Ziggy
05-07-2010, 01:44 AM
Josh McDaniels called Ed Werder into his office the day before the 2010 NFL draft. Werder was covering the Broncos for ESPN. Coach McDaniels decided entrust the veteran reporter with Denver's plans. During the next hour and a half, he would reveal to Werder that the Broncos wanted to trade down, and draft Demaryius Thomas, who was the #1 rated receiver on thier draft board. He would also tell Werder that the Broncos wouldn't be done there. They had 2 targets in the 1st round.
http://www.vicandgary.com/page/podcasts-1 - Ed Werder podcast on 4-23
Targeting and getting a player in the NFL draft without having the #1 pick in that draft is a challenge in itself. Trading down to the right spot to do it is even more of a challenge. Trading down, getting your player, and trading back into the 1st round for your 2nd targeted player is not only improbable, but some would say impossible.
With multiple teams reportedly trying to trade down prior to the draft, the Broncos had no way to be sure what the options would be at pick #11. Surprisingly, the first 10 players were picked without a trade occuring. On the clock, Denver announces the first of what would turn out to be 4 trades for them in the first round. Pick #11 is shipped to San Francisco for the 13th pick, and the Niners 4th rounder. On the clock again at 13, the Broncos announce a trade with the Eagles, moving all the way down to 24. Denver picks up 2 third round picks from Philly in the process.
The question now becomes, can they stay at 24 and get thier guys? With New England on the clock at 22, Denver announces that it has moved up 2 places, at the cost of a 4th rounder, to draft Demaryius Thomas. Phase 1 complete.
Earlier in the day, long before the start of the draft, the Broncos had put into place a possible deal with GM Ozzie Newsome of the Baltimore Ravens.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/ - See Brian Xanders interview in the video and audio section titled 'BTV sits down with GM Brian Xanders.'
The Broncos would trade a 3rd and 4th round pick to move up from the 2nd round into Baltimore's spot in the 1st. When Baltimore was on the clock with the 25th pick, Xanders and McDaniels pulled the trigger. Denver now had thier second 1st rounder in hand. They then proceeded to shock the NFL world by taking 2 time national champion and former Heisman winning QB Tim Tebow. Phase 2 complete.
The Denver Broncos had started the day with the 11th pick in the draft and 2 targets for the 1st round. At the end of the day, the Broncos had thier top 2 targets in hand, and still had a 2nd and 2 third rounders to play with on day 2. Some will say that the Denver Broncos picked the wrong players. Some will say that the Denver Broncos gave up too much to get both picks in the first round. What I will say, is that the Denver Broncos had a plan. They had a plan for one of the most unpredictable events in sports, and they executed it to perfection. Whether you love or hate the picks, or love or hate the plan, you can't help but admire the execution and the fearlessness of the Denver Broncos front office.
Cost of getting your #1 ranked wide receiver in the draft? The 24th pick and a 4th rounder. Cost of getting your potential franchise QB and new face of the franchise? A 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round pick. Cost of getting them both without mortgaging a pick in next year's draft? Priceless. Coach McDaniels, Brian Xanders, I salute you. :salute:
http://www.vicandgary.com/page/podcasts-1 - Ed Werder podcast on 4-23
Targeting and getting a player in the NFL draft without having the #1 pick in that draft is a challenge in itself. Trading down to the right spot to do it is even more of a challenge. Trading down, getting your player, and trading back into the 1st round for your 2nd targeted player is not only improbable, but some would say impossible.
With multiple teams reportedly trying to trade down prior to the draft, the Broncos had no way to be sure what the options would be at pick #11. Surprisingly, the first 10 players were picked without a trade occuring. On the clock, Denver announces the first of what would turn out to be 4 trades for them in the first round. Pick #11 is shipped to San Francisco for the 13th pick, and the Niners 4th rounder. On the clock again at 13, the Broncos announce a trade with the Eagles, moving all the way down to 24. Denver picks up 2 third round picks from Philly in the process.
The question now becomes, can they stay at 24 and get thier guys? With New England on the clock at 22, Denver announces that it has moved up 2 places, at the cost of a 4th rounder, to draft Demaryius Thomas. Phase 1 complete.
Earlier in the day, long before the start of the draft, the Broncos had put into place a possible deal with GM Ozzie Newsome of the Baltimore Ravens.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/ - See Brian Xanders interview in the video and audio section titled 'BTV sits down with GM Brian Xanders.'
The Broncos would trade a 3rd and 4th round pick to move up from the 2nd round into Baltimore's spot in the 1st. When Baltimore was on the clock with the 25th pick, Xanders and McDaniels pulled the trigger. Denver now had thier second 1st rounder in hand. They then proceeded to shock the NFL world by taking 2 time national champion and former Heisman winning QB Tim Tebow. Phase 2 complete.
The Denver Broncos had started the day with the 11th pick in the draft and 2 targets for the 1st round. At the end of the day, the Broncos had thier top 2 targets in hand, and still had a 2nd and 2 third rounders to play with on day 2. Some will say that the Denver Broncos picked the wrong players. Some will say that the Denver Broncos gave up too much to get both picks in the first round. What I will say, is that the Denver Broncos had a plan. They had a plan for one of the most unpredictable events in sports, and they executed it to perfection. Whether you love or hate the picks, or love or hate the plan, you can't help but admire the execution and the fearlessness of the Denver Broncos front office.
Cost of getting your #1 ranked wide receiver in the draft? The 24th pick and a 4th rounder. Cost of getting your potential franchise QB and new face of the franchise? A 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round pick. Cost of getting them both without mortgaging a pick in next year's draft? Priceless. Coach McDaniels, Brian Xanders, I salute you. :salute: