Lancane's Updated Mock Draft *No Free Agency or Trades*
A lot of people have been asking me to do a mock draft with the picks we have, instead of showing possible trades which could happen but are not likely…I said I would do so, but I also think there is a possibility that we stick to the 4-3 defensive scheme, therefore I have two mocks, one in regards to the 3-4, another the 4-3...
Lancane’s 3-4 Mock Draft -
Rnd 1. Tyson Jackson - Defensive End - Louisiana State (Reach)
Denver will likely target Raji, Curry, Brown and Maualuga with the 12th overall pick, especially if they are going to the 3-4, he could be available. The issue is that there is a high possibility that not one of the four is available when Denver is on the clock, and so does Denver nab one of the two top tailbacks?, cornerbacks?, maybe even reach for a someone else such as Maybin? And in the end I think Denver will have a tough choice with this pick, Orakpo will be a target of Buffalo if he is still available and if Sanchez is gone, I think they take Maualuga.
Jackson is considered a legit first round pick, but latter first. Right now his draft position resides solely upon himself. If Jackson has stellar numbers at the combine I think he rockets into a Top 20 grade easily. Being that he is the best true 3-4 defensive end in the draft already makes him a targeted commodity among 3-4 defensive teams. Denver who is likely to switch to the 3-4, though they lack the manpower would be far better off with T.J. on their roster. Fans will not like the pick, “Too damn early”, “I like this kid better”, but in all honesty, Jackson has as much a shot becoming Denver’s pick at this spot then say Raji, Curry or Brown. He automatically upgrades a defensive line in serious need of talent.
Rnd 2. Ron Brace - Nose Tackle - Boston College (Reach)
Denver will watch over hyped Raji go quickly in the first, and if they plan to build a capable 3-4 defensive unit, they need to secure the trenches first and foremost and Brace is a great option at this spot. He would likely go in the mid to latter second round, but Denver can ill afford to risk him being drafted elsewhere. Brace is a true nose tackle, a large difference to Raji who had been replaced at the nose position by Brace this past season at Boston College. And I feel Brace wants to prove himself to the league and to himself, and if so…then Denver could get a steal here with this pick, because I believe Brace is tired of being in Raji’s hyped up shadow. A lot of Denver fans believe Raji is the best nose in the draft, sadly he is not really a nose tackle but a 3-technique defensive tackle who played at the nose position and replaced this season for reasons unspecified.
Rnd 3. Connor Barwin - Outside Linebacker (DE) - Cincinnati (Steal)
Someone is bound to fall, Barwin will undoubtedly be one likely candidate with Johnson, Kruger, Maybin, Stintim and a few others ahead of him on the charts. This is a good place for Denver to grab some balance to the reaches they had to make in order to fill positions of need. With the likelihood that Denver is switching to a 3-4 defensive base scheme, they need linebackers, particularly outside rushing linebackers; Moss and Dumervile will get a fair chance, Barwin however would be a wise addition. Larsen, Williams, Woodyard and Koutividas give Denver some security with their corps., but they will undoubtedly need to add a few with the draft.
Rnd 4. Javon Ringer - Running Back - Michigan State (Steal)
Oh no…not offense, but the thing is that as the combine and draft approaches we see that tailbacks are dropping, even the two best in the draft are falling and not because of lack of skill. Ringer who is shorter and stouter then others available and give that he will probably have a mediocre time in the 40 yard dash, his stock will fall. He may be gone before this pick, but I fully expect with the likes of Jennings, Greene, Brown, Johnson and others that it thins out, particularly if they have good numbers at the combine. McDaniels has stated that they need to fix the offense as well as the defense and no sane coach walks into a new season with a stable that was so injury plagued that it actually had seven backs go down and nearly a different starter each week.
Ringer will remind people of Frank Gore, he will not bedazzle with flashing speed, but his ball handling skills, patience to find the hole, his power and field of vision, along with his receiving skills will put him on McDaniel’s list for what is likely to be a spread offense based scheme. I also mentioned before that Ringer has a leg up…McDaniels coached at Michigan State and it is no secret that Turner is a former Big Ten coach as well.
