The 15 Best Sports Video Games Ever: From a Retired Gamer

After a long run of buzzer beaters, winning championships and on-line battles, I’ve decided to hang the controller up.

Over the years, I’ve found much enjoyment playing sports related video games. 

I’ve been Michael Jordan on a hot streak. Barry Sanders running wild. Or Bo Jackson mistifying the defense.

What’s the reason for what some would consider an early retirement?

A little burnt out yes. A little disappointed, yeah that too. One to many hotties calling me a dork?

Frankly I think that I’m too busy to be really good any more and after the millions of thrashings I’ve laid on my friends and foe, I felt like it was time to turn it over to the young bucks.

In honor of my glorious run I’ve put together this list of the best sports video games ever. In my opinion that is.

Now remember, I’m sure there’s some great hockey games out there it’s just I never really played them. They looked fun though. 

 

15.  PELE’s SOCCER: 1981 ATARI 2600

I thought it would only be right if I stated out by going back to my roots.

I don’t remember a great deal about this game other than I got really excited when I got to got it and got to go to my friends house and play it against another person. 

The graphics and game play were actually very good for that time period.

When you scored a goal there was an elaborate scene and GOAL would flash. It created a good feeling for a boy my age.

 

14. JOE MONTANA’S SPORTS TALK FOOTBALL: 1993 SEGA GENESIS

The game play was pretty good, but I loved the commentary. The voice sounded super-funny and it didn’t always coordinate with the play that had just happened. 

The game had all 28 NFL teams and used the playoff format consistent with the league.

Another great feature of this game was that you could save your league and then continue it later by entering a code.

No more leaving the console on over night anymore.

 

13. MIKE TYSON’S PUNCH-OUT: 1987 NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

I’ve tried other boxing games throughout the years, but looking back I realize that I had the most fun playing this game.

Working my way through Glass Joe and Bald Bull to get to Mike Tyson was sweet.

Each boxer had a “tell” when they were about to leave their sweet spot open.

 

12. NBA LIVE 2005: 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS (EA SPORTS) XBOX

Played this game quite a bit both on-line and with friends.

The freestyle control for moves while dribbling was nice.

The dunk contest was actually fun as well. 

The graphics and game play seemed to make a pretty good leap to this version of the Live series.

 

11. DOUBLE DRIBBLE: 1986 KONAMI NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

This was truly the first 5-5 basketball and my friends and I loved it. We balled for hours.

Who could forget the fade-away from the bottom right corner for three. Or the shot from the screws on the wing.

Or when you missed a dunk, the funny sound it made. This game got every kid my age interested in video basketball from that point forward.

 

10. SUPER TECMO BOWL:  1991 TECMO NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

We all had to have the sequel to one of the most popular games of the video boom. Super Tecmo Bowl was the first game to have actual NFL team names and players. The game had all of the classic players like Elway, Montana, Marino, Barry and more. Full 1990 roster with 30 players per team and my favorite part, statistics tracking.

 

9.  Wii TENNIS (Wii SPORTS): 2006 NINTENDO Wii

Despite my retirement, my son still seems to pull me into a few exhibition matches from time to time on the Nintendo Wii that Santa brought him.

I played some tennis, for fun with some friends back in the day and I actually got decent at it.  Good enough to understand that the timing and shot making on this game is pretty damn close to the real thing.

We make one heck of a doubles team too.

 

8.  LAKERS VS. BULLS and the NBA PLAYOFFS:  1992 EA SPORTS SEGA GENESIS

This is the second edition of what ended up becoming the NBA Live series. 

This game had all 16 playoff teams from the 1991 NBA season which was twice as many as the first one (Lakers Vs. Celtics).

One of the few games to have Michael Jordan and at that time there were many, many future Hall Of Fame players that made it super fun times to play.

Graphics and game play upgraded as well.

 

7.  NBA LIVE ’95:  1994 EA SPORTS SEGA GENESIS

This was the first of the Live Series of games and had all of the NBA teams. 

We would have tournaments for money playing this game so it has lasting memories for me.

I was a big fan of Hakeem Olajuwon and he was awesome in this version. Did you know he once had a quadruple double! I was always trying to do that with him.

 

6.  MADDEN ’94:  1993 EA SPORTS SEGA GENESIS

Probably the version of Madden that i played the most in my time as a gamer. 

I had a copy with the New York Rosters switched which was always funny to see my friends’ reaction when Phil Simms was on the Jets.

First Madden where you could flip the play and if you put your fastest receiver in at running back and threw a screen pass (flipping it to the wide side), you were unstoppable.

I had more huge games with no name players then in any game before.

 

5.  TECMO BOWL:  1988  TECMO  NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

The grand daddy of all football video games.

You had four plays to choose from on offense. Usually two running and two passing plays.

Had 12 of the top teams in the NFL, but did not have the team names.

Featured most of the legendary players of that era. Players like Elway, Payton, Marino Montana and Jerry Rice. The studs of the game were Lawrence Taylor and Bo Jackson.

We talked about this game at recess for months. 

 

4.  NFL GAMEDAY ’98:  1997 GAMEDAY  SONY PLAYSTATION

I was always a big fan of the Gameday series and played this one whenever I could.

The plays were good and each team had a set of it’s own special plays that were usually pretty tight.

In fact, a local sports radio station had a tournament and that I entered and I was rolling with the Denver Broncos until in the semi-finals I played a cat that used the Oakland Raiders.

He used this running play that they had that I couldn’t stop for anything.  I tried blitzing the house, 5-2 defense, even punt block and nothing would stop it.  It was either Nap Kaufman or Charlie Garner but which ever one it was I got blown out.

Probably the most upset I ever was after a video game loss.

 

3.  LAKERS VS. CELTICS and the NBA PLAYOFFS:  1991 EA SPORTS SEGA GENESIS

Someone my age could pick this game up today and have fun playing it for sure.

When I was a youth, my friends and I got stupid with this game.  It was my reason for getting a Genesis in the first place.

The game featured the eight playoff teams from the 1990 season.  Each teams’ best player had a special move and those players ended up being some of the best to ever play the game.

You had Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Larry Bird and Tom Chambers.

At that time in my life I was a huge fan of Tom Chambers after I saw him dunk over (and I mean literally over) Mark Jackson in a highlight. Look it up on YouTube.

Chamber’s special move was absolutely unstoppable. It was a double pump dunk from just inside the three point line. When playing with friends, we deemed the Suns unusable. You can probably look it up on YouTube too.

We used to track our own stats on paper and fell in love with the series from this game on. Once seeing the sunlight after a night of playing. The only video game all-nighter of my life.

 

2.  COLLEGE HOOPS 2K8:  2007 2K SPORTS XBOX 360

This game had the best and most accurate game play of any basketball game I have ever played.

I’m a huge fan of college basketball and this game featured every division one program in the NCAA.

After getting the top file share for the rosters that put the names with the players (which you would see when playing on-line), EA did a very good job on rating the players.

Even the stars of the little schools were rated accordingly.

I only played this game online and had some of the most fun I ever had in my life as far as video game play goes. Many games realistically going down to the wire.

When I left I was on of the top rated players on the game cracking the top ten in the world. 

When I heard news that EA had lost rights to the game for last season it felt like when I heard Biggie had been slain. I lost interest in Rap music for a long time after that happened and comparatively speaking I did in video games as well.

 

1.  MADDEN ’06:  2006  EA SPORTS  XBOX

Without a doubt not only the best sports video game ever, but the best game overall ever made period.

I played this game exclusively on-line and when playing against the top players, it was more like a chess match than a football game.

This game had the best features Madden ever had. Some of which are not on this years version which caused me to use it as a coaster more than I play it.

It was the first Madden to have the “truck stick” which was sick, but that was just the beginning.

The introduction of “QB Vision” and “Precision Passing” were insane.  To me the best innovation the game had ever seen.

You had to use a highlighted portion of the field when looking at receivers to make a good pass to them. Players like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady had the entire field lit up while some of the lesser players only had a sliver.

You could hold the trigger button, press the receiver icon button and the vision would go to that player, then you let go of the trigger and hit that button again to throw.

Bad defensive players would bite on this action allowing your receiver to get wide open.

Two other features on defense were just as important to me calling Madden ’06 the best game ever.

Over the years, players would put their best WR in at the third receiver spot leaving you to cover them with a safety or nickle corner. 

In this game you could go into the settings and cover Randy Moss with Champ Bailey where ever he went on the field. Brilliant.

Also, after choosing your play you could double team any player you wanted to before the snap of the ball even if the play you chose didn’t call for this coverage.

These things in my opinion created the most realistic game play ever.  Truly a masterpiece.

I feel that EA has since dumbed down Madden for gamers that could not handle the intricacies this game provided. In doing so I feel it’s a major disappointment.

 

Denver Broncos Pre-Draft Team Analysis: Where Can They Get Better?

With only one week until the greatest day in the NFL season, the Denver Broncos have commenced their first mini camp of the offseason.  Undoubtedly, head coach Josh McDaniels and company are dissecting and evaluating each and every player on the roster, so I have decided to do the same.  I will base the rankings on a 30-99 scale, with the key as follows:

30-39:  Prospect, player who might make the practice squad

40-49:  Good chance of at least making the practice squad, could use an upgrade

50-59:  Special teams only, could fill in if needed

60-69:  Solid backup

70-79:  Marginal starter

80-89:  Good starter

90-99:  Elite player

 

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton—84

Despite some of the “nay-sayers” out there who really do not know much about Kyle Orton, he is a good quarterback and a great leader.  Orton’s win percentage speaks for itself, and with great weapons around him, he could potentially put up big numbers in a quarterback friendly offensive scheme.

Chris Simms—70

I think, if needed, Simms could step in, start, and do just fine in the Broncos’ offense.  He was an up-and-coming player for the Buccaneers, and a spleen injury derailed his career. 

Overall:  Denver needs to add a quarterback at some point in the draft.  Josh McDaniels knows how to groom quarterbacks, and while I think that Orton will be a good quarterback in this offense, the Broncos would be wise to have a “Matt Cassel” type of player waiting in the wings.

Grade:  B-

Potential targets:  Mark Sanchez, USC; Stephen McGee, Texas A&M; Mike Reilly, Central Washington; Graham Harrell, Texas Tech; Curtis Painter, Purdue

 

Running Backs

Correll Buckhalter—78

Buckhalter has long been one of the better backup running backs in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles.  Despite the fact that he is oft-injured, the former Nebraska Husker has a very complete all-around game.

J.J. Arrington—74

After his superb performance in last year’s playoffs, J.J. Arrington really improved his free agent value and signed a nice four year deal with Denver.  While his contract numbers indicate that he should be, at the very least, the backup running back, Arrington will make his money on third downs receiving the ball, as well as on special teams.

LaMont Jordan—72

It would seem as though LaMont Jordan’s best days are behind him, although he displayed good receiving abilities and power as a runner for the New England Patriots last season.  He adds good depth and insurance for the Broncos

Ryan Torain—65

I give Torain a low grade because I do not fully know what he will do at this level.  He showed flashes in limited time against the Cleveland Browns, but the jury is still out.  He has the ideal NFL running back size, and was compared by former head coach Mike Shanahan to Terrell Davis.

Selvin Young—71

Young has big play abilities, but they are often wasted, as he has spent most of his NFL career on the injured list.  As Rod Smith once said, “You can’t make the club when you’re in the tub.”

Overall:  Denver has a very solid group of backs, but no clear-cut star.  With the pass-heavy offense New England used, the Broncos will need some slack from their running game, which ranked 12th in the NFL in 2008.  I fully expect the Broncos to add at least one rookie runner.

Grade:  C-

Potential targets:  Knowshon Moreno, Georgia; Chris Wells, Ohio State; Shonn Greene, Iowa; Andre Brown, North Carolina State; Kory Sheets, Purdue; Devin Moore, Wyoming; Rashad Jennings, Liberty;

 

Fullbacks

Andrew Pinnock—52

Pinnock is great as a blocker, but really does not do much otherwise.  He will be a longshot to make the team, in my opinion.

Spencer Larsen—60

Larsen gets a low grade here due to lack of experience.  He is a special teams ace who could fill in as a fullback if needed.

Peyton Hillis—86

Hillis really is the complete package at the fullback/h-back position.  He can run, catch, and block with the best of them.  Arguably the steal from last year’s draft, Hillis has become known as the “Rumblin’ Redneck” among Denver fans, and if not for a freak injury last season, probably would have helped the Broncos to a playoff birth.

Overall:  If Hillis is healthy, the Broncos have one of, if not the very best fullback/h-back in the entire NFL.  He is a big playmaker on offense and could be poised for a breakout year this year.

Grade:  B+

 

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall—95

Marshall is one of the best young wide receivers in the game today.  After a freak accident around this time last offseason, Marshall caught over 100 passes last season en-route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.  Marshall has troubles dropping the ball, and thus, has not yet reached his full potential.  He is one of the best in the NFL at getting yards after the catch, and should continue to improve in a pass heavy offense.

