The Broncos will kick off the 2013 season at home on Thursday night September 5th against the Baltimore Ravens, but their season officially gets under way this Thursday with the opening of training camp. Much has happened on and off the field since we last saw the Broncos in action, so here is a little primer of the main aspects to look at when the Broncos start camp this week.
Where We Left Off: The last time we saw the Broncos in action they were watching Justin Tucker nail a 48 yard field goal to give Baltimore a stunning 38-35 win in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos left the field that day wondering what might have been. They were the AFC's #1 seed, we riding an 11 game winning streak, and they were nine point favorites to advance to the AFC Championship. Oh, by the way, they were leading the game 35-28 with just over 30 seconds left when Joe Flacco threw a bomb to Jacoby Jones that was misplayed by Rahim Moore to tie the game at 35. It was the most crushing defeat in my lifetime as a Broncos fan, and it was as bad of a loss for any team in any sport in recent memory. The Broncos and Peyton Manning walked off the field that day knowing that it was a big opportunity that they let slip away, and that bitter defeat has been tough to get over all offseason.
What Happened Since? The Broncos started the offseason in great fashion. They stole Wes Welker away from the Patriots. Then, they added key players in free agency with the additions of Louis Vasquez, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Terrence Knighton. They also resigned key free agents like David Bruton and Kevin Vickerson. The Broncos were also able to lock up LT Ryan Clady with a long-term contract extension. Denver also received solid remarks for their draft. The selections included DT Sylvester Williams in the first round, RB Montee Ball in the second round, and CB Kayvon Webster in third round. After the draft, Denver signed pass rusher Shaun Phillips to add depth to their defense. Those were all the positives in the offseason. The negatives started with the departure of Elvis Dumervil due to a fax machine mix up. Dumervil ended up signing with the Ravens. The Broncos will certainly miss his presence in the pass rush. Also, Denver released RB Willis McGahee, which leaves a backfield without a lot of experience. The summer brought news of trouble off the field which included the arrests of top executives Matt Russell and Tom Heckert for separate DUI incidents. Lastly, and most importantly, the Broncos received word that Von Miller would be suspended for the first four games of the 2103 season for violating the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy. Miller is appealing the suspension, but it doesn't look too promising that he will win the appeal. In an offseason that started off so strong, it has certainly taken a downward spiral real fast.
Position Battles in Camp: There are always some battles to watch in camp, and this year is no different. The first battle will be for the MLB spot. Third year LB Nate Irving will fight it out with second-year man Steven Johnson and free agent Stewart Bradley for that position. Another position to look for is at safety. Third-year veteran Quinton Carter comes back from an injury last year, and there is a thought that he will be able to push veteran Mike Adams for the starting spot. Another battle will play out on the offensive line. With Von Miller now possibly suspended and Dumervil in Baltimore, look for a number of Broncos to try to fill those spots. Robert Ayers gets a shot at Dumervil's spot, and Phillips will have to try and fight it out to replace Miller.
Surprise Roster Cuts: A name that could be on the chopping block could be G Chris Kuper. He has been hampered by injuries the last year and a half, and with the addition of Vasquez, it will be hard to see Kuper gain a starting spot. It certainly wouldn't surprise me to see Kuper get let go at some point. Also, a name that could surface as a possible roster cut is Knowshon Moreno. Although he did pretty well filling in for McGahee last year, Moreno is also injured frequently, and the Broncos are clearly going with youth in their backfield.
Out of Nowhere Players: The Broncos seem to always find one or two guys in the undrafted market that find a place on the roster. One name to look for is LB Lerentee McCray out of Florida. There is certainly some uncertainty at the LB position, and McCray could find himself on the roster if he plays well enough in camp and in the preseason. Another name to look for is second-year DL Malik Jackson. With Dumervil gone, Jackson might have a shot to get some playing time and show his worth.
