Walking In Wuhan

Dear Pat Bowlen,

Thanks for the swift kick to the marbles.

Sincerely,

Denver Broncos Fans.

The Donkeys had two first round picks. They desperately needed a wide receiver. When the Broncos picked, Dez Bryant was still on the board. Here's what ESPN had to say about him:

Bryant is a top-10 talent with a rare blend of size, speed, strength and quickness. He brings an immediate and dynamic playmaking presence. While he has some well-documented off-the-field issues, he brings too much value to pass up here No. 24. He should develop into a No. 1 option.

The Broncos opted to take Georgia Tech wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas. Georgia Tech runs a triple option offense. Let's read what ESPN had to say about him:

Thomas brings rare size and speed to the position and will be an immediate deep threat. He comes from a triple-option offense and is a bit raw as a route-runner but his size and ball skills provides him with great upside.

So, to rehash the Broncos left the best wide receiver on the board for a guy with limited route running experience.

Then, two picks later (after Bryant was gladly snatched up by Dallas) the Broncos snapped up the Holy Rollin' Gunslinger Tim Tebow - as the second quarterback picked in the draft. Historically, choosing a quarterback in the first round has been an expensive and seriously risky proposition. The Broncos are already average at quarterback (Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and a third stringer from last year's draft) and can't afford to take the long view when it comes to choosing a QB. Let's see what ESPN says about Tebow:

This is a stretch. Tebow is a long way from developing into a functional NFL quarterback, and he might never become that. We have concerns about his footwork and elongated delivery, and his struggles at the Senior Bowl only magnified those issues. He has re-worked his delivery, but has only had a few weeks to make those changes. However, he brings intangibles that set him apart from almost any other player in this draft, and if he doesn't work out as a quarterback he showed at the combine that he has enough athleticism, determination and toughness to become an H-back and work as a signal-caller in short-yardage and Wildcat situations. Still, this was a surprising pick.

So, to rehash: Denver got an inexperienced wide receiver and a quarterback who seems destined to see the field only when the Broncos need to dive for a yard.