Eddie Royal—88

I plan on bumping Royal’s grade up to “elite” status as the year progresses.  He is so instinctive and a great route runner.  Royal caught 91 passes in his rookie campaign, and also proved to be very valuable in the kicking game.  Royal led Denver in all-purpose yards last season.

Brandon Stokley—84

Stokley is one of the best slot receivers in the entire NFL.  He is sure-handed, and since he runs such great routes, he is very crucial to third down conversions.  Stokley always finds a way to get open, and was one of the best free agent acquisitions for the Broncos over the last few years.

Jabar Gaffney—80

I think Gaffney is really on the fringe here.  The former second-round pick has showed flashes of why the Texans selected him with the 33rd pick back in 2002, but overall has been a disappointment in the league.  Still, he is a savvy veteran who knows how to get open, and can make big catches when his number is called.

Chad Jackson—69

I give Jackson the highest grade for a non-starter for this reason:  his high upside.  Jackson is another former second-round pick who has ideal size and speed, and just needs to fine tune his game.  I projected him last season as New England’s breakout player, but that didn’t work out.  I’m extremely excited to have him as a member of the Broncos.

Matt Willis—32

Honestly, there is no player on the Broncos’ roster that I know less about.  Willis came over from Baltimore’s practice squad late last season, and is talented enough to have made it past the first level of big cuts anyway.  We’ll see if he ends up on the practice squad.

Jayson Foster—36

Foster is a little guy with big-play ability.  In college, he was the quarterback, running back, and best receiver on the team, and at only 5’7″, he has the makings of a potentially devastating return man.  I hope he gets a look in camp as a returner, but he may be a longshot to make the roster as well.

Overall:  Denver has one of the youngest, most talented groups of receviers in the entire NFL.  Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal combined for 195 receptions last year, most of any NFL receiving duo.  I think Denver will go after one rookie receiver this offseason.

Grade:  A

Potential targets:  Ramses Barden, Cal Poly; Brian Robiskie, Ohio State; Marko Mitchell, Nevada; Jarrett Dillard, Rice; Mike Thomas, Arizona

 

Tight Ends

Daniel Graham—89

Graham has a rare combination of receiving and blocking abilities for the tight end position.  Last season, he really proved why the Broncos paid so much money for him back in 2007, and he became one of the offensive captains.  Graham is quietly one of the best tight ends in the league, and is arguably the most complete at the position.

Tony Scheffler—87

What can be said about Tony Scheffler?  He is an absolute mismatch waiting to happen, checking in at 6’5″ and 260 pounds, running the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.  He is an absolute beast in the passing game.  Playing in 13 games last season, Scheffler finished the season with 40 receptions for over 600 yards and three touchdowns.  When healthy, he adds a major weapon to Denver’s offense.

Jeb Putzier—68

Putzier used to be the main man in Denver, and after a two-year stint away from the team, he is back to add some depth.  He has great size for the position, and is a good blocking tight end.

Adam Bergen—40

I really don’t know much about Bergen, as I have never seen him play.  He was signed to a future contract a few months ago, and will get a look in the mini camps and possibly training camp.

Overall:  Tight end is a position I feel the Broncos are very solid with.  Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham compliment each other perfectly, and Jeb Putzier would be an adequate replacement if needed due to injuries. 

Grade:  A-

 

Left Tackles

Ryan Clady—97

Ryan Clady is arguably the best player on the team.  He absolutely dominated in his rookie season, only allowing a half of a sack, and was rewarded by becoming the only rookie last year to make the All-Pro team.  He was the best player in last year’s draft in my eyes, and should be a staple on Denver’s line for years to come.

Tyler Polumbus—40

Polumbus made the squad as an undrafted rookie free agent last offseason, and is still on the active roster.  He should improve in his second year in the league, and having spent a year on the team going through the motions, he should be ready if called upon.

Clint Oldenburg—33

Oldenburg was another player signed to a future contract, and he actually has a chance to make a 2009 team with a lack of overall depth on the line.  He is a former tight end who has good feet and is pretty athletic. 

Overall:  When Clady is healthy, only Cleveland’s Joe Thomas challenges him for the title of best left tackle in the NFL.  Denver is very fortunate to have gotten him with the 12th pick last offseason, and he has a very bright future.

Grade:  A

 

Left Guards

Ben Hamilton—86

Hamilton is a very good, but not great, left guard.  He allowed the most sacks of any Denver lineman last year, and isn’t as big as you would want your guards to be.  Still, he gets the job done more often than not, and has great athleticism.

Mitch Erickson—40

Erickson is another prospect the Denver Broncos picked up as a free agent from that very deep 2008 rookie class.  He spent all season on the practice squad, and will have a great chance to add depth to the guard position this year.

Overall:  The Broncos have a bunch of interior guys that can alternate at guard if needed, and they could stand to add a veteran or possibly a rookie at the position. 

Grade:  C+

Centers

Casey Wiegmann—90

Despite his age, Wiegmann is one of the best centers in the NFL, and he proved that last season with a Pro Bowl campaign.  He is a great leader on and off the field, and was an absolute steal for Denver in last year’s free agent crop.

Kory Lichtensteiger—65

Lichtensteiger is an up-and-coming prospect, who was taken in the fourth round of last year’s draft.  He played some at goal-line tight end last year, and has great athleticism.  He should be ready to step in as the team’s starting center when needed.

Overall:  This is one position where the Broncos could add some depth in the draft if they feel that Lichtensteiger is better suited for the guard position.  Wiegmann is aging, but the production is still there.

Grade:  A

Potential targets:  Johnathan Luigs, Arkansas; A.Q. Shipley, Penn State; Edwin Williams, Maryland; Jon Cooper, Oklahoma

 

Right Guards

Chris Kuper—88

Kuper is one of the top right guards in the NFL.  He really came into his own as a pass protector last season, and should be the starter in Denver for a long time. 

Matt McChesney—40

McChesney will have the chance to add depth to the guard position and will get a good look in the camps this offseason.

Pat Murray—40

Like McChesney, Murray will get the chance to compete for a backup offensive guard job in camp, and has really not played at this level yet.

Overall:  Kuper is one of the better guards in the AFC, and should probably have made the Pro Bowl last year.  As long as he is healthy this position gets a good grade.