Biggest Questions that Need to be Answered: For a team that is considered the favorite to win the AFC West, the Broncos have a lot of questions about their team right now. First, how can they replace Dumervil. As stated before, Robert Ayers, Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe, and fifth round pick Quanterus Smith from Western Kentucky will have a chance to make up for the loss of Dumervil. The next big question is who is going to replace Von Miller for the first four games? You can't replace Miller's contributions, but Shaun Phillips will have to try and provide some sort of rush out of Miller's spot. It is going to be very tough, but at least Phillips has some track record as a pass rushing specialist. The other big question lies in the offensive backfield. Can Montee Ball step up and be the guy in his rookie season? Can Ronnie Hillman provide enough of a change of pace to keep defenses off balance? Those two backs really need to step up in order to provide the Broncos with a much needed ground game and take the pressure off of Peyton Manning. Speaking of Manning, how healthy and comfortable will Manning be in his second year in Denver? Will he continue to get stronger and better or will be digress as he turns 37? If Manning continues to get more and more healthy and comfortable everyday in training camp, then the Broncos should feel real good about their chances this year, no matter what else happens off the field.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Broncos Sign Clady to Long-Term Deal
The Broncos and left tackle Ryan Clady came to an agreement on Sunday to a new long-term contract. Clady, who had been designated as the Broncos Franchise player, signed a 5 year contract extension worth a total of $52.5 million and it includes $33 million guaranteed over the first three seasons. This move was a move that the Broncos had to make on their roster, and it was something that Denver had to get done before the season started. Both sides came to an agreement, and now the Broncos got past one piece of work that needed to be taken care of, and now they can focus on others that will arise once training camp starts on Thursday July 25th. It is important to develop and sign your top players to long-term deals, and the Broncos did just that for Clady, a player who has been nothing short of dependable and solid for the the team since he was drafted in 2008.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
2013 Sleeper Report
Once July 4th comes and goes, NFL fans begin to start thinking about the upcoming NFL season. One of the most exciting aspect of the summer is the hope that each franchise has for that upcoming season. Every year, at least 1 team that lost at least 10 games from the year before turns it around and makes the playoffs the following year. This teams are known as the "Sleeper" teams. Last year, the sleeper teams included: Indianapolis (2-14 to 11-5), Minnesota (3-13 to 10-6), and Washington (5-11 to 10-6.) There were 10 teams that lost at least 10 games in 2012. Here are my candidates for the 2013 Sleeper from this year's crop. The list starts with 10 and goes to number one. The number one team is the team that I think has the best chance to be this year's Sleeper team. Here are this year's Sleeper candidates:
10) Jacksonville (2-14 in 2012): It is hard to get excited about this year's Jags team. The Jags are in a very competitive division and have a real issue at Quarterback (Blaine Gabbert vs. Chad Henne).
9) Oakland (4-12 in 2012): The Raiders have like $50 million in dead money on their cap this season. Plus, they have Matt Flynn starting at Quarterback and trying to save the franchise. This looks like another rebuilding year for the Raiders.
8) NY Jets (6-10 in 2012): It is hard to see how competitive the Jets are going to be this season. Their offense is a mess and Mark Sanchez is on borrowed time as the team's starter. Rex Ryan's defense will be competitive but it will be hard to envision the Jets making the playoffs this year.
7) Cleveland (5-11 in 2012): There is some talent on this team, but the key will be the development of Brandon Weeden. This is a new Browns regime, and none of these guys drafted Weeden, so it will be interesting to see how much leeway he has. Plus, the Browns are stuck in a division with such superior teams as the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals.
6) Philadelphia (4-12 in 2012): There could be a knee-jerk reaction from the hiring of Chip Kelly. He might be able to light a fire under some of the veterans that were apart of last year's debacle. The Eagles are either going to surprise this year or be a very mediocre team.
5) Buffalo (6-10 in 2012): I liked the Bills draft, but once E.J. Manuel takes over at QB it will be tough to see the Bills competing for a playoff spot. They will probably be in the mix for most of the season, but I can't see them making the playoffs.
4) Arizona (5-11 in 2012): Bruce Arians could very well turn this franchise around as their new HC. Carson Palmer is an upgrade over anything that they had at QB the last few seasons, so that will certainly help this putrid offense out, and we know that their defense can play week in and week out. The problem is that they are in a very tough NFC West.
3) Kansas City (2-14 in 2012): The Chiefs could be this year's Colts. Andy Reid made some nice moves in his first offseason as KC's coach. The addition of Alex Smith is an upgrade at QB, and the team boasted five Pro Bowl players on their roster in 2012. In a weak division, the Chiefs could definitely make a playoff run this year.
2) Tennessee (6-10 in 2012): The Titans can make a legitimate run at the playoffs this year, but everything boils down to the development of Jake Locker. Locker has looked impressive at times, and the Titans made moves to improve their offensive line, so he will have some chances to run this offense at a high level. Look out for the Titans.
1) Detroit (4-12 in 2012): Last year's Lions were 4-4 at the midway point, and then they imploded and lost their last eight games. They were an unmitigated disaster in the second half of the season. The Lions have a really good chance of being this year's Sleeper team because of three big factors: Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Ndamukong Suh. To be fair, the Lions did make some nice improvements to their defense, but if they can match the play of Stafford and Johnson, then they can definitely make a run for the playoffs in 2013.
10) Jacksonville (2-14 in 2012): It is hard to get excited about this year's Jags team. The Jags are in a very competitive division and have a real issue at Quarterback (Blaine Gabbert vs. Chad Henne).
