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Published on 04/27/2012 at Fri Apr 27 22:39.
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Roundtable: BT breaks down Rounds 2-3

Posted Fri Apr 27th by

Ronnie Hillman

San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman jumps into the end zone for a touchdown against New Mexico in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in San Diego. San Diego State beat New Mexico 35-7. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

I asked the BroncoTalk staff four simple questions. Here are each of their answers (of those staffers available):

Tim Lynch

Thoughts on Day 2 of the draft: I like both Derek Wolfe and Ronnie Hillman, but Brock Osweiler is a head scratcher. A friend of mine summed it up perfectly for me when he said that we essentially traded one developmental quarterback for a late round draft pick and then used a second rounder to draft a developmental quarterback anyway. It makes little sense, but I certainly hope it works out.

Favorite pick: Ronnie Hillman. Even though Lamar Miller was on the board, this guy seems to be an undervalued diamond in the rough that could pay huge dividends for the Broncos. I also really like Derek Wolfe, as you can’t put a grade on a player’s relentlessness. You’ve got to respect and love that in any player, so I’m happy with that even if it was a bit of a reach.

Least favorite pick: John Elway’s Godson. Hate it and will continue to hate it until he is either proven to be a franchise quarterback or until we draft his replacement very high in the first round 3-4 years from now.

Grade: D+ with a side of headscratcher.

Jon Heath

Thoughts on day two: I’m wishing now that we would have gone Dont’a Hightower in round one and Courtney Upshaw in round two. I really like Derek Wolfe and Brock Osweiler will probably grow on me (as will Ronnie Hillman), but they certainly weren’t sexy picks.

Favorite pick is definitely Wolfe, the kid seems to be a stud. He can get after the quarterback and can help against the run.

Least favorite pick is Osweiler. Not because of anything he has or hasn’t done, but simply because I don’t like drafting a quarterback that high in year one with Peyton Manning. I felt that the team should have gone after a QB in one-to-two years down the road after addressing the defense this year.

Grade: I hate grading drafts before even seeing the players in action live, and I would prefer to wait before casting judgement on this draft class. That’s not a fair answer though, so I’ll say B-. You can all throw rocks at me now for being a homer.

Christopher Hart

Thoughts: Denver took a swing and missed big time. Plan A? This was Plan F. I don’t mind Osweiler as a developmental quarterback, but you don’t take a QB that high unless you think he is going to start soon. We can only hope that Osweiler can be our Aaron Rodgers by sitting and learning from the best.

Favorite Pick: Ronnie Hilmann, RB — San Diego State. I don’t question the player, just the value. Hillman will be a great change of pace back for the Broncos and gives Peyton Manning a formidable receiving option from the backfield. His speed, acceleration and agility are second to none in this draft. He has game changing ability, and his tool-set may also make him a potential prospect for special teams on returns.

Least Favorite Pick: Derek Wolfe, DT — Cincinatti. A one-trick pony with marginal athleticism. He was able to get sacks in college because he reads and anticipates the play well, not because he has great moves or overpowers lineman. Unfortunately, being strong mentally won’t make him a difference maker in the NFL. Lacks the quickness and strength to get by double-teams. A case of a great college player who will be an average pro. He will be out of the NFL before his rookie contract is up.

Grade: D

David East

Thoughts on Day 2 of the draft: The Broncos were uplifted by the play of Tim Tebow last year, there is no doubt about that. However, by passing on talent like Dont’a Hightower, Doug Martin, Devon Still, and Mike Martin, the Broncos front office show they believe that Tebow deserves a small portion of the credit for the success the Broncos had last year. The Broncos showed they had a lot of faith in their current roster by not upgrading at linebacker, corner, defensive tackle, or safety. Denver traded down on day one so they didn’t have to reach, but they reached on every pick they had on day two. The Broncos could have still had Doug Martin, Derek Wolfe, and Jerel Worthy on day two if they had played their cards right.

Favorite pick: Derek Wolfe. Wolfe has the ability to start on day one and make a big impact.

Least favorite pick? Brock Osweiler. I’ve watched a lot of tape on Osweiler and he is a huge project. Elway traded Tebow for a fourth because he was too much of project, and then he drafts Osweiler with a second. I don’t really understand that logic. Tebow has almost started more games in the NFL (14) than Osweiler has in college (15).

Grade: D

Thanks fellas. So, your turn. Thoughts on the draft so far? Favorite pick? Least favorite pick? Grade for Day 2?

  • NateDBfan88

    How does this receive a D when the first 2 receive decent if not good reviews?

  • NateDBfan88

    Please dont become teachers, my grades depend on it.

  • http://twitter.com/mdierk Matt Dierking

    I give it a grade of F+.  All reaches and better talent available.  They need to destroy their draft board.

