In the wake of his first season as a Denver Bronco, Knowshon Moreno is trying to break the rookie wall and become one of the best backs in NFL history. With all the story lines, with all the speculation, and with all the drama, people have lost sight of what is being created right now.

Josh McDaniels is trying to create a “trifecta”.

A trifecta, for those of you who don’t know is a star Quarterback, star Wide Receiver, and star Running Back. Trifectas are rare, but when one is found, they usually will win a Super Bowl. They come about once a decade. There was the 49ers of the ’80s. They had Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Roger Craig. In the 90′s, there was Cowboys, with Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith and Michael Irvin. In the 2000′s there was Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James.

It is clear that the Broncos want this kind of a team and Josh McDaniels has spent the last two years trying to assemble it. Trying to get this team is a tough task, and most coaches can’t do so. McDaniels though, isn’t most coaches. He has made that clear to Broncos fans.

That is why in two years, he has drafted Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno. Moreno has shown flashes of brilliance, and could be a star for years to come. Tim Tebow is arguably the most hyped player in NFL history. Demaryius Thomas is considered to be one of the most raw physical prospects ever to come out of college, and if he refines his play, he could be special.

The “ceiling” or potential for this team is high. If all these prospects pan out like McDaniels wants them to, the Broncos may be the best team of this new decade. But getting to that level, there is definitely risk involved. The Raiders recently went the trifecta route. Jamarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, and Darius Heyward-Bey. Three huge busts. But their potential was high.

McDaniels is in the same situation. High potential, high bust rate. This could be a legendary success, or it could be an epic failure.

The Broncos are a team with mile high ceilings. They have huge heights to reach to, but even farther to fall.

Daniels (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) is a first-year player who saw time on the Packers’ practice squad last year. He also competed on the New York Jets’ practice squad in 2008 and entered the NFL with the Rams in 2007 as a college free agent from the University of Washington.

Daniels should be in the mix to compete for a roster spot, but his lack of playing experience will put him at a definite disadvantage. The Broncos the last few days have dedicated a lot of their time into bringing in free agent Guards. Daniels is another example of this trend.

That is in essence why the Tebow pick was so publicized, and so why after he was drafted, everything else became a simple afterthought. Tim Tebow may end up being one of the biggest factors in the NFL play wise, but long before that, his presence alone will be a factor in the league. Wait, forget that. His presence in the NFL will be a factor in every single sector of the media.

I can prove this, by pointing to two different instances in one week. Notice how Tim Tebow is carrying a baseball bat in the above photo. He has been trying to tone his arm strength, and display his power stroke this week. His agent, apparently thought it was a good idea for him to hide in Memphis, to stay away from the media, and while he was there, he hit a few balls with Jimmy Sexton.

Tim Tebow hit all 15 balls thrown, and 12 of them were homers. That’s really good, but what does that have to do with his media presence? It made the news on hundred of baseball blogs, most notably Big League Stew. The MLB is right in the storm of their regular season, and people are blogging that Tebow hit a couple of homers for fun. No one in the NFL has created this kind of hype in decades!

You can’t turn anywhere and not be attacked by a storm of Tebow news. He has in only a few days, became one of the biggest names in the media. The hype can only go down from here, right?

Wrong. When a football player with this much hype comes around ala Reggie Bush, the next step is to sign a few big endorsement deals. Tebow has signed deals with EASports and Nike already, but he is waiting to start putting his name on products just yet. Instead, Tebow has made the decision he would first like to get ready for the NFL, before going and shooting commercials.

It’s definitely a good plan on his part. We like to talk about how the second contract is the most important contract you will ever sign, and that applies in this situation. If he becomes an actual star in the NFL through this same hard work, his value in endorsement deals will quadruple. We’re talking five times the deals that Peyton Manning ever got!

Here’s while Tim Tebow is such a valuable endorsement deal: Not only does he have more hype than any other player in the NFL right now, but he is the kind of player who you know won’t be getting into any bad stuff three years down the road. There’s no concern that he will be Tiger Woods, Michael Vick or Ben Roethlisberger. Having that kind of security is invaluable to companies.

With this kind of presence in the media already, there is no telling what he will bring the next few years here. Tebow may be a factor playing, but even more than that, he will be a factor in selling tickets, and making money for the Broncos. Josh McDaniels made a great pick here in many aspects.

It is rumored that the visit to the Redskins was more out of courtesy, due to the fact that Westbrook and Redskins owner Dan Snyder were appearing at a NFL High School charity event. All signals point to that the Broncos on the other hand, have interest in bringing him on board.

The Broncos have a lot of players at running back, with not only Knowshon Moreno, but Correll Buckhalter, (another former Eagle) and J.J Arrington. The Broncos also have Lance Ball on the roster, but he seems to be a training camp body at best.

I would be excited in bringing in Westbrook. He is versatile, as he has been one of best receiving backs over the past few years, and while his career has been on the decline, I would not be surprised if he has a bit left in the tank. I vote yes on bringing in Westbrook.