9) Oakland (4-12 in 2012): The Raiders have like $50 million in dead money on their cap this season. Plus, they have Matt Flynn starting at Quarterback and trying to save the franchise. This looks like another rebuilding year for the Raiders.
8) NY Jets (6-10 in 2012): It is hard to see how competitive the Jets are going to be this season. Their offense is a mess and Mark Sanchez is on borrowed time as the team's starter. Rex Ryan's defense will be competitive but it will be hard to envision the Jets making the playoffs this year.
7) Cleveland (5-11 in 2012): There is some talent on this team, but the key will be the development of Brandon Weeden. This is a new Browns regime, and none of these guys drafted Weeden, so it will be interesting to see how much leeway he has. Plus, the Browns are stuck in a division with such superior teams as the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals.
6) Philadelphia (4-12 in 2012): There could be a knee-jerk reaction from the hiring of Chip Kelly. He might be able to light a fire under some of the veterans that were apart of last year's debacle. The Eagles are either going to surprise this year or be a very mediocre team.
5) Buffalo (6-10 in 2012): I liked the Bills draft, but once E.J. Manuel takes over at QB it will be tough to see the Bills competing for a playoff spot. They will probably be in the mix for most of the season, but I can't see them making the playoffs.
4) Arizona (5-11 in 2012): Bruce Arians could very well turn this franchise around as their new HC. Carson Palmer is an upgrade over anything that they had at QB the last few seasons, so that will certainly help this putrid offense out, and we know that their defense can play week in and week out. The problem is that they are in a very tough NFC West.
3) Kansas City (2-14 in 2012): The Chiefs could be this year's Colts. Andy Reid made some nice moves in his first offseason as KC's coach. The addition of Alex Smith is an upgrade at QB, and the team boasted five Pro Bowl players on their roster in 2012. In a weak division, the Chiefs could definitely make a playoff run this year.
2) Tennessee (6-10 in 2012): The Titans can make a legitimate run at the playoffs this year, but everything boils down to the development of Jake Locker. Locker has looked impressive at times, and the Titans made moves to improve their offensive line, so he will have some chances to run this offense at a high level. Look out for the Titans.
1) Detroit (4-12 in 2012): Last year's Lions were 4-4 at the midway point, and then they imploded and lost their last eight games. They were an unmitigated disaster in the second half of the season. The Lions have a really good chance of being this year's Sleeper team because of three big factors: Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Ndamukong Suh. To be fair, the Lions did make some nice improvements to their defense, but if they can match the play of Stafford and Johnson, then they can definitely make a run for the playoffs in 2013.
Broncos Summer Update
The beginning of July is a dead time in the NFL. Most executives, coaches, and players are on vacation and teams take a breath before training camp begins. Unfortunately, for the NFL this time of the year equals off the field incidents, arrests, DUIs, and other embarrassing situations that members of various NFL teams have to encounter. The biggest offseason story to turn up this summer has obviously been the Aaron Hernandez murder case. The Broncos have found themselves in a very embarrassing situation with the arrests of front-office executives Matt Russell and Tom Heckert. Heckert was arrested for a DUI in early June, but it became public today. Russell was arrested over the weekend for DUI and smashing his car into a police cruiser. Both incidents are downright awful and a severe black eye for the entire Broncos organization. It will be interesting to see the punishment for both men. Obviously, they will be suspended and fined, but there is a chance that one or both could lose their jobs, and they should probably should. It is definitely not a good sign as the Broncos head into training camp which is less than a month away. I don't know how much this affects the Broncos on the field come September, but it is definitely not a good thing for the team overall.
The big Broncos move that has taken place since the last time I posted was the release of Willis McGahee. I understand the move on the Broncos part, but I am a little concerned with it because I liked having McGahee's experience in the backfield. You are now putting a lot on the plates of the 1-2 combo of Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman. Knowshon Moreno looks like the third part to the backfield, but make no mistake about the fact that Moreno is simply not as good as McGahee. We'll see how it turns out, but I am a little skeptical of this move going into training camp.
The last thing I want to get to is that it has been reported that the Broncos have increased their offer to Ryan Clady on a longterm deal. The two sides have until July 15th to come to an agreement, and if they don't agree on a new contract, then Clady will play this year under his franchise designation. It is essential to lock up Clady this offseason. The Broncos can't afford to lose a player like Clady, and Left Tackles are a position of priority on every team. It will be interesting to see how this plays out the next week or so.
