The Broncos started something.
After taking Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady (rhymes with lady) at No. 12 of the first round, four more offensive linemen were taken during the next nine picks.
The Chicago Bears nabbed Vanderbilt tackle-guard Chris Williams at No. 14, Kansas City traded up two spots to get Virginia guard Braden Albert at No. 15, Carolina selected Pittsburgh tackle Jeff Otah with the No. 19 pick, and two picks later, Atlanta took Southern Cal tackle Sam Baker.
Including overall No. 1 pick Jake Long of Michigan, six offensive linemen were selected among the first 21 picks, a number that did not surprise Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. The crop of offensive linemen is regarded among the deepest in years.
“I’ll be surprised if six (offensive tackles) don’t go in the first round, because they are needed,” Shanahan said after picking Clady. “(Clady) will start at left offensive tackle the day he comes in.”
Word had circulated throughout the league Saturday morning that the Carolina Panthers had targeted Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers did not disappoint, claiming him at No. 13.
Earlier, a run of seven straight defensive players highlighted the picks. LSU All-American Glenn Dorsey started it off at No. 5 (by Kansas City), followed by defensive end Vernon Gholston of Ohio State (No. 6 by the New York Jets), defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis of Southern Cal (New Orleans at No. 7), defensive end Derrick Harvey of Florida (Jacksonville at No. 8), linebacker Keith Rivers of Southern Cal (by Cincinnati at No. 9), Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo (New England at No. 10) and Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin (by Buffalo at No. 11).
The biggest surprise of first round thus far may have been Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco going at No. 18 of the first round, to Baltimore. Many draft analysts had the 6-6, 232-pounder falling to the second round. The Ravens were thought to have had their eye on Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. After Ryan was taken by Atlanta with the third pick, Baltimore waited to grab Flacco.
Flacco threw for 4,263 yards and 23 touchdowns last fall, with only five interceptions. He transferred to Delaware after playing two seasons at Pittsburgh.
