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Published on 04/25/2009 at Sat Apr 25 18:17.
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Broncos Trade 2010 First Rounder to Select DB Alphonso Smith

Posted Sat Apr 25th by

The Denver Broncos weren’t expected to be on the clock when they selected DB Alphonso Smith early in the second round. But they saw something in the 5’9″, 193 lb. cornerback that made them trade their natural 2010 first round draft pick (not the Chicago Bears‘ pick they received in the Jay Cutler trade) to get him.

Smith, a senior hailing from Wake Forest, was extremely productive in college, tallying a whopping 20 interceptions for his career. He was also disruptive in the backfield, notching nine sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles in his career. Smith will also make an impact on special teams, where he was a capable kickoff returner for the Demon Deacons, averaging 20.7 yards per return.

Like the player, hate the cost. This was a weak draft class to begin with; why trade a potentially high – possibly top 10 – first round draft pick next year for a second round corner this year? I’m livid at whoever suggested and green lit this trade; it should have been laughed out of the Broncos’ war room. Quotes from Smith after the jump.

On disappointment in falling to second round

“Honestly, I came into (the draft) expecting the worst, which is to be a second round pick. I am kind of disappointed, but being that Denver drafted me at 37 I couldn’t care less now because it’s one of the teams I preferred to go to; along with Atlanta for location reasons and the Miami Dolphins for the location. Denver was one of the teams I really wanted to play for and just having a chance to play with (CB) Champ (Bailey) and (S) Renaldo Hill, and my favorite player in the league is (S) Brian Dawkins. So, just to be in the same locker room and meeting room with those guys is truly a pleasure. And now that it’s all over, I couldn’t care less.”

On how he’ll contribute immediately as a rookie

“I have the attitude that I’m trying to come in and start right away, to be honest with you. That’s the way I’m going to approach this thing and if it happens, it’ll be great, but if not, if that’s not the case I started all four years at nickel at Wake Forest and I think I’m pretty good at it. I think I’ll be able to make an immediate impact with that being said.”

On his game

“I’m really instinctive and what I think separated me from the other corners was, I understand the game. I’m really smart, I take calculated risks instead of – I get coined as a “gambler” sometimes, but I know when I can do. I think that’s one of the things that attracted Coach (Josh) McDaniels and (Secondary) Coach Ed Donatell to me, and (Defensive Coordinator) Coach Mike Nolan is that I’m a pretty savvy football player and instinctive.”

On how playing with veterans will help his game

“One of the reasons I was so attracted to Denver, I was like ‘Oh, my God, I’m going to be in the same locker with (CB) Champ Bailey, (S) Brian Dawkins, (S) Renaldo Hill.’ All of these guys have played more than five years. They know the game. And just being a rookie, it’s the best situation coming in. And I think, with that being said, I’ll add a little pressure to myself; I might have the best rookie season out of the cornerbacks.”

On LB Aaron Curry

“What makes (LB) Aaron Curry a special player is that this kid is the hardest working kid I’ve ever seen and he’s one of the smartest kids. Aaron Curry, you can just look at him and the tape explains it all about him; I don’t need to say much about him. What I will allude to is, all Wake Forest Players are like that. Smart guys who play extremely hard and guys that have the knack for making plays and that’s Aaron Curry and myself. That’s our mode, the Wake Forest guys; smart, play like our hair is on fire and we’re just good guys all around.”

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  • robtink242

    hey Shanny never had great drafts but at least he knew value.

  • http://broncomadness.com Garrett Barnes

    Whenever you see a pick like that, you know that somebody feels very confident he is a star. And in reality it is probably Josh McDaniels. I don’t think that pick was ever to be used next year but was bait for this year. McDaniels wants to win now and is not willing to wait for an impact player next year but instead, one this year.

  • robtink242

    how the HELL are we getting our franchise QB. this was the only thing we could of rely on if, our season wasn’t good.

  • Matt

    first round picks are overrated~

    /sarcasm off.

  • J

    Xanders will get the can if the draft class does not pan out and McD will take over as GM. Just like Shanny right???

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I have to agree 100% with Kyle. Even if this kid is another CB in the model of D-Will, it isn’t worth a possible top ten pick next year.

