Denver Broncos 2010 NFL Draft Grade

DENVER

1.22 Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
Thomas is a guy I’ve never been high on, but I always said if he was going to succeed it would be in an offense like this. He’s a high character player that was the number one receiver on a few boards after Dez Bryant’s fall. He needs a lot of work on his route-running, and he faced A LOT of single coverage in college, but he’s got all the upside in the world and is the huge target Denver needed after losing Brandon Marshall. GRADE: B

1.25 Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Tebow will be an elite NFL QB, and is in a great situation with a top QB coach, innovative offense, and no rush to play despite what ESPN says. McDaniels has already stated that Tebow “will be a QB, and nothing else,” and that’s the right move. Give him one year, and he’ll be one of the top young quarterbacks in the league. This is a perfect fit. For more, here’s my FULL scouting report on #15. GRADE: A+

2.45 Zane Beadles, OG, Utah
I think Beadles was a good pick, but I also think he may have been taken a round high. Still, considering the players they still got after him, the reach is softened. He fills a huge need on the interior of the offensive line and fits McDaniels’s profile for guards. GRADE: B

3.80 JD Walton, C, Baylor
Walton fill big holes up front, and he has the talent to start at this level. Denver was in need of a center after getting rid of Casey Wiegmann, and Walton was the second best option at that position. Denver had to find a way to get tougher up front in the red zone, and Walton helps that cause. GRADE: B+

3.87 Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota
Getting Decker this late was smooth. He’s a diamond in the rough who wouldn’t have lasted that long without a freak foot injury. He’s almost an insurance pick for Demaryius considering his polish as a route runner. Great young offensive talent in Denver now. GRADE: B+

3ROUND GRADE: A

5.137 Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State
This is the one pick that really stands out to me, in a bad way. It’s not bad value at all, and Denver still needed depth in the secondary, but he’s a character risk, and I wasn’t that high on him. Still, he’s too good to pass on in the fifth. GRADE: B

6.183 Eric Olsen, C, Notre Dame
I don’t really get this pick. Do they envision Walton as a guard? Otherwise, drafting two centers makes no sense. It’s gotta be Walton because Olsen is really strictly a center. GRADE: C+

7.225 SydQuan Thompson, CB, California
Another tough, hard-working McDaniels type player. He’s small and he lacks NFL speed, but he’s got good zone awareness and is a rugged corner who can probably find a way to contribute as a dime down the road. GRADE: C+

7.232 Jammie Kirlew, OLB, Indiana
I like this pick too. Kirlew is a project, but he could turn into a good backup as an OLB in the 3-4. Denver needed a little depth here, and Kirlew is a guy with some upside who could find his way onto the field situationally. GRADE: B

FINAL ANALYSIS
Yeah, big surprise that I like this class. I was high on Tebow all offseason, and I think he is a perfect guy for McDaniels to tie his career to. There is great young offensive talent in Denver (Moreno, Royal, Decker, Thomas, Gaffney), and he’ll play behind a talented O line. When he does play. Orton will carry the torch for a year, and Tebow will learn behind him while Quinn provides stability as the third QB. Thomas has great upside, and could surprise a lot of people. And Decker is going to be a solid and consistent #2 for a long time.

Beadles and Walton provide great options on a depleted interior O line that couldn’t punch the ball in from the one to save their lives. I don’t really get the addition of Olsen, except for depth, but he’s a decent enough player. Cox could be a huge steal, but I find it odd that his personality is do angular to the rest of the haul. Thompson and Kirlew are tough, savvy players that could end up as valuable special teamers and back-ups. Don’t count out Kirlew as an option inside.

I love what Denver did in aggressively getting their guy at QB. I know no one likes Tebow, but he’ll prove a lot of people wrong with a patient and inventive staff. And the replacements for Marshall could be better than he was. Fixing the O line was a priority, and there’s now good depth in some previously light areas.

FINAL GRADE: A

|ARI|ATL|BAL|BUF|CAR|CHI|CIN|CLE|DAL|DEN|DET|GB|HOU|IND
|JAX|KC|MIA|MIN|NE|NO|NYG|NYJ|OAK|PHI|PIT|SD|SF|SEA|STL
|TB|TEN|WAS|