Broncos Feeling Effects of '06 Draft

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Broncos feeling effects of '06 draft
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

It started with a single call.

The draft that provided the foundation moving forward for the Broncos was set in motion when coach Mike Shanahan picked up the phone April 28, 2006, a Friday night, just hours before selection weekend.

Shanahan wanted a quarterback. His best friend in the NFL coaching fraternity, Jeff Fisher, had dissected ad nauseam the three top prospects - Texas' Vince Young, Southern California's Matt Leinart and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler - for months and had a similar mind-set.

The longest-tenured coaches in the league exchanged small talk, after which the worst-kept secret around was revealed. Young would be the Tennessee Titans' pick at No. 3 overall, behind the anticipated selections of defensive end Mario Williams (Houston) and running back Reggie Bush (New Orleans).

Shanahan then embarked on a fishing expedition.

He dug for information on the remaining two quarterback prospects, mindful both likely would be out of reach with the Broncos' scheduled pick at No. 15. But he had clandestine designs on possibly moving up.

Fisher, in turn, promised Shanahan he wouldn't let on he had called.

"That," Shanahan recalled, "was the first time I ever showed my hand to anybody."

The conversation lasted an hour. As Shanahan hung up, he was even more fired up to potentially acquire a player to become the new face of the franchise.

Hours later, the phone lines again were busy. This time, the Broncos held an extra third-round selection (68th overall) as possible ammunition to move up and snare their top target.

It already has been decided Leinart was out; and if Cutler was available, only then would the Broncos go all in.

The Buffalo Bills at No. 8 were the first team the Broncos approached, but they declined. The Detroit Lions were next, but they also said no.

The Arizona Cardinals were next on the clock, and they also were in the market for a quarterback. The Broncos were fairly confident but not entirely sure Leinart would be the choice.

When he was, and when the St. Louis Rams at No. 11 subsequently were responsive to the Broncos' offer, a resounding cheer went up in the war room at Dove Valley.

And one of the signature weekends in team history had begun.

"I could tell by the way the coaches and scouts were reacting that this was really something special," recalled Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, adding the feeling in the room that day was unlike any other he had experienced in his quarter century with the club.

"It was just different. And maybe you'd attribute that to the fact that you're drafting a quarterback who's, hopefully, going to be here for the next 12, 14 years. When you go after that particular position and you're getting a guy that you think . . . can play and be your franchise player, that's a whole different picture."

But just as heartening was what happened next - and then again, and again.

Like hitting all the green lights on a long drive across town, the Broncos' top target on the board was available with each selection.

And despite coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance, they needed those picks to hit.

The roster was skewing older. Past draft mistakes had robbed the club of young, talented depth. So it was imperative and impressive what occurred in the next 30 hours.

Among the Broncos' additions were what would become their top pass-catching tight end (Tony Scheffler), a No. 1 receiver (Brandon Marshall), their best pass-rushing defensive end (Elvis Dumervil) and an offensive line fixture (Chris Kuper).

"That one draft class has completely changed their team," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "Obviously, they need to get a little better on defense, but if they can do that, you're talking about an offense that can compete at the highest level for the next several years."

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Great looking class so far. I really hope they are able to keep those guys together. Shame that Hixon didn't work out in Denver, but his talent is clear. he's contributing to the Giants in a fairly big way.