In his place, University of Kentucky wide receiver Dicky Lyons has been signed to fill the roster spot left open by Brown. He finished his career, fifth among all time receivers from the University of Kentucky with 141 receptions for 1,752 yards.

With that said, the Broncos rookie mini-camp has begun, and 29 players are there. They include our nine draft picks, our 19 un-drafted free agents, and two veteran wide receivers that are trying out with the team. The goal of the mini-camp is to prepare for the season, both mentally and physically while trying to impress coaches in a quest to receive a roster spot this season. There will also be terminology lessons, and introductions to strength and conditioning training.

“It’s orientation – that’s what we really call it. We want them to get familiar with the way we do things, our program here, all the people in the building here. Now they know our cafeteria, our training room and our equipment managers. Right now they’re getting their first workout in with our strength and conditioning people. It’s really more trying to get their feet wet so when they come back it’s not a hundred things different. Hopefully they leave here and kind of know all those things and have that under their belt so when they come back we can be solely focused on football,” McDaniels said on the camp.

While that is the point, there is no doubt that McDaniels will be getting down to work early with Tim Tebow. When reporters were let in for 25 minutes of the practice, Tebow ran agility drills and threw passes under the tutelage of brothers Josh and Ben McDaniels. He threw without the windup he used in college, and his throws were reportedly “tight and compact.”

While Tebow did run drills, both drafted receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker sat out of drills. They are still recovering from injuries, but are expected to be at full speed by training camp and hope to get healthy very soon.

Coach McDaniels when asked about the injuries, said this: “We’re not going to rush anything. They’re pretty much going out and if not, we’re not going to be worried about that…We’d rather that they be fully healthy and ready to compete than mostly healthy and thrown out there.”

It’s exciting to see the players being emerged in the system early, and I can’t wait to see what they can bring during our summer training camp.

Every year, there are one or two players that have great success that were drafted in the 5th-to 7th rounds. Now success is relative. There are players who do a good job and have success, but that doesn’t mean they are the kind of sleeper Tom Brady was. Ahmad Bradshaw in 2007 for instance was only a seventh round pick, and he averaged 8.3 yards a carry for the Giants.

Every single team in the NFL is looking for that kind of a sleeper. Hence, why the Broncos had more picks on day 3 than any other day.

The Broncos had some very solid pickups yesterday. Getting Perrish Cox this late in the draft was highway robbery! He was ranked as one of my top 5 cornerbacks in the draft, and lasted until the 5th round. The Broncos should be very happy with that pick. He may take a few years to have an impact, but he has lots of potential.

Eric Olsen was also a good value. I had him projected in the 4th round, so picking him up in the 6th round was a good decision. Like Zane Beadles, who we drafted in the second round, he has the ability to play more than one position on the offensive line. We all know that McDaniels values this kind of versatility, so he is a good fit for the team. If his technique gets refined, he could be effective in the future.

As for our seventh round picks, they were pretty solid picks. Syd’Quan Thomas was also a steal, but because of his lack of athletic ability, he probably was drafted at about the right spot. I’m sorry, but being short and slow is not a good combination for a Cornerback in the NFL. I will say this though, his instincts are very good and worth drafting.

Jammie Kirlew has been quite the overachiever, but that is about all he is. An overachiever. He is not fast enough to be a hybrid linebacker and too slow to be a defensive end. His upside is very limited, so I don’t see why we didn’t just let him go undrafted, and pick him up there. It would have surprised me had anyone else drafted him, but maybe Bob Martindale sees something in him, I don’t.

If I had to guess who our sleeper was, I would have to say Perrish Cox. If it wasn’t for a few character problems, and a slow 40 yard dash time, he probably would have been gone on day 2. His zone coverage should be an asset for the Broncos.

Overall, day 3 was a good way to cap off a very good draft for the Broncos. I’m already psyched for training camp.

The list goes as follows: WR – Alric Arnett (WVU)RB – Chris Brown (Oklahoma), DT – Jaron Baston (Mizzou), TE – Nathan Overbay (Eastern Washington), TE – Michael Palmer (Clemson), OT – Chris Marinelli (Stanford), S – Marcellus Bowman (Boston College), G – Michael Shumard (Texas A&M), TE – Riar Geer (Colorado), CB – Cassius Vaughn (Ole Miss), RB – Toney Baker (NC State), S – Kyle McCarthy (Notre Dame), OLB – Kevin Alexander (Clemson).

The highlights of the group would be Tight End Riar Geer, who attended Colorado University, and Halfback Toney Backer who was a standout at NC State, as he rushed for 770 yards and 6 touchdowns in his senior season.

The shocker? There could be up to seven more coming. Josh McDaniels said in his press conference yesterday that he would like to sign up to 20 undrafted free agents. I’m hearing that Kentucky Linebacker Micah Johnson has not been signed yet, so he could be someone to watch out for. We’ll keep you updated as the list goes on…

UPDATE: WR – Patrick Honeycutt (Middle Tenn. State), DE – Ben Garland (Air Force) and OL – Paul Duncan (Notre Dame) have all signed with the team.

The Broncos traded a 5th round pick from next year, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for their 225th and 232nd picks in the 2010 NFL Draft. The picks were spent on two players, #225 on Cal cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson, and #232 spent on Jammie Kirlew, a hybrid Linebacker from Indiana. It was common consensus that the two would go un-drafted but the Broncos wanted to make sure they got these players, despite the high cost.

Both seem to be decent picks. At one time Thompson was considered to be a 2nd round pick, until his combine came and everyone found out that he was not only short, but he was also slow. Kirlew seems like a pretty big reach, but there is no doubt he will at least bring some competition to a position pretty much controlled by Robert Ayers. To be honest though, both will have to work really hard to keep their roster spots.

Minutes after those picks were made, the Broncos also announced the signing of a relatively big name free agent. They have signed Akin Ayodele an Inside Linebacker formerly of the Miami Dolphins. He should compete with Mario Haggan for reps at ILB.

Now, the Broncos are going to move their focus onto undrafted free agents. The off-season never really ends, does it?

Olsen is the third offensive lineman to be taken by the Broncos over the last three days, and the second Center. The Broncos were left with no Centers coming into the draft after the release of both Casey Wiegmann and Ben Hamilton. It was considered a major focus point for the team this week. This pick makes a relatively good amount of sense. Olsen is a high value, projected in the 4th round by most.

This pick makes sense from a number of aspects: Number 1, Champ Bailey and André Goodman are getting long in the tooth and are both over 30 years old. The Broncos need to find an eventual successor for the two of them. The other reason this makes sense is because Cox is an excellent return man and the Broncos do not want Royal to play return man at all, and focus on receiver.

Cox was expected to be drafted in the 2nd to 3rd round but because of his footwork and the fact that he isn’t a reliable tackler, made him drop. The one surprising element of this pick, is he is the first player the Broncos have drafted this year of questionable character.

Then it hit me. Intelligence. That was what Josh McDaniels was trying to do today. All three of the players he drafted are among the most intelligent players available. Zane Beadles first and foremost, is by far one of the most intelligent Offensive Linemen in the class. He scored a wonderlic test score of 36, which is very high for a Lineman, and he is known for his ability to absorb the playbook.

J.D Walton is in the same category. While his wonderlic score is not nearly as high as Beadles, his on-field intelligence and awareness of the game is very impressive. He stays aware and knows exactly what is going on on the field at all times. This skill has helped him hold his own against top 5 picks Gerald McCoy, and Ndamukong Suh. If he can translate that to the NFL, we could have just drafted a star.

Finally, there is Eric Decker, whose intelligence has been raved about by scouts. While his concentration has been known to lapse on times, he is very smart and can really get into the playbook. His intelligence can only improve is play, and I heard that his wonderlic score, while I am unsure what it is exactly, was the highest of any player in the class. I doubt this common trait is any coincidence.

Now, intelligent, hardworking, squeaky-clean players aren’t going to win championships. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you can go into the NFL with no physical skills but if you are smart and you work hard you can be a star. That’s not true. But all three of these players do have great physical ability.

Decker is a natural athlete who has great hands. J.D is a tough, physical Center, who is strong and plays with an awfully nasty demeanor. Zane Beadles is an amazing run blocker with the strength to simply push defenders to the side and be done with them. All three of these players were drafted because of those skills, but don’t think when McDaniels made these picks, their intelligence wasn’t a factor.

Day 2 in my opinion may have been even better than day 1. Unlike day 1 where I was blown away by the poor drafting of Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos had amazing picks all around today. Rounds 2 and 3 have definitely been successful and might have even more of an immediate impact than day 1 will. I am excited to see what these players bring.

]]> http://broncomadness.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/nfl-draft-day-2-looking-for-intelligence/feed/ 4 Garrett B. Picture 3 Picture 6 http://broncomadness.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/broncos-draft-beadles-walton-decker/ http://broncomadness.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/broncos-draft-beadles-walton-decker/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:33:01 +0000 Garrett Barnes http://broncomadness.com/?p=6640 ]]> The Broncos in day 2 of the NFL Draft, which for the first time included only rounds 2 and 3, selected three players today. They held their own second rounder, and two thirds, one which was their own, and one that was received from the Eagles after trading down to pick #24 on day 1.

The players selected were, at #45 Zane Beadles, OT/OG/C from Utah, at #80 J.D Walton, C, Baylor, and at #87, Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota. The three all filled reasonable needs, and were considered by most to be safe, but high value picks.

Zane Beadles was selected a slight bit earlier than expected and it raised questions over what position he would play for the Broncos. Since a true Center had not been drafted yet, it was unsure whether the Broncos might move Seth Olsen to play Center or have Beadles play Center.

With the J.D Walton pick in the second round though, it came to light that he would compete for a slot at Offensive Guard, with J.D Walton playing Center.

