Lancane's Final Denver Mock Draft
I've been on vacation and I had hoped to have had my Final Denver Mock Draft done. I'm doing this in sort of a rush and based off the information available thus far with a week to go. That said, there are a lot of people who will dislike this mock draft, I suppose I should apologize ahead of time, some of my comments can be taken roughly. And before I begin, let me state that I wouldn't be surprised for Denver to trade down from the 25th overall pick, it's almost to be expected I originally had Denver trading down with Baltimore for the 29th overall pick and an extra fourth round pick – but as it stands I am basing this off the picks they do have at this time and yet I am having them use a pick to trade up in the second, sort of hypocritical but it will make sense.
Rnd. 1, 25th Overall Pick: Brock Osweiler, Quarterback, Arizona State
Whoa...no way, I know...I know. But in fact this makes absolute sense to someone who has coached or had to put together a football team. For those spewing harsh remarks about me – pull your heads out of your ***es for a second and you'll realize that I may be right. I can hear the crying now - “No...we need another defensive playmaker”, to which I say, “Shut the hell up!”, seriously the half-ass bickering and whining because Denver may or may not choose to draft a quarterback is getting freaking old and fast. Yes, the Broncos did sign 'The' Peyton Manning to a five year deal that is worth more then most quarterbacks will ever see. But how many of those seasons do you expect Manning to actually play? All five? Not a chance, they'll be lucky for four, I've undergone the same surgery and everyday I have to wake up and take painkillers to get out of bed and be useful to my family and this isn't a Brett Farve situation, the difference is that one day Manning will simply wake up so sore and stiff and know that the end is nigh. Manning was the key free agent for the Broncos for several reasons, Brock Osweiler by all accounts has been their top draft target since his pro-day. It's truly inevitable when you consider the ties Osweiler has to the Denver organization through Dennis Erickson and Jack Elway alone. Think I'm off my rocker? Jack and his dad John talked about Brock and then Jack tweeted Osweiler about the conversation. Let us not forget that the first pre-draft meeting that Denver scheduled was with Brock himself, not Kirkpatrick, Stills, Martin, Reyes, Worthy or anyone else on that side of the ball. And I know, “Why not wait?”, simply...Denver doesn't know when Manning's end will come, it could be in a year or two, maybe less and they want to be prepared for the future no matter what. Osweiler isn't being drafted to be a backup he's being drafted to learn from one of the greatest to play the game and eventually step up in the role...if he can (Ala Aaron Rodgers-Brett Farve in Green Bay),. How sure am I of him being on their radar? I wouldn't be surprised if Denver if they forgo adding him here would not use another pick (a fourth rounder) to move up in the second and make damn sure he is donning the orange and blue next year.
Rnd. 2, 33rd Overall Pick: Jerel Worthy, Defensive Tackle, Michigan State
Denver trades the 57th overall pick along the 120th overall pick to St. Louis for the first pick in the second round in order to get their defensive tackle. This is a win-win in my book, it's a win because he's likely to be Denver's first overall pick to begin with by all accounts, it's also a win because they were able to draft the top quarterback on their boards as well as the top defensive tackle while adding a low fourth to acquire him – it's highly likely since Worthy has slipped on numerous draft boards. And if by chance Worthy is gone, this pick will be Kendall Reyes, of that I have no doubts. Besides Dre Kirkpatrick the few highest graded pre-draft meetings the Broncos have had thus far has been with Worthy, Reyes and Osweiler. The EFX regime doesn't use smoke and mirrors like the Shanahan regime, they're far more straight forward. Worthy would add something Denver hasn't had in a long while, a legit talent at the defensive tackle position. I like the addition of Worthy, obviously he's from my Alma Mater, one thing I don't like is the fact at times he seems to be playmaker caliber defensive tackle and then suddenly it feels as though he headed to Starbucks on a long-ass coffee break. I have faith in Fox and Del Rio, Denver has a quality defensive staff and if anyone can make him the stud he could be, it's them.
