williams started 37 contests. He recorded 245 tackles (167 solo), three sacks for minus-26 yards, 14.5 stops for losses of 53 yards and a pair of quarterback pressures. He caused and recovered seven fumbles and also blocked one punt. He deflected 25 passes and gained 209 yards with two touchdowns on 13 pass thefts (16.1-yard average). He also returned twelve kickoffs for 252 yards (21.0-yard average).
According to ESPN Scouts Inc., Williams was rated as a third round prospect with legitimate starting potential in the NFL. With Foxworth and Paymah potentially leaving in 2008, the Broncos made sure to get another youngster at the cornerback position. Williams also has the ability to return punts and kicks.
NFL.com analysis on Jack Williams’ selection:
Pick Analysis: This guy can fly - he has great speed. He ran a 4.32 at his Pro Day and also had very impressive numbers in the cone drill and vertical jump. He’s got good size for a corner. Given his athleticism, he could be underrated as a prospect and is a great value at this point in the draft.
Selection Grade: B+ - With Foxworth and Paymah being free agents at the end of the year, the Broncos needed to get a cornerback to replace them in case they leave. Williams is an interesting physical specimen with a lot of upside and legitimate starting potential. He would serve best as a nickel corner right away, and should bring help to our special teams coverage units.
Torain’s an interesting pick for the Broncos who almost always are interested in upgrading their stable of backs. Torain was on a tear earlier this year for the Sun Devils before suffering a toe injury. When healthy, he played like a top 100 selection and had an early round grade prior to his injury by most draft outlets. Staying healthy is his only weakness, otherwise he has a nice blend of size (6′1, 222) and speed with the proper vision to succeed for the Broncos. Running between the tackles is key here in Denver and Torain can do that. Some believe he compares favorably to former Broncos back, Mike Anderson.
NFL.com analysis on Ryan Torain’s selection:
Pick Analysis:Torain started the season really well, but was derailed by a foot injury midway through the year. He’s a junior college transfer that likes to run between the tackles. Given Denver’s traditional success taking RBs in the middle rounds, the Arizona State product has potential to develop.
Selection Grade: C+ - Torain could be the next in a long line of Broncos backs to have success here in Denver, but considering his injury history and the other players available at this point in the draft, this pick will receive my lowest rating to date.
It seems like teams were awfully disinterested in this years defensive tackle class and it shows. Carlton Powell is regarded as a high effort, high character player who is very solid against the run. In fact, Powell is so good against the run that he held opponents to -13 yards in the 106 plays directed at him. During his career at Virgina Tech, he started 31 games, had 104 tackles with 5 and a half sacks. He also had 30 quarterback pressures and 21 and a half tackles for loss.
NFL.com analysis on Carlton Powell’s selection:
Pick Analysis: Carlton Powell is a little undersized but was productive at Virginia Tech. This far along in the draft, you’re not going to get ideal physical specimens, so the fact he started three years for a strong program makes him a good value.
Selection Grade: A - Powell isn’t the flashiest player, but he’s a solid selection who addresses a need on the interior. It’s likely that Powell will serve as a back-up this year and play in a rotational role. For those clamoring for run support, Powell will do that for the Broncos.
I’m not thrilled with the selection of Larsen at #183 when there are better linebackers on boards with arguably better special teams potential. Larsen’s age (25) is also concerning as well. Larsen left Arizona for several years to do a mission trip in 2003 and 2004, and returned to the Wildcats shortly after and suffered an ACL injury. Despite the aforementioned negatives, he’s a high character person who can come in and help on special teams right away. He’s not the most physically gifted linebacker, but he gets by with his smarts and passion for the game. It’s unlikely that Larsen will be anything more than a back-up in the NFL.
Pick Analysis: Toughness is Larsen’s forte. He’s an inside linebacker and is not overly big or fast, but he’s a good run-stuffer. He can’t play in pass coverage but can come in during early downs. He is older at 25.
Selection Grade: C - It’s hard to complain about sixth rounders, but his value was listed a little better here on several sites and reports. His age is concerning, but he’s a high character player and a leader in the locker room. He seems to be a selection right in line with all the others prior to him so far this draft.
A lot of Broncos fans are excited that Barrett fell to the seventh round, and I’m one of them. At one time he was considered an early third round selection, but never lived up to the billing his senior year and fell down boards due to it. He has the physical tools to be a starter in the NFL, and should do well under the tutelage of solid pros like Marlon McCree and John Lynch.
Pick Analysis: Barrett had a great junior campaign and potentially could’ve been a third-round pick, but he got benched as a senior. He has all the measurables and exceptional speed, 4.36 in the 40. Barrett matured a lot after sitting and demonstrated poise when he came back. His lack of playing time, though, clearly hurt his draft stock.
Selection Grade: A - As a player I wouldn’t give this an A grade, but based on the value it most certainly is deserving. Barrett has legitimate starting potential and brings some youth to a Broncos defensive backfield that definitely needs it.
Hillis is arguably the best fullback in this draft. He should be an interesting weapon to have in Shanahan’s offense considering he can block, run and catch the ball. Denver may have finally found a long-term solution to their recently revolving door at the fullback position which has included names like Cecil Sapp, Kyle Johnson and even Mike Anderson.
Pick Analysis: Hillis is one of the best fullbacks in the draft. Some had him rated higher than Owen Schmitt who was taken earlier. He was one of the main players responsible for opening up holes for first-rounders Felix Jones and Darren McFadden and will have a chance to contribute right away in the NFL as a blocking fullback.
Selection Grade: A - Hillis could start from Day 1 and replace Cecil Sapp as the Broncos fullback. He’s a versatile weapon and at the very least will be a solid special teams player for the Broncos.
For additional analysis, the Denver Post has you covered!
