Broncos Picks...#11, #61, #119, #126,#130,#161,#198

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Selections

#11 (Trade #15 and #68 to Rams to move up to #11)

Jay Cutler QB Vanderbilt



Position: QB
Class: Sr
School: Vanderbilt
Conference: Southeastern
Ht., Wt.: 6-3.5, 226
40 Time: 4.83

Grading System

BIO: Four-year starter awarded All-Conference honors as a senior after leading the SEC in passing with 59.1%/3,073/21/9. Junior totals were 61%/1,844/10/5.

POSITIVES: Athletic prospect with the physical and mental skills necessary to start at the next level. Patient, stands strong in the pocket and immediately finds the open wideout. Displays a sense of timing, throws strikes and hits receivers in stride. Has a quick release and passes immediately to get to the intended target. Poised under pressure, can elude the rush and gets rid of the ball rather than taking a bad sack. Sells the ball fakes, accurate throwing on the move and displays toughness in all aspects of the game. Not afraid to challenge the vertical game and gets the ball through the tight spots.

NEGATIVES: Must improve the consistency of his footwork -- releases the errant pass off his back foot. Made a lot of plays on the college level because of his strong arm. Will force the errant throw into coverage on occasion.

ANALYSIS: A consistent passer who has shown continual development throughout college, Cutler comes off a brilliant senior campaign. Must improve his fundamentals and pass placement but offers all the skills to lead a franchise into the future.

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**(Trade pick #37 to GB for WR Javon Walker)**

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#61

Tony Scheffler TE Western Michigan



Position: TE
Class: Sr
School: W Michigan
Conference: Mid-American
Ht., Wt.: 6-5.5, 254
40 Time: 4.62

Grading System

BIO: Moved into the starting lineup as a junior and was awarded All-Conference honors the past two seasons. Posted career-best numbers of 57/670/9 as a senior after 53/570/3 during his junior campaign.

POSITIVES: Outstanding pass-catching tight end with reliable hands. Sturdy receiver who adjusts to the errant throw in traffic, takes a pounding yet holds onto the ball. Aggressively goes up for the pass and displays solid eye/hand coordination. Displays an excellent sense of timing and anticipation. Plays with good pad level and flashes ability as a position blocker.

NEGATIVES: Lacks strength at the point of attack. Usually lined up in the slot rather then next to the offensive tackle. Not a deep threat who consistently makes plays into the secondary.

ANALYSIS: A good athlete who also has a career in baseball, Scheffler is an offensive threat at the tight end position who could be a good fit for a West Coast offensive system.

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#119 (from Redskins)

WR Brandon Marshall UCF

Position: WR
Class: Sr
School: UCF
Conference: Conference USA
Ht., Wt.: 6-4.5, 229
40 Time: 4.57

Grading System

BIO: Full-time starter the past two seasons. Team.s leading receiver as a senior with 74/1,195/11. Junior totals included eight receptions for 84 yards, and he also spent time at safety during the second half of the season.

POSITIVES: King-sized possession wideout who may eventually develop into a tight end. Physical, outmuscles opponents and comes away with the reception. Consistently extends and catches the ball away from his frame. Offers the quarterback a nice target, has soft hands and plays with excellent body control. Adequate blocker downfield.

NEGATIVES: Overall game lacks quickness and speed. Marginal route-runner.

ANALYSIS: Displaying significant improvement as a senior, Marshall presents himself as a receiver used in third down or red-zone situations at the next level.

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#126

Elvis Dumervil DE Lousiville

Position: OLB
Class: 4Sr
School: Louisville
Conference: Conference USA
Ht., Wt.: 5-11.5, 257
40 Time: 4.83

Grading System

BIO: Two-year starter awarded All-Conference honors and also named Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after posting 65/23/20. Also intercepted one pass and broke up four more last season. Junior totals included 52/11.5/10.

POSITIVES: Explosive college pass rusher who makes a tremendous amount of plays in the opponent's backfield. Quick off the snap, plays with excellent pad level and works hard. Slides through the small creases in the offense, beats immobile blockers and loses no momentum changing direction. Possesses great speed off the edge, playing with outstanding balance and body control.

NEGATIVES: Short, gets caught up in the trash moving laterally and is slow shedding blocks. Driven off the line in run defense. Struggled during Senior Bowl week and at the combine.

ANALYSIS: Productive on the college level, Dumervil.s best NFL position is yet to be defined. Size dictates a move to linebacker in a 34 defense.

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#130 (Compensatory pick)

WR Domenik Hixon Akron

Position: WR
Class: Sr
School: Akron
Conference: Mid-American
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 190
40 Time: 4.45
Selected by: Denver Broncos
Round 4, pick 33 (130 overall)
Grading System

BIO: All-Conference selection as a senior after career-best numbers of 75/1,210/8. Posted 66/882/6 as a junior. Four-year starter who originally played safety.

POSITIVES: Explosive receiver with an improving game. Quickly gets off the line, immediately gets to top speed and beats opponents downfield. Finds the open spot in the defense and is effective running after the catch. Displays sharpness into routes and quickness out of breaks.

NEGATIVES: Loses out in battles and gives marginal effort blocking. Tentative and still learning the position.

ANALYSIS: A solid athlete who works hard on the field, Hixon offers plenty of potential yet still needs time to complete his game. Potential fourth receiver for an NFL squad.

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#161

OT Chris Cooper North Dakota

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#198

C Greg Eslinger Minnesota

Position: C
Class: 4Sr
School: Minnesota
Conference: Big Ten
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 292
40 Time: 5.21

Grading System

BIO: Fifty-game starter who broke in with the first unit as a true freshman. Awarded varying degrees of All-American and All-Conference honors throughout his four years.

POSITIVES: Explosive lineman who stands out blocking in motion. Quick into blocks, fast to the second level and gets good fits on linebackers or devastates opponents in the secondary. Possesses outstanding vision, overall football wherewithal and intelligence. Nicely adjusts to defenders and seals opponents from the play. Patient, works well with teammates and has a nasty streak. Blocks with solid fundamentals.

NEGATIVES: Lacks size, strength and rarely opens up the middle of the field or finishes blocks.

ANALYSIS: A high-character prospect with great work ethic, Eslinger has a lot of skills which translate well to the next level. The ability to block on the move makes him a perfect fit in a system which employs a zone-blocking scheme or puts linemen in motion.