Broncos coach Josh McDaniels sure keeps it interesting during the opening rounds of the NFL Draft.
Tonight, the Broncos traded down, and up, in the first round. And after the dust settled, they picked Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
The Broncos swapped opening picks with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelpha Eagles. The Niners took Denver’s slot at No. 11 and promptly chose Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis.
In return, the Broncos received the Niners’ first-round pick at No. 13 and also San Franciso’s fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, No. 113 overall.
Then, the Broncos traded down again, going to No. 24. They gave the Eagles the 13th pick and got two third-round picks in return, at Nos. 70 and 87. The Broncos later sent the 24th pick and a fourth-rounder to New England in exchange for the No. 22 pick.
Last year, Denver got an extra pick in the second round and took Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith.
San Diego also moved up, to No. 12 after a trade with Miami. The Chargers took Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews.
With Denver’s former No. 13, the Eagles chose defensive end Brandon Graham, who had been thought to be a potential Denver pick.
The Denver Post will have live updates throughout the night:
Raiders screw up Broncos
Did Al Davis do it just to spite the Broncos?
That’s what Denver fans — and perhaps the team — must be wondering after the Raiders chose Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain with the eighth overall pick of the NFL Draft.
Many mock drafts had McClain going to the Broncos at No. 11. But Oakland departed from its usual love affair with big-play offensive players to take the top-rated linebacker in the draft.
Linebacker was considered to be a need for Oakland, but perhaps lower in priority behind quarterback, cornerback and offensive tackle.
With McClain now off the board, the Broncos may be eyeing center Maurkice Pouncey of Florida.
Pouncey taken
Mock draft sheets are being torn up everywhere.
Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey, rated the top center prospect available in the NFL Draft and thought to be a target of the Broncos, came off the board when the Pittsburgh Steelers made him the No. 18 overall pick.
Center was considered one of Denver’s top priorities, having let 2009 starter Casey Wiegmann go to free agency.
Denver originally had the No. 11 pick but now holds the No. 24 spot after trading down twice. The Broncos have accumulated three extra picks (two in the third round, one in the fourth) but must have their eyes on somebody further down in the first round.
At this point, that target is anyone’s guess.
Shanny surprises
As expected, the Washington Redskins did choose an offensive tackle from the Big 12 and the state of Oklahoma with the fourth overall pick of the NFL Draft.
But, surprise.
Trent Williams comes from Norman, Okla., not Stillwater.
Mike Shanahan’s first pick as Redskins coach went to the Sooners star instead of Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung
Williams, 6-feet-4 and 315 pounds, followed two OU teammates: quarterback Sam Bradford, the overall top pick who was selected by the St. Louis Rams, and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to the NFL Network, the Big 12 became the first conference to have the top four picks and Oklahoma became the first school to have three picks among the opening quartet.
The Big 12’s opening streak ended when the Kansas City Chiefs selected safety Eric Berry of Tennessee with the fifth pick.
Chiefs fill a need
The Kansas City Chiefs went chalk.
As predicted on many mock drafts, the Chiefs filled a need by selecting Tennessee safety Eric Berry with their first-round pick, No. 5 overall.
With teams throwing away from Berry, the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder recorded just two interceptions in 2009 after getting seven picks a year earlier. But Berry’s 4.3 speed and freakish athleticism had made him a near lock to go among the early picks.
Free safety was a position of need for the Chiefs, who have aging Mike Brown playing centerfield and needed a playmaker in the secondary. Brown also can slide to cornerback in nickel and dime packages, affording Kansas City’s defense more flexibility.
Rival AFC West quarterbacks, including the Broncos, will have to account for the Berry when throwing downfield.
Big 12 figures large
The early picks of this evening’s NFL draft first round are bound to cause a chorus of high fivin’ throughout the Midlands. It figures to feel like a Big 12 bash.
Beginning with first overall pick Sam Bradford to the St. Louis Rams, the quarterback from Oklahoma, the Big 12 could produce as many as four of the first five selections.
Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh went No. 2, to the Detroit Lions.
Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy went No. 3 to Tampa Bay.
And Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams was the No. 4 pick to Washington.
And Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung battled with a Southeastern Conference player, Tennessee safety Eric Berry, for the fifth slot. Kansas City chose Berry.
Okung went at No. 6, to Seattle and new coach Pete Carroll. Of the first six picks, four have been lineman and five are from the Big 12.
Cleveland, at No. 7, took Florida cornerback Joe Haden.
At No. 8, the Raiders put a crimp in the Broncos hopes, taking Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain.
Clemson running back C.J. Spiller went to Buffalo at No. 9.
Defensive tackle Tyson Alualu from California went No. 10 to Jacksonville.
Texas safety Earl Thomas went No. 14, making it six Big 12 picks among the first round.
“It just shows the strength of the conference,” Texas coach Mack Brown said this week. “More kids are staying at home, wanting to play in the Big 12 area. The want to play for the Big 12 championship, and one of our two schools in the Big 12 Championship game traditionally is in the mix for the national championship.
“Because we’ve played for national championships, kids are starting to look to our league more than ever before.”
Other Big 12 players expected to go in the first round today are Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant, Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham and Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