Finally Eric Decker was selected, who will probably play a smaller role than those two next season, with the plethora of receivers that Denver already has on their rosters. Except people, including myself, to begin hashing out potential depth charts at Wide Receiver.

Minutes after that trade, the Eagles contacted the Broncos and they traded away their #13th overall pick for the Eagles 24th overall, and two third rounders, (#70, #87). We thought it was clear what the Broncos would do. If we kept the 24th, we would draft Tim Tebow, or we would trade up for Maurkice Pouncey and then trade back into the first round and draft Tebow still. Us fans forgot the golden rule of the draft, expect the unexpected.

The Broncos didn’t do either. Instead, they let Maukice Pouncey get drafted by the Steelers, traded up two spots, for the Patriots draft pick, and then drafted Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas. I was livid, and am still a bit upset. It would have been smarter just to have kept #24 and drafted Tebow without having to trade away a plethora of later round picks, to get both him and Thomas.

Thomas has all of the physical attributes to be elite in the NFL, but he has a few major liabilities. For one, he runs routes poorly, which is one of the hardest things to correct as a coach. Number two, is that he has health concerns and is not reliable to play every single game in a season. There have also been rumors that he can’t catch very well, but that isn’t 100% legitimate.

My opinion is this: Demaryius Thomas would have been an acceptable pick, a round later. He is a huge risk! We need someone to make an immediate impact as a Wide Receiver, and to have someone do that, they need to be able to run routes sharply. Thomas can’t, so his role in his first year pro may be quite limited. Either that, or it will be too big.

After the Thomas trade, I spent a bit of time ranting on twitter, and then the news came. The Broncos had traded their #43rd overall pick, their #70th, and their #113th for the 26th overall pick in the draft. With that pick, they drafted who else, but Tim Tebow, which sent some fans cheering crazily and others denouncing their love of the Denver Broncos. I was doing the first.

Tebow is a winner. That is simply put why I love him so much. He is a leader. He has amazing intangibles, and his physical attributes are among the best of any Quarterback in recent history. He just needs to improve his all-around technique, and he needs to slip into a brand new offense. If he can do those two things, (easier said then done), this pick is more than a success, it is a Super Bowl.

My plan for Tebow would be to train him his entire first season, and teach him how to play in the NFL. Let him have a bit of time playing tight end, and have him play in the “Wild Horses” formation, and other gimmick offenses. Then, in his second year, continue perfecting his technique and do all of the above, and let him play in goal line situations.

In his third year pro, McDaniels should let him compete for the starting job. If the Broncos are patient, it could pay off and Tebow could be one of the top Quarterbacks of the decade. That’s the key though. The Broncos need to be very patient. If they rush Tebow into a starting role too early, there is absolutely no way he will do what they want him to do.

One final aspect of these two picks is under appreciated. For the first time in a little while, the Broncos have a clear direction of where they are headed. By spending 3 of their past 4 first round picks, they are building a future for this offense. It feels reals good.

]]> http://broncomadness.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/nfl-draft-day-1-broncos-building-a-future/feed/ 3 Garrett B. Clemson+v+Georgia+Tech+gyszrAOg1zJl http://broncomadness.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/tim-tebow-a-bronco/ http://broncomadness.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/tim-tebow-a-bronco/#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:11:52 +0000 Garrett Barnes http://broncomadness.com/?p=6628 ]]> The Broncos shocked everyone three picks ago, when they drafted Demaryius Thomas over Quarterback Tim Tebow. But Tim Tebow is officially a member of the Denver Broncos, after the Broncos traded away a 2nd, a 3rd and a 4th round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for the 26th overall pick in the draft.

I can’t sum up Tebow in just a few words, so you will have to wait for my editorial later tonight. This is definitely exciting.

I think this is an awful pick, but I will take some time to calm down. The fact that he can’t run routes at all and he has serious injury concerns makes him a huge risk. Yes, he has physical talent, but so what? There are plenty of players we can draft with physical talent. Maybe, just maybe the Broncos day isn’t over though.

UPDATE: The terms of the trade with the Patriots, that we used to draft Thomas have been released. We have given up the 113th pick of the draft to move up two spots.

We will also receive two 3rd round picks, I am hearing. My money is on the Broncos taking Center Maurkice Pouncey with the 24th overall pick, should he be available. Otherwise, I don’t know where they will go with that pick.

