Denver Broncos 2010 Draft: McDaniels-Xanders Draft Day do-over

Miscues in ‘09 set table for 2010 Draft

The first day of the first draft of the McDaniels-Xanders era in Denver was, by most accounts, a disaster.  The Broncos had just traded franchise quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears for two 1^st Round picks, and expectations were high for how those picks would be used.

Then Josh “I Do What I Want” McDaniels and Brian “I Do What Josh Tells Me” Xanders traded the Broncos’ extra 2010 pick for the 5^th pick in the 2^nd Round of the 2009 Draft.  The player they grabbed with that pick?  Wake Forest Cornerback Alphonso Smith, who couldn’t muscle his way past the Ghost of Ty Law in the Broncos’ DB pecking order.

The two ’09 picks that preceded Smith were used to draft Georgia Running Back Knowshon Moreno & Tennessee Defensive End Robert Ayers.  Moreno started through the 2009 regular season, but lacked the explosive playmaking ability that made him a 12^th Overall coming out of college.  Ayers spent the majority of his rookie season injured, and the rest of it ineffective.

Time will tell whether the Broncos later ’09 2^nd Round picks, Safety Darcel McBath & Tight End Richard Quinn, will pan out in Denver.  Quinn will see a lot of snaps in 2010 since former 2^nd Round TE Tony Scheffler was exiled to the Detroit Lions on Monday.  We’ll know a lot about how the Broncos coaching staff feels about McBath’s NFL progress after this week’s draft.  If Denver grabs a free safety in the first three rounds, it may be a sign that McBath is a bust.

At least the McXanders combo will have a chance to right their early-round wrongs from ‘09 with three picks in the first two rounds of the 2010 Draft.

Late-round 2009 picks are projects best saved for later examination, but overall rounds 4-7 look pretty good for McXanders.  Safety David Bruton, WR Kenny McKinley & Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater all looked solid in 2009 preseason action against fellow late-round talent.  No doubt, McKinley and Brandstater are learning to do things the McDaniels way before they ever become major role-players in his offense, but Kenny in particular has shown exceptional talent for a 5^th Round Selection.

The 2010 Draft is nigh upon us

By the time this article publishes, we will be roughly 24 hours away from the start of the 1^st Round of the 2010 Draft.

The Broncos ended the 2009 season with a lot of clear needs on the defensive side of the ball.  Strong Safety is probably a concern, but Inside Linebacker and Nose Tackle take clear precedence.  That’s the entire middle of the Denver defense for those keeping track.

The Broncos’ primary offensive need is at Center after 2009 7^th Round selection Blake Schlueter ended up with the Atlanta Falcons.

Denver Broncos needs in the first 2 Rounds

The weakness at ILB will likely spur Denver to pick up exceptional Alabama Linebacker Rolando McLain in the 1^st Round.  Despite the defensive depth in the 2010 draft, the LB class is one of the weakest in years.  Plus, McLain is the type of run stuffing on-field coach that Brian Xanders & Defensive Coordinator Don Martindale (himself a former linebacker) can build the rest of the defense around.

Really, the interior of the offensive line was the only big issue for the Denver offense going into this draft until Brandon Marshall was traded to the Miami Dolphins last week.  Unfortunately for the Broncos, the WR class gets pretty light after troubled but talented receiver Dez Bryant, and there is no way that Denver wants another head-case wideout mucking up the locker room should he fall to the 11^th pick.

What does work out in the Broncos’ favor is that the top Center in the 2010 Draft, Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey, may be available when Denver makes their first pick of the 2^nd Round.  However, if McClain is off the board earlier in the 1^st Round, the Broncos may go ahead and grab Pouncey with the 11^th Overall.  By most accounts, Pouncey is 1^st Round material in a draft so loaded that many top players will be available in the 2^nd.

Who goes when will all come down to the needs of other teams, but ideally these will be the Broncos’ top two picks.

Another 1^st Round option is Tennessee Nose Tackle Dan Williams, although the NT class is deep enough that Denver can get a less expensive center for their 3-4 defense later in the draft.  Terrance Cody, Alabama’s behemoth Nose Tackle, may fit the bill.  Cody has conditioning issues, but may work well in a platoon with recently acquired veteran NT Jamal Williams (formerly of the San Diego Chargers).  North Carolina DT Cam Thomas should be available late in the 2^nd Round.

Ian’s Dream Draft: Rounds 1 & 2

All things being equal, it is difficult to decipher the tendencies of McDaniels and Xanders after their free-wheeling, pick-trading 2009 Draft odyssey.  If the stars aligned perfectly, the Broncos could spend the first two picks setting the middle of their defense & offense with Rolando McClain & Maurkice Pouncey respectively.

Since Denver has both the 11^th & 13^th picks in the 2^nd Round, taking Pouncey with the 11 and then the best Nose Tackle available at 13 makes a lot of sense.  However, my Dream Draft has another, considerably wackier outcome.  Pouncey Centered an outstanding offensive line as a Gator in front of Heisman-winning Florida QB Tim Tebow.

If Tebow falls to the 2^nd Round, the Broncos will have the rare opportunity to grab the Center/Quarterback combo that made Florida a National Title contender the last two years.  Pouncey is clearly the best Center in the draft, and should both he and Tebow fall to the early stages of the 2^nd Round, I would love to see both end up in Denver.

RELATED:

Read more about Tim Tebow as a Bronco here.

Follow our Final 2010 Mock Draft here.