My new offseason plan.

[Cutler2007]

Seems appropriate after that loss.

1. OT Ryan Clady/Gosder Cherilus (trade down #24-27)
I think we need to upgrade the OT spot (and I do not want to hear about Foster).

2A. WSLB Xavier Adibi (Trade Gold, Foxworth, 2008 4th)
Yes, I would trade away Foxworth & Gold (Gold makes too much money and Foxworth has no corner to play).

2B. SLB Phillip Wheeler
Can ultimately replace Webster who can go back to backing up MLB/Sam

2C. S Jonathan Heffney (acquired by trade down)
We need a FS, we need a returner, we need a playmaker...check, check, check.

4. LG O'Neil Cousins
You will find him listed under OT, but I see him as a LG.

5. FB Peyton Hills
Need a true FB to help in redzone and guy also plays tough STs.

5. DT Maurice Murray
Raw DT that has frame to be 340 lb NT type

Take money from Gold trade, retirement of Hamilton (yes I think he retires), Rod, Nalen, and possibly Lynch and sign the two best DT's money can buy, a decent #4 WR and a decent RT in FA in that order (until the money runs out that is).

Recap:

We get younger at the LB spot and add 4 players that can play STs. Oline gets much needed talent boost. D-line gets 2 Vet DTs to pair up with Thomas and McKinley. Redzone gets a true blocking FB. We get a LG and DT to groom.

[Broncosinindy]

Seems appropriate after that loss.

1. OT Ryan Clady/Gosder Cherilus (trade down #24-27)
I think we need to upgrade the OT spot (and I do not want to hear about Foster).

2A. WSLB Xavier Adibi (Trade Gold, Foxworth, 2008 4th)
Yes, I would trade away Foxworth & Gold (Gold makes too much money and Foxworth has no corner to play).

2B. SLB Phillip Wheeler
Can ultimately replace Webster who can go back to backing up MLB/Sam

2C. S Jonathan Heffney (acquired by trade down)
We need a FS, we need a returner, we need a playmaker...check, check, check.

4. LG O'Neil Cousins
You will find him listed under OT, but I see him as a LG.

5. FB Peyton Hills
Need a true FB to help in redzone and guy also plays tough STs.

5. DT Maurice Murray
Raw DT that has frame to be 340 lb NT type

Take money from Gold trade, retirement of Hamilton (yes I think he retires), Rod, Nalen, and possibly Lynch and sign the two best DT's money can buy, a decent #4 WR and a decent RT in FA in that order (until the money runs out that is).

Recap:

We get younger at the LB spot and add 4 players that can play STs. Oline gets much needed talent boost. D-line gets 2 Vet DTs to pair up with Thomas and McKinley. Redzone gets a true blocking FB. We get a LG and DT to groom.

Couple random thoughts by me on this is..


1. Cherilus stock is dropping. and at this point to me he is a second round pick. Poor Value. I think everyone in the world knows we need Frank Okam. He has first round value and is something we DESPERATLY NEED.

2. I wouldnt mind picking up a LB in the second, but since you have two of them. you need to pick up a free safety. Our linebackers are decent and with a guy like Okam will be alot better. what really kills me is that we do NOT have a safety that can play a TE. Have a free safety that can play the TE and we get better.


You can take this to the bank. And i wish people will bring this thread up if i am wrong but. Heffney is a cover two corner and will not be drafted to play safety.


i like your pick of hills. I am of the small minority that i think we need a high round pick at RB. we have gotten by the last decade or so by not going there but we do not have a great lead blocker. and if we dont land a top notch RB we are gonna have to give a long lock at fullback. someone to help a selvin young become better. although i am not to enthused because i think young is injury prone and not a 25 carry a game back. And it will hurt us even more if henry is suspended.

I like your pick in murray. Alot of NT are found latter in the draft. There stock drops if they cannot rush the passer but if they can play the run great. they have my vote of confidence.

I am lukewarm on Gold i dont know if he should be let go. This team makes blunders as far as the cap goes. sure we are always under it. but it takes alot of salvaging to do so. if we didnt make the cap blunders every year. we would have alot more dough. It really has hit us hard with FA we just always make the biggest blunders.

