Robert Quinn

[-Rod-]

But they are players that need to be replaced. And if we draft depth in the first round, then we have 5 picks to replace Bannan, Dawkins, Hill, Graham, Buckhalter, Jamaal Williams, Champ Bailey, and Perrish Cox. We don't have the luxury of drafting depth. We need players who can start with our early picks. Not somebody who can replace a solid starter.

I don't think the Broncos should spend draft picks in 2011 to get RB and TE, for example. Use free agency, including college free agency after the draft. Maybe the team will be able to trade some veterans and get extra picks. Maybe Xanders will be able to trade down. But I believe the Broncos will have more than 6 draft picks when the draft comes.

And the term "solid starter" is a matter of perception and we don't know how Xanders and Elway are evaluating the roster right now. In my opinion, Justin Bannan did not play that bad. And in the 3-4, he has versatility to play DE and NT if necessary (we don't know if the team will keep Ronald Fields and Jamal Williams). And I don't see Ayers as a solid starter. To me, he was a starter by default. The Broncos can't say "oh he is a good run defender" and allow themselves to have no pass rush again.

After finishing dead last in sacks (23), the Broncos can't enter the 2011 season believing that Ayers will jump from 1.5 sacks in 2 seasons to an acceptable production. And Dumervil is a question mark. Unfortunately, he might suffer a setback or struggle to produce while trying to get over the injury. Where will the pass rush come from? Who will bring Philip Rivers down?

The idea that Dumervil and Ayers will dominate together in 2011 is not very concrete, at least to me. Edge rusher is a problem that deserves our attention. If Robert Quinn is the real deal, and I don't know if he is, he will become a productive starter, improve the depth/competition and make sure that there will be a pass rush if something bad happens to Dumervil.

[McLean]

I completely disagree.

If Quinn truly is an elite pass rusher, that is the second hardest thing to come up with in the NFL draft other than a franchise QB.

You also see Quinn as insurance against what happened to us this season when Dumervil got injured.

The NFL, more than ever, is a passing league, and to be a great defense, you have to be able to flat-out rush the QB.

If Robert Quinn is the real deal, he absolutely could be the No. 2 pick...but he has to be elite.

I agree with this, no one around here seems to think about this but let me ask a question?

What happens if doom is just not that great next season?

I see everyone saying that we are going to be so much better next season with doom out there rushing the passer. It's like ya i do agree but what happens is he has an off season next year? Hes coming off a season ending injury, has not played football in a year and is going to have another new coach to adjust to. With everyone keying in on him seeing how we have nothing else its going to be harder then most seem to think.

Yes doom had a great season the last time he played but who knows if he ever will play that good again? Whos knows if he'll ever get that many sacks again? I personally don't know if i want to sit and hope thats why quinn is not my 1st choice but if we ended up picking him i would not be mad at all.

[THEdraftnik]

I agree with this, no one around here seems to think about this but let me ask a question?

What happens if doom is just not that great next season?

I see everyone saying that we are going to be so much better next season with doom out there rushing the passer. It's like ya i do agree but what happens is he has an off season next year? Hes coming off a season ending injury, has not played football in a year and is going to have another new coach to adjust to. With everyone keying in on him seeing how we have nothing else its going to be harder then most seem to think.

Yes doom had a great season the last time he played but who knows if he ever will play that good again? Whos knows if he'll ever get that many sacks again? I personally don't know if i want to sit and hope thats why quinn is not my 1st choice but if we ended up picking him i would not be mad at all.

This has been a fear of mine, but I think we can sign a guy in free agency/ draft a guy in rounds 2-4. But in round 1 we should get somebody to get to the quarterback at the DE/DT position. If Doom gets 10 sacks at the linebacker position I think Ayers gets 4-6, with Fairley/Dareus/Jordan getting 7.

[McLean]

This has been a fear of mine, but I think we can sign a guy in free agency/ draft a guy in rounds 2-4. But in round 1 we should get somebody to get to the quarterback at the DE/DT position. If Doom gets 10 sacks at the linebacker position I think Ayers gets 4-6, with Fairley/Dareus/Jordan getting 7.

Ya thats basicly my 1st choice to be honest.

[Ohenhen12345]

Just had to go watch some North carolina games on ESPN3 site. Quinn is good, good value if we move back in the draft.

[Eric Fetzer]

I completely disagree.

If Quinn truly is an elite pass rusher, that is the second hardest thing to come up with in the NFL draft other than a franchise QB.

You also see Quinn as insurance against what happened to us this season when Dumervil got injured.

The NFL, more than ever, is a passing league, and to be a great defense, you have to be able to flat-out rush the QB.

If Robert Quinn is the real deal, he absolutely could be the No. 2 pick...but he has to be elite.

OLB isnt a need for the Broncos whether you disagree or not.

Using the top pick as "insurance" is foolish when you look at all the holes the Broncos have. Quinn "might" be as good as you say, but he isnt the only high profile draft pick to come out.

Drafting Quinn says to me the Broncos are giving up on Ayers. Considering the high draft pick we used on him and the fact that Ayers is still very young makes drafting Quinn a luxury pick as opposed to addressing need when on defense there are many.

