Tarheel23's Mock Draft 2.0

[BroncosFanAddict23]

Now that college regular season games are over, I've decided to piece together some thoughts into a mock draft. Questions/criticisms are welcome.

Note- atm, I believe Denver is looking at the 18th pick in the draft, but I may be wrong. It should not matter, really.

1. Zach Brown, UNC, WLB.
John Fox loves his backers, Woodyard may be tough to get back, and DJ does not have much longer around. Brown is a very impressive athlete, also being a track runner, another quality Fox has tended to look for, see Beason, Davis, and Miller. Brown is one of the best players available at this pick and is the best player at a logical position for the Broncos to draft. As Denver's pass rush seems to be one of the best already, they can focus on balancing the defense and making its rush defense one of the best around, and Brown has played a large part in the Tar Heels opponents' 3.1 yards per carry.

2. Coby Fleener, Stanford, TE.
Yes, a TE in the second round. Have no fear Broncos fans, he is no Robert Quinn. Fleener would potentially have the versatility to be deadly in the Broncos new offense. Line him up in the slot in a 4 WR set and you can send him for a route or have him block for a jet sweep or read option. Put him in a stance on the line and you can have him run block like a lineman, go for a screen, and be a dump off and red zone weapon. At 6'6", he should put up Gronkowski like TD numbers. High impact as a rookie.

3. LaMichael James, Oregon, RB.
Ranked as the 84th best player in the draft by CBS, who better to have at runningback than the most dominant spread back in college football? Like Fleener, this West Coast stud has versatility written all over him. Screens, draws, read options, triple options, he can do it all. At 5'9", good luck for the defnese to pick up who has the ball when he's in the game.

4. Alex Okafor, Texas, DE.
Okafor singlehandedly won the Texas vs. A&M game for his team, IMO. He constantly beat A&M's right tackle, all game. Literally, every play, he made the RT look like Orlando Franklin in the Lions game. At 260 pounds, he is a traditional defensive end, and playing time would depend on fatigue of other players and package of defense. Not neccesarily an instant contributor, like James and Fleener, but a player that one day gives Phillip Rivers even more hell...

5. Trumaine Johnson, Montana, CB.
Unlike others, I don't feel like cornerback is as big a need. With Chris Harris and Cassius Vaughn more deserving of a shot to step in, a corner is not a top priority for Denver, IMO. The reason Trumaine stands out to me is because he has the physicality to play in a heavy-blitz system, is a good tackler, has dominated thus far in his career, and he's a tough kid. He played through a broken bone in his forearm for an entire season. Two major reasons he's not a higher pick-- he's had more than a couple injuries over his career and had an incident involving some boneheaded decisions.

7. James Rodgers, Oregon State, WR.
At 5'7", and running a 4.48, he's an intriguing slot receiver prospect. It's questionable if Royal will be back, and Rodgers gives an interesting ability for a late round pick to have instant effect on the offense. Also a great scout team player for guys like Percy Harvin or DeSean Jackson.

I really like how much thought you put into this!

BUT a couple things. I don't feel like Linebacker is correct R.1.

The D-Line will probably be numero uno barring something happening in regards to Tim in which case I expect a QB R1. Possibly Still from PENN?

TE in R2 doesn't really make sense here. We drafted our two TE's of the future in Julius Thomas who I hear had a hell of a camp, and Virgil Green. Even if Green doesn't work out I have been very impressed with Fells.

[DBkaeoz33]

One of the worst mocks I've seen

[bronx_2003]

Not a bad draft but I think Brown and Fleener are reaches. Especially if we pick as high as 18.

L James is one of the players I would love to draft but I think someone takes him in the 2nd.

[BF_forever]

if we go line backer why not burfict to play mike

Burflict is all hype from the game I saw. He did nothing when ASU played WSU. He didnt step up and make a play when his defense needed him to. He didnt show any leadership skills trying to get his teammates to play better. He had a stupid penalty that cost him team yards.

No thanks to Burflict.

[jetrazor74]

He lost me at "Goodman - cut."

The guy is #1 DB on 17-20 other teams in the league.

Dawk might retire, but if he does, I'm betting Champ moves to Saftey. He's already said that's what he wants to do to prolong his career. Carter has played well, but Moore wasn't all that impressive when he was out there.

[johnlimburg]

No doubt McBean has stepped up his play but he hasn't been playing good. He is getting coverage sacks and everybody else we have is doing just as good as him against the run or better.