Grade:  B

 

Right Tackles

Ryan Harris—92

Harris, like Clady, really broke out as an elite offensive tackle in 2008.  He only allowed half of a sack, and absolutely dominated the opposition.  Against the Panthers, Julius Peppers couldn’t get past Clady on one side, so he came over and was shut down by Harris on the other.  The former Notre Dame star will be a decade-long starter in this league if he continues to play like he did last year.

Brandon Gorin—68

Gorin was added to the team on the 17th, and provides good depth.  He has spent time on other teams’ rosters, and brings some insurance if anything were to happen to Harris.

Overall:  Harris is a star in this league, but right tackles usually don’t make headlines.  With a fully healthy arsenal of linemen, Denver has one of the best units in the entire NFL, maybe the best.

Grade:  A

 

Nose Tackles

Ronald Fields—70

Fields is a capable starter at this level, but the Broncos could use an upgrade.  He has almost ideal size for the position, and has played well at times for the 49ers.  He will compete for the starting job in training camp.

J’Vonne Parker—45

Parker really has not played very much at this level, although he does have the ideal size to play nose tackle in the 3-4 defensive scheme.  He will likely fight for a roster spot.

Overall:  This is one of the rawest positions on Denver’s roster, and it will need to be addressed early in the draft.  Fields and Parker are really unproven at the position, and could be upgraded.

Grade:  D-

Potential Targets:  B.J. Raji, Boston College; Ron Brace, Boston College; Sammie Lee Hill, Stillman; Terrance Taylor, Michigan; Vaughn Martin, Western Ontario

 

Defensive Ends

Marcus Thomas—83

Thomas is one of the most underrated players on Denver’s defense.  He is extremely athletic, and has proven to be the best defensive lineman taken in that 2007 crop.  He likely will win one of the two starting defensive end jobs for the Broncos this offseason.

Kenny Peterson—75

Peterson was quietly one of Denver’s better defensive linemen last season, which is probably why he is one of a very few holdovers from last year.  Obviously, coach McDaniels saw enough in him to make him the only re-signed player from last year’s team.

Carlton Powell—60

Powell has never played a down in the NFL, but he has great upside, in my opinion.  He was a fifth-round pick last year, but spent all season on the PUP.  He has the ideal size for the end position in the 3-4, and Denver fans are excited to see what he can do.

Ryan McBean—50

McBean was added late last season to the practice squad and survived the first slew of cuts.  He should make it to training camp, but after the draft, he might not make it much further.

Nic Clemons—52

Clemons played well in spots for Denver last year, but still has a long way to go.  He has good size, and could find a backup role as a defensive end this year.

Mathias Askew—44

Askew will compete for a roster spot, and will have to fight hard, given the crowd at defensive end and the possible acquiring of more in the draft.

Overall:  Denver has a lot of big bodies to play the defensive end spots, but they lack overall talent.  They would be wise to add one or two true 3-4 defensive linemen in the draft, preferably those that specialize in stopping the run.

Grade:  C-

Potential targets:  Tyson Jackson, LSU; Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State; Evander Hood, Missouri; Fili Moala, USC; Alex McGee, Purdue; Mitch King, Iowa

 

Rush Linebackers

Elvis Dumervil—85

Dumervil is a great pass rush specialist who recently stated that his goal for 2009 is to reach 16 sacks.  Given that he leads the Broncos in that category over the last three years, it’s definitely feasible.  He is short and powerful with very long arms.  Dumervil can be a dominant force in the passing game at times.

Jarvis Moss—70

The jury is still out on Moss, and this year could be the turning point in his career.  He has been relatively non-existant for the Broncos since he was drafted in 2007, but could find a real niche at outside linebacker.

Tim Crowder—65

Yet another high draft pick who has not worked out for Denver, Crowder followed an impressive rookie season with a very disappointing 2009.  Like Moss, Crowder is looking for an identity, and has a good chance to find it with a new defensive scheme.

Darrell Reid—60

Darrell Reid is an elite special teams player, which is probably why Devner acquired him.  The team is hoping he can have a James Harrison type of impact, but he will have to fight for playing time at a crowded position, and will make his impact on special teams.

Overall:  The Broncos are fairly crowded at this position, and could wait until the 2010 draft to address this position early on, just to give Moss and Crowder one more chance.  This is a deep crop of rush linebackers though, and Denver may not be able to pass on some of them.

Grade:  C

Potential targets:  Brian Orakpo, Texas; Aaron Maybin, Penn State; Everette Brown, Florida State; Paul Kruger, Utah; Connor Barwin, Cincinnati; Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond; Brandon Williams, Texas Tech; Pierre Walters, Eastern Illinois; David Veikune, Hawaii

 

Outside Linebackers

Wesley Woodyard—75

Woodyard had a very good rookie season for the Broncos filling in for the injured D.J. Williams.  He would be penciled in as the starting outside linebacker if the season started today, I’d be willing to wager, and has the speed and athleticism to maintain that throughout the offseason.  The undrafted player out of Kentucky was one of the surprises of the 2008 rookie class.

Boss Bailey—75

Bailey was doing great last season until yet another injury was added to his history, and he missed too much of the season to be given any credit for what he did.  He has great size and could be the starter this year if Denver doesn’t go after another outside linebacker in the draft.

Louis Green—57

Green has become one of the more consistent special teams players on the Broncos’ roster.  He will have to compete for a roster spot this time around though, as Denver figures to overhaul this position in the draft.

Overall:  Woodyard is promising, and when healthy, Boss Bailey is a good player.  Denver should look to improve this position in the draft, if nothing else for solid depth.

Grade:  C

 

Middle Linebackers

D.J. Williams—95

Williams is quietly one of the best and most consistent defenders in the NFL today.  He has all the tools you look for in a linebacker, and the Broncos are fortunate to have him.  He finished second on the team last year in tackles, despite not playing anything close to a full season.  He should continue to be the Broncos’ best linebacker, and will pile up the tackles in his new middle linebacker role.

Andra Davis—80

I think Davis could be poised for a big year.  Since 2003, he is averaging 103 tackles per season, and could benefit from the change of scenery in Denver.  He is a captain and a leader in the locker room, and was a nice sign by the Denver Broncos.

Spencer Larsen—64

Larsen is a special teams ace, as mentioned earlier, but he also played well in spots at middle linebacker for the Broncos last year.  The fans in Denver want to see him get the chance to compete for playing time at the middle linebacker position.

Mario Haggan—60

Haggan was signed late last season due to injuries and played well at times.  He might not make the final cut though, as Denver will look to address this position in the draft.

Overall:  Denver has a solid group of players at this position, but they could stand to upgrade as Andra Davis is 30 years of age, and Spencer Larsen may be a better fit as a special teams ace. 