    And as for Shanahan’s history in the draft. You can claim a lot of bad years, but recently I’d have to say: Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal, Ryan Clady. Those are all pro-bowl players picked in last couple of years. I think you should cut Shanahan some slack… he built the offense we now have (or had) through the draft.

    On another note… I’m really over McD. I told my wife that if our second pick was an offensive guy (like our first pick), I’d be boycotting the Broncos this year… and I meant it.

    He’s JUST about pissed me off to a point where I’m considering watching the Texans or Chicago until Bowlen wises up and fires the McKid.

  • Kurt

    $10 McDumbs$$t walks into Bowens office on Monday and quits, saying “I was sent to destroy this franchise by Belnichick. Mission acomplished!”. I’m dead serious.

  • kerry

    fuck my life. i hate this coach and these picks. Knowshow maybe a badass. but not at the 12 pick. not with Orakpo still there.

  • referee

    OK. I’m convinced. Josh McDaniels and his entire administration don’t know their *ss from page eight. Bowlen’s gamble is imploding as we speak. I can’t wait to hear him “spin” his way out of this one. I think I’ll take some time off from following the Broncos now. They have earned the fan dissent that will continue to grow after all of their mistakes. Today has proven that they don’t know what they’re doing.

  • Tom9798

    Kurt . . . 100% right on! . . . McDuschebag totally has ignored the 3-4 defense . . . our need for an NT . . . . our need for pass-rushers . . . and what we are left with is the same mediocre run-stopping defense we had the last two years! . . . mission accomplished!

  • Jason

    You guys must have studied tape on these guys and been at minicamp. Obviously you have real inside information to make these kind of predictions.
    Not a game played and we’re haters? What are we? Jet fans? Eagle fans?

    Come on people Josh just left NE where Bill, while being an ass, was more than capable of putting together incredible teams every year. Josh did not get the job because he was a slacker, idiot or opportunist. He’s a coach, he may suck, but let him prove it before you start trading in your jerseys. I live near Kansas City, the fans here suck. Please stop reminding me of them.

  • http://www.dbaumgartner.com daveb

    So, let’s see. Draft a RB…’cause we didn’t have enough of those. Then go get TWO CB’s (short there too..especially so short we can give up a first round pick for a second round pick…great math there). And be sure we address that need in the front seven.

    I was on the McD bandwagon until this draft. He ruined my day and the Broncos’ chances to build a great defense. What was he thinking letting Orakpo go when Morena would have still been there at 18. Ridiculous!!

  • Joe H.

    Man,nobody knows how these draft choices will turn out!! Just because you don’t like them dosen’t mean they won’t be good!!! Maulaugua lasted all the way to the second round,there had to be a reason that every team passed on him until the second round!! It could take a year or two before these picks can become effective.WOW Denver just traded into the 2nd round again!!!! Tell me now that they aren’t trying to improve right now!!!!!

  • Joe H.

    Ok now I am confused,we must be getting rid of either Scheffler or Graham because we just traded into the 2nd round for another TE!!!!

  • kerry

    WE JUST TRADED AND GOT A TE??????!!!! WHAT THE F**K DIE MCDANIELS. I HATE MCDANIELS

  • kerry

    yeah Joe they really improved by selecting a TE!!! PFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTT

  • http://www.dbaumgartner.com daveb

    I can’t watch anymore!

    Joe-the question isn’t if these players will work…but they aren’t what we need. My six year old knows we need to shore up the front seven and they have addressed that with ONE pick so far (even after moving UP twice!).

    Stupid…stupid…stupid!

  • kerry

    this is without a doubt the worst draft ever.

  • referee

    It really doesn’t matter if each of these draft picks turn out to be All Pro at their positions…how do these picks address the needs on our squad? They DON’T. We needed a QB, not an RB…we needed a DE, not a CB. None of what McDaniels has done since he arrived here has made any sense. But I will say this, if he wins in spite of it all, he may keep his job and change a few minds in Broncoland, but he better plan on drafting David Copperfield, because it’s going to take a magician to turn this train wreck into a Denver Zephyr.

  • Matt

    wow… this has got to be a joke.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I also feel the same way. These aren’t BAD players… I just HATE the COST. If were willing to give up our 2010 first AND third round picks for this year’s draft class WHY THE HECK DID WE NOT GET AN NOSE TACKLE!!!!!