1st round:

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

3. Tampa Bay Bucaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

8.Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

11. Denver Broncos: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

12. Miami Dolphins: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.

13. San Francisco 49ers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

14. Seattle Seahawks: C.J Spiller, RB, Clemson

15. New York Giants: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama

16. Tennessee Titans: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St.

17. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

19. Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Mizzou

20. Houston Texans: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno St.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

22. New England Patriots: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

23. Green Bay Packers: Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

26. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC

28. San Diego Chargers: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama

29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DE, Penn St.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

31. Indianapolis Colts: Robert Saffold, OT, Indiana

32. New Orleans Saints: Sean Lee, ILB, Penn St.

2nd round:

33. St Louis Rams: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

34. Detroit Lions: Jahvid Best, RB, Cal

35. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

36. Kansas City Chiefs: Nate Allen, S, South Florida

37. Philadelphia Eagles: Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU

38. Cleveland Browns: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

39. Oakland Raiders: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

40. San Diego Chargers: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn

41. Buffalo Bills: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

42. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Domonique Franks, CB, Oklahoma

43. Denver Broncos: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

44. New England Patriots: Demariyus Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

45. Denver Broncos: Tyson Alualu, DE, Cal

46. New York Giants: Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina

47. New England Patriots: Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest

48. Carolina Panthers: Damian Williams, WR, USC

49. San Francisco 49ers: Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia

50. Kansas City Chiefs: Chad Jones, S, LSU

51. Houston Texans: Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati

53. New England Patriots: Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern

54. Cincinnati Bengals: Linval Joseph, DE, East Carolina

55. Philadelphia Eagles: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

56. Green Bay Packers: Chris Cook, CB, Virginia

57. Baltimore Ravens: Taylor Price, WR, Ohio

58. Arizona Cardinals: Ricky Sapp, OLB, Clemson

59. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

60. Seattle Seahawks: Navarro Bowman, OLB, Penn St.

61. New York Jets: Dexter McCluster, RB/WR/RS, Ole Miss

62. Minnesota Vikings: John Jerry, G, Ole Miss

63. Indianapolis Colts: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

64. New Orleans Saints: Jason Worilds, DE/OLB, Virginia Tech.

1st round: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. Everyone will call this a big reach, but when you think for a little while, it really isn’t. If Pouncey is the best Center prospect of the decade, which many think he will be, how could this be a reach? I think anyone would spend a top 15 pick on a positions best player for a decade, even if it is a Center. The truth is, the Broncos don’t really have a choice with this pick. At this point, the Broncos have absolutely no one to snap the ball. There is no doubt that Pouncey should be available, and he is the best in the draft, so let’s fill our biggest need and get one of the best Centers in NFL history.

2nd round (43): Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois. I want this pick to be Damian Williams, a Wide Receiver out of USC. He may be my favorite player in the draft and I think he will be one of the best in the league in a couple of years. Something tells me though, that Josh McDaniels will take the other route with this pick, and instead of taking the best receiver available, he will see this pick as more of an opportunity to replace Brandon Marshall. Arrelious Benn is the best possession receiver in the draft, and by far one of the most physical. He can fight for extra yards, but he has one thing Marshall doesn’t have which was a big frustration for McDaniels. He has amazing hands. He is reliable, and will barely ever drop the ball. Benn is a good Wide Receiver, and despite my desire for Williams, this is still a good pick.

2nd round (45): Tyson Alualu, DL, Cal. Everyone thinks that the Broncos feel secure with their defensive line after adding a bounty of depth over free agency. That said, McDaniels never stops at just a bit of depth. I think that McDaniels’s goal every year is to make at least one position the most deep in the NFL. Last year it was running back with Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, J.J Arrington (didn’t play) and Peyton Hillis. This year, it may be defensive end with Jarvis Green, Ryan McBean, Justin Bannan, Kenny Peterson, and now maybe Tyson Alualu. Alualu would at first definitely be part of a rotation, but he has the talent to eventually start for the Broncos. I like his very refined blend of strength and speed and while he will definitely need some work on his technique in a 3-4, he could be a really good pick.

3rd round: Koa Misi, DE/OLB, Utah. Excuse me for not thinking that Jarvis Moss has his name etched in his locker for the 2010-11 season. Like I said earlier, McDaniels LOVES depth at defense. The Broncos could still use an effective hybrid Linebacker and since Jarvis Moss hasn’t been doing much for them, I see no reason that they shouldn’t go after Misi. Misi can rotate on the Defensive Line or play Linebacker in certain situations and if Bob Martindale uses him correctly, he could be extremely effective on Defense. The other plus in bringing another hybrid linebacker in is that it would push Robert Ayers to improve. I’m not sure if he is really going to pan out so Misi can either make a play for his job, or push him to be better. This isn’t an exciting pick, but it’s a really good one.

4th round: Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA. The Broncos spent one of their mid-round picks last year on David Bruton in hopes of improving their special teams immediately and maybe acquiring a future starter. This year they may do something similar, with Alterraun Verner. Verner is also a Defensive Back and a great special teams player, but like Bruton he has a lot of potential to one day be a starter. Verner because of the fact that he is a ball hawk and can keep up really well with receivers, could one day be a lock down corner. Since it seems like Alphonso Smith may not be able to reach that kind of level, they need someone who can replace Champ Bailey. It’s an outside shot that Verner will ever be as good as Champ, but you never know, and he can still impact the game on special teams.