Grade:  B-

Potential targets:  Rey Maualuga, USC; James Laurinaitis, Ohio State; Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina; Worrell Williams, California; Nick Reed, Oregon; Josh Mauga, Nevada

 

Cornerbacks

Champ Bailey—97

Bailey missed time due to injury last season, but make no mistake about it:  He is the best cornerback in the NFL.  Quarterbacks rarely, if ever, throw the ball to his side of the field, and when they do, it often results in an interception or an incomplete pass.  Bailey is a captain of the defense who leads by example and can dominate a game by himself.  If the Broncos can improve their pass rush, expect Bailey to have a big season.

Andre’ Goodman—84

Goodman had a big year last season for the Miami Dolphins, leading the team with five interceptions.  Denver rewarded him with a four-year contract, and he figures to earn the starting job opposite Champ Bailey.  Goodman is a speedster who is playing the best football of his career, and is a significant upgrade over Dre’ Bly in my opinion.

Jack Williams—70

Williams got off to a great start last year, but seemed to wear down as the season went on, and he was passed up on the depth chart by undrafted rookie Josh Bell.  He has great speed, and great ball skills, but he needs to be ready physically and mentally for the 2009 season.

Josh Bell—70

Bell, as mentioned, was yet another undrafted rookie free agent claimed from San Diego early in the season who made an impact on the defense.  He struggled at times, but the former Baylor star had his moments last year. 

Rashod Moulton—40

Moulton would have a tough time making the roster if Denver didn’t only have five cornerbacks, but in this case, he will have a chance to compete.  He has yet to see any NFL action, but when he did play in college, he was a jack of all trades.

Overall:  Cornerback is a position Denver should address early on in the draft.  They lack overall depth, but have talent.  Champ Bailey is dominant force, and Andre Goodman will make an impact. 

Grade:  B

Potential targets:  Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State; Vontae Davis; Illinois, Alphonso Smith; Wake Forest, D.J. Moore; Vanderbilt, Darius Butler; UConn, Sean Smith; Utah, Kevin Barnes; Maryland, Keenan Lewis; Oregon State, Asher Allen; Georgia, Victor Harris; Virgina Tech, Coye Francies; San Jose State, Bradley Fletcher; Iowa

 

Free Safeties

Renaldo Hill—80

Hill had a nice season last year for the Dolphins, and like his teammate Andre’ Goodman, he was rewarded with a four-year contract from the Denver Broncos.  He is a significant upgrade over Marlon McCree, and will figure to be the opening day starter for Denver.

Herana-Daze Jones  40

Jones is a special teams player who could make the roster based on that alone.  However, he will probably not see much time at safety unless there are a slew of injuries.

Overall:  This position has been upgraded from last year, but Denver still needs to address it in the draft.  Renaldo Hill is a good tackler, and Denver would have loved for USC safety Taylor Mays to have declared his name so they could get him.

Grade:  C-

Potential targets:  Louis Delmas; Western Michigan, Rashad Johnson; Alabama, Darcel McBath; Texas Tech, David Bruton; Notre Dame, Chris Clemons; Clemson

 

Strong Safeties

Brian Dawkins—90

Dawkins came over as the biggest free agent acquisition this offseason from the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Broncos and their fans couldn’t be more excited to have him.  He brings an intensity and leadership factor that is virtually unmatched accross the league.  While he may have lost a step or two, he still knows how to get it done in this league.

Josh Barrett—74

Barrett came along with Peyton Hillis in the seventh round of last year’s draft, and Denver really hit it big time with this kid.  He has ideal size and speed for the position, and has the potential to be the eventual starter after a year or two under the wing of Brian Dawkins.

Overall:  Denver seems to be set here for the present and the future, but there are some players that I like in this draft that could make it easy for Denver to move Barrett to free safety.

Grade:  B+

Potential targets:  Patrick Chung; Oregon, Chip Vaughn; Wake Forest, William Moore; Missouri, Michael Hamlin; Clemson, Emmanuel Cook; South Carolina, De’Von Hall; Utah State, Courtney Greene; Rutgers

 

Kickers

Matt Prater—82

Prater got off to a hot start to 2008, his first year as the full-time kicker, and fizzled late.  With a good off-season of conditioning, he could end up being one of the best kickers in the NFL with his elite leg strength.  I think Denver may bring in a veteran kicker to compete with Prater in camp, but he will ultimately win the job.

Grade:  B

 

Punters

Brett Kern—83

Kern had a very good rookie season, ranking in the top 10 of the league in every major punting category.  He will undoubtedly be the punter opening day, and figures only to improve throughout the season.

Grade:  B

 

Long Snapper

Lonie Paxton—85

Paxton has been the long snapper for the Patriots for 10 years, and while former Bronco Mike Leach had done a great job here in Denver, apparently a change was needed. 

Grade:  B+

The Denver Broncos, with 10 picks in the up-coming draft, are in great position to improve their already talented team. 

Overall Pre-Draft team grade:  86, B

 

 

Denver Broncos: Draft Day Trade? Pull The Trigger, McManager!!!

(This draft scenario was actually a stem from my other mock draft called “Ryan’s 2009 Mock Draft for Denver Fans, which can be found at the following link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/157747-ryans-2009-mock-draft-for-denver-fans)

Mike Shanahan had a knack for effective draft day trades.  Now McProdigy has a chance to start off his career on the right foot.

I want this draft day trade to happen! 

The Broncos have the No. 12 and No. 18 picks in this year’s draft.  The word of the day for this team will be D-E-F-E-N-S-E.  At picks No. 12 and No. 18, the Broncos can acquire a defensive end, hybrid DE, or OLB to go into their new 3-4 defense. 

In almost every mock draft I’ve seen, the Broncos have picked Tyson Jackson—the defensive end out of LSU—and a USC linebacker.  I believe the Broncos can get the same value while gaining an extra third round draft choice.

James Laurinaitis is arguably one of the best ILB prospects in this draft.  However, he has fallen to the late first round.  From what I’ve read, it looks like he will be taken somewhere between picks 25 to 30. 

