The 242 selections have been made and the 2008 NFL Draft has concluded. The results truly won't be known for years but that doesn't stop everyone from weighing in with their opinions now anyway. The following analysis and grades are for the Denver Broncos.
Mel Kiper, Junior, ESPN.com
Grade: C+
Ryan Clady is the left tackle the Broncos needed to help Jay Cutler, and Clady should start right away. Eddie Royal is a decent slot receiver who has some return skills, Kory Lichtensteiger was one of the top centers in the draft and Arizona State's Ryan Torain is an interesting pick at running back because he has the potential to prosper in Denver. Torain's ASU teammate, safety Joshua Barrett, has great physical abilities, but does not always play up to his potential. I want to see how they use FB Peyton Hillis because he has great hands out of the backfield, and would be an ideal H-back if he were a couple of inches taller.
Larry Weisman, USA Today
Grade: D+
Happy times when need and the right player coincide. Ryan Clady can eventually step in at LT, where the Broncos lost 11-year veteran Matt Lepsis to retirement. WR Eddie Royal helps on punt returns and gives Denver wiggle room with Brandon Marshall, a question mark because of an arm injury. But why draft Royal after signing veterans Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert and Brandon Stokley before that? Lot of money is being tied up in this position.
Clifton Brown, The Sporting News
Grade: C-
Ryan Clady will help the offensive line, but after him their draft tailed off. They needed help on the defensive line but added only a fifth-rounder. They may have overrated Eddie Royal as a receiver.
John Czarnecki, Foxsports.com
Grade: C
Well, the Broncos became the first NFL team to ever take a Boise State Broncos player in the first round. Offensive tackle Ryan Clady should be able to protect quarterback Jay Cutler as well as Kory Lichtensteiger, who played at both guard and center at Bowling Green. He was a four-year starter. Both of these linemen are very athletic — a Denver trademark to success. Clady will probably be on the right side as a rookie, but has the feet to be a left tackle. Virginia Tech WR Eddie Royal was a need after the loss of Javon Walker and the wacky injury news regarding top receiver Brandon Marshall. Royal has been compared to Carolina's Steve Smith. Kent State CB Jack Williams has 4.32 speed, while Arizona State RB Ryan Torain is coming off a broken foot early in his senior season.
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com
Grade: B
Best pick: Running back Ryan Torain, taken in the fifth round, has second-round ability but a foot injury dropped his stock. The Broncos will love this kid.
Questionable move: Second-round pick Eddie Royal will give the passing game a speedy receiver who can help Jay Cutler, but did he go too high at No. 42 overall?
Second-day gem: Sixth-round pick Spencer Larsen was a tackling machine at Arizona.
Gregg Rosenthal and Eva Silva, NBCSports.com
Grade: B+
Denver Broncos
Denver does a great job finding players that fit its scheme. They were thrilled the second best tackle in the draft was still on the board in Boise State’s Ryan Clady. He fits the Broncos’ zone blocking scheme better than Jake Long does. They also picked up a potential starting center later. Virginia Tech’s Eddie Royal has extra value on returns and could develop as a rugged receiving complement to Brandon Marshall in the mold of former fan favorite Easy Ed McCaffrey. Arizona State running back Ryan Torain, a fourth-round pick, could be the next unknown Broncos runner to emerge as a star.
Zubin Mehenti (Like Anyone Cares About His Opinion), News 2 Colorado
Grade: B
Ryan Clady was a great move, if not a needed one. They needed an offensive tackle and with Jake Long off the board, they had their choice of Clady, Jeff Otah, or Branden Albert. They could have had any of the three and they had Clady at the top of their war room board. They got who they wanted in the first round and he is expected to be a starter. Immediate dividends at a spot they need immediate production. Nicely done there by the Broncos. I would have liked to have seen the team go after DeSean Jackson rather than Eddie Royal. I like Ryan Torain, could be the latest in another mid to late round running back discovery by head coach Mike Shanahan. I would have liked them to draft Brandon Coutu, a placekicker from Georgia, a player regarded as the best at his position available and with Denver's problems in the kicking and punting game, it may have been worth a shot, especially late, after all, he wasn't taken until the Seahawks drafted him in the seventh round, 235th overall.
I hope you have a nice Monday.
-"z"