5th round: Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU. With Tony Scheffler out the door, the Broncos will be looking for another tight end. Receiving tight ends are not often used in McDaniels’ system, but Scheffler did have a few pass catches last year, and McDaniels may want a receiving tight end on the roster. Dennis Pitta has been one of my favorite tight ends in the draft since day one, and without Scheffler he might be on the Broncos radar. His hands are soft, he has a good amount of speed, and he has another element that may really impress Josh McDaniels. He has lots of special teams potential, something we know McDaniels really likes. We are going to need to replace a few players in the draft, including the receiving tight end position, and Pitta would fit like a glove in the late round.

6th round: Joe Hawley, C/OG, UNLV. Joe Hawley is a hot late round prospect right now, who the Broncos as well as many other teams have brought in for private visits. Hawley was a combine beast, when he put up 35 bench reps, and is known for being one of the most aggressive players on the field. His technique isn’t very good at all, and he is very raw, but the Broncos need to work on their offensive line, and Hawley as the ability to play either Center or Offensive Guard. While Chris Kuper and Seth Olsen/Russ Hochstein should be a fine pair of guards, we do need some depth there. Hawley provides that as well as some potential for the future. I like what I have seen from him.

Undrafted Free Agents:

Robert Johnson, S, Utah: A great blend of size and speed for the Safety position. He is a very poor mans Taylor Mays. I would give him a shot in camp.

Jim Dray, TE, Stanford: Dray is a great blocking Tight End. I could see him as a solid body in camp.

Cole Pemberton, OT, Colorado St. A Colorado St. alumni, Pemberton is well built to play in the Broncos new Offensive line scheme. He has an outside chance at making the final roster even.

Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan. Mesko might even have a shot at getting drafted, and let’s face it, Denver does not have a Punter in place. I’ve even heard rumors the Broncos brought him in for a private visit.

Kyle Williams, RS, Arizona St. Fast, fast, fast… If Eddie Royal is going to focus more on his receiving skills, we will need another return specialist in place.

So here it is everybody, your 2010 Denver Broncos schedule:

DENVER BRONCOS 2010 SCHEDULE

(home games in caps; all times local at site of game)

PRESEASON

Wk.    Day      Date             Opponent                Site                                              Time                                      TV

1         Sun.     Aug. 15         at Cincinnati              Paul Brown Stadium                     7 p.m. EDT                  KCNC-TV

2         Sat.      Aug. 21         DETROIT                  INVESCO Field at Mile High         7 p.m. MDT                 KCNC-TV

3         Sun.     Aug. 29         PITTSBURGH           INVESCO Field at Mile High         6 p.m. MDT               FOX (NTL)

4         Thu.     Sept. 2          at Minnesota             Mall of America Field (Metrodome)       7 p.m. CDT                  KCNC-TV     

REGULAR SEASON

Wk.    Day      Date             Opponent                Site                                              Time                                      TV

1         Sun.     Sept. 12        at Jacksonville           Jacksonville Municipal Stadium     1 p.m. EDT                          CBS

2         Sun.     Sept. 19        SEATTLE                  INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:05 p.m. MDT                    FOX

3         Sun.     Sept. 26        INDIANAPOLIS         INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:15 p.m. MDT                     CBS

4         Sun.     Oct. 3            at Tennessee            LP Field                                        12 p.m. CDT                        CBS

5         Sun.     Oct. 10          at Baltimore               M&T Bank Stadium                       1 p.m. EDT                          CBS

6         Sun.     Oct. 17          N.Y. JETS                 INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:05 p.m. MDT                     CBS

7         Sun.     Oct. 24          OAKLAND                 INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:15 p.m. MDT                     CBS

8         Sun.     Oct. 31          at San Francisco       Wembley Stadium (London)         5 p.m. GMT                         CBS

9         BYE

10       Sun.     Nov. 14         KANSAS CITY          INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:05 p.m. MST                     CBS

11       Mon.    Nov. 22         at San Diego             Qualcomm Stadium                       5:30 p.m. PST         ESPN (NTL)

12       Sun.     Nov. 28         ST. LOUIS                INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:15 p.m. MST                   FOX*

13       Sun.     Dec. 5           at Kansas City           Arrowhead Stadium                      12 p.m. CST                       CBS*

14       Sun.     Dec. 12         at Arizona                  University of Phoenix Stadium      2:15 p.m. MST                    CBS*

15       Sun.     Dec. 19         at Oakland                 Oakland Coliseum                        1:15 p.m. PST                    CBS*

16       Sun.     Dec. 26         HOUSTON                INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:05 p.m. MST                    CBS*

17       Sun.     Jan. 2            SAN DIEGO              INVESCO Field at Mile High         2:15 p.m. MST                    CBS*

The Jaguars and Seattle are a great two teams to start against, and might get us on a role, but from that point forward, things will get a bit more challenging against teams like the AFC champion Colts, and playoff contending Jets. That said, unlike last year, there won’t be a hell stretch. Thank goodness. As for San Diego, we will be playing them at a home game in the last game of the season.

Can’t. Wait.

Tony Scheffler has been officially traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 5th round pick, orginally from the Cleveland Browns. It was a 3 way trade that sent Linebacker Ernie Sims to Philadelphia, Tony Scheffler and our 7th round pick to the Lions, and a 5th to us.