Saying that. There is not anyone that really wows me in free agency this year at DT. Sure haynsworth but he will be re-signed and i hope he is. i just see gerrard warren written all over him. playing a big season to get his contract to go back into mediocerity

[elevation INC]

1st rd - kenny phillips or okam
2a- red bryant or nic harris or the below linebackers
2b- beau bell or wheeler or ketwan balmer
3- O-line not sure who here i think we can get a good o-lineman if we trade fox for a 3rd rd pick, figure why not since he doesnt have a position to play here with us, and i know there are some teams in dire need of secondary help, and we could use the extra early pick since we have no 3rd rounder or we take mcclinton from kansas here
4- WR/returner
5- I agree with a FB here
6- O line
7- Bruising RB

most people here think jordan dizon wont be drafted, i beg to disagree, but if he is not drafted we pick him up for special teams play as a undrafted FA, the do flys to the ball


i think he will be gone by the end of the 4th rd

[Cutler2007]

Couple random thoughts by me on this is..


1. Cherilus stock is dropping. and at this point to me he is a second round pick. Poor Value. I think everyone in the world knows we need Frank Okam. He has first round value and is something we DESPERATLY NEED.

I do not really think we can wait 3 years for a couple DTs to get "it", it has a high enough bust rate I would prefer to go Vets here. Gosder Cherilus is dropping because he switched to LT from RT, but I want him as a RT and if we can get him late 1st, I think it is a bargin.

2. I wouldnt mind picking up a LB in the second, but since you have two of them. you need to pick up a free safety. Our linebackers are decent and with a guy like Okam will be alot better. what really kills me is that we do NOT have a safety that can play a TE. Have a free safety that can play the TE and we get better.

Yes unfortunately this is a horrible draft for a FS. I went Heffney because I think he can fill that role while also playing some nickle. He is a guy that I think can be a role player on both D and STs.


You can take this to the bank. And i wish people will bring this thread up if i am wrong but. Heffney is a cover two corner and will not be drafted to play safety.


i like your pick of hills. I am of the small minority that i think we need a high round pick at RB. we have gotten by the last decade or so by not going there but we do not have a great lead blocker. and if we dont land a top notch RB we are gonna have to give a long lock at fullback. someone to help a selvin young become better. although i am not to enthused because i think young is injury prone and not a 25 carry a game back. And it will hurt us even more if henry is suspended.

I like your pick in murray. Alot of NT are found latter in the draft. There stock drops if they cannot rush the passer but if they can play the run great. they have my vote of confidence.

I am lukewarm on Gold i dont know if he should be let go. This team makes blunders as far as the cap goes. sure we are always under it. but it takes alot of salvaging to do so. if we didnt make the cap blunders every year. we would have alot more dough. It really has hit us hard with FA we just always make the biggest blunders.

Saying that. There is not anyone that really wows me in free agency this year at DT. Sure haynsworth but he will be re-signed and i hope he is. i just see gerrard warren written all over him. playing a big season to get his contract to go back into mediocerity

Thanks for the feedback. :salute:

There may be some DT available for trade too and Foxworth and Gold to Detroit for Rodgers is a possibility (I believe that Boss is a FA and they will need a CB also).

[Broncosinindy]

Thanks for the feedback. :salute:

There may be some DT available for trade too and Foxworth and Gold to Detroit for Rodgers is a possibility (I believe that Boss is a FA and they will need a CB also).

Yeah i am with you on the whole maturation of the DT and getting a vet check out my mock and youll see what i am thinking as far as that goes.

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Seems appropriate after that loss.

1. OT Ryan Clady/Gosder Cherilus (trade down #24-27)
I think we need to upgrade the OT spot (and I do not want to hear about Foster).

2A. WSLB Xavier Adibi (Trade Gold, Foxworth, 2008 4th)
Yes, I would trade away Foxworth & Gold (Gold makes too much money and Foxworth has no corner to play).

2B. SLB Phillip Wheeler
Can ultimately replace Webster who can go back to backing up MLB/Sam

2C. S Jonathan Heffney (acquired by trade down)
We need a FS, we need a returner, we need a playmaker...check, check, check.

