Denver Broncos - AFC West, 2008 Draft Selections & Prospects
Denver Broncos
The Draft Was ... Solid, and will be better on the field
than it looks on paper. ASU RB Ryan Torain was a perfect-fit
selection in the first round. Kent State CB Jack Williams is a
player, and O linemen Ryan Clady and Kory Lichtensteiger will be
plugged in right away to protect Jay Cutler. Best Value Pick: Josh Barrett, S Arizona State. 7th
Round. The measureables are there for him to grow into a role.
He had a rough senior season, but with sub-4.4 wheels and
excellent size, he was certainly worth the seventh round flier. Biggest Reach: Eddie Royal, WR Virginia Tech. 2nd Round.
His return skills might have had as much to do with the pick as
his receiving talent, but he's too small and he's not the
speedster Denver will need him to be. They Should've ... Taken DeSean Jackson over Royal. If
you're going to go small, go with blazing warp speed. Malcolm
Kelly and Limas Sweed were still on the board, too.
#
Pick
12
12
1st Round Ryan
Clady, OT Boise State
A little thought about recruit, Clady turned into pure gold for
Boise State as he was a dominant all-around blocker from the
start. He proved in the Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma that he
could produce at the highest level with a fantastic performance,
and he was consistently fantastic his entire career. Arguably
the best pass blocker in the draft, he's quick on his feet and
can pound away when needed. Already a great prospect, he could
be a perennial Pro Bowl performer if he becomes a bit more
physical. CFN Projection: First Round
CFN Position Rank: 2
11
42
2nd Round
Eddie Royal, WR Virginia Tech
An attractive prospect because of his return ability as much as
his receiving skills, he never really blew up as a college
target, but that was because Virginia Tech wasn't exactly Texas
Tech when it came to throwing the ball. He has good speed, but
not elite wheels, and he's not big enough to take any sort of a
pounding across the middle. He'll bust his tail to find a role
somewhere and could eventually become a nice option in the slot.
He'll be an underwhelming No. 2 but a great No. 3 CFN Projection: Mid-Third to Fourth Round
CFN Position Rank: 14
20
119
4th Round
Jack Williams, CB Kent State
While he's not huge, at just 5-9 and 186 pounds, he throws his
body around well and makes a ton of tackles. An ultra-productive
four-year starter, he closed out with a brilliant 93-tackle
campaign as he did more than ever for the run defense despite
being hurt and playing through some big problems. Speed is
hardly a problem with 4.44 wheels, and he has improved when the
ball was in the air. CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN
Position Rank:8
4
139
5th Round
Ryan Torain, RB Arizona State
Patience is a virtue. Torain could be a fantastic mid-round
investment with a big payoff down the road. At 6-0 and 213
pounds with nice speed, he has the measurables. They might not
be first round skills, but they're more than good enough to be
an NFL starter. He's a hard runner who can catch the ball and
will do whatever is asked of him. But he's hurt. A foot injury,
needing to undergo Lisfranc surgery in the middle of last
season, he likely won't be the player he should become by 2009
at the earliest. When he's right, he'll be an excellent No. 2
back. CFN Projection: Fifth Round
CFN
Position Rank: 13
13
148
5th Round
Carlton Powell, DT Virginia Tech
He was fine over the last few years, but he didn't dominate like
he should've. At 6-2 and 288 pounds he doesn't have the
space-eater body to be a must-have prospect, and he's not in
good enough shape to be the type of athlete who'll make a push
into the backfield. He might be good in short bursts, but he
can't be used for more than a few plays in a row. CFN Projection: Late Sixth Round to Early Seventh
CFN
Position Rank: 20
17
183
6th Round
Spencer Larsen, ILB Arizona
An ultra-productive overachiever with nice size, good toughness,
and the smarts and leadership to be someone's main man in the
middle for a long time if he gets help around him. Not the best
of athletes and not the biggest of hitters, he struggles in pass
coverage and can get blown up at times, but he makes up for his
deficiencies with his drive and effort. He's the type of guy you
want on your team. CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN
Position Rank: 16
13
220
7th Round
Josh Barrett, SS Arizona State
4.36. Barrett was a decent prospect at 6-2 and 223 pounds with
strong run stopping skills, and he showed the versatility to
play either safety spot, and then he ripped off a 4.36 40 and
his stock jumped through the roof. Now he has to play up to his
measurables. He had a weird senior season as he didn't play well
at times, disappeared for long stretches in games, and then came
up with just enough big moments to leave everyone wanting more.
On athleticism alone he'll be a great pickup, but he'll need a
kick in the pants from time to time. CFN Projection: Second Round CFN
Position Rank: 4
20
227
7th Round Peyton Hillis, FB Arkansas
His money will be made as a receiver. A decent blocker, but not
a special one, and not an NFL power runner, he'll find a role as
a receiver out of the backfield. CFN Projection: Fifth Round CFN
Position Rank: 2