Scheffler was unhappy, and we probably got appropriate value for what the mainstream media thought he was worth, but I am very unhappy with it. This is simply a bad trade, and I will review it later today in an editorial so stay tuned for that.

Strengths: Has a powerful build … Non-stop motor … A physical pass rusher … Has good balance … Plays with excellent leverage … Strong and powerful tackler … Does a very solid job against the run … Smart player, good instincts … Uses his hands well … Offers versatility.

Weaknesses: Isn’t an outstanding athlete … Only average speed … Shorter than most Defensive Ends … Doesn’t explode off of the line … Struggles in space … Needs to work on his tackling form … Inconsistent …  His upside is pretty limited.

Overview: Brandon Graham isn’t an ideal player at either Outside Linbacker in a 3-4 or a Defensive End in a 4-3. In my opinion, he may never have a true position in the NFL. While he is a powerful tackler, and pretty good against the run as well as the pass, he just doesn’t have the upside or the athleticism to be a star in the NFL. He shouldn’t be drafted any higher than the second round.

2nd to 3rd round

I’ve come up with a few pretty good hunches for what positions Denver will go after in the draft, the most surprising – Quarterback. It sounds insane, but not after you consider my reasoning. Every coach in the NFL is always looking to upgrade at every position. Josh McDaniels is in no way exempt from that fact, maybe even more that way than other coaches.

All three Quarterbacks on the Broncos roster have the potential to be a starter on opening day this season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their jobs are safe. Earlier this year, Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen suggested to the Denver Post that the Broncos might draft a QB this year, while Josh McDaniels hinted at drafting a quarterback as well. The Broncos have even brought in Cincinnati QB Tony Pike for a visit. Granted, that was all before the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn, but you still can’t just brush all that off.

With McDaniels you have to expect the unexpected. Last year the Broncos held the 12th overall pick in the draft, and needed some serious D-line help – and some serious defensive help period. In free agency, McDaniels had brought in three Running Backs (Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, and J.J. Arrington); Peyton Hillis was also on the roster, as a hold-over from the Shanahan era.

None of those three players were spectacular, much like the three we have on the roster now. They are all good, and capable but there may be more talent in the draft.

If you’ll remember, the three free agent signees were expected to compete in training camp for the starting job. If there was one area Denver didn’t need depth going into last years draft it was at Tailback, yet McDaniels shocked us all, and drafted Knowshon Moreno. His draft choice was heavily critized because of all the capable backs Denver already had on its roster.

McDaniels now faces a similar situation. There are three very capable players on the roster with the opportunity to upgrade via the draft. Although McD has sung the praises of Kyle Orton and Tom Brandstater from the very moment they arrived in Denver, he also praised Jay Cutler’s talent and ability, a few weeks before he traded him.

The Broncos would get good compensation for both Orton or Brandstater if they wanted to trade either QB. Kyle is coming off a career year, and a very solid statistical season, so his value is pretty high. And there are plenty of QB-seeking teams on the market. Albeit Brandstater is only entering his  second season, he could have good trade value as well, the Seahawks traded two draft picks for San Diego Chargers’ Charlie Whitehurst, who has never attempted an NFL pass, and is two years older than Brandstater.

This week the Broncos are going to conduct a private visit with Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow, he has been known to have a “Wow” effect on teams he’s met with. The fact that the Broncos are going to meet with him proves that they (at the very least) haven’t yet ruled out drafting him, and therefore, haven’t ruled out drafting a Quarterback.

In a lot of the Mock Drafts I’ve seen, Colt McCoy and Jimmy Clausen have been available at #11, and it doesn’t look like the Broncos have ruled out the possibility of drafting a QB with their first pick, or later in the draft. All it would take is McDaniels to develop a man-crush on one of the Quaterback draft prospects in the draft, and Denver could have a 4th QB on the roster heading into training camp.

Strengths: Very productive … Good recovery speed and acceleration … Has some of the best instincts in this years class … Reads the QB’s eyes … Definitely a ballhawk … Smooth, fluid hips … A solid tackler in the pass game … Recognizes routes quickly … Has great potential.

Weaknesses: Not a great contributor to the running game … Small body, only 5-10, 197 pounds … Teams will worry about his durability in the pros … Take big risks, and they don’t always bring rewards.

That is just ridiculous. Maybe the trade of Marshall was misguided, but I will say this: We received fair compensation for Marshall. Let me explain why. Assume for a moment that the Dolphins second round pick will be the same next year as it is this year, the 43rd pick overall.

This is unlikely, but the best indicator we can use to judge this trade right now. On the trade value chart, as you can see below, the 43rd overall pick in the draft is worth 470 points. Multiply that by two and you are at 940. This would mean that our pick is only 10 points less in value than the 17th overall pick in the draft, and 50 points more than the 18th. It is the equivalent of a top 20 pick, which for troubled receivers these days, is very fair.

