Power Ranking Number 27: Denver Broncos

In the past two off-season the Broncos have traded away their two best players in quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall and are hoping that this year’s two first round draft picks can replace them in quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Thomas is still recovering from a broken foot that he suffered in pre-draft training and the question will be will he be one hundred percent by the start of the season. Kyle Orton right now is the starting quarterback but many don’t expect Tebow will be the starter sometime this season. Running back Knowshon Moreno had a good but not great rookie season rushing for 937 yards and 7 touchdowns and the Broncos expect him to have a better season this year being his second year in the NFL.

On defense Elvis Dumervil is the Broncos best pass rusher on the team and made the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker smoothly leading the team with 17 sacks and the Broncos will need him to have another outstanding season this year. In the secondary the Broncos have a veteran bunch with Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, and Andre Goodman and they provide the team with the leadership on the defense, they are getting a little older and don’t make as many plays as they did in the past, but they are all very good players still. Linebacker D.J. Williams is one of the better overall linebackers in the NFL, but the defense needs some younger players like linebacker Robert Ayers, linebacker Jarvis Moss and cornerback Alphonso Smith to step up there game.

Head coach Josh McDaniels needs to have a better finish to the 2010 season then he did to the 2009 season where they lost 8 out of their last 10 games, or his job could be on the line.

Top 10 WR’s for 2010 NFL Draft

Here are my top ten wide receivers and some sleepers to watch.

1. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
2. Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
3. Golden Tate, Notre Dame
4. Arrelious Benn, Illinois
5. Damian Williams, USC
6. Carlton Mitchell, South Florida
7. Brandon LaFell, LSU
8. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
9. Eric Decker, Minnesota
10. Jordan Shipley, Texas

Sleepers:
Marcus Easley, Connecticut
Joe Webb, UAB
Scott Long, Louisville
Blair White, Michigan State

Pre-Combine News and Notes

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, will participate in all of the workouts at the NFL combine.

Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas, of Georgia Tech, broke his left foot on Wednesday in Scottsdale, AZ, while training for next week's combine. He will not be able to do anything at the combine and it looks as if he will be out 4 to 6 weeks.

Wide Receiver Eric Decker of Minnesota will not be working out at the NFL Combine because of his foot injury that he hasn’t recovered from.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame will not be working out because of his toe injury at the NFL Combine as previously been reported.

Question marks surround quarterback Sam Bradford of Oklahoma as to if he will workout at the NFL Combine, most people I have spoken to say that he will not work out in Indianapolis and will wait for his Pro Day.

All signing are pointing to that tight end Jermaine Gresham of Oklahoma will work out at the NFL Combine because he is very close to being 100 percent.

Tight End Jim Dray of Stanford who injured his ankle at the Texas vs. the Nation game will not be able to work out at the NFL Combine, but hopes to be ready for his Pro Day.

Running Back Ryan Mathews of Fresno State will participate in all of the workouts at the NFL Combine and from people that are training with him as well as seen him train, he could be on player that blows the NFL scouts away with his work out numbers.

Running Back Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech who some people question his weight gain this season has been working hard to be in the best shape of his life and should weight in less then around the 235 pounds he played at this season.