I'll check back in before training camp or if any big Broncos related news breaks.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Broncos Offseason Mailbag
After the NFL Draft concludes in late April, there is a lot of downtime around the league. Sure, you have minicamps, OTAs, and other random events to talk about, but the league takes a backseat to the NBA and NHL playoffs and Major League Baseball, so the real Earth shattering news around the Broncos and the NFL is simply not there. It is fun to hear about the Broncos convening for OTAs, but there is a lot of time before we get to the beginning of the season with training camps in late July and early August. I figured this was a good time to dip the toe in the water, and get a little feel of what is going on with the Broncos as they wrap up their mandatory minicamp this week before they head home for the summer and gear up for training camp and the official start of the 2013 season.
How do you feel about where Peyton Manning is heading into his second year as the Broncos QB?
When you look back at Manning's 2012 season, it is amazing to see what he did last year. Think about it: Peyton had to deal with a brand new city, new team, new players around him, new offense, new coaching staff, new expectations, and a tremendous amount of uncertainty coming off four neck surgeries. My feeling was that throughout the 2012 season, Manning was probably at 80-85% of the player he was when he was in Indy. At that level, he still passed for over 4,600 yards, completed 68.6% of his passes, threw 37 touchdowns, and finished with a passer rating of 105.8 and a QBR of 84.1. He also took an 8-8 team, and led them to 13 wins and a division title. This past offseason, all you heard was how comfortable Manning feels in year number two in Denver. He keeps talking about how much better his arms feels, and the receivers feel more zip on the ball this year from him. Even at 37, you have to feel pretty confident in Manning's ability to play at a high level, and if he feels more comfortable this year, then that is a scary thing for the rest of the NFL.
Do you really think the Broncos can replace Elvis Dumervil as a pass rushing threat?
The Broncos didn't want to get rid of Dumervil. A stupid fax issue led to that whole debacle. They won't be able to adequately replace him as a pass rushing force, but getting a guy like Shaun Phillips could help them. If Phillips can add seven or eight sacks this year, and you get a four or five sacks from Robert Ayers, and then add a surprise player (Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe, and Quantreus Smith) to add a few sacks, then maybe it can alleviate the loss of Dumervil to a certain degree. Dumervil wasn't the same player he was in the run game, but his pass rushing ability is still top notch. It will be the number one aspect to look at when the Broncos hit training camp and start playing preseason games.
Are you worried about Ryan Clady's contract situation?
This past week Clady didn't appear at the Broncos minicamp because of his contract situation, but that is something that is common with players involved in negotiations. Sources also have confirmed that Denver started communicating with Clady's representatives about getting a long-term deal done. I'm not too worried about it because the Broncos know that Left Tackle is a premium position, and you have to get those deals taken care of. By getting Clady to sign a long-term deal, it could actually help them figure out a way to sign some of their top free agents that are coming up in the next two years (Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas.) I think the outlook is good that they will get something done before the season starts in September.
Is there any doubt that the Wes Welker signing will be a great offseason move?
When you read reports out of OTAs and minicamp that Welker and Manning are already on the same page, then you know that this could be a really good thing heading into the season. Unless Welker has some underlying medical concerns-concussions/head injury-then Welker should fit perfectly into the offense and contribute at a really high level.
Who might emerge as the best player of the most recent draft class?
After OTAs and minicamp, it is apparent that Montee Ball will have a real chance to get a lot of significant playing time when the season gets going. He has been getting a lot of reps and it seems like the coaching staff is putting a lot on his plate. Ball could be a big factor come training camp, and he might end up carrying the load in the crowded backfield.
How does it feel that the Broncos are the overwhelming favorite in the AFC heading into the 2013 campaign?
The word you keep hearing about the Broncos is "Overdog." They are the clearcut choice for many to represent the AFC in next year's Super Bowl. That is a scary thing because you just don't know how things can turn out in the NFL. A lot of teams head into the season as favorites, and they end up falling flat on their face, and they have a disappointing season. The one aspect that helps the Broncos is Manning. Every year, the Colts were Super Bowl favorites, and Manning delivered 12-13 wins every single time and gave his team a chance to get to the Super Bowl. Manning is so good that he can handle the expectations and give your team a chance to win it all every season. The AFC is still riddled with really good teams. The Patriots are always favorites to get to the Super Bowl, the Ravens have done a nice job of retooling their roster, the Steelers are always tough, the Texans are a team that is very close, and the Colts are definitely on their way with Andrew Luck. The bottom line is that the Broncos are in that mix, and they have two of the best 10 players in the entire league on their roster (Manning and Von Miller.) One is their quarterback which you have to have, and the other is a dominating player on the defensive side of the ball which is something else that you need to have. With Manning and Miller, the Broncos should have high expectations and that might be the way they like it.
Are you over the loss to Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs yet?
No shot. I think about it everyday. I still can't believe they lost that game the way they did. I can't talk about still. Thanks for bringing it up again.
How do you feel about where Peyton Manning is heading into his second year as the Broncos QB?
