To say the Denver Broncos have had a crazy and turbulent offseason would be an understatement. In a surprise move long-time head coach Mike Shanahan, who had won two Super Bowls with the team, was fired and while everyone anticipated the start of a new era in Denver nobody expected the type of drastic, sweepings changes that were to come. Despite boasting one of the worst defenses in the league the Broncos still finished with an 8-8 record and just narrowly missed the playoffs so it appeared as though Patriots wunderkind Josh McDaniels was taking over a team on the verge of contending. Unfortunately McDaniels got off to a rocky start with his quarterback Jay Cutler and with the two sides unable to kiss and make-up the organization was forced to trade it’s 25-year-old star player to Chicago for a handful of draft picks. All of the sudden the Broncos had a major question mark on offense to go along with that disaster they called a defense. On the bright side Denver had a nice cache of draft picks to try and rebuild their team and they needed to come through with a big-time effort if they hoped to offset a wave of negative momentum.

   Thanks to the Cutler deal the Broncos had two picks in round one and they used the first on Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno. A versatile, productive and super competitive prospect who almost everyone had rated as either the best or second best running back in the draft, Moreno should be an instant starter for the Broncos. With that said, I have some issues with the pick. In today’s NFL where running backs are seemingly a dime a dozen and you can get 1,200 yard rushers like Matt Fortè in round two or Steve Slaton in round three was Moreno really the type of guy you take with the 12th pick in the entire draft? In my opinion if you’re going to select a running back that early he had better be special, a la Adrian Peterson, or at least have some special qualities and I just don’t see that in Moreno. There is little doubt that Moreno's going to have a great 2009 season and he might be the Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner because he is in such a great situation but I’m not so sure they couldn’t have gotten similar production from the position with a guy like LeSean McCoy in round two. Considering how bad their defense was / is I find it hard to stomach passing on both the best pass rusher (Brian Orakpo) and best defensive back (Malcolm Jenkins) in the draft to take a running back.

   With their next choice Denver did opt for some defensive help in the form of Tennessee’s Robert Ayers. An underachiever for most of his Vols career, Ayers didn’t earn a starting job until his senior year but really made a name for himself with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. In fact, no prospect improved their stock more in the months leading up to the draft than Ayers. However, Ayers wasn’t particularly productive in college with just 9.0 career sacks (only 3.0 in 2008) and while his physical tools and measurables are adequate they certainly aren’t eye-popping. Also, it remains to be seen how well Ayers will fit in as an outside linebacker in the Broncos 3-4 defense because he wasn’t necessarily pegged as a guy who would be a natural fit in that scheme. The bottom line is if Ayers can continue to play like he did at the Senior Bowl then he has a chance to justify being drafted where he was but there is some serious bust potential there as well. The Broncos are basically devoid of defensive playmakers so Ayers, who is already one of their best pass rushers, should be able to make an instant impact and win a starting job in short order.

   In round two the Broncos may have made a big mistake when they traded their first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to Seattle so they could select Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith. Even though he lacks the ideal height and timed speed you look for Smith is a true playmaker in the secondary and just a good all-around football player. Smith was a solid value at #37 overall and he should see a lot of action and contribute as the Broncos #3 corner as a rookie but you have to question the wisdom of trading what could be a Top 10 overall pick for a guy who may never be more than a nickel type in the NFL. If the Broncos are as bad as many think they’ll be in 2009 they will likely regret this deal long-term. Later in round two Denver brought in some more help for their secondary when they chose Texas Tech S Darcel McBath. A converted cornerback, McBath isn’t the most physical safety around but he excels in coverage and while the casual fan might not have been very familiar with him he was considered to be a fringe-Day One value. McBath will likely be groomed as the future starter at free safety and don’t be surprised if he pushes Renaldo Hill for that job at some point as a rookie. The Broncos then made a deal to acquire the final pick of round two, which they used to select North Carolina TE Richard Quinn. A virtual unknown to many, the Tar Heels used Quinn as a blocking specialist and he only caught 12 balls over the course of his entire college career. Quinn is actually a better receiver than his stat line would lead you to believe but in Denver blocking will continue to be his top priority. Despite flying under the radar throughout most of the process Quinn was expected to be either a second or third round pick so value-wise it’s hard to knock the choice but didn’t the Broncos have more pressing needs than a backup tight end? This was yet another questionable move by Denver, especially when you factor the trade into the equation.

   Denver had two picks in round four and they used the first to add Notre Dame S David Bruton. On paper Bruton looks like the total package at 6-2 and 219 pounds with 4.4 speed but he struggles in coverage, doesn’t play as fast as his forty time would suggest and has hands of stone. A smart, physical player with top-notch intangibles, Bruton is an in-the-box type and probably profiles as more of a backup in the pros but he could be groomed as Brian Dawkins eventual successor at strong safety. As an added bonus Bruton also has Pro Bowl potential as a gunner on special teams. Later in round four the Broncos bolstered their offensive line depth by selecting Iowa’s Seth Olsen, who projects as a guard but could also play right tackle in a pinch. A bit of an overachiever, Olsen compensates for his lack of ideal physical tools by doing all the little things and he also has a good pedigree after being coached by noted o-line guru Kirk Ferentz. In round five Denver opted for a wide receiver when they chose South Carolina’s Kenny McKinley. A productive pass catcher with adequate size and good speed, McKinley is a product of the Steve Spurrier system and will have to overcome that stigma but he has the talent to be a nice slot receiver. The Broncos already have quite a few wideouts on their roster so McKinley isn’t a lock to make the team but he will compete for the #5 or #6 job as a rookie.

   Many thought the Broncos would try to trade up for Mark Sanchez, who would have been an ideal replacement for Jay Cutler both on and off the field, but instead they waited until the sixth round to tab Fresno St. QB Tom Brandstater as a developmental signal caller. An intriguing prospect who actually carried a higher grade heading into his senior year, Brandstater has all of the physical tools and intangibles you look for and after playing for four different offensive coordinators in four years a little stability could go a long way towards helping him unlock his potential. Josh McDaniels made his reputation by developing Matt Cassel, another late round pick, in New England and people will be expecting him to do the same thing with Brandstater but that isn’t very realistic. Maybe McDaniels is a genius and in time he’ll turn Brandstater into a quality starting quarterback but the odds are against it and he may never be more than a backup. As a rookie Brandstater will carry a clipboard behind Kyle Orton and Chris Simms. With their final pick of the draft Denver took a flyer on T.C.U. “Workout Warrior” Blake Schlueter, an undersized but very quick and athletic center. A perfect fit for the Broncos zone blocking scheme, Schlueter could compete with Kory Lichtensteiger to be the long-term successor to Casey Wiegmann, who is going to be 36-years-old at the start of the 2009 season.

   Despite owning an impressive collection of premium picks, including 5 of the Top 64, the Broncos came through with a rather lackluster showing in the 2009 NFL Draft. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of their effort is that they used six of their ten selections on offensive players even though their defense was embarrassingly bad last year and is currently undergoing a major overhaul. Now that’s not to say they didn’t land some good football players who will contribute immediately as well as in the future but considering their extensive list of needs and ample compilation of draft picks they should have done much better. Denver still has some glaring holes, especially on defense, and the fact that they have already traded away their first round pick in next year’s draft is disconcerting to say the least. This new Broncos regime has really gone out on a limb with some of their personnel decisions this offseason and they did nothing to quell the concerns some have about their ability to run the franchise on Draft Day.