4. LG O'Neil Cousins
You will find him listed under OT, but I see him as a LG.

5. FB Peyton Hills
Need a true FB to help in redzone and guy also plays tough STs.

5. DT Maurice Murray
Raw DT that has frame to be 340 lb NT type

Take money from Gold trade, retirement of Hamilton (yes I think he retires), Rod, Nalen, and possibly Lynch and sign the two best DT's money can buy, a decent #4 WR and a decent RT in FA in that order (until the money runs out that is).

Recap:

We get younger at the LB spot and add 4 players that can play STs. Oline gets much needed talent boost. D-line gets 2 Vet DTs to pair up with Thomas and McKinley. Redzone gets a true blocking FB. We get a LG and DT to groom.


Nice hypo, but it won't work.


1. Clady and Cherilous won't be 1st round picks come draft time. If we really want an OT, we can simply pick up Tony Hills in the early 4th. That's going to be tremendous value. With Lepsis and Pears, Harris developing at LT, and Kuper well able to play backup at RT, I see no need at OT or room for that matter.

2. Gold makes 5 million a year. That's half of what the best OLBs make. He doesn't make much money compared to his production. And while I agree we need to groom his replacement, that rookie won't be ready to start for at least a year. We might let Gold walk in 2009, it won't be in 2008, and we won't trade him. Anyway, Adibi is a good 2nd round pick at OLB, though I'd personally rather take Ezra Butler.

3. Wheeler is a MIKE, and more specifically, an ILB in the 3-4. He's the best MIKE prospect unless Laurinitis comes out.

4. Heffney is smaller then Foxworth. I agree he's not likely to be used as a starting safety in the NFL.

5. I can't imagine we would draft an OG. We are stacked at that position, and we have one of the top rushing and pure offenses in the NFL. I don't think our O-line is a concern. The redzone offense is a result of silly play calling, young players, and a lack of a fullback.

6. Big fan of drafting a smashmouth fullback, but if you want Peyton Hills or Owen Schmitt, you'll have to draft them at the top of the 4th round, maybe even the late 3rd.


7. Nose Tackle is the absolute toughest position in the NFL to fill because it takes a special athlete to be huge and productive. There's been a lot of really huge guys drafted to play Nose, but most are lazy and limited physically. Size is not the most important aspect of a Nose Tackle, ability smarts and effort is. While there is certainly an occasional bust at DT in the 1st round, most of those busts are at Under Tackle, the elite pluggers usually always succeed because there's usually only one in every draft. The only one this draft is Frank Okam, as I think Dorsey is more of an all around 3 technique.

I'd put the bust rate at huge DTs in the 1st round at less than 20%, I'd put the bust rate of huge DTs in the later rounds (in terms of actually panning out) at about 90%.


8. There are no DTs to sign in Free Agency this year. Randy Starks is about it if one wants to gamble on character. You can only get elite Nose Tackles in the 1st round of the draft. Otherwise, it's a 1 in a 1000 crapshoot to find a diamond in the rough in the late rounds.

[Warhawk]

With Lepsis and Pears, Harris developing at LT, and Kuper well able to play backup at RT, I see no need at OT or room for that matter.

MUG, Lepsis has really been struggling. I'm not sure what's wrong - combination of age and injuries? I'd feel a *lot* better if the team picked up someone with good potential at LT.

Heffney is smaller then Foxworth. I agree he's not likely to be used as a starting safety in the NFL.

Overall, this is a terrible draft to be looking for a safety. We can get good value at other positions with our later round picks. If Kenny Phillips falls to us, well, Shanny will have a tough decision to make. If not, well, we need to look to FA to get safety help.

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Lepsis has definitely been up and down. Last week he was down, before that he had a few good games in a row. I think he'll be fine another year removed from his injury. But that's definitely not a certainty.

If we go for any O-line position, I do agree OT makes the most sense, especially if the team is not sold on Pears.


I think there is pretty solid safety depth this season, I just think it's full of lunchpail type guys, and not so much the dynamic game breakers. I'm sure one of the lunchpail guys will be a game breaker, I just have no idea whom it may be.