When you look back at Manning's 2012 season, it is amazing to see what he did last year. Think about it: Peyton had to deal with a brand new city, new team, new players around him, new offense, new coaching staff, new expectations, and a tremendous amount of uncertainty coming off four neck surgeries. My feeling was that throughout the 2012 season, Manning was probably at 80-85% of the player he was when he was in Indy. At that level, he still passed for over 4,600 yards, completed 68.6% of his passes, threw 37 touchdowns, and finished with a passer rating of 105.8 and a QBR of 84.1. He also took an 8-8 team, and led them to 13 wins and a division title. This past offseason, all you heard was how comfortable Manning feels in year number two in Denver. He keeps talking about how much better his arms feels, and the receivers feel more zip on the ball this year from him. Even at 37, you have to feel pretty confident in Manning's ability to play at a high level, and if he feels more comfortable this year, then that is a scary thing for the rest of the NFL.
Do you really think the Broncos can replace Elvis Dumervil as a pass rushing threat?
The Broncos didn't want to get rid of Dumervil. A stupid fax issue led to that whole debacle. They won't be able to adequately replace him as a pass rushing force, but getting a guy like Shaun Phillips could help them. If Phillips can add seven or eight sacks this year, and you get a four or five sacks from Robert Ayers, and then add a surprise player (Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe, and Quantreus Smith) to add a few sacks, then maybe it can alleviate the loss of Dumervil to a certain degree. Dumervil wasn't the same player he was in the run game, but his pass rushing ability is still top notch. It will be the number one aspect to look at when the Broncos hit training camp and start playing preseason games.
Are you worried about Ryan Clady's contract situation?
This past week Clady didn't appear at the Broncos minicamp because of his contract situation, but that is something that is common with players involved in negotiations. Sources also have confirmed that Denver started communicating with Clady's representatives about getting a long-term deal done. I'm not too worried about it because the Broncos know that Left Tackle is a premium position, and you have to get those deals taken care of. By getting Clady to sign a long-term deal, it could actually help them figure out a way to sign some of their top free agents that are coming up in the next two years (Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas.) I think the outlook is good that they will get something done before the season starts in September.
Is there any doubt that the Wes Welker signing will be a great offseason move?
When you read reports out of OTAs and minicamp that Welker and Manning are already on the same page, then you know that this could be a really good thing heading into the season. Unless Welker has some underlying medical concerns-concussions/head injury-then Welker should fit perfectly into the offense and contribute at a really high level.
Who might emerge as the best player of the most recent draft class?
After OTAs and minicamp, it is apparent that Montee Ball will have a real chance to get a lot of significant playing time when the season gets going. He has been getting a lot of reps and it seems like the coaching staff is putting a lot on his plate. Ball could be a big factor come training camp, and he might end up carrying the load in the crowded backfield.
How does it feel that the Broncos are the overwhelming favorite in the AFC heading into the 2013 campaign?
The word you keep hearing about the Broncos is "Overdog." They are the clearcut choice for many to represent the AFC in next year's Super Bowl. That is a scary thing because you just don't know how things can turn out in the NFL. A lot of teams head into the season as favorites, and they end up falling flat on their face, and they have a disappointing season. The one aspect that helps the Broncos is Manning. Every year, the Colts were Super Bowl favorites, and Manning delivered 12-13 wins every single time and gave his team a chance to get to the Super Bowl. Manning is so good that he can handle the expectations and give your team a chance to win it all every season. The AFC is still riddled with really good teams. The Patriots are always favorites to get to the Super Bowl, the Ravens have done a nice job of retooling their roster, the Steelers are always tough, the Texans are a team that is very close, and the Colts are definitely on their way with Andrew Luck. The bottom line is that the Broncos are in that mix, and they have two of the best 10 players in the entire league on their roster (Manning and Von Miller.) One is their quarterback which you have to have, and the other is a dominating player on the defensive side of the ball which is something else that you need to have. With Manning and Miller, the Broncos should have high expectations and that might be the way they like it.
Are you over the loss to Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs yet?
No shot. I think about it everyday. I still can't believe they lost that game the way they did. I can't talk about still. Thanks for bringing it up again.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Broncos 2013 Draft Class
Denver Broncos 2013
Draft Selections
Round 1 Pick #28:
Sylvester Williams- DT North Carolina
-Many people had
Williams mocked into the upper part of the first round, so the fact that he was
available at pick 28 was a pleasant surprise. Williams can be a three down
defender, and he will provide some depth to a defensive line that includes
Terrence Knighton, Kevin Vickerson, Mitch Unrein, Derek Wolfe, Robert Ayers and
Malik Jackson. This was a solid selection by the Broncos.