[-Rod-]

OLB isnt a need for the Broncos whether you disagree or not.

There are 32 teams in the NFL. When the team finishes 32nd in sacks, edge rusher is a need. Period. The team has one pass rusher and the guy is recovering from a torn pec.

[THEdraftnik]

There are 32 teams in the NFL. When the team finishes 32nd in sacks, edge rusher is a need. Period. The team has one pass rusher and the guy is recovering from a torn pec.

We fill that need with Doom. It's kind of like signing a free agent. He adds a new dimension to our defense.

[johnlimburg]

I think a pure a rush OLB in this draft, the position doom play is not needed. However we need some backups who get presure. I say steven friday who is a pass rush specilist in the 3rd to back up doom.

I am willing to give up on ayers if we stay in the 3-4 at this point. However not in the first round. I think a second rounder to compete with ayers for the starting OLB position is what I would do.

Man i wish we had a coach and new what we were guna run.

[Eric Fetzer]

There are 32 teams in the NFL. When the team finishes 32nd in sacks, edge rusher is a need. Period. The team has one pass rusher and the guy is recovering from a torn pec.

Doom had 17 sacks last year as an extremely effective edge rusher.

Ayers is a young 1st round pick OLB as well. The Broncos shouldnt and most likely wont give up on him yet, even though he has had slow start.

2 starters on the outside are already on the Broncos. Sure, Doom is coming off an injury, but he is slated to start next season. With both those positions filled there is no NEED for the Broncos to draft an OLB, especially early. If they do, it would be because Ayers would be considered by the organization as a bust and Im not conviced anyone could come to that realiztion in just his 2 years of experience. Or it would be because the organiztion feels Dooms injury could be reccuring when there is no indication it will be.

[-Rod-]

We fill that need with Doom. It's kind of like signing a free agent. He adds a new dimension to our defense.

Doom had 17 sacks last year as an extremely effective edge rusher.

Ayers is a young 1st round pick OLB as well. The Broncos shouldnt and most likely wont give up on him yet, even though he has had slow start.

2 starters on the outside are already on the Broncos. Sure, Doom is coming off an injury, but he is slated to start next season. With both those positions filled there is no NEED for the Broncos to draft an OLB, especially early. If they do, it would be because Ayers would be considered by the organization as a bust and Im not conviced anyone could come to that realiztion in just his 2 years of experience. Or it would be because the organiztion feels Dooms injury could be reccuring when there is no indication it will be.

I don't know if there is a doctor around here to provide some information. But from what I've read, a torn pectoral muscle is not an easy injury to deal with. And it looks like the muscle will lose some strenght and flexibility, permanently. That's really disturbing.

Take Browns' ILB D'Qwell Jackson as an example. He suffered a similar injury in October 2009, out for the season, and had a setback during the 2010 training camp, a new injury to his chest. He went to injured reserve. Again.

What happened to Dumervil was very unfortunate and I am very concerned about his status for 2011. I don't think it's safe to say he will be out there getting double digit sacks.

[THEdraftnik]

Dooms injury was in training camp, he should be back to full health by next training camp let alone preseason.
Doom could have came back week 16 this year had he not been on IR.

[Touch_30_Down]

Dontay Moch has better value than Quinn. Since we can get him later and he can really rush the passer with that jaw dropping 4.19 speed.
it really depends on what system we run next year. If we go to the 4-3...trading Doom, trading down to get Quinn in a better position, and then using the other picks to get some quality DTs like Drake Nevis...then that would work.
It possibly could work if we stay in the 3-4..Doom and Quinn would be scary but Ayers has shown a lot of promise this year, especially in the run game. But he has also been so close to getting to the QB, I think with Doom you are going to see his production go up as well if Doom is back/line improves. The thing for me is that if we stay in the 3-4, we need to draft defensive linemen, get some CBs for insurance, probably get some more talent at safety, and still work on inside linebackers, which is why a 1st round pick on Quinn might be better used elsewhere

[Eric Fetzer]

I don't know if there is a doctor around here to provide some information. But from what I've read, a torn pectoral muscle is not an easy injury to deal with. And it looks like the muscle will lose some strenght and flexibility, permanently. That's really disturbing.

Take Browns' ILB D'Qwell Jackson as an example. He suffered a similar injury in October 2009, out for the season, and had a setback during the 2010 training camp, a new injury to his chest. He went to injured reserve. Again.

What happened to Dumervil was very unfortunate and I am very concerned about his status for 2011. I don't think it's safe to say he will be out there getting double digit sacks.

Injuries happen and many players have come back from worse. There is no indication Doom wont be 100% come the start of the season.

With the draft picks, especially the early ones, the Broncos have to get players that can contribute at the starting role. The defense, especailly the interior defensive line, is filled with too many holes to waste away on a postion that already has projected starters.

Quinn is a really nice prospect, but the Broncos have much bigger needs than 34 OLBs.

[Momentum]

Just had to go watch some North carolina games on ESPN3 site. Quinn is good, good value if we move back in the draft.

Quinn is probably the best player in this draft, right now. You won't get him moving back. You have to take him #2.