elliot878 Mock #2

[elliot878]

Here's a quick one guys. Maybe quick, but I've thought it through some, and am sticking with realism, no matter how painful it may seem. I'll mention a few of our free agents, only significant signings and walks.

Franchise or Extend Ryan Clady - It'll be one or the other. Either way he's not leaving so I'm not going to bother specifying.

Re-sign Justin Bannan & Brandon Stokley - Both Bannan and Stokley will be back for sure. Bannan was sneaky good this year, and he's a Colorado guy who will probably not be a difficult re-sign. Stokley isn't leaving Manning.

Re-sign David Bruton - Special teams captain, and wont cost more than a million.

Sign Britton Colquitt, and Chris Clark to RFA tenders - The punters not going anywhere, and Chris Clark is developing into a decent backup tackle whose used as a 6th blocker on occasion.

Sign Mitch Unrein and Tony Carter to ERFA tenders - Unrein is becoming a solid rotational piece, and has carved out a role as a goal line fullback as well, which is a nice way to get a little extra value.

Let Kevin Vickerson, Dan Koppen, and Tracy Porter walk. - Yes, Kevin Vickerson will not be back next year. I like him, most people do, but he wont be back. We would have re-signed Bunkley if the front office cared about dishing out cash to the DT position. Fact is they don't, and Vickerson will be given the opportunity to sign elsewhere. Elway and Fox wont care much with Wolfe capable of sliding inside, and with Unrein coming into his own. Dan Koppen will obviously leave to try and find a starting role, and he's the best C on the market, so it just makes sense to test that market for more money than we'll give him to be Walton's backup here. Tracy Porter obviously wont be re-signed.

Denver signs unrestricted free agent Michael Bennett, formerly of the Bucs[/orange] - Bennett has worked his way from undrafted to a starting role with the Bucs. In the last two seasons he has come into his own. He's always shown signs of making an impact in the run game, but the last two years has accumulated tackles for loss, and finally this year, a breakout 9 sack season. He's big enough to keep OL from getting to Von (can't stress the importance of this from our LE), good vs the run, and is coming into his own as a pass rusher. Fills our left end spot beautifully. Wolfe slides inside and our defensive line is a hard working unit that gets to the quarterback from the inside and out. Bucs don't have many FA's to re-sign, so this may be a stretch, but he'd be a very good get for our defense.

2013 Draft
1. Kevin Minter - MLB - LSU - Read instinctive and physical is how he's described by cbs draft scout. I like that, and finding our future MLB is our biggest concern.

2. Travis Frederick - G/C - Wisconsin - Fredericks an animal of an interior lineman. He's gigantic at 6'4 330 and he has skill. He played center this year to replace Peter Konz, but was a guard before that, and a very good one. John Moffit took him under his wing when he got to Wisconsin, and Frederick declared after his junior year. Wisconsin produces very good offensive lineman, and they play physical. Frederick helps our run game a lot, provides very reliable depth in case we suffer some injuries, and if Kuper doesn't come off this surgery well, maybe he even starts from day one.

3. Shawn Williams - SS - Georgia - A leader who does what he's told and will do anything for the team, including play linebacker like he did for a year at Georgia. The type of leader who holds teammates accountable, and has called his defensive teammates out for playing soft. His coaches at Georgia compare him to Thomas Davis (who was awesome before all those injuries). Williams is a versatile safety who can pack a wallop, and also is more than capable in coverage. Has ball skills with 6 picks over the last 2 seasons. He's got good size at 6'0 and 215 pounds.

4. Emory Blake - WR - Auburn - From what I've read he's a good receiver who simply has had bad quarterback play since Cam left Auburn. I'm sure JF27 can fill us all in more on Blake, but this was kind of a plug and play pick for me. Looking for a hidden gem at receiver, and trying to avoid some of the guys who have been named time and time again in mid rounds of mocks. Seems like he'd be good depth, and a potential to move around different receiver positions.

5. Tony Jefferson - S - Oklahoma - I love this kids game. He can get at the running back in the backfield, he can come up and play in the box, and he can make plays in coverage. It seems like he comes to play on game day. The knock however, and I hear its a big one, is that he's not committed to preparing in the offseason, and isn't committed to the weight room like he should be. The rumor is that Sooners coaches have told teams to avoid Jefferson early due to this. If he falls to the end of the 5th I don't have much worry, he'd be value. With the pro's we have in our locker room, especially in the secondary, he'll get the message, and he'll be at training. Champ is very committed to offseason training, so is Chris Harris, and I'd imagine Rahim Moore is as well, as he got way better over the last offseason. I think there's a group of vets in our secondary that will whip this kid into shape, and if/when they do - sky could be the limit.

6. Bunkley trade I think?

7. Christine Michael - RB - Texas A&M - Averaged 4.7 yards per carry last year. Not a ton of wear on him. Size to hold up in a larger role. Thinnk he's going to be more effective in the pros than he was in college with Manziel running all the time.



Thats it. I'm sure there will be belly aching about the lack of a DT. The more I think about it though, the more I feel our front office/coaching staff are way more comfortable with their DT's than the fan base is. I only listed my most high impact FA signing, I think we prob bring in a DT, but probably not one any better than re-signing Vickerson woulda been.
_________________

^Jamison. ^!!!!

[JerseysFinest27]

In the conclusion, you say "I'm sure there will be belly aching about the lack of a DT."... You are darn right I am man. I dont see a way we dont address that position AT ALL, especially if they let Vick walk.

Im not the biggest fan of Minter but I can understand the pick. He fits a need, I just dont like him in the 1st round, even though I think the Giants take him. Just my opinion though. Hes got talent but I dont see anything he does elite. Frederick and Williams picks are good. Id love them in the 2nd and 3rd. What do you have for Carter/Adams then?

Emory Blake is a good player. Hes got solid hands and CAN stretch the field. He will never be a #1 guy but as you have him, as a #3, hes a perfect fit. Its a nice pick, of course it is AUBURN!
_________________


Stop slobbering over Lance Ball.

[elliot878]

[LW33]

Like the mock quite a bit Elliott. I do think we'll add a DT somewhere but it might not be a splash. Will be interesting to see if having a bonafide QB and a shot to win the Superbowl lures a guy like Vickerson to stay at a bit below the market.

[elliot878]

[kansas bob]

You are going to let Vick and Koppen walk and resign Bannan? I surely don't understand that one. I disagree with your off season moves. This is a very deep DL class and you managed to avoid them all?

[AKRNA]

[elliot878]

They have a history of not investing in the DT position. That's fairly obvious. When a player at DT's price rises, we've never liked to pay it. Wolfes been out biggest investment at the position in years, and I don't see another big investment this year.

It's a theory I have, time will tell if there's anything to it, I just don't think they see it as the need that the fan base sees it as. I don't agree with it, I still think DT is a high priority need, I'm just trying to put myself in their mind - and I don't see them investing heavily in the DT position this offseason. Again, just a theory I'm running with for this mock, not one I necessarily agree with, but wanted to use some tendencies I'be noticed from our front office.

In other words AK I don't think me and you have a different perspective when it comes to DT, but I have a hunch our front office sees it different from the majority of the fan base - and that's been that way for years as we've invested one early pick in what seems like ages at the position.
_________________

^Jamison. ^!!!!

[broncosfan07]

[broncos67]

I think part of the reason we didn't resign Bunkley had less to do with his contract demands and more to do with his attitude. Vickerson has been around awhile, I think he'll be rewarded.
_________________


Thanks, Tzimisce

[AKRNA]

[Donut]

[copeland]

[elliot878]

[AKRNA]