Rnd. 3, 87th Overall Pick: Robert Turbin, Running Back, Utah State
He's not the most beloved running back in the draft by board members, they want Doug Martin, Chris Polk, Bernard Pierce or even Lamar Miller – everyone seems to have their favorites. Despite the fact that as of yet, Turbin is the only tailback to have an official visit with the team, not Polk, Miller, Bernard or even Martin. Don't mistake me, I'm sure that Denver might take Miller, Polk or Martin if they slipped to this spot, but this is about the right spot to expect Turbin to go, he impressed the Broncos' brass at the combine and also left a solid impression during his visit with Denver. Turbin is very similar to Willis McGahee and that could be why they're so high on the kid. It's been said according to the Denver Post that Chris Polk and Doug Martin are on Denver's official draft board despite no confirmation from the organization themselves, so while it's logical opinion, nothing is pointing to that being the official case...as of yet. I might revise my position in that case, but as it stands now I believe Turbin is the top running back on their boards around this spot – the Broncos might even wait to try and nab him with their fourth round pick.
Rnd. 4, 108th Overall Pick: DeQuan Menzie, Cornerback, Alabama
Menzie is a highly underrated corner prospect, he had a poor showing at the Combine after having a pretty solid Senior Bowl showing. He made up for it at his Pro-Day according to scouts and showed not only better speed but was more fluid in field drills. But why would Denver draft him? So far I've gone based off visits and combine meetings worth noting, but the fact is that Menzie is not an unknown. Denver went to Alabama's Pro-Day to see supposedly Dre Kirkpatrick, then again is a good time to see others from the same school. According to some scouts Menzie has the talent and skills to be a solid number two corner in the NFL, but too many people are comparing him to Kirkpatrick which can devalue a player easier then an almost drug charge and being noted for hanging out with characters known for drugs as Kirkpatrick has been. If Denver has studied film on Kirkpatrick and I am sure they have then they know what they're getting in Menzie, he's a solid corner who could be a mid-round steal for the Broncos in need of youth at the position, he'll probably take a year to develop and switch time at nickel, if Denver decides to retain Tracy Porter with a long-term deal, Menzie could be groomed to start eventually across from him.
Rnd. 5, 137th Overall Pick: Dwight Jones, Wide Receiver, North Carolina
Jones' stock has been up and down, especially after the bad showing at the Combine...the kid is a Brandon Marshall clone if I ever saw one, far more then Demaryius Thomas was suppose to be. He's a load to take down and has great straight line speed, but his route running is about as suspect as Thomas' coming out of Georgia Tech. Good thing for Jones is that the Broncos have insight into him, after all it was a Denver scout who ran his Pro-Day for him and knows him best, so good was his Pro-Day that it solidified him as a mid round prospect when he looked to be headed for a fall, even maybe out of the draft. Jones will need time to develop and would be learning his routes from the master quarterback himself in Manning and if he can live up to his potential, Broncos' fans can finally forget about the loss of Brandon Marshall and Brandon Lloyd. Between Thomas, Decker, Stokely, Willis, Caldwell and Jones Denver should have a pretty solid receiver corps for Manning to work with.
Rnd. 6, 188th Overall Pick: Levy Adcock, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State
I'll honestly be surprised if Adcock is still on the board, he's underrated that's true, even after having a solid Combine and Pro-Day many having him falling deep in the draft while a few have him as a high third day pick. Luckily Denver's sixth round pick is not too low and if Adcock is available I see Denver taking him. He had a good visit with the team earlier this week after already impressing them at both his previous showings. And the Broncos' love versatile tough lineman and Levy Adcock fits that description he's played at both left and right tackle and was moved only due to an injury. He's projected by many to either man the right tackle position or move inside and I believe that is where Denver sees him going as well. He struggles to mirror pass rushers at times and has heavy feet, he's a solid pass blocker but excels as a physical run blocker. If Adcock is gone by chance Denver may look to solidify the line at this pick with Nate Potter of Boise State, Ryan Miller of Colorado or Austin Wuebbels of Missouri.
There you go...I know several people are thinking of bad **** to say, have at it...after all, it's only my opinion and doesn't mean much. And as I stated before it could change this week depending on visits and what Denver decides to due pre-draft if anything.
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Originally Posted by OrangeHoof