If Nic Harris and Kenny Phillips come out, and one is available to us in the 1st round, I agree, I'm not sure we can pass that up. I don't think there will be much safety or DT help in FA this year. It will be very interesting to see what moves we make in the offseason to give us a hint which direction we'll be going in the draft.

I still think Harris, Phillips, Okam, or DeSean Jackon are the targets as of now. And of course, it would not be surprising to nab a LB either.

[SmokeBassett]

I like the OP's first two picks.

Let's say we end up with the 14th pick in the draft.
We trade Travis Henry, Cecil Sapp and a third-rounder to the Houston Texans, who badly need some running backs, in return for their 2nd-round draft pick, probably around #35.

That gives us #14, #35, #46.

Then we trade Nick Ferguson, Dominique Foxworth and Jarvis Moss to a team that needs them, like Miami, for their 2nd round pick.

Now we've got #14, #33, #35, #46.

On draft day, we take:

#14. Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
#33. Xavier Adibi, OLB, Va Tech
#35. D.J. Wolfe, S, Oklahoma
#46. Jesse Hester, FB, LSU

Quality over quantity. We get top-flight players in our positions of need.

On offense what we need most is good blocking. Cherilus is a good run and pass blocker, having been coached well at Boston College. He will make an excellent bookend on the right side of the line opposite Lepsis. Hester is a good blocker on passing downs as well as running downs, and he is a good power runner and receiver. These two players can step right in as rookies and make Denver a better blocking team.

On defense we need a lot of things. I think a 3-4 defensive alignment is best. So many teams use it now, even teams that employ a base 4-3 defense. And frankly, if four Bronco linemen can't stop the run, three can't be any worse. A 3-4 allows us to put Xavier Adibi, a great, fast linebacker on the strong side, where he can cover Gates, Gonzales, Miller, et al., as well as cut off LT on those TD runs around the end, and speed blitz the QBs. Throw Wolfe in at one of the safety positions and you have an athletic, run-stopping safety who's good in coverage as well.

Later in the draft, we pick up some inexpensive backups:

Brandon McAnderson, RB/FB, Kansas
Big, explosive runner, great ball handler, good blocker, perfect backup fullback behind Hester.

James McClinton, NT, Kansas
Strong lineman who normally plays off center and gets into the backfields a lot. Good backup behind Thomas.

Hugh Charles, TB, Colorado
Strong and fast. He becomes the third RB behind Young and Hall.

Marcus Henry, WR, Kansas
With Rod Smith nearing the end of his career, KU's top receiver would make a nice addition to the bottom of the roster. Sure-handed, 6-4" receiver who can block and will be a reliable receiver for years to come.

Leodis McKinney, CB, Troy
Very good return man as well as competent backup CB. (Or his teammate Elbert Mack, who intercepted 8 passes this season.)

These latter guys come in the upper rounds of the draft, and they will come cheap.

That's my 2 cents. Do you think anybody in Bronco Head Officeland is listening?

[The|Snake#16]

I like the OP's first two picks.

Let's say we end up with the 14th pick in the draft.
We trade Travis Henry, Cecil Sapp and a third-rounder to the Houston Texans, who badly need some running backs, in return for their 2nd-round draft pick, probably around #35.

That gives us #14, #35, #46.

Then we trade Nick Ferguson, Dominique Foxworth and Jarvis Moss to a team that needs them, like Miami, for their 2nd round pick.

Now we've got #14, #33, #35, #46.

On draft day, we take:

#14. Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
#33. Xavier Adibi, OLB, Va Tech
#35. D.J. Wolfe, S, Oklahoma
#46. Jesse Hester, FB, LSU

Quality over quantity. We get top-flight players in our positions of need.

On offense what we need most is good blocking. Cherilus is a good run and pass blocker, having been coached well at Boston College. He will make an excellent bookend on the right side of the line opposite Lepsis. Hester is a good blocker on passing downs as well as running downs, and he is a good power runner and receiver. These two players can step right in as rookies and make Denver a better blocking team.