Last year when Jay Cutler was traded, I predicted that Kyle Orton with the players surrounding him, would have a better season. I was right. This year though, I will take the other route. While I think this is fair compensation, Brandon Marshall will be extremely successful in Miami. I also think that he will be successful in his future cities. He is baby T.O, isn’t he?

Marshall like Terrell Owens and other diva receivers will probably jump around teams for the rest of his career. It may be a very successful career, but I just don’t see him set with one team for the rest of his time in the NFL. How much longer before he becomes upset with Bill Parcells, Tony Sparano and the rest of the Dolphins brass?

Marshall may have changed, but I have a hard time imagining him keeping out of trouble in a place like Miami. No offense to any of my Florida based Broncos fans.

Now, we need to focus on something that is a bit more important than Marshall leaving. What we will do to replace him? Remember how I said he is baby T.O? I know McDaniels likes team first players, but I find it hard to believe that McDaniels won’t at least dip his feet into the water, and consider bringing Owens to play for Denver. He is very talented, and would be a good stop-gap between receivers for a year.

There is going to be a great wide receiver class next year including A.J Green, Michael Floyd and Juilio Jones, so the front office might consider waiting a year and dealing with Owens in between. Many would be against this scenario, but it is one we shouldn’t throw out just yet.

More likely though, the Broncos will spend one of their top picks on a Wide Receiver. I would be shocked if they went after Dez Bryant. His character issues are tremendous.

It is rumored he has been late to a ridiculous amount of practices and even games! How on earth do you expect us to draft a player like him with such a pivotal pick?

We won’t. Instead, we will probably spend Miami’s pick on one. I could see us going for either one of two receivers: Damian Williams of USC or Arrelious Benn of Illinois. My personal choice would be Williams who I think is the best receiver in the draft hands down, but the Broncos might be swept of their feet by the Marshall-esque playing style of Arrelious Benn. He’s a deadly big body possession receiver.

Both players have been brought in for private visits, and I heard that they both went extremely well. In fact, it may come down to whoever is available. Like I said though, if it comes down to the two of them, the Broncos would be best advised to take the more pro ready Damian Williams. It is much more likely, that he can make an immediate impact, because of his sharp route running.

There are plenty of choices for the Broncos, and I hope we will see them put together a successful 2010 NFL Draft. Personally, I will miss Marshall, but it was probably time for the two sides to separate.

The Denver Post’s Lindsay Jones also believes this is a big step to trading Marshall away. It will allow the Broncos to enter official trade talks with other teams, for the first time this off-season. I agree with this statement, but it is easy to make the other case too.

The Broncos could have lowered the tender to facilitate an immediate signing but instead, they upped the tender to a first round and therefore no one bit. Is it because they want a first rounder and nothing else? That is possible. But, it could also be another step in keeping him.

I am sure McDaniels understands the value of Marshall after watching our game against Indianapolis last season, and thinks he is worth big money. But I also think he wants Marshall to keep working towards a big contract, if he plans on giving him one. A lower salary would mean Marshall would keep on giving 100%, something players like Marshall have been known not to do when they receive giant payments.

Or, as it is more likely, it is simply another step in their quest to trade him. The above is more food for thought, not my prediction.

A trade could be coming sooner rather than later though. Seattle is prepared to give away their second round pick (60 overall), as compensation, but I don’t think the Broncos will give him away for such a low second rounder. Agent Drew Rosenhaus thinks that we will receive a 2nd as well as a later pick in the draft. If that was the case, McDaniels might give in.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on his trade status throughout the week.

Strengths: One of the best athletes in the draft … Excellent speed … Has reliable hands and rarely ever drops passes … Has solid bulk … Possesses the ability to jump way up high for a ball … Very elusive, weaves his way between coverages … Great awareness … Breaks a lot of tackles … Highly competitive … Lots of upside.

Weaknesses: Not a polished route runner … Sometimes will get jammed at the line … Shorter than most scouts would like … Catches the ball with his body too much … For being so fast, doesn’t get much separation … Only an average blocker.

Overview: Every year, there are a few controversial wide receiver prospects who make cause for a lot of debate. Last year it was Percy Harvin who succeeded with flying colors. No one was really sure how he would do. Some loved him. Some could not stand him. Golden Tate is in that same mold. There is a lot of reasons to love him, but he is raw and has his fair share of problems.

1st rounder

Strengths: Explosive out of the backfield … Is one of the most quick and agile players in the class … Very elusive … Is really strong for 5’8 … Has natural vision and awareness … Runs balanced … Has great hands, can catch out of the backfield … Special teams potential … Leader.

Weaknesses: REALLY undersized … Doesn’t always keep the ball secure, prone to fumbling … Needs to work on his route running … Just can’t block at a high level, no matter how much effort he gives it … Durability concerns.

Overview: McCluster was one of the most exciting backs in college football last year, and now is hoping to translate his success into the NFL. In the one interview I have seen of him, he seemed very convincing as he suggested that he can be a star in the pros despite his size. He can never be a number 1 back in my opinion, but may play a Darren Sproles like role in the NFL.