  • http://twitter.com/TimLynch1978 Tim Lynch

    Because I absolutely hate the QB pick. :P  I had a solid B+ if I discount that pick…

    I could be kneejerking.  No wait, I AM kneejerking, but I am a fan first.  Always. :)

  • http://twitter.com/TimLynch1978 Tim Lynch

    Silver lining is we still got a DT and RB.  They just need to pan out. lol

  • Anonymous

    Gets a grade SUCK….horrendous day…and Elway screwed yesterday by missing on Martin when the Bucs hoodwinked him. pathetic.

  • Laurabee Samuel

    i like all of the picks. first and foremost, hillman. the kid seems like a straight up monster(minus the size). the wolfe pic was cool by me. hist numbers are quite impressive for a young college DT, although worthy and stills were still on the board, no body else has the drive and want as this kid. osweiler was an interesting choice. he has a lot of work, however the kid is young(my age) and has skills better than some of the other QB’s at that point. plus, he is sitting behind probably the best in the NFL for then next 2 years(i’d say). if we can i think we should still pull for robert turbin. the kid is a beast. and with the age of mcgahee, those two can be the next turner and sproles, or for an somewhat more bronco analogy, ruben droughns and mike anderson effect(both ran for over 1000 yards in 2004). we have something going for us. because we havnt gotten the “name brand,” dosnt mean anything, im excited for the upside of the kids we got. they are YOUNG; derek wolfe, probable starter at 22(this year), ronnie hillman, possible starter in 2012 at 20yrs old or more likely STARTER in 2013 at 21 yrs old(the kid is like 5 months older than me), and osweiler….. everyone seems to have the most problem with him, he is only 22, and he IS A GOOD PLAYER. he could start in other programs, and he will be behind the best in peyton manning(still a weird thing to think), he WILL be the starter in 2014 at the age of 24. those are my thoughts about the situation we find ourselves. still think we should trade to the beginning of the 3rd and grab turbin.

  • MiKey55

    to compare the massive overhaul of a project that tim tebow is to brock osweiler is a little bit of a reach. Brock Osweiler for one can throw the ball everywhere on the field, with decent accuracy. His game tape shows that he is inexperienced at playing QB but his the skillset was there. As for Tebow the experience was there but the skill set to throw the ball obviously wasn’t. I’m going agaisnt the grain and liking the osweiler pick, maybe a little early I can see the argument there.

  • http://thingsatrexdoes.tumblr.com Mike Birtwistle

    I wanted player x and they picked player y.

    grade F

  • Tom9798

    I bleed orange and will support the team forever, but this really is a head scratcher.
     
    I thought I was dreaming (and the girl from Braveheart was saying wake-up Tom, wake up Tom . . . yeah . . yeah . . . that’s the ticket)  . . .
     
    and I woke up and we passed on Orakpo and took Moreno . . . then we took McBath and Quinn . . . and then Brandstater  . . . but this wasn’t 09’  . . . this is 12’ . . whew, I said.
     
    And then we took Wolfe and Osweiler and Hillman . . . and I’m sure the best is yet to come.
     
    Is this some type of serial nightmare?
     
    Yeah, I know their all good, or they wouldn’t be drafted by the Denver Broncos.
     
    A bunch of people spend hundreds of hours putting together the mysterious and all knowing draft board . . . and you want me to believe that this is what you planned for and came up with?
     
    So the plan was, pass on all the Pro-bowl Impact players, drop out of the 1st round, and choose project players that might help us in 2014?
     
    Wow!  Hope the other teams don’t catch on to our plan!

  • stav

    Yeah, C-, C grade at best? Hillman is a small scatback but he’s speed out of the backfield, Osweiler? Wont see him for four years probably and that’s if they can develop him. Wolfe? I guess. We were all looking at Still or Worthy, but the two things I can say about him is that he’s good at shooting the gaps, and what you read about both Still and Worthy, “disappears at times, takes plays off”, i never read anything like that about Wolfe. I think he needs to put on 20-25 ilbs though.

  • flbronc

    i love the sky is falling mentality here…  they aren’t names i would have picked, but then agian i have never watched their tape or worked any of them out…  we havent even seen these kids in camp yet, much less in a game.

  • http://twitter.com/ArmchairPhenom Craig Taylor

    Yes I see the world through blue and orange sunglasses, but the more I study and watch highlights I am becoming a believer.  I hate this saying but here goes….  I am drinking the KoolAid…. In Elway I trust.  I think the Hillman pick is going to pay HUGE dividends.  Shady McCoy comes to mind.