On defense we need a lot of things. I think a 3-4 defensive alignment is best. So many teams use it now, even teams that employ a base 4-3 defense. And frankly, if four Bronco linemen can't stop the run, three can't be any worse. A 3-4 allows us to put Xavier Adibi, a great, fast linebacker on the strong side, where he can cover Gates, Gonzales, Miller, et al., as well as cut off LT on those TD runs around the end, and speed blitz the QBs. Throw Wolfe in at one of the safety positions and you have an athletic, run-stopping safety who's good in coverage as well.

Later in the draft, we pick up some inexpensive backups:

Brandon McAnderson, RB/FB, Kansas
Big, explosive runner, great ball handler, good blocker, perfect backup fullback behind Hester.

James McClinton, NT, Kansas
Strong lineman who normally plays off center and gets into the backfields a lot. Good backup behind Thomas.

Hugh Charles, TB, Colorado
Strong and fast. He becomes the third RB behind Young and Hall.

Marcus Henry, WR, Kansas
With Rod Smith nearing the end of his career, KU's top receiver would make a nice addition to the bottom of the roster. Sure-handed, 6-4" receiver who can block and will be a reliable receiver for years to come.

Leodis McKinney, CB, Troy
Very good return man as well as competent backup CB. (Or his teammate Elbert Mack, who intercepted 8 passes this season.)

These latter guys come in the upper rounds of the draft, and they will come cheap.

That's my 2 cents. Do you think anybody in Bronco Head Officeland is listening?

This isn't madden, this is the real NFL.

1. No one is dying to have Cecil Sapp or Travis Henry.
2. Why would we trade away our 1st round pick from last year?
3. Who would want Nick Ferguson?
4. Why would the Texans trade away a 2nd for an aging Henry when they could just get Jonathan Stewart in the first round?

[Max Power]

----------------

[Max Power]

Highly doubt we go OL in the 1st. We have some good young talent both at tackle and at guard, and the last time we went there in the 1st round it didn't pan out.

I see RB as a possible 1st round selection, even though we have more pressing needs on D.

I think Shanahan might be fed up with the carousel of UDFAs and disappointments there.

Darren McFadden is extremely unlikely but Jonathan Stewart isn't and is a great prospect in his own right.

Frank Okam makes a lot of sense but I'm not sure he's worthy of a 1st round pick. He has been known to take plays off and has never dominated like he should. Shanahan has been known to reach before though.

Kenny Phillips would give us an upgrade at one safety spot and make up a dynamic duo with Abdullah, but I doubt he falls too far because this draft sucks for safeties. Teams will realize that and grab one of the few good ones available.

DeSean Jackson would be a terrible pick, God have mercy on my TV if that pick were to happen. He is not much as a receiver and although he would help our return game, that's not worth a 1st, especially considering our needs on D. I'd rather have Eddie Royal or Donnie Avery in the 2nd round than DeSean in the 1st.

[Warhawk]

Darren McFadden is extremely unlikely but Jonathan Stewart isn't and is arguably as good a prospect.

Stewart hasn't torn it up since Dixon went down. Oregon went from looking like a powerhouse to chumps. I think it begs some questions as to how much of his success came from the favorable situation, and how much is pure talent. Don't get me wrong, though, he's a good RB... but not a top-flight prospect like Run DMC.

Kenny Phillips would give us an upgrade at one safety spot and make up a dynamic duo with Abdullah, but I doubt he falls too far because this draft sucks for safeties. Teams will realize that and grab one of the few good ones available.

Yes, I agree. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Last year they identified 3 guys they wanted in the first that you could reasonably expect to see at their draft spot (Moss, Harrell, Timmons), then were prepared to make some moves to get them. I doubt they change their approach a whole lot. If I had to guess what Shanny was thinking, I'd have to go with Phillips, Keith Rivers and DeSean Jackson. I can't say I like those last two picks, but if they like Timmons they'll certainly like Rivers, and the deep threat / KR combination may be too tempting for the team to pass on (despite critical needs elsewhere).

[BroncosTX77]

Kenny Phillips been my first choice since beginning of season. :rockon:

Due to unfortunate circumstances though, Denver will most likely need to be in top 10 and pick before Washington to get him.