That is true. As I said when everyone said he was amazing. They are coverage sacks but he has been pretty good. He is a good rotation guy. He is not a starter. Mcbean has better than Vickerson this year than Vickerson has ever been for us.

Our defensive tackles jobs arent to make plays. Their jobs are take up double teams and he was good at that.

This is a 4-3 one gap system. Not a 3-4. In a 3-4 where the Dline man have a two gap responsibility. There job is to make a play in their hole. And Vickerson is nothing special at either.

Short and Chapman are both nose tackles... The only one you could make a case for being an under is Short and that doesn't play to his threngths IMO. But I will be honest, I havent seen Short much this year.

Yes they are nose tackles. Especially Chapman. He offers little as a pass rusher. However I will take a potential filled run plugger like Chapman.

Bunkley, McBean, Ty Warren, and Marcus Thomas all can or do play nose tackle. I don't even expect Warren to make the roster either. But that's still 3 guys who are better suited as 1 techs, and no true 3 tech.

I agree with that. I do not think Warren will make the roster either. I think all 3 others will be resigned. I want a penetrator but they are not easy to find.

Decker was also breathing down Gaff's back. We don't have anybody behind Vick who is pushing him as of right now and drafting another nose tackle won't change that.

Vickerson is the 4th guy in the rotation right now if he is playing. Allen has shown he is not scared to bench a guy if he isn't playing good enough. Vickerson was getting beat when he played. I do not care aboiut pushing a guy who has been in the league for years. If we get another nose tackle great. Improve our run defense. I would love to get a penetrator but it is not like they come in and contribute immediatly.

[THEdraftnik]

yeah getting stills, cox or a guy like wolfe would be perfect to push vick, i think vick stays on the roster and will definitely have to add a UT, and it is worth going for one of those guy high. wolfe is really the only one i can see being a successful UT outside round 2.

Still
Cox
Crick
Thompson(he doesn't deserve it but he will be gone by the end of round two)

Unless i am over thinking it, but i mean the only other ones i could see who would work are unlikely to come out.

My dream scenario is Fletcher Cox. With John Fox's motivation the guy would be a superstar penetrator in the NFL.

[THEdraftnik]

Fox has never had linebackers as good as ours as healthy as ours. And when he did have good linebackers he didn't draft 1st round backups. He drafted guys in the 3rd round. If you are going to make the case that we draft a linebacker, which we shouldn't, use more than Fox loves linebackers. Because Fox also loved veteran quarterbacks, meat and potatoes run/run/pass offense, and converted corners to safety. And I will use this season as an example of when that changed.

No tight end in the league will ever put up Gronkowski type touchdown numbers. The man is a machine and he has Tom Brady targeting him 15+ times a game. We have Tebow and an offense that runs atleast 60% of the time. Where did you come up with that conclusion. Now on to Fleener, good tight end no doubt. Has no speed though. At best he could be what Tony Gonzalez is now, and to me that isn't too inspiring especially considering that we have Daniel Fells (who has been great), Daunte Rosario (our best pure receiving guy), Virgil Green (who has shown tons of promise), and Julius Thomas (who actually has Gates potential and you can't discount the fact that we have Gates' coach who taught him how to play). TE in the second round is not high priority or good value, especially for a guy who doesn't have great athleticism.

LaMichael James I love, but I question if he will last this long. Perfect fit for our offense. Oh and here is something I saw another poster say in a different thread;

LaMichael James is one dimensional

Well here's my argument for that.... that one dimension he offers; is the one dimension this offense truly lacks.

Alex Okafor is a good pickup, especially if we don't resign Hunter. But a weak side end would be a better fit if Hunter is retained.

Trumaine Johnson. Kid is going to be a steal if he can keep his head straight. 6'2 200 pounds runs a 4.5 forty and a good cover man with ball skills. Yes please. Of Goody keeps up his great play I will agree on priority.

I don't really think James is anything special, but for a seventh round pick you could definitely do worse.

Overall: I would be pulling out my hair if we started the first 2 rounds like this... and that's an impressive feat considering I have short hair. But the rest of the mock was pretty good. Now if we could sign a guy like Jason Jones from the titans in free agency then this wouldn't be a bad scenario considering our free agents.

[johnlimburg]

Now that college regular season games are over, I've decided to piece together some thoughts into a mock draft. Questions/criticisms are welcome.

Note- atm, I believe Denver is looking at the 18th pick in the draft, but I may be wrong. It should not matter, really.