I propose that the Broncos management take advantage of this fall and snag another pick.  The Broncos should trade their No. 18 pick to a team picking in the 25 to 30 range for their first round choice and extra third and fourth round choice.  Profootbaltalk.com’s trade chart has the following values for these picks:

1st Rd

2nd Rd

3rd Rd

4th Rd

5th Rd

6th Rd

7th Rd

25	720	57	330	89	145	121	52	153	30.2	185	17.4	217	4.6
26	700	58	320	90	140	122	50	154	29.8	186	17	218	4.2
27	680	59	310	91	136	123	49	155	29.4	187	16.6	219	3.8
28	660	60	300	92	132	124	48	156	29	188	16.2	220	3.4
29	640	61	292	93	128	125	47	157	28.6	189	15.8	221	3
30	620	62	284	94	124	126	46	158	28.2	190	15.4	222	2.6
31	600	63	276	95	120	127	45	159	27.8	191	15	223	2.3
32	590	64	270	96	116	128	44	160	27.4	192	14.6	224	2

 

The No. 18 pick is said to be worth 900 points.  The difference between the picks from 25 to 30 picks is around 300 points.  A third and fourth round choice should make up for this deficit and make both parties happy. 

Then the Broncos will choose James Laurinaitis and have for depth picks in the third and fourth rounds.  These can be used for running backs, a quarterback, or more defensive choices.  Let’s look at the possible new choices in the third and fourth rounds.

 

Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech, 6’5″, 205

Great pocket passer.  System QB.  Has experience in a pass happy offense.

 

Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa, 5’10”, 235

Travis Henry-like size and strength.  Automatic 1,000 yard rusher in the Broncos system

 

Sen Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn, 6’1″, 294

Would be a DE in Denver’s 3-4 defense.  Great athlete!  Good value.

 

Vance Walker, DT, Georgia, 6’2″, 295

Would be a DE in Denver’s 3-4 defense.  Great athlete!  Good value.

 

Brandon Williams, Hybrid DE, Texas Tech, 6’5″, 246

Would be an OLB in Denver’s 3-4 defense. Pass rusher specialist. 

 

Asher Allen, CB, Georgia, 5’10”, 190

Aggressive speedster.  Reminds me of Darrent Williams.

 

Michael Hamlin, S, Clemson, 6’3″, 205

Good size with ability for growth.  Plays well in the box.

These are all possibilities with more picks, and the Broncos still come out with a blue chip defensive end in Tyson Jackson and a ballhawk in James Laurinaitis. 

I think it could happen.  I also think that this trade may be able to go down, by trading Tony Sheffler.  Sheffler should yield a lower third round choice, but no extra fourth rounder.  Of course, there would be no first round choice in play.

Brian Dawkins: The Broncos Best Offseason Move of the Year

Right now, everyone in the NFL is talking about draft day.  People are talking about how the Broncos lack a defensive presence on the field.  They say we need a defensive end, a nose tackle, and an outside linebacker, just to name a few.

One thing experts can agree on, though, is right now the free safety position is locked up.

Brian Dawkins, a 35-year-old free safety out of Clemson, is just what the Denver Broncos needed.

Dawkins brings many skills to the table.  His vast repertoire includes a being safety who can drop back into coverage, run up to stop the run, and the most important thing, intensity. 

Dawkins’ intensity can be measured up on the same scale as Bob Sanders, Albert Haynesworth, and Ray Lewis.  Dawkins brings the win-or-die-trying attitude, and won’t ever give up.

On Feb. 28, the Broncos signed the seven-time Pro Bowler to a five-year, $17 million deal.  The 13-year veteran has helped lead his Eagles team to five NFC Championship game appearances and one Super Bowl.

The bone crushing Dawkins will be entering his 14th season in the league, and his first with a team located outside of Philadelphia.  Dawkins will be the replacer of former Bronco John Lynch, another hard hitter.

Dawkins, along with Champ Bailey, should provide one of the best defensive back combos in the entire league.  A tandem that won’t let the receiver grab the ball, and if he does, the other will lay on a huge hit on the receiver.

Dawkins was awarded the 2009 Byron “Whizzer” White award for his time spent with the community during his tenure in Philadelphia.  Dawkins also served as the regional spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation while in Philly.

Another thing Dawkins will provide is a consistent veteran who flies around the field. Dawkins accumulated 75 tackles, and six forced fumbles last year on the Eagles.  In his career Dawkins has nearly 900 tackles, 21 sacks, and 34 interceptions.  With his locker room presence, Dawkins will certainly provide the help the Denver Broncos’ secondary needs.

Denver Broncos Should Steal a Quarterback and Restore Defense in Draft

Denver must concentrate on defense with at least six picks.

Draft needs are:

(1) Nose tackle, (2) 3-4 Defensive End, (3) Quarterback, (4) Running back, (5) Cornerback/Safety, (6) Kicker.

The Broncos have greatly improved their defense with the additions of safeties Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill, as well as Andre Goodman at corner and Andra Davis at outside linebacker.

With the addition of Jabar Gaffney, Denver now has four good receivers unless Marshall has to sit out several games again due to his poor offseason choices again. Of course there is the quarterback dilemma since Cutler is gone. The kicking game was bad last year as well.

Round 1- No. 12: B.J. Raji, nose tackle, or Tyson Jackson, defensive end

Round 1- No. 18: Ray Maulauga, inside Linebacker, or James Laurinaitis

Round 2- Donald Brown, running back, or Shonn Greene

Round 3- No. 74: Rhett Bomar, quarterback, or Graham Harrell

Round 3- No. 79: Sen’Derrick Marks, defensive tackle, or Ron Brace nose tackle

Round 4- No. 114: Ramses Barden, wide receiver, or Jarious Byrd cornerback

Round 5- No. 149: Donald Washington, cornerback, or Taurus Johnson, wide receiver

Round 6- No. 185: Brad Jones, linebacker, or Terrence Taylor, nose tackle

Round 7- No. 225: Jose Martinez, kicker, Graham Gano kicker/punter

Round 7- No. 235: Kyle Moore, defensive end, or Troy Nolan, safety

Raji is the best nose tackle in the draft and the Broncos are changing to a 3-4 defensive scheme. The Broncos might trade down to No. 8 with Jacksonville costing the No. 12 pick and the No. 79 pick (well worth it!).

Rhett Bomar is the true steal of this draft.  Rhett could be a franchise quarterback. He has Elway like zip and is tough as nails. He was a fenom as a freshman at Oklahoma prior to getting kicked off the team for accepting monies for work not performed.

He was and is better than the projected No. 1 Matthew Stafford but because he had to transfer to Sam Houston State, he has slipped under the radar. He is the perfect project for McDaniels.

Donald Washington at No. 5 would be a steal too. He has first-round talent and had a vertical jump of 45 inches, which is a full two inches better than anyone and four inches more than several expected first and second-round selections. Reminiscent of a young Champ Bailey.

