Broncos 2006 Draft Review
I would have to give the Broncos a solid B, maybe a B+. They filled almost every hole except Running Back. The Cutler pick is a high risk/high reward proposition but the Walker trade was a no-brainer and the late round picks all could find spots on this team and possibly significant playing time down the road.
Jay Cutler QB, Vanderbilt- I was down on Cutler on Friday's Mock First Round and text messaged Paul Saturday "Noooooo" when I saw Denver had traded up and Cutler was on the phone here is why. While Vanderbilt is a great school academically and the SEC provided some talented competition, Cutler only won 11 games in four years in college. He never played in a bowl game, never played for the right to play in a bowl game. Vanderbilt games usually provide a giggle on the ESPN Sports Ticker especially against the conference's powerhouse schools so he rarely played in a close pressurized situation. The move to trade up to get him floors me for two reasons 1) Regardless of the opinion of Shanahan and the personnel staff, the team did have immediate needs and didn't address them through Free Agency. Players to address those needs were on the board and they chose to take a Quarterback of the Future. 2) Jake Plummer had his best season as a Bronco, two years ago he threw 21 Interceptions and there was no urgency to trade up to get an Aaron Rodgers or even draft a Charlie Frye. What do the Broncos see in Cutler that made him so special to make him the product of this offseason's clever draft pick manuevering? Wouldn't such a move upset the fragile ego of Plummer? I know that's nothing I should worry about but will the Denver media accept Cutler's presence as a two year apprenticeship or will there be instant quarterback controversy in Denver? We will probably be waiting two years to find out, God willing.
I do like that Cutler shares a name with a Mr. Universe and is from Santa Claus, Indiana though. Saturday was his birthday. Happy Birthday! Now don't be a bust!
Javon Walker WR, Green Bay- As much as the Cutler move baffled me, I am sold on this move. Even though Walker only had one stellar season as a pro and was hurt all of last year. The Broncos don't draft well at Wide Receiver and the talent at that position this year was questionable. They had to get younger at the position though and this was the best way to get there and they only gave up a Second Round pick which they had two of to do it.
Tony Scheffler TE, Western Michigan- Is it me or does Western Michigan provide a First or Second Round prospect every year? Scheffler looks like a bad guy from a John Hughes movie. Which means he looks like the type of bad-ass pass catching Tight End that the Broncos are looking for? Most draft experts considered him a reach. But in the Broncos offense, he could be a handy weapon, if not for Jake then for Jay down the road.
Brandon Marshall WR, UCF- Gotta love a receiver that’s 6’4” he also went just about unrecruited in high school and made himself into UCF’s leading receiver and a 3rd Round Draft Pick. Coaches rave about his work ethic. The Broncos have had so many misses drafting Wide Receivers though. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Elvis Dumervil DE, Louisville- I’ve been paying a lot of attention to Dumervil because I instantly spotted him as someone that could fill an obvious need for the Broncos, Defensive Pass Rusher. Unfortunately Dumervil had a horrible pre-draft season. Slipping from sure thing First Rounder to Fourth Round Pick, disappointing at the Senior Bowl and running a subpar 40-yard dash time. Built like Dwight Freeney, Dumervil will be an off the end rusher who hopefully will show better stuff when he’s in pads and lined up against actual opponents. I have a good feeling about this pick.
Chris Kuper G, North Dakota and Greg Eslinger C, Minnesota- You don’t question the Broncos when it comes to late round offensive linemen. I love the idea of finding true centers from college to play center in the NFL now that everyone and their mother is converting to the 3-4. Eslinger specifically should get better under the tutelage of Tom Nalen.
Jay Cutler QB, Vanderbilt- I was down on Cutler on Friday's Mock First Round and text messaged Paul Saturday "Noooooo" when I saw Denver had traded up and Cutler was on the phone here is why. While Vanderbilt is a great school academically and the SEC provided some talented competition, Cutler only won 11 games in four years in college. He never played in a bowl game, never played for the right to play in a bowl game. Vanderbilt games usually provide a giggle on the ESPN Sports Ticker especially against the conference's powerhouse schools so he rarely played in a close pressurized situation. The move to trade up to get him floors me for two reasons 1) Regardless of the opinion of Shanahan and the personnel staff, the team did have immediate needs and didn't address them through Free Agency. Players to address those needs were on the board and they chose to take a Quarterback of the Future. 2) Jake Plummer had his best season as a Bronco, two years ago he threw 21 Interceptions and there was no urgency to trade up to get an Aaron Rodgers or even draft a Charlie Frye. What do the Broncos see in Cutler that made him so special to make him the product of this offseason's clever draft pick manuevering? Wouldn't such a move upset the fragile ego of Plummer? I know that's nothing I should worry about but will the Denver media accept Cutler's presence as a two year apprenticeship or will there be instant quarterback controversy in Denver? We will probably be waiting two years to find out, God willing.
I do like that Cutler shares a name with a Mr. Universe and is from Santa Claus, Indiana though. Saturday was his birthday. Happy Birthday! Now don't be a bust!
Javon Walker WR, Green Bay- As much as the Cutler move baffled me, I am sold on this move. Even though Walker only had one stellar season as a pro and was hurt all of last year. The Broncos don't draft well at Wide Receiver and the talent at that position this year was questionable. They had to get younger at the position though and this was the best way to get there and they only gave up a Second Round pick which they had two of to do it.
Tony Scheffler TE, Western Michigan- Is it me or does Western Michigan provide a First or Second Round prospect every year? Scheffler looks like a bad guy from a John Hughes movie. Which means he looks like the type of bad-ass pass catching Tight End that the Broncos are looking for? Most draft experts considered him a reach. But in the Broncos offense, he could be a handy weapon, if not for Jake then for Jay down the road.
Brandon Marshall WR, UCF- Gotta love a receiver that’s 6’4” he also went just about unrecruited in high school and made himself into UCF’s leading receiver and a 3rd Round Draft Pick. Coaches rave about his work ethic. The Broncos have had so many misses drafting Wide Receivers though. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Elvis Dumervil DE, Louisville- I’ve been paying a lot of attention to Dumervil because I instantly spotted him as someone that could fill an obvious need for the Broncos, Defensive Pass Rusher. Unfortunately Dumervil had a horrible pre-draft season. Slipping from sure thing First Rounder to Fourth Round Pick, disappointing at the Senior Bowl and running a subpar 40-yard dash time. Built like Dwight Freeney, Dumervil will be an off the end rusher who hopefully will show better stuff when he’s in pads and lined up against actual opponents. I have a good feeling about this pick.
Chris Kuper G, North Dakota and Greg Eslinger C, Minnesota- You don’t question the Broncos when it comes to late round offensive linemen. I love the idea of finding true centers from college to play center in the NFL now that everyone and their mother is converting to the 3-4. Eslinger specifically should get better under the tutelage of Tom Nalen.
posted by Derek at 10:09 AM
1 Comments:
Elvis Dumervil is going to be great. Several key people, including Steve Young and Ron Jaworski preferred Cutler to Leinart and Young.
Post a Comment
<< Home