1. Zach Brown, UNC, WLB.
John Fox loves his backers, Woodyard may be tough to get back, and DJ does not have much longer around. Brown is a very impressive athlete, also being a track runner, another quality Fox has tended to look for, see Beason, Davis, and Miller. Brown is one of the best players available at this pick and is the best player at a logical position for the Broncos to draft. As Denver's pass rush seems to be one of the best already, they can focus on balancing the defense and making its rush defense one of the best around, and Brown has played a large part in the Tar Heels opponents' 3.1 yards per carry.

If he was the best player available I suppose you could live with it but it in no way is the most logical pick. DJ Williams is still contracted to this football team for two more seasons. He is having the best year of his career as is Wesley Woodyard. Wesley Woodyard may go some where to start fulltime however if he doesn't you do not need to draft a first round guy to be your nickel linebacker who has coverage skills. Plus we have just drafted Irving and Mohomad who will hopefully come back next year ready to compete after a year of development. Bad pick.

2. Coby Fleener, Stanford, TE.
Yes, a TE in the second round. Have no fear Broncos fans, he is no Robert Quinn. Fleener would potentially have the versatility to be deadly in the Broncos new offense. Line him up in the slot in a 4 WR set and you can send him for a route or have him block for a jet sweep or read option. Put him in a stance on the line and you can have him run block like a lineman, go for a screen, and be a dump off and red zone weapon. At 6'6", he should put up Gronkowski like TD numbers. High impact as a rookie.

I agree with everything you just said. I love this guy. He is very well rounded and as you said he is versatile. I love what he offers to his team. However the question is is John Fox and the other decisions makers willing to spend this pick considering we just drafted a 4th round project who we moved up for and also Virgil Green who is showing to be very good as an in line blocking tight end. I think he will be there around this pick however I can see him boosting his stock over the off season and after all of the draft crap which hurts and boosts players. Like the combine and pro days and all that.

Overall I would like the pick. However what would we do with Fells and Rosario. I think Rosario is a must sign and Fells has been solid. Would you keep 5 TE's ? Fleener, Fells, Rosario, Green, Thomas.

3. LaMichael James, Oregon, RB.
Ranked as the 84th best player in the draft by CBS, who better to have at runningback than the most dominant spread back in college football? Like Fleener, this West Coast stud has versatility written all over him. Screens, draws, read options, triple options, he can do it all. At 5'9", good luck for the defnese to pick up who has the ball when he's in the game.

Dislike this pick a tone. We pound the football. Yes he is experienced in this type of offense we are currently running but so are other guys who have speed and explosivness with little frames later. These guys usually fall a bit also. Like last year. Devine and Locke. Both fell a tone. I think we need an explosive weapon but maybe in the 4th or 5th round. And probably at the receiver position.

4. Alex Okafor, Texas, DE.
Okafor singlehandedly won the Texas vs. A&M game for his team, IMO. He constantly beat A&M's right tackle, all game. Literally, every play, he made the RT look like Orlando Franklin in the Lions game. At 260 pounds, he is a traditional defensive end, and playing time would depend on fatigue of other players and package of defense. Not neccesarily an instant contributor, like James and Fleener, but a player that one day gives Phillip Rivers even more
hell...

I agree it would be great to get another pass rusher. It would be amazing. However is he going to come out. If he stays he will be a first round pick. I think he would know that. He should go back to school. However if he comes out I would love this pick here. Him or Massaquio if he comes out also.

5. Trumaine Johnson, Montana, CB.
Unlike others, I don't feel like cornerback is as big a need. With Chris Harris and Cassius Vaughn more deserving of a shot to step in, a corner is not a top priority for Denver, IMO. The reason Trumaine stands out to me is because he has the physicality to play in a heavy-blitz system, is a good tackler, has dominated thus far in his career, and he's a tough kid. He played through a broken bone in his forearm for an entire season. Two major reasons he's not a higher pick-- he's had more than a couple injuries over his career and had an incident involving some boneheaded decisions.

I think corner is our biggest need. We have Champ and GOody who are both 32+ years old. Who is next in line to even be a number 1 or 2 guy for us. Chris Harris and Syd are good nickel corners. They are very good at it with good versatility. Vaughn was pretty damn awful when he started and played a lot at the start of the year. We need a guy early to be a potential immediate number 2 and future number 1. However if we are out of that range for Claiborne who is the clear best or Kirkpatrick who is a little overrated but still good we need to get a guy in the second or third who is good. Trumaine is pretty average from what I have seen just on youtube becaue I do not catch to many Montanta games but I think there will be much better guys available at the 5th round. If Casey Heyward from Vandy is there he would be a much better pick.