Round 2 Pick #58:
Montee Ball- RB Wisconsin
-Ball had one of the
most decorated college careers at Wisconsin, and you had a feeling the Broncos
were going to take a running back early on in the draft. You need depth at this
position, and Willis McGahee isn’t getting any younger, Knowshon Moreno is
injury prone, and Ronnie Hillman is a nickel runner, so Ball makes sense. It
was another pick that I was happy about, and you know the Broncos need to be
able to run the ball to close out games, and Ball gives them another option.
Round 3 Pick #90:
Kayvon Webster- CB South Florida
-I knew most of the
names of the players who were picked in the first three rounds of this year’s
draft, but Webster was a player that I didn’t know. When I looked him up, I saw
a lot of mock drafts had him going in the 5th or 6th
round. The Broncos really liked him, and they pounced on him in the Round 3. I
have no problem with that at all, and it seems that Webster is a real physical
CB who can help in run support.
Round 5 Pick #146:
Quanterus Smith: DE Western Kentucky
-The Broncos traded
out of the 4th round and acquired another 5th round pick.
Smith is an intriguing pick because he led the nation in sacks last year. He
had a 3 sack game against Alabama early in the season as well. Smith tore his
ACL late in the year, and he slid down many draft boards. He should be healthy
by the start of the season, and if he can rebound from his knee injury, this
could be a real steal this late in the draft.
Round 5 Pick #161:
Tavarres King: WR Georgia
-King joins a crowded
and talented receiving corps, and the best case scenario would be for King to
get on the Practice Squad and develop for a year before becoming an active
member on the 53 man roster.
Round 6 Pick #173:
Vinston Painter: OT Virginia Tech
-Painter is a
late-round pick that will provide some depth along the offensive line. There is
a chance he makes the active roster and not the Practice Squad because you
might need an extra lineman on gameday.
-The Broncos take
Dysert in the 7th round as a developmental QB. He will be the 3rd
string QB in training camp behind Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, and he
will most likely get stashed on the Practice Squad once the year begins.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
2013 NFL Mock Draft
It is time to unveil my 2013 NFL Mock Draft! This year's draft is very interesting because there are no "sexy" names at the top of the draft. There are no big-name, franchise Quarterbacks, or well-known skill players at the Running Back and Wide Receiver positions at the forefront of this year's draft class. Trying to come up with a mock draft was very difficult because there are so many players that are flat out mysteries in this group of players. As always, I tried to be a little different and creative. I put in some trades that I thought would be fun to see, and hopefully my mock draft will resemble the excitement that we see in this year's draft. Without further ado, here is my 2013 NFL Mock Draft:
ROUND 1
#1-Kansas City Chiefs select Luke Joeckel: OT-Texas A&M
-The Chiefs answered their QB question when they traded for Alex Smith, so they now grab what they hope is a franchise LT in Joeckel.
#2-Jacksonville Jaguars select Dion Jordan: DE-Oregon
- When you are picking this high in the draft, you need an instant impact player. Jordan can give the Jags that with this pick. You can't pass up an elite level pass rusher, and many people feel that Jordan can be that type of player.
#3-Oakland Raiders select Sharif Floyd: DT-Florida
-Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen is a defensive guy, and he gets a playmaker on defense in Floyd. The Raiders need help all over, but defensive line is certainly a spot they can upgrade, and Floyd can help them on their way.
#4-Philadelphia Eagles select Ezekiel Ansah: DE/LB- BYU
-It is enticing to think that Chip Kelly might make a big splash with his first ever draft choice, but he goes for the boom or bust pick with the athletic Ansah.
#5-Detroit Lions select Dee Milliner: CB Alabama
-It seems like the Lions always need help in the secondary, and they get a really solid player in Milliner to help upgrade that part of their defense.
#6-TRADE: 1) Cleveland swaps picks with Tennessee. Cleveland gets pick # 10, and Tennessee’s 2nd round pick (40 overall) and their 4th round pick (# 105 overall)
#7-Arizona Cardinals select Lane Johnson: OT-Oklahoma
-We all know how bad the Cardinals offensive line was last year, so this pick seems like a no-brainer. Watch out for San Diego trying to jump over Arizona to get Johnson.
#8-Buffalo Bills select Tavon Austin: WR-West Virginia
-A player like Austin is so valuable in today's NFL. You can put him in the slot and watch him torch a defense underneath. He is a playmaker, and the Bills add him to an offense that includes C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson.
#9-New York Jets select Barkevious Mingo: DE/OLB-LSU
-The Jets could be tempted to take Geno Smith here, but they will pass on him, and go with another pass rusher. They need help on a lot of levels of their team, but you can't pass on a quality pass rusher like Mingo.
#10-Cleveland Browns select Xavier Rhodes: CB-FSU
-You can never have enough CBs in the NFL, and the Browns go with Rhodes here to match up him on the other side of Joe Haden.
