The best left tackle (Andre Smith) blew off the combine. The best receiver (Michael Crabtree) is recovering from foot surgery. The most talented QB (Matthew Stafford) is inconsistent. Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno is a superb running back the Broncos would take if he fell to No. 18 overall.
Quarterback
Top of the crop
1 Mark Sanchez, 6-2, 227, USC: Southern Cal, not Georgia, is the factory to trust for quarterbacks.
2 Matthew Stafford, 6-2, 225, Georgia: Has the same predraft intangibles that Matt Ryan displayed at this time last year.
3 Josh Freeman, 6-6, 248, Kansas State: Physically the most gifted quarterback since Big Ben in 2004.
4 Stephen McGee, 6-3, 225, Texas A&M: Directed option offense as junior; hurt as senior. Stock is rising.
5 Rhett Bomar, 6-2, 225, Sam Houston State: Disgraced Sooner was rescued by small program and threw for 335 yards per game last year.
Sleeper
John Parker-Wilson, 6-2, 219, Alabama: When rating quarterbacks, Josh McDaniels tends to look first at won-loss records, then physical talent. See why Kyle Orton, not Jay Cutler is the Broncos’ quarterback this year. All Parker-Wilson did in four years for Alabama was win.
Overrated
Pat White, 6-0, 197, West Virginia:People are starting to get carried away. He is a remarkable player who just doesn’t fit in NFL offenses.
Area prospects
Billy Farris, 6-3, 223, CSU, FA
Broncos’ needs
Many seasoned football experts believe the Broncos have a big need here after trading away Cutler. McDaniels has two plays in the draft: One, go for Sanchez with their No. 12 pick or trade higher to get him. Or two, wait for the middle to late rounds to take either McGee or Wilson.
Teams with needs
1 San Francisco 49ers: After apparently whiffing on Alex Smith, their current QB is Shaun Hill, an undrafted, if overachieving, journeyman.
2 Detroit Lions: With the No. 1 pick, do they take Stafford or Sanchez?
3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It would be shocking if they let Freeman get past their No. 19 pick.
Running back
Top of the crop
1 Knowshon Moreno, 5-11, 217, Georgia: Has everything but ideal size and home-run speed. Broncos love him.
2 Chris “Beanie” Wells, 6-1, 235, Ohio State: Has ideal combination of speed/size, but has been injury prone.
3 LeSean McCoy, 5-11, 204, Pittsburgh: Fell ill and lost weight before combine, which could make him great second-round pick.
4 Donald Brown, 5-10, 210, Connecticut: Great balance. Rushed for 2,083 yards as junior last year. Could use another year to develop physically.
5 Andre Brown, 6-0, 224, North Carolina State: Strong, thick body with great work ethic, so he won’t get too big.
Sleeper
Glen Coffey, 6-0, 209, Alabama: A backup who broke out as a junior last season for Nick Saban. Could be great fourth-round pick.
Overrated
Shonn Greene, 5-11, 227, Iowa:
Projected for second round, but beware the one-year wonder who will turn 24 in August.
Area prospects
Gartrell Johnson, 5-10, 219, CSU, 6th
Kyle Bell, 6-1, 233, CSU, 7th-FA
Devin Moore, Wyoming, FA
Broncos’ needs
Apparently, McDaniels can’t have enough tailbacks. He signed three through free agency and he wants one more from the draft.
Teams with needs
1 Arizona Cardinals: Nearly won Super Bowl despite 32nd-ranked rushing offense.
2 Cincinnati Bengals: Need to start mixing in the run if they want to preserve Carson Palmer.
3 Seattle Seahawks: They need Moreno more than they need Sanchez.
Tight end
Top of the crop
1 Brandon Pettigrew, 6-6, 263, Oklahoma State: The most complete tight end prospect since Daniel Graham, who was the 21st overall pick in 2002 by New England.
2 Jared Cook, 6-5, 246, South Carolina: A vertical threat who would create cover problems.
3 Shawn Nelson, 6-5, 240, Southern Mississippi: Another tight end with superb receiving skills, but also a promising blocker.
4 Cornelius Ingram, 6-4, 245, Florida: Terrific athlete who started out as quarterback. Missed entire 2008 season with torn ACL.
5 James Casey, 6-3, 246, Rice: A Hollywood story and amazing athlete who was high school quarterback and four-year minor-league baseball player.
Sleeper
Chase Coffman, 6-6, 244, Missouri: Stock falling because of broken foot that is slow to heal, but he had 90 catches last year.
Overrated
Travis Beckhum, 6-3, 239, Wisconsin: Poor blocker, and has tweener size and speed between tight end and receiver.
Area prospects
Kory Sperry, 6-5, 238, CSU, 7th
Ryan Chesla, 6-4, 245, UNC, FA
Broncos’ needs
With Graham as their starter, and Tony Scheffler as their “receiving” tight end, this is a position of strength, especially when McDaniels’ offense is more geared toward three receivers than two tight ends.
Teams with needs
1 Buffalo Bills: Checkdown quarterbacks such as Trent Edwards need tight ends. Showed interest in trading for Scheffler.
2 Philadelphia Eagles: Checkdown quarterbacks such as Donovan McNabb need tight ends. Showed interest in trading for Scheffler.