Rnd 5. Chip Vaughn - Safety - Wake Forest (Value)
Denver has been in need of safety help for awhile, even long before the Immortal John Lynch had been released. I fully expect Denver to look to free agency to nab a starting safety to fill one of the positions. But they need to add players who could eventually start or give them rotational depth. Vaughn is a hard hitting safety with good ball skills. Though his numbers declined a bit as a senior they were none the less, still impressive. He is a bit raw, has great upside and decent speed, another plus is that he can play either position, though he is a natural free safety he will probably transition to a strong safety in the NFL. I like this kid’s attitude towards his team and his family values in whole, a great addition with this pick.
Rnd 5. Daniel Holtzclaw - Inside Linebacker - Eastern Michigan (Steal)
Holtzclaw is one of the most underrated athletes of this year’s draft. One of the bright spots on a very mediocre Eagles squad. He has started every game of his collegiate career and ended up having a stellar season which saw him notch 107 tackles, 4.5 for a loss; his junior year was even better and saw him rack up a jaw dropping 125 tackles and two interceptions. Holtzclaw is a tough competitor who knows how to get after the ball carrier, he has good range and great natural ability, a little on the stout side at 6-1, 245lbs., even then he will likely be a great inside linebacker in the NFL, especially if he goes to a team who will utilize him and in that sense, Denver would be the ideal home for him. Another plus for Denver is that Holtzclaw has been looked to as the vocal leader of the Eagle’s defense since his sophomore year and since the loss of Al Wilson the team has not had a continual on and off the field defensive general and Daniel brings that ability along with the rest of his skills.
Rnd 6. Patrick Turner - Tight End (WR) - USC (Value)
Turner whose size and ability screams Tight End will go to a team where that is a big possibility and Denver is among them. Fans will compare him to Shannon Sharpe as far as a physical specimen. Turner will not blow anyone away with his forty times, nor likely with his other numbers…but he will impress them with his intellect, demeanor and attitude toward the game. As a senior Patrick Turner notched 49 catches, 741 yards and 10 scores, with 15.2 YPC average. Some teams may look to add Turner simply as a possession receiver, but Denver needs Tight End help, Scheffler has been impressive at times but is hampered by injury and Graham is a better blocker then a receiver and Turner would be a good option at this spot to add and give Cutler an added option in McDaniel’s spread offense.
Rnd 6. Louis Vasquez - Offensive Guard - Texas Tech (Value)
A lot of Denver fans seem hell bent on Denver going after a center, overlooking the fact Denver is impressed with Lichtensteiger who was just drafted in the last draft. They want to slowly groom him behind Weigmann if at all possible and fans are giving up on the kid way to quick. But Denver’s dilemma will be that next year both Kuper and Hamilton will be free agents, and while Hamilton has done well, it is more then likely that Kuper who is tight with Cutler and company is the one re-signed. Hamilton will be offered top dollar on the market, that is where Vasquez enters the picture…not only does he bring valuable depth, but he was part of one of the best offenses and offensive lines in college football. He is a tad bigger then the usual guards Denver goes after, but he is leaner because of his height and for a big man he has good quickness and even better feet. Not to mention before he was injured he was considered one of the top guards in America, last year he only allowed a single sack; Cutler would be lucky to have Vasquez and Clady watching his blindside.
Rnd 7. Zach Potter - Defensive End - Nebraska (Value)
Denver needs depth, and while there is no safe bets in the latter part of the draft, there are those that now and then become far more; Denver knows this well. Sharpe, Nalen, Davis, Larsen, Hillis just to name a few. Potter has a lot of upside, great raw athletic ability and he is a true 3-4 defensive end. But he is a project pick as well, he lacks the footwork and overall quickness to be dominant, but those can be trained and coached into him. And Denver has one of the best in the NFL in Dunnely coaching the defensive line and it would be worth the risk to take another young kid who could provide depth if not be a steal for the team in the end…
4-3 Mock Draft will be posted soon...
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Originally Posted by Cicero