#11-TRADE: San Diego trades the pick to Carolina. San Diego receives Carolina's 1st round pick (#14 overall) and their 2nd round pick (#44 overall.)
Carolina Panthers select Cordarelle Patterson: WR- Tennessee
-The Panthers need to make a splash in this draft, and they need to give Cam Newton another weapon in the passing game. They go for it with the trade up for Patterson.
#12-Miami Dolphins select Chance Warmack: G- Alabama
-The Dolphins don't have to trade up to get the lineman of their choice. Warmack might be one of the best players in the entire draft.
#13-NY Jets select Matt Barkley: QB- USC
-The surprise move of the 1st round goes here with Barkley to the Jets. Barkley-not Geno Smith-is the first QB to go in Round 1.
#14- San Diego
selects Jonathan Cooper- OG UNC
-The Bills need a Quarterback in this draft, and they need one in the first two rounds. The fit between Nassib and the Bills is too good to pass up, so the Bills trade back into the first round to get their man.
#27- Houston selects DeAndre Hopkins- WR Clemson
#28- Denver selects Tank Carradine- DE FS
-The Broncos suddenly have a need for a pass rusher after Elvis Dumervil signed with the Ravens. There has been a lot of buzz for Carradine, and look for the Broncos to snag him to help fill the void in their pass rush.
#29- New England selects Desmond Trufant- CB Washington
-The Patriots seem to need help in their secondary every year. Last year, they got torced in the AFC Championship, so they need to get a Corner to play opposite of Aqib Talib.
#30- Atlanta Falcons select D.J. Hayden- CB Houston
-The Falcons need help in their secondary, and they could use a CB in this spot, so they go with the underrated Hayden.
#31- San
Francisco selects Matt Elam- S Florida
-The Niners are loaded with picks, and they move up to get a player they want earlier in the 1st round, but I think they stand pat and pick a replacement of Dashon Goldson.
#32- Baltimore
selects Eric Reid- S LSU
-The Ravens find their replacement for Ed Reed by drafting another Reid.
ROUND 1
#1-Kansas City Chiefs select Luke Joeckel: OT-Texas A&M
-The Chiefs answered their QB question when they traded for Alex Smith, so they now grab what they hope is a franchise LT in Joeckel.
#2-Jacksonville Jaguars select Dion Jordan: DE-Oregon
- When you are picking this high in the draft, you need an instant impact player. Jordan can give the Jags that with this pick. You can't pass up an elite level pass rusher, and many people feel that Jordan can be that type of player.
#3-Oakland Raiders select Sharif Floyd: DT-Florida
-Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen is a defensive guy, and he gets a playmaker on defense in Floyd. The Raiders need help all over, but defensive line is certainly a spot they can upgrade, and Floyd can help them on their way.
#4-Philadelphia Eagles select Ezekiel Ansah: DE/LB- BYU
-It is enticing to think that Chip Kelly might make a big splash with his first ever draft choice, but he goes for the boom or bust pick with the athletic Ansah.
#5-Detroit Lions select Dee Milliner: CB Alabama
-It seems like the Lions always need help in the secondary, and they get a really solid player in Milliner to help upgrade that part of their defense.
#6-TRADE: 1) Cleveland swaps picks with Tennessee. Cleveland gets pick # 10, and Tennessee’s 2nd round pick (40 overall) and their 4th round pick (# 105 overall)
Tennessee selects Eric Fisher-OT
Central Michigan
-The Titans continue to fill holes in their offensive line, and they make the move to trade up and get Fisher, who slides to #6. The Browns trade back and recoup some extra picks.
#7-Arizona Cardinals select Lane Johnson: OT-Oklahoma
-We all know how bad the Cardinals offensive line was last year, so this pick seems like a no-brainer. Watch out for San Diego trying to jump over Arizona to get Johnson.
#8-Buffalo Bills select Tavon Austin: WR-West Virginia
-A player like Austin is so valuable in today's NFL. You can put him in the slot and watch him torch a defense underneath. He is a playmaker, and the Bills add him to an offense that includes C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson.
#9-New York Jets select Barkevious Mingo: DE/OLB-LSU
-The Jets could be tempted to take Geno Smith here, but they will pass on him, and go with another pass rusher. They need help on a lot of levels of their team, but you can't pass on a quality pass rusher like Mingo.
#10-Cleveland Browns select Xavier Rhodes: CB-FSU
-You can never have enough CBs in the NFL, and the Browns go with Rhodes here to match up him on the other side of Joe Haden.
#11-TRADE: San Diego trades the pick to Carolina. San Diego receives Carolina's 1st round pick (#14 overall) and their 2nd round pick (#44 overall.)