Getting two of the following is essential unless there is a trade or a free-agent signing of a major defensive back. B.J. Raji, Rey Maulauga, Tyson Jackson, Brian Cushing, James Laurinaitis or Michael Johnson.

Everything could change by signing free-agent Pro Bowler linebackers Vonnie Holliday or Jason Taylor. Signing one of these two would allow Denver to go after a safety of corner with the No. 18 pick.

Trading our No. 18 to Carolina for another Pro Bowler, Julius Peppers, would be a vast improvement. New England is trying to get him with a No. 2 pick (from Kansas City) but Carolina wants a No. 1 since they have placed the franchise tag on him.

The Broncos could also continue picking defense with the No. 2 pick and hope to land a sleeper running back in the later rounds like the have done in the past. Look for them to do that if there is a stud corner or safety on the board in the second.

Jose Martinez can make the special teams look good by kicking the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs. He kicked a 64-yard field goal at sea level in the humidity that would have cleared 70. Imagine what he could do at a mile high!

 

Denver Broncos: Ryan’s 2009 Mock Draft

This is the draft that I want to happen for Denver this year. 

Round 1

12.  Tyson Jackson DE LSU

I think this is the beast we’re looking for in Denver.  He would be a perfect 3-4 defensive end and is a good value here.

18.  Rey Maualuga ILB USC

Ray Lewis, Junior Seau.  Incredible comparisons.  I love Polynesian football players!  They are warriors!  Mario Fatafehi, Ma’a Tanuvasa were some of my favorites.  Troy Palamalu is another.  I like this guy and I think he would bring fire to a fizzling Bronco defense.

Round 2

48.  Jarron Gilbert DT/DE San Jose State  

This pick would be great for our 3-4 defense.  At 6-foot-5 285, he still has room to grow.  Long wing span, which will make him a good end force.

Round 3

79.  Jasper Brinkley ILB South Carolina

Freaky run stuffer.  Jasper is by far the coolest name for a defensive player.

84.  Terrance Taylor DT Michigan

Can hold his ground and stuff the gaps.  Will work well as a defensive end in the second rotation with Marcus Thomas.

Round 4

114. Sammy Lee Hill DT Stillman

Big nose tackle prospect.  I think he would be great value at this pick.

Round 5

149.  Ramses Barden WR Cal Poly

Freaky size.  He would be a big red-zone option.

Round 6

185. Hunter Cantwell QB Louisville

Good project player for Mcdoughnut.

Round 7

225.  Arian Foster RB Tennessee

Once was a top draft prospect, now he may have something to prove.  Good blocker and receiver.

235.  Pierre Walters LB Eastern Illinois

Lance Briggs esque size.  Could be a freak.  Could be a bust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DENVER BRONCOS: Orton-for-Cutler, Who Got the Better Deal?

Who is the real winner?

While there has been plenty written about the trading of Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton, one thing I have noticed is there isn’t a lot of optimism being shared.

Sure, on the surface this deal does not look much like a win-win situation for the Broncos. All everyone sees is that Denver has traded away its 2006 first round pick (No. 11 overall) and Pro Bowl quarterback.

It makes sense to ask, “What are they thinking?”

I would like to say that I do live in reality and tend to keep my feet on the ground, so when I offer this perspective, please take it with a grain of salt (or maybe slightly bigger than a pebble).

When I look at this trade, it doesn’t appear at first glance that the Broncos made an even swap, but then I have to really look and ask, “Who is the real winner?”

With Josh McDaniels bringing in a system that has surely proven to be quarterback-friendly and very much capable of making a journeyman look like a stud (just ask the Chiefs—they bought into it), should Denver fans really be counting Orton out? 

While McDaniels was the offensive coordinator in New England, Patriots quarterbacks threw 95 touchdown passes and eclipsed 12,000 yards passing in three seasons.

OK, he had lots of help with Tom Brady and Randy Moss, but one can hardly argue the performance of Matt Cassel last season.

It’s hard to argue the Bears made good in this deal with the acquisition of Cutler. His 4,500 yards passing and 25 touchdowns say enough about his talent, but there’s one concern fans will have in the Windy City: Who will he throw to?

For the Broncos, on the other hand, just what did they pick up?

While in Chicago, Orton was not much of a playmaker, throwing only 30 touchdowns and passing for just 5,300 yards in the four years he played for the Bears. However, he was a successful leader, compiling a record of 21-12.

So what makes Orton so special or the quarterback that McDaniels “wanted,” and how did the Broncos win in this deal?

When you take a closer look at what they really got, it’s a little clearer to see that they got more than meets the eye.

Sure, it’s argumentative, but Orton was a quarterback in a run-first system that did not have any playmakers (Devin Hester is still a work in progress) in the passing game.

When you examine what he had to work with, where he had to work, and what he was asked to do, he never had a chance to produce big numbers.

So why should anyone expect things to be different in Denver?

In Mile High country, Kyle will have the tools to make plays and run a system that will not be reliant on him to make all of the plays.

With weapons like Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, and Peyton Hillis, Orton should easily rise among the ranks of fantasy quarterbacks in 2009.

Remember, Orton is a byproduct from the University of Purdue (the same place that produced quarterback Drew Brees), where he threw 31 touchdowns during his senior campaign.

As a senior at Purdue in 2004, the former Boilermaker opened up the season with three 300-yard passing games in his first four starts and threw no fewer than four touchdowns in each of those contests (17 total in the first four games).

Injuries midseason slowed down his Heisman-like season, but Orton finished strong with 522 passing yards (tying a record set by Brees) and six touchdowns in the team’s regular season finale.

Yes, that was then and this is now, but if anyone ever doubted Orton’s ability to play quarterback, you only need to look closer at his résumé. He can chuck the rock.

In Chicago, he was not asked to throw the ball, evident by his 465 passing attempts in 2008 (Cutler threw 616 passes).

Under the Broncos’ new head coach, quarterbacks averaged 549 passes over the past three seasons.

We are only in April, but considering the additional draft picks the Broncos picked up in the deal for Orton, it may be too early to concede which team actually got the better in this deal.

The Bears are going to bank on Cutler’s big arm, but they had better find him some targets soon.

The Bronco faithful should have a little more faith in the new system that has been brought over from Foxboro and the talent that was already in place.

I won’t make any bold predictions here, but if you’re a Bronco fan, you have to like the prospects of what could be in 2009. Just don’t look too closely at their schedule.

 

By The Prodigy

Draft Day: 12 and 18 For The Denver Broncos

He’s been coached by Pete Carroll and Ken Norton Jr in a system that has steadily produced top notch linebackers.

