And with the 42nd pick in the 2008 Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos select:
Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett
styg50 with the pick:
Yeah, I'm reaching, but VandyWest is inevitable, so I'm just gonna ride the wave. Besides, if you HOMERS can reach for Jordy Nelson, then I feel alright reaching, oh, about 15 picks to take the most all around NFL ready WR in the draft.
Let's be clear here, I'm not taking Earl because he can light anyone up with his speed, or overpower anyone with his brute strength. If anything, I wish he were a bit bigger and faster, but then, this wouldn't be a reach if he was. :) The Vandy connection is good, and there is the potential for something special there, but that isn't what this pick is about.
Brandon Marshall went off last year, and in the eyes of the Bronco's faithful, he will be a force to be reckoned with, but in my eyes, he is unproven. He had a field day while Walker/Stokely drew the other teams best coverage guys, but from now on, he will be facing #1 corners, and unless we get a REAL #2 threat, he will be facing double teams as well. Enter Earl Bennett. The consumate #2.
To be fair, Earl would be a stellar slot option from day one on almost any team, but for the Broncos he is uniquely suited to what they have traditionally asked the #2 to do, i.e, run solid intermediate routes, uncover well and present a reliable target to the QB underneath, and be ready to work for a first down. Oh, and block like a mofo. Earl does all of this well, especially his routerunning, which is his strongest quality. And he could move to slot after 3-4 years, when Stokely's contract is up, buying Denver plenty of time to pursue the ever elusive burner WR that can challenge the safeties, and which we can't seem to target correctly, ever (Nash, Lelie, Walker, etc.)
We don't need flash or stars right now. We need a consistent, tough, DEPENDABLE receiver to draw attention from Marshall and provide an outlet for Cutler. We want Earl.
Now, does anyone have any ideas for an ILB we could look at next???? ;)
1. Miami Dolphins - QB Matt Ryan
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland Raiders - DE Chris Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - DL Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin
12. Denver Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall
15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Philip Merling
18. Houston Texans - OG Branden Albert
19. Philadelphia Eagles - FS Kenny Phillips
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR/RS DeSean Jackson
21. Washington Redskins - WR Limas Sweed
22. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OL Gosder Cherilus
24. Tennessee Titans - WR Devin Thomas
25. Seattle Seahawks - WR Malcolm Kelly
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Lawrence Jackson
27. San Diego Chargers - RB Jonathan Stewart
28. Dallas Cowboys - CB Aqib Talib
29. San Francisco 49ers - WR Mario Manningham
30. Green Bay Packers - CB Brandon Flowers
31. New York Giants - LB Jerod Mayo
32. Miami Dolphins - OT Carl Nicks
33. St. Louis Rams - CB Antoine Cason
34. Atlanta Falcons - QB Brian Brohm
35. Kansas City Chiefs - WR Jordy Nelson
36. New York Jets - DE Quentin Groves
37. Atlanta Falcons - OT Sam Baker
38. Baltimore Ravens - CB Justin King
39. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Kentwan Balmer
40. New Orleans Saints - LB Dan Connor
41. Buffalo Bills - TE Martin Rucker
42. Denver Broncos - WR Earl Bennett
Position count: QB (2), Off. tackle (7), Off. guard (1), Def. tackle (3), Def. end (5), Running back (4), Linebacker (3), Corner back (7), Safety (1), Wide receiver (7), Tight end (1)
On the clock: Carolina Panthers (stag)