Carolina Panthers select Cordarelle Patterson: WR- Tennessee
-The Panthers need to make a splash in this draft, and they need to give Cam Newton another weapon in the passing game. They go for it with the trade up for Patterson.
#12-Miami Dolphins select Chance Warmack: G- Alabama
-The Dolphins don't have to trade up to get the lineman of their choice. Warmack might be one of the best players in the entire draft.
#13-NY Jets select Matt Barkley: QB- USC
-The surprise move of the 1st round goes here with Barkley to the Jets. Barkley-not Geno Smith-is the first QB to go in Round 1.
-The Chargers really need to upgrade their offensive line in this draft, and they get a really good prospect in Cooper to help build around Philip Rivers.
#15-New Orleans
selects Star Lotulelei- NT Utah
-The Saints need some starters on their defense, and Lotulelei falls to them here at #15. Lotulelei could provide immediate impact for that New Orleans defense.
#16-St. Louis
selects Kenny Vaccaro- S Texas
-The Rams need help in the secondary, and Jeff Fisher tabs Vaccaro to help him at the Safety position.
#17-Pittsburgh
selects Jarvis Jones- DE/OLB Georgia
-The Steelers get the
benefit of a player like Jarvis Jones falling to them at this point of the 1st
round. Jones was a consensus top 10 pick a few months ago, but he falls all the way to #17.
#18- Dallas
selects Sheldon Richardson- DT Missouri
-The Cowboys have
needs in different areas, but they will look to shore up their offensive line
on Day 2, so they go with a solid player in Richardson to help them on their
defense.
#19-New York
Giants select Tyler Eifert-TE Notre Dame
-It seems unlikely
that the Giants would use a 1st round pick to select a TE, but I
think that they will jump at the chance to snag Eifert and replace the
departure of Martellus Bennett.
#20-Chicago
selects D.J. Fluker- OL Alabama
-The Bears always
seem to need an offensive lineman, and they will benefit from Fluker falling to
them at #20.
#21-TRADE: Cincinnati trades their 1st round pick to Philadelphia. The Bengals
receive the Eagles 2nd round pick (# 35 overall) and their 4th
round pick (#101 overall.)
Philadelphia selects Geno Smith-
QB West Virginia
-It took awhile but Smith finally gets selected in the 1st
round. The Eagles need a future at QB, and this is the spot that they decide is
the area to trade up and get their Quarterback of the future.
#22- St. Louis
selects Alec Ogletree- LB Georgia
-We know that the
Rams need a WR, but I think they will wait and grab one in the 2nd
round. Ogletree makes sense for them here, and he might be an instant starter
for them on defense.
#23- Minnesota
selects Manti Te’o- LB Notre Dame
-I am not so sure
that Te’o will be selected in Round 1, but if he is taken it will be in this
spot. The Vikings could use help at LB, and a guy like Te’o might fit right in
with this team and this market.
#24- Indianapolis
selects Bjoern Werner- DE FSU
-The Colts have some
holes in other spots, but they look to grab Werner to help solidify their
defensive line.
#25- Minnesota
selects Justin Hunter- WR Tennessee
-The Vikings
desperately need help at receiver, especially after the departure of Percy
Harvin. They key on Hunter, whose name has come up a lot in the 1st
round the last few days.
#26- TRADE: Green
Bay trades pick to Buffalo. GB receives Buffalo’s 2nd round pick
(#41 overall) and their 4th round pick (#105 overall.)
Buffalo selects Ryan Nassib- QB
Syracuse
-The Bills need a Quarterback in this draft, and they need one in the first two rounds. The fit between Nassib and the Bills is too good to pass up, so the Bills trade back into the first round to get their man.
#27- Houston selects DeAndre Hopkins- WR Clemson
-One thing that the
Texans needed late last season was some more weapons in their passing game
opposite of Andre Johnson. Look for them to address that concern early with the
pick of Hopkins.
#28- Denver selects Tank Carradine- DE FS
-The Broncos suddenly have a need for a pass rusher after Elvis Dumervil signed with the Ravens. There has been a lot of buzz for Carradine, and look for the Broncos to snag him to help fill the void in their pass rush.
#29- New England selects Desmond Trufant- CB Washington
-The Patriots seem to need help in their secondary every year. Last year, they got torced in the AFC Championship, so they need to get a Corner to play opposite of Aqib Talib.
#30- Atlanta Falcons select D.J. Hayden- CB Houston
-The Falcons need help in their secondary, and they could use a CB in this spot, so they go with the underrated Hayden.
-The Niners are loaded with picks, and they move up to get a player they want earlier in the 1st round, but I think they stand pat and pick a replacement of Dashon Goldson.
-The Ravens find their replacement for Ed Reed by drafting another Reid.
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