3 Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan has the receivers. Now he needs better medium-range options.
Receiver
Top of the crop
1 Michael Crabtree, 6-2, 215, Texas Tech: The Adrian Peterson of this draft in that he’s the best skill player, but there is a major health issue.
2 Jeremy Maclin, 6-0, 198, Missouri: Great speed, character and production.
3 Percy Harvin, 5-11, 192, Florida: An incredible double-threat skill talent who is setting off character alarms.
4 Brian Robiskie, 6-3, 209, Ohio State: Has coach’s kid instincts and technique to offset lack of breakaway speed.
5 Hakeem Nicks, 6-1, 212, North Carolina: A good second-round pick. Came out as junior and tweaked hammy at combine.
Sleeper
Darrius Heyward-Bey, 6-2, 210, Maryland: Questionable hands and Terps didn’t always know how to use him, but defenses will have to pay attention to his speed.
Overrated
Mohamed Massaquoi, 6-2, 210, Georgia: Getting too much recognition as a sleeper for a guy who couldn’t catch until his senior year.
Area prospects
Patrick Williams, 6-2, 204, CU, FA
Broncos’ needs
It depends on Brandon Marshall, who has both health and off-field issues. Marshall had 206 combined catches the past two seasons, but is coming off hip surgery and facing a possible season-opening suspension after a disturbance with his fiancee on March 1.
Teams with needs
1 Jacksonville Jaguars: They haven’t had a frontline receiver since Jimmy Smith’s prime.
2 Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler has too much arm to throw check downs to Greg Olsen and Matt Forte.
3 Tennessee Titans: They can get a good one with their 30th pick.
Offensive lineman
Top of the crop
1 Jason Smith, LT, 6-5, 309, Baylor: A converted tight end, so a good athlete. Better at pass blocking, but improved run blocking last season.
2 Eugene Monroe, LT, 6-5, 309, Virginia: He may go No. 1. A fifth-year senior who finally overcame left knee problems.
3 Andre Smith, LT, 6-4, 332, Alabama: His size and agility would have made him the No. 1 overall, but blowing off the combine dropped him a few spots.
4 Michael Oher, LT, 6-5, 309, Mississippi: A distant fourth in tackle derby, but he’s also way better than the next group. Will be a top-15 pick.
5 Andy Levitre, OG, 6-3, 305, Oregon State: Started 35 games at left tackle, but short arms kick him inside.
Sleeper
Jamon Meredith, OT, 6-5, 304, South Carolina: Another fifth-year senior, Meredith also compiled a 3.74 GPA. In other words, he can figure it out. He played guard and both tackle positions in college so it may take a while before his team figures out his best position.
Overrated
Eben Britton, LT, 6-6, 309, Arizona: There were eight offensive tackles taken in the first round last year, and though the position has been thinned considerably, need will push third-round type talent into late first to second round.
Area prospects
Daniel Sanders, C, 6-2, 316, CU, FA
Broncos’ needs
Although they’re set for this season, the Broncos likely will transfer from smaller, quicker linemen to bulkier blockers. A rollout passing/zone-block running offense when led by Mike Shanahan, the Broncos’ priority set by McDaniels is protecting the shotgun pocket. That means left guard Ben Hamilton, who will play at age 32 this year, and center Casey Wiegmann, who will turn 36, have advanced to year-by-year evaluation.
Teams with needs
1 St. Louis Rams: They gave up on aging Orlando Pace and QB Marc Bulger was getting hammered, anyway.
2 Washington Redskins: They might get a gift in Andre Smith if they can resist taking a skill position player.
3 Detroit Lions: If they don’t take Monroe or Jason Smith at No. 1, they’ll probably take a tackle at No. 20.
Punter/kicker
Top of the Crop
1. Louis Sakoda, 5-9, 176, Utah
A finalist for both the Ray Guy and Lou Groza awards.
2. Graham Gano, PK, 6-1, 194, Florida State
The nation’s top kicker as he made 5-of-7 from 50-plus.
3. David Buehler, PK, 6-2, 227, USC
A weightlifting freak who can handle both kickoff and placekicking duties.
4. Kevin Huber, P, 6-1, 221, Cincinnati
A booming left leg, but has to quicken his release.
5. Thomas Morstead, P, 6-4, 225, SMU
Another kicker-punter in college who excelled as punter at Senior Bowl.
Sleeper
T.J. Conley, P, Idaho: A former quarterback who led the nation with a 47.4-yard average.
Overrated
Pat McAfee, P-K, 6-0, 228, West Virginia: A nice story as he’s been dabbling in pro wrestling. But not enough leg strength in football.
Area prospects
Jason Smith, CSU
Ryan Harrison, 6-1, 175, Air Force
Broncos’ needs
They have a young kicker in Matt Prater and young punter in Brett Kern. Look for the Broncos to either draft, or sign an undrafted free agent to compete at each position.
Teams with needs
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Kyle Larson had an NFL-high 100 punts and NFL-low 39.5-yard gross average.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Jeff Reed is a great placekicker, but they desperately need a punter.
3. Tennessee Titans
Craig Hentrich, 38, showed signs of age last season.