In 2008 he was awarded the Chuck Bednarik Award, annually given to the No. 1 overall defensive player in the country, as judged by NCAA coaches and college football experts across the nation.

In the 2008 Rose Bowl, he emerged as the defensive player of the game.

He’s been hailed as the next Junior Seau.

At No. 12 in the 2009 draft, the Denver Broncos will scoop up the phenom that is Rey Maualuga.

His intense and emotional play at inside linebacker is precisely what the Broncos need to turn around the lackluster and uninspired defense of seasons past.

His numbers are stellar, and there’s no doubt that Maualuga will make a major impact on whatever team picks him up in the first round.

Denver fans are hoping he lands with the Broncos, and thus begins to lift the team out of the quagmire of the past few years.

After securing a playmaker at LB, the attention turns to a defensive end who can rush the passer and garner some serious attention from across the line.

Will Everette Brown still be around at No. 18 for the Broncos? If he is, the Mile High team will snag him up without flinching. He’s a pass rushing force, who could immediately step in and give opposing teams something to seriously think about.

He’ll rack up sacks, and also contribute to a healthy infusion of behind the line tackles.

This guy fits squarely into the Broncos new hybrid OLB/DE scheme. He can perform with a fist in the dirt, or standing up. He’s projected to go between 10-30, so there’s a chance the boys in Orange can get this player.

Outside of somehow picking up B.J. Raji at No. 12 (he’ll be gone by then), getting these two players would, in and of themselves, make the 2009 Denver Broncos draft a major success.

The secondary seems to be fairly cinched up for the year, what with Dawkins, Goodman, and Hill newly signed, and Champ still around. The Broncos are improved here, and though not set for the future, are solid for a year or two.

Later in the draft, the Broncos will add some depth at CB or safety, but they’ll not attack here in the draft. Maybe next year.

With Maualuga and Brown plugged into Nolan’s 3-4, and the seasoned secondary prowling the backfield, the Denver Bronco’s will noticeably improve on defense this year.

They may not rise to the top of the AFC, but they will be respectable and formidable on the field.

Picks 12 and 18 could make all the difference.

Jack’s Mock Draft: 4.0

With 10 days until the 2009 NFL Draft, USC Quarterback Mark Sanchez is one of the hot topics in the NFL. Where will he land? Is he better than Matthew Stafford? These are just two of the questions regarding the nation’s most talked about draft prospect. In my past two mock drafts, I have him going to Denver, but where do I have him now? Let’s take a look.

1. Detroit Lions – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

2. St. Louis Rams – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Arron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

4. Seattle Seahawks – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

5. Cleveland Browns – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

6. Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

7. Oakland Raiders – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas

9. Green Bay Packers – Arron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn St.

10. San Francisco 49ers – Malcolm Jenkins, FS/CB, Ohio State

11. Buffalo Bills – Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida St.

12. Denver Broncos – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

13. Washington Redskins – Michael Oher, OT, Ole’ Miss

14. New Orleans Saints – Chris “Beanie” Wells, HB, Ohio St.

15. Houston Texans – Tyson Jackson, DE/OLB, LSU

16. San Diego Chargers – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

17. New York Jets – Brian Cushing, LB, USC

18. Denver Broncos  – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Freeman, QB, Kansas State

20. Detroit Lions – Clay Matthews, LB, USC

21. Philadelphia Eagles – Ebin Brittin, OT, Arizona

22. Minnesota Vikings – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

23. New England Patriots – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

24. Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.

25. Miami Dolphins – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

26. Baltimore Ravens – Darius Heyward-Bay, WR, Maryland

27. Indianapolis Colts – Perria Jerry, DT, Ole’ Miss

28. Philadelphia Eagles – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

29. New York Giants – Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois

30. Tennessee Titans – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

31. Arizona Cardinals – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Alex Mack, OG, California

Ha! I got you! Yeah, Mark Sanchez’s stock is rising, but I still don’t think that he will get drafted in the Top 11. All those team, excluding Detroit, do not need a quarterback badly enough to use a first-round pick on one. With Josh McDaniels being a quarterback specialist, I can’t see him passing on the opportunity to mentor this guy. I also see B.J. Raji slipping, and Andre Smith rising.

Thanks for Reading!

Jack M

Round One Mock To Rule Them All…

The thing I love about the Draft is that there are endless scenarios that could play out.

Here is one that I think would be interesting for a lot of teams, especially the Denver Broncos.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School
1	DET	M. Stafford	QB	Georgia
2	STL	J. Smith	OT	Baylor
3	KC	E. Monroe	OT	Virginia
4	SEA	M. Crabtree	WR	Texas Tech
5	CLE	A. Curry	OLB/DE	Wake Forest
6	CIN	A. Smith	OT	Alabama
7	OAK	D. Heyward-Bey	WR	Maryland
8	JAX	M. Sanchez	QB	USC
9	GB	B. Orakpo	DE/OLB	Texas
10	SF	J. Maclin	WR	Missouri
11	BUF	E. Brown	DE	FSU
12	DEN	B. J. Raji	DT	BC
13	WAS	B. Cushing	OLB/DE	USC
14	NO	M. Jenkins	CB/S	Ohio State
15	HOU	C.Matthews	DE/OLB	USC
16	SD	R. Maualuga	ILB	USC
17	NYJ	J. Freeman	QB	Kansas St.
18	DEN	T. Jackson	DE	LSU
19	TB	P.Jerry	DT	Ole Miss
20	DET	M. Oher	OT	Ole Miss
21	PHI	E. Britton	OT	Arizona
22	MIN	R. Ayers	DE	Tennessee
23	NE	J. Laurinaitis	ILB	Ohio State
24	ATL	A. Maybin	DE/OLB	Penn State
25	MIA	D. Butler	CB	Connecticut
26	BAL	P.Harvin	WR	Florida
27	IND	E. Hood	DT	Missouri
28	PHI	C. Wells	RB	Ohio State
29	NYG	K. Britt	WR	Rutgers
30	TEN	H. Nicks	WR	UNC
31	ARI	K.Moreno	RB	Georgia
32	PIT	M. Unger	C/G	Oregon

 

I might be wrong but I don’t think there is a team that doesn’t get a great player in a position they need to fill.

That being said I doubt that all these teams keep their picks.  I think this years draft we will see trades flying all over the place including current players and future picks.  Teams with High picks trading down (KC, SEA, CLE, JAX,) and teams trading up to get the player they might want (MIN, NYJ, WAS, JAX).

It’s certainly gonna be interesting.   

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