Broncos Draft Article

[Gibbs]

Go fish.

The Broncos caught a big 1 in last year's draft and should try to land another 1 Saturday.

Some 1 who would have Jay Cutler's back.

I mock mock drafts. They're just bogus blogger-fodder.

Only a frail, elderly man knows whom the Oakland Raiders will take with the first pick in the draft, and Al Davis (who was not born July 4, 1829, despite what Wikipedia claims) certainly is not talking.

He apparently will choose between quarterback JaMarcus Russell and wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Johnson is considered (by people who spend all their waking hours thinking about such things) to be the best player in the 2007 draft. He would give the Raiders their third heralded receiver, although the other two want out, and Johnson probably won't be thrilled to be there (where, Gertrude Stein said, there is no there there), either. The last time Davis got a genuine offensive threat in the first round was Tim Brown in 1988.

If the Raiders end up with Johnson, who will throw to him?

Which brings us to Russell. It cannot be forgotten that Davis has selected only three quarterbacks in the first round - Eldridge Dickey (1968), Marc Wilson (1980) and Todd Marinovich (1991). Ugh. Davis prefers retreads and, at his age (177?), can't plan too far ahead. "Just win immediately, baby!" Davis passed on Jay Cutler and Matt Leinart last year and went for safety Michael Huff.

Maybe Davis will draft a punter. Whatever, the Raiders will put the Detroit Lions in a quandary. General manager Matt "Edsel" Millen is as silly as Davis. Johnson would be Millen's fourth first-round wide receiver pick. How's that working out? The Lions aren't hot on Russell.

Then, there's Cleveland, which has the itch to ride with quarterback Brady Quinn, who doesn't scratch the top-10 list.

Then, the Tampa Bay Bucs, fourth, want Johnson, unless they can't get him, and the Arizona Cardinals want offensive tackle Joe Thomas, unless they don't want him.

And we haven't mentioned defensive end Gaines Adams.

So, how are we supposed to guess whom taciturn Mike Shanahan will decide on with the 21st pick, much less the 56th, 70th, 86th, 176th, 198th and the 233rd?

The Broncos need a defensive lineman, a linebacker, a defensive back, a wide receiver and an offensive lineman.

Which means they'll probably draft a running back in the first round.

Go figure.

Go fish.

One good trade deserves another. The Broncos exchanged Tatum Bell, George Foster and a fifth-round pick for Detroit's Dr