  • Matt

    I think McDaniel’s forgot that a football team has a defense all together and unfortunately ours was terrible last year.

  • referee

    Kinda looks like the Bronco website is as good at predicting the start of the JMcD press conference, as JMcD is at predicting ANYTHING!

  • kerry

    we gave up BOTH 3rd rounders to get this f**King TE Quinn!!!!!!!! BOTH 3RD ROUNDERS!!!!!!!! god i hate McDaniels!! what an idiot!!! a F**KING TE??!?!?!?!?!?!?!! fire McDaniels!!!!!!!! FIRE HIM NOW!!!!! NOT ONE D-LINEMEN SELECTED since Ayers is gonna be an OLB. NOT ONE D-LINEMEN!!!!!!!! i thought 6-10 was gonna be our record, im changing that to 3-13 now.

  • robtink242

    TE WHAT Rashad Johnson is still available!!! Damn i don’t believe this. who blocks better than Graham as a TE? Tony is like having a big wide out. We could of even drafted that kid that jumps out of pools. this is bogus

  • Matt

    I had faith in McDaniel’s and supported him through the Cutler trade; but oh boy… he has royally fucked this team.

  • robtink242

    Kerry ease up on that projection he traded our natural number 1 pick. these guys are rookies and they just got molested by all the other GM’s and Coaches

  • referee

    At some point, McDaniels will have to realize that he has traded the Bronco stock DOWN in every decision he has made since coming here, just as Pat Bowlen will eventually have to admit that he traded HIS Bronco stock DOWN in his decision to pick JMcD over MS. McDaniels won’t get all 16 games in 2009 to make it or break it. The clock is already ticking.

  • H. Ham

    Is McDuffus on drugs? He actually traded a first round pick to select a small corned when he could have taken a big, tough proven corner? McDuffus brings new meaning to odd.

  • referee

    One last thought before I take the Broncos off of my “to do” list for 2009: We’ve been screwed and we didn’t even get kissed. Thanks Pat!

  • dbroncos

    I hope we dont have fans over the age of 50, they would have heart attacks the way we are drafting.

  • CJ

    OMG Why and the world would he pass the rack attack ! If Mareno isnt lt imma be pissed

  • Kurt

    Seriously folks, I don’t care how good each player is. If we don’t need them, we don’t need them. How does this make us a better football team? Maybe we score a few more points but we’re gonna give up 80 points a game. We could have had Ayers, Orakpo, and Malagula and we end up with a TE and CB that no one has heard of! I supported Mcduche through the Cuttler road bump but I’m done. Kerry, explain to me how Shannahan is worse than this?

  • soxbigdog

    If they had traded up for Brace, I would have liked it…

    but they signed three defensive backs in the Offseason.. and draft two more on the first day of the draft…

    without addressing the ability to stop the run ?

  • MIAbronco

    i played against alphonso smith in high school. he was a great corner and he was pahokees quarterback too. that guy was overshadowed on his high school team by antoine smith of florida state and anquin boldins little brother. i can proudly say that we beat pahokee my senior year. but what im getting at is that alphonso should have gone to a much better school and the guy would have still produced and probaly been a high pick. i like this pick

  • broncoNM

    Not impressed with this draft stradegy so far… i hope these players workout BUT GMX and MCD have ALOT of explaining and proving to do…. As of now i am extremely disappointed with this draft. We didnt draft great players when they were available and we traded up for NO REASON. I have been in support of McD but this draft is Bull Shit.

  • milehighs`

    CRASH AND BURN!!!!!!!

    BOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

  • kerry

    Kurt:

    its simple. shanahan had one playoff win in ten years and had horrible draft after horrible draft. Shanahan left us a bad team. oh and 24-24 the last three years. Shanahan could have had just as bad a draft this year as McDaniels did.

  • kerry

    everybody is laughing at us. seriously most sports news outlets are laughing at us for the dumb moves we made.

