Draft simulated so far:
#1 – St. Louis – Sam Bradford – Oklahoma
#2 – Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh – Nebraska
#3 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy – Oklahoma
#4 – Washington Redskins – Russell Okung – Oklahoma State
#5 – Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry – Tennessee
#6 – Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga – Iowa
#7 – Cleveland Browns – Jason Pierre-Paul – South Florida
#8 – Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell – Maryland
#9 – Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen – Notre Dame
#10 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Earl Thomas – Texas
#11 – Denver Broncos – Dez Bryant – Oklahoma State
Denver has made a few additions this offseason, most notably NT Jamal Williams and QB Brady Quinn. Quinn had the pedigree coming out of college, now we can see if Josh McDaniels can make him a starter for 2011. Expect Kyle Orton to be the QB of 2010, but if he doesn’t make the playoffs, expect Brady Quinn to get a chance late in the season to make his case to start 2011. the Patriots. s. Combine those two new additions with NT Jamal Williams from the Chargers, and the Broncos have a new front 3 in their 3-4 defense. Obviously, the Broncos weren’t happy with their front 3 in 2009 because it fell apart at the end of the year. Since they’ve addressed that area and traded for a young QB, some help on offense makes more sense.
QB Jay Cutler helped make Brandon Marshall a true #1 receiver, but his best work was turning WR Eddie Royal into a rookie of the year candidate. Royal had 91 receptions for 980 yards in 2008, but fell to 37 and 345 in Year 2. He’s small and could fit into a slot receiver role if the Broncos draft Dez Bryant. Brandon Marshall appears to be the next Anquan Boldin to receive trade rumors for a few years, eventually being traded or released during free agency. If the Broncos let him go, it will be because they feel Bryant can be the #1 receiver. If Denver finds a way to give up Marshall, Bryant is just a #2 receiver.
Expect a payback year for the Broncos if their d-line can get some chemistry together quickly and if Bryant has a strong rookie year.