7. James Rodgers, Oregon State, WR.
At 5'7", and running a 4.48, he's an intriguing slot receiver prospect. It's questionable if Royal will be back, and Rodgers gives an interesting ability for a late round pick to have instant effect on the offense. Also a great scout team player for guys like Percy Harvin or DeSean Jackson.

Explosive players are needed as we haven't had any for years. Like the pick and a good returner as you say.

_____

Overall I am not to fond of it.

I agree with position selections in the 3rd and 4th but would pick the players differently. In the 3rd at running back I would get David WIlson. He is explosive and fast but has more potential as an everydown back and a great compliment to Mcgahee and future star. In the 4th I do not think Okefor comes out so I would pick a different guy but if he comes out yes I would love him.

[Kyousukeneko]

Decker was also breathing down Gaff's back. We don't have anybody behind Vick who is pushing him as of right now and drafting another nose tackle won't change that.

yeah getting stills, cox or a guy like wolfe would be perfect to push vick, i think vick stays on the roster and will definitely have to add a UT, and it is worth going for one of those guy high. wolfe is really the only one i can see being a successful UT outside round 2.

Still
Cox
Crick
Thompson(he doesn't deserve it but he will be gone by the end of round two)

Unless i am over thinking it, but i mean the only other ones i could see who would work are unlikely to come out.

[THEdraftnik]

Mcbean is better than Vickerson

No doubt McBean has stepped up his play but he hasn't been playing good. He is getting coverage sacks and everybody else we have is doing just as good as him against the run or better.

No he was not. He was on the ground a lot and was undiscplied according to ex nfl defensive lineman Alfred Williams. He was very ineffective and made little to no plays.

Our defensive tackles jobs arent to make plays. Their jobs are take up double teams and he was good at that.

Not just for Martin. As I also said earlier in the thread I have no understanding of Mike Martin. But I referenced two other 3rd rounders I like and would rather have. These being Chapman and Short.

Short and Chapman are both nose tackles... The only one you could make a case for being an under is Short and that doesn't play to his threngths IMO. But I will be honest, I havent seen Short much this year.

Who that.

Bunkley, McBean, Ty Warren, and Marcus Thomas all can or do play nose tackle. I don't even expect Warren to make the roster either. But that's still 3 guys who are better suited as 1 techs, and no true 3 tech.

Gaffney had like 2 million and we traded him away for a player we cut. If you can save 1.5 million on a player who will have minimal impact. I am sure they would rather do that.

Decker was also breathing down Gaff's back. We don't have anybody behind Vick who is pushing him as of right now and drafting another nose tackle won't change that.

[Kyousukeneko]

Denver doesn't need a deep threat out of him. Go back and read my explanation if you'd like to see his uses.

it is part of the reason, gates, gronkowski and davis are the top TE in the nfl, and they all have really good deep speed, and can run any route in the nfl. that unpredictible makes them a better player.

[theMill_]

i dont kno much about zack brown but what i do kno about burfict is how physically he plays and i like that. with guys like dawkins bunkly (if resigned) bailey and tebow thats alot of leadership. i think this team can handle a knuckle head or two lol.

ive watched burficts games againt oregon and usc. he really flys around makes a lot of plays. he can over pursue at times but who doesnt. with von miller vontaze burfict and dj williams thats as good a LB core as it gets requiring he pans out.

reason i asked why get zack brown from what i know he plays olb witch we have alot of depth at. 2 quality starters in von and dj, and i dont see why irvin cant play outside i think he played some his underclassmen years in college.

so if in fact we take a LB in this draft those are my reasons we should grab a guy to play inside rather then outside! whether that be in the 1st with kuechly or as you think in the second with burfict

[SoundsOfSuccess]

gates runs a 4.5-4.6 has excellent body skills and deep speed threat, while fleener runs a 4.8, will have issue getting separation at the pro level. could be a TE but he is more of a jason witten who could if playing right be good box out and third down TE, but he will never be the deep threat gates is.

Denver doesn't need a deep threat out of him. Go back and read my explanation if you'd like to see his uses.

[Kyousukeneko]

How do you figure my explanation makes Fleener a Gates type TE, and how do you figure Julius would indeed be a better pass catcher?

gates runs a 4.5-4.6 has excellent body skills and deep speed threat, while fleener runs a 4.8, will have issue getting separation at the pro level. could be a TE but he is more of a jason witten who could if playing right be good box out and third down TE, but he will never be the deep threat gates is.