Anytime a team uses its first three draft picks on guys who play the same position, one would figure that would be the story of the proceedings.
That was until the final pick of an 11-hour day, when Maurice Clarett walked out of a two- year cloud of controversy into the Broncos’ backfield, a reputed running back haven.
“His slate is clean,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of Clarett, who likely will be a national curiosity as a rookie.
The Broncos stunned many in the league by taking the former Ohio State star tailback with the final pick of the third round, No. 101 overall. Many observers thought Clarett would be available in the final picks of the draft.
“And you thought it would be a slow day,” Shanahan said.
The Broncos’ draft took an obvious theme as the team – the last to make a selection as a result of trading its top pick to Washington on Tuesday – addressed the high-flying AFC West by taking three cornerbacks.
They started the cornerback parade by taking Oklahoma State’s Darrent Williams at No. 56. He will step in as Denver’s punt and kickoff specialist. Then the Broncos took Washington State cornerback Karl Paymah (No. 76) and Domonique Foxworth (No. 97) of Maryland.
Shanahan said Paymah and Foxworth will get a chance to play in the nickel position as well. Denver also has former first-round pick ; fifth-round pick ; undrafted rookie , who played extensively; and third-round pick Jeremy LeSueur, who was injured all last year and may be converted to safety.
While the Broncos worked to shore their passing defense, the selection of Clarett overshadowed it all.
“It’s wonderful, knowing the Denver Broncos’ system and knowing the offensive line they have and just knowing they run the ball,” Clarett said. “Denver will win more ballgames with me there.”
Clarett – who forged a good relationship with Denver running backs coach Bobby Turner since his exodus from Ohio State – headed into the draft as one of the most intriguing players. However, all the suspense was about how far he would fall after all his pratfalls. There were a handful of teams – Baltimore, Jacksonville, Oakland, St. Louis, Cleveland and Cincinnati among them – that were monitoring Clarett closely and were considering taking him in the sixth to seventh rounds.
While Denver officials didn’t go to his recent workout, there were rumblings the team liked him because of his running style.
Yet no one thought he would be a third-round pick.
Shanahan suggested the Broncos may have gotten a steal.
“He obviously hasn’t played for a couple of years,” Shanahan said. “We really feel like if he did play in those two years, he could have easily been a top-10, top-15 pick.”
However, Clarett, who led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship as a true freshman, didn’t play in 2003 and 2004. He was suspended by Ohio State in September 2003 for receiving special benefits. Earlier, he was charged with falsification for reporting more than $10,000 in goods was stolen from a car he borrowed from a local car dealership.
In September 2003, he challenged the NFL’s rule that a player had to wait three years after high school to enter the NFL. His appeals, which went all the way to the Supreme Court in April 2004, were turned down. He has been out for two years.
Clarett’s stock further dropped in February when he ran a 4.82 40-yard dash and then quit the workout. He did improve soon at his private workout and has impressed teams with a contrite and more mature attitude. Shanahan noted former Broncos star Terrell Davis wasn’t a fast runner.
With set to be the primary back, Clarett will get a chance to be a backup along with and (both coming back from knee injuries) and newly signed Ron Dayne.
“He either takes advantage of it or he doesn’t,” Shanahan said. “But we feel like it was worth the chance. … We think he will fit into our system very well. Now only time will tell he takes advantage of the situation.”
Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-820-5450