  • Mannydute

    How does Hart back up his comments on Derek Wolfe? He lacks strength? Strength and conditioning athlete of the year in college football, but he lacks strength according to hart. The scouting report on Wolfe has always been non stop motor, powerful and relentless. He lacks quickness. There is no accounting for mental toughness and this guy has loads of it. Reminds me of another young guy who is definitely not the most talented guy and was doubted when picked last year, but because of his energy and lack of fear became one of the top players on his team – Kenneth Faried.

  • AtomicLeo

    Thoughts: The FO screwed up round one yesterday. Either Hightower or Martin would have started in September. That’s what the first round is about, getting immediate starters. Of the two I absolutely hated the trade with Tampa Bay to lose Martin. EFX inexperience showed up; it’s a lot tougher to get quality at #25 vs. #2. I hope that they learn from this moving forward. I was O.K. with the round 2-3 picks. We have 2 guys that will be part of the rotation in September and our backup QB. I think the backup QB position is more important than many of the starting positions. If he morphs into a starter, then it’s a homerun pick. 

    Favorite Pick: Wolfe. Didn’t hear about the guy before the draft, but I certainly liked what I saw in highlight film. EFX are building a pressure the QB first defense. Wolfe fits with that philosophy.

    Least Favorite Pick – I don’t hate of the picks they made including Osweiler (Ugh gonna have to learn how to spell that!). For those fans complaining about reaching for RB in third. They may have after losing out on Martin and they didn’t 

    Grade: C/C- I don’t see an every down starter in any of these picks unless Osweiler becomes the future QB.

  • Virginiabronco

    $$$$$.  All the money went to Peyton.  What did anyone expect to happen?

  • areferee

    Thoughts on the day:  Recalling some of NFL Draft History…

    1st Round Picks:
    Jarvis Moss
    Patrick Ramsey
    Ryan Leaf
    JaMarcus Russell
    Art Schlichter

    6th Round Picks:
    Terrell Davis
    Tom Brady

    7th Round Pick:
    Shannon Sharpe

    12th Round Pick:
    Karl Mecklenberg

    Favorite Pick:  ?
    Least Favorite Pick:  ?
    Grade:  ?
     
    TO BE DETERMINED

  • kerry

    wow. i actually like these picks and everybody hates them. what the hell is going on here?!

    Wolfe is a terror and will be great and Hillman seems to be a Darren Sproles type. cant believe people hate on a strong athletic DT with non-stop motor and NO off the field issues. and a RB who is gonna be a Darren Sproles type RB who also has toughness to carry the ball 15-20 times a game. he averaged, i think i read, 24 carries a game…. not too bad for a guy his size.

    but onto Osweiler. question is: do the Broncos think he is a franchise QB? the answer is yes. this pick is good for two reasons and ill explain why.

    1). he is gonna sit and learn from one of the greatest ever. experience like that only helps, not hurts a players growth. (see Aaron Rogers and Brady learned from Bledsoe as he has repeatedly said Bledsoe was a great mentor)

    2). we still dont know if Mannings neck is gonna be able to withstand a brutal hit and therefore having a QB with talent waiting  is a good thing. Hanie and Weber arent gonna inspire anyone but Osweiler might because he is gifted with accuracy, mobility and a strong arm. this is an excellent pick but thought of as bad to most ONLY because they are in the win now mode as opposed to win now AND have a solid QB for the future.

    oh to anyone who thinks we abandoned a project for a project, you are sorely mistaken and downright asinine. Osweiler isnt gonna have to be taught how to throw a ball at the NFL level, or have to be taught basic footwork. Osweiler already has that and therefore is ahead of Tebow in anything having to do with mechanics. the difference is experience due to Tebows collegiate time and Osweilers lack of collegiate time.

    so relax everyone. just because we didnt get an immediate starter doesnt mean it was a bad pick either. Elway is being paid to win now and to also think about and plan for the future at the same time.

  • Anonymous

    I agree that Topher Hart’s evaluation of Wolfe is dead wrong.  He does have a non stop motor and is a strong as a horse. If he is shut down by a double team, at least it will leave Von Doom with one on one matchups.  I love the Wolfe pick

  • Anonymous

     Thanks for putting it in perspective!

  • Anonymous

     I disagree with him not being a project.  He worked out of the shotgun most of the time and his throwing motion is weird.  He will be a work in progress, but I am liking this pick more and more

  • Anonymous

     I disagree with him not being a project.  He worked out of the shotgun most of the time and his throwing motion is weird.  He will be a work in progress, but I am liking this pick more and more

  • matthew_s54

    3 words for me. It’s too early. I can’t judge this draft class yet. There’s tons of potential and upside, but the guys just have to show hard work and dedication to get the most out of their talents.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    There is plenty of money left to pay rookies, that had nothing to do with the decisions made.