If and only if the Raiders take JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall. As reported by profootballtalk.com, the Broncos are prepared to break the bank on this year's day 1 and next year's RD1 pick. Read below for more but we haven't really predicted or even speculated the Broncos making a serious play. Also, expect JR to be signed prior to Saturday. ------------------------------ BRONCOS WANT JOHNSON A reader tells us that there's a rumor being reported on 950 AM in Denver that the Broncos are trying to make a play for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, in an effort to land receiver Calvin Johnson. A source with knowledge of the discussions tells us that the rumor is dead-on accurate, and that an offer has been made by the Broncos to the Lions. Per the rumor and based on what we've heard, the Broncos have offered their first-round, second-round, and third-round pick in the 2007 draft and their first-rounder in 2008 for the No. 2 spot. The Lions, we're told, are concerned that the No. 21 overall spot would put them too low to land one of the players whom they covet. The Lions' goal in trading down is/has been to get more picks, and to still get one of the players they want, but at a lower salary slot. So the deal might hinge on the ability of the Lions to line up another deal that would allow them to move back up a bit. The Broncos hold the No. 21 overall pick in round one, the No. 56 overall pick (No. 24 in round two), and the No. 70 and No. 86 overall picks (No. 6 and No. 23, respectively, in round three). We don't know which of the third-rounders has been offered. Under the trade chart, the deal might favor the Lions. But different teams value picks from the next year's draft differently; some teams downgrade the points by a full round, making a 2008 first-rounder the equivalent of a 2007 second-rounder. The other problem here is that no one will know where the Broncos draft in round one until the 2007 season ends. The entire deal would be contingent on the Raiders not drafting Calvin Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick. We're currently told that the Raiders are expected to strike a deal on a contract with quarterback JaMarcus Russell before Saturday. However, the fact that former Raiders coach/current Broncos coach Mike Shanahan apparently has a bee in his butt for Johnson could cause Raiders owner Al Davis to think twice about whether he would prefer to have Johnson on his team -- or to have to face him twice per year.
shit.....freakin denver, going after cutler last year and now this......%^&**% man what i would give if the jets could pull this off......everything except the family jewels.... ok, maybe just one..... jil
It would cost all of this year's and half of next year's draft to move up. And then what if he breaks a leg? Tannenbaum couldn't get out of town fast enough. I would be really surprised to see Denver do it too. It may just be more pre-draft smoke. The same with taht article on one hand saying Russell will be signed before Saturday and on the other saying maybe Davis will take Johnson..well, duh..
I have said before and I will say it again...Calvin Johnson IMO is a better prospect coming out of college than Reggie Bush...it has been awhile since a 6'5" 250 pound reciever who can run a 4.35 40 has been available for teams to draft. Calvin Johnson is worth any compensation that the Broncos cough up if this does go through.
He's worth nothing if he gets hurt. What are the five picks worth then that they gave up? It would be shocking to see that. GMs just don't do it anymore. Not since Ditka gave up his entire draft for Ricky Williams. It's way too risky.
Maybe for a QB but a receiver in a very good game may touch the ball 10 times. I just can't see 2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd. I agree he is great and maybe the best receiver to come out of school ever. In the end, though, he's only a receiver.
That is true...they don't get many touches, but the reason why Moss was such a impact player in Minnesota was because teams HAD to gameplan against him. You can't just say...ok...joe blow CB is going to cover Calvin Johnson all game... I think when you have a receiver like that it impacts the rest of the offense. You make valid points too though Don.
Teams never win trying to make this kind of deal. Name just ONE team that has gone this many draft picks for a player and been happy in the end. I can't think of a single team. A few of the ones that tried collapsed shortly thereafter also (Vikings, Jets.)
Yeah, didn't Moss have 17 TDs his rookie year? Close to that his second. I would guess even CJ won't come close to those numbers. Or anybody else.
That's why you don't see them made anymore. Fastest way to get a GM fired is to do a deal like that and have it backfire. You can hurt the franchise for years to come with one deal like that.
I wouldn't do it, because there's always the possibility of injury, plus a team like Denver whose offensive line is getting old and will likely need to replace A. Wilson have more important issues than needing a high profile WR.
If I'm Millen I do this and run all the way home smiling knowing that I finally got a deal that favors me. At 21 there's still value at positions of need, and then they'd have 2 2nd rounders, 2 3rds, and 2 1sts in next years draft! That's how you go about rebuilding a franchise. Oh wait, I forgot. This is Millen we're talking about. Never mind, this ain't happening. It's too smart for him.
Holy God! That would certainly be quite a ransom to move up. The Broncos certainly would be giving up a lot but if you think that he's worth it all and you can get it done get it done.
I love sparking up conversation amongst you guys like this. I really do enjoy these boards and the interaction I have with all of you. Regardless of that, Denver doesn't really need this draft as much as some other teams. They built up everything they needed last year and what better way to make Cutler happy than to give him the number one reciever in the draft and probably the next keyshawn johnson (in terms of talent, not personality). If I were Denver and this was a serious option and CJ was available for the trade, I would risk the injury and go for it. They still have day 2 picks to beef up depth and grab some diamonds in the rough. Why not? Also, lets watch out for the chiefs sending LJ to Buffalo for #12 and then packaging 12 and 23 for the 'Skins 6 to get Adrian Peterson. Then the 'Skins can do what they want with those picks. I just saw that on pft.com as well. Its a long shot, but interesting.
they dont have a 4th or 5th rounder this year (i'm pretty sure), but they do have an extra 3rd rounder....
this was just something they just completely made up on their own...no actual rumor behind that so it would be a huge long shot
I happen to agree with ya there Warhound. I think that Denver's got a lot more talent then their record showed last year and that they're one of the teams that can afford to take the plunge. They've got a lot fewer glaring holes than most teams (some argue their biggest is WR) and with a good second day draft they could make due with what they currently have and CJ next season. However, Detroit is still winning in value here and because of this I think it's a good trade for both teams. Like I said before though, don't be surprised if Millen nicks this because he's fallen in love with someone like Gaines Adams and will only trade down within the top 5 to grab him. In fact, if TB's offer isn't enticing enough for him I could see them reaching for Adams at 2. IMO Detroid could use all the help they can get and getting as many players on the first day as possible via the extra second and third rounders is just what they need. Draft for depth and solid players, not the sexy pick.
Why in the world would the Chiefs do that???? Take the second best back in the league, trade him, then add in their first rounder so they can get Adrian Peterson?? At more money than LJ is currently getting I might add. If Adrian Peterson ends up being as good as LJ he should consider himself lucky. He's a great prospect, and I'm sure he'll be a great pro, but he basically has to be the best back in the league immediatly for it to make any sense for the Chiefs. If he runs for 1500 yards and 10 td's every season for his entire rookie contract, it still doesn't make sense.