  • roshon2411

    Wow, what a draft! Can’t wait for everyone to join the FireMcDaniels bandwagon. And our natural first next year over the Bears first? That will easily be a top 10 pick. McDaniels must think he has one year to turn this team around. Bring back Shanny! Teams might have been mediocre the last couple years but he did win 2 super bowls and went 13-3 with Jake Plummer as his QB. Two thirds for a TE who is a blocking TE? WTF Well at least the we didn’t have the worst draft, thank you Al Davis! I was thinking i could root for draft position when this team goes 4-12. So I know it wasn’t the bears pick, worse, but now the Jay Cutler trade looks like this:

    Jay Cutler and 5th Round
    for
    Robert Ayers, Alphonso Smith, and Richard Quinn and neck beard.

    Denver got raped! I’ll take the cry baby back any day!

  • Tom9798

    ESPN just picked their winner’s and loser’s in the draft . . . Everyone picked the Bronco’s as a loser . . . what a surprise . . .

    You pass up Orakpo for our 10th running back . . . choose Ayers instead of Maualuga . . . and trade up to #37 . . . that’s right . . . we didn’t trade up to #8 or #9 to get Ragi . . . another position we really needed . . . we trade up to #37 . . . and it get’s better! . . .

    We gave up a 2010 #1 draft pick to MOVE UP to #37 . . . and did we take Brace . . . another position which we needed . . . no, not the Bronco’s . . . we got a 5′9 CB . . . Brace got chosen by the Patriots . . . what a surprise . . . .

    It was Belichick that told McD to always pick the best running back first . . . of course he didn’t mean THIS SEASON FOOL!

    So, we ask . . . where is the 3-4 defense? . . . where is our NT? . . . where is our pass-rushers? . . . how are we different than the team that S.D. scored 52 points against us in total humiliation? . . . .

    ESPN has no clue . . . either do I . . . do you ?

  • robtink242

    wheres a good create a caption of McDaniels thinkin he won in this draft.

  • flbronc

    i was at my wifes best friends wedding today… i had to keep up with the draft on my cell phone. i’m just floored by our selections. i couldnt tell what we traded to to get the 37th, but the fact we gave a first for it is rediculous. then it looks like we trade 2 thirds for the last second and a late fourth…. dont see the logic in that- especially when the guy will be there when we pick in the third.

    i thought mcd would be able to win me over with the draft… not so much.

    i bet scheff goes tomorrow… otherwise why would we take a blocking te in the second round? we know scheff cant block well at the nfl level, so hopefully we get more for him than a box of envelopes.

    i do hope that whoever is calling the shots has some feeling that we can get starting talent on the defensive line late in the draft. unfortunately i have a feeling that we will be trading our 2011 first rounder for some uninflated footballs and a box of eye black. maybe they’ll throw in some pre wrap if we’re lucky.

  • robtink242

    hey Kerry
    Shanny never had a draft this worst at least he finds 1 stud that sticks out to you. we could easily gotten Brian O. It took the skins 26 secs. to select him. including writtin his name and the comish walkin.

  • broncoNM

    wwwwwhhhhyyyyy didnt we snag Orakpo at 12 and hope that moreno was around at 18???? Come on! We totally wasted draft picks today…. Not impressed.

  • DB

    people, people, people…look i’m just as mad and upset as anybody in here. But this is the NFL draft, every player picked up today for any team hasn’t played a down in the NFL. We’re not going to know how good we did today till the season starts. I mean shit, Champ was an late rounder, a sixth rounder if im not mistaken and now look at him, a future HOF corner.

    Don’t get me wrong, i’m here questioning these pick ups as well but we just don’t know yet. I personally, still believe in Mcd. He’s a smart guy, and knows what he is doing. Tomorrow i bet we pick up a DT that ends up being just as good for us as raji or brace would. AND yes we know Shanny would of traded up for raji, which would of been smart but, if we still had shanny, we wouldn’t be switcing to the 3-4.

  • http://broncotalk.net Joe

    DB,
    Champ was the seventh pick in the first round of 1999.

  • roshon2411

    uh… champ was the 7th pick overall

  • broncoNM

    I will say this… McD/GMX are either geniuses OR this is a really bad draft… We will see…

  • DB

    oh my bad, i thought i heard someone say that he was a late rounder….sorry.

    but you get my point, there has been late round draft picks that can make a difference on a football team. Even undrafted players have been